Right Way Baptist Church

Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life – Pt. 1

By:

Donald S. Whitney

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“Discipline without direction is drudgery” (1)

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1. What are Spiritual Disciplines

Definition - “Spiritual Disciplines are those practices found in Scripture that promote spiritual growth among believers...” (4)

Distinctions - “Spiritual Disciplines are activities, not attitudes. Disciplines are practices, not character qualities… Disciplines are those things that you do…” (6).

2. The Types of Spiritual Disciplines

Two types – Interpersonal and Personal

1. Disciplines that you practice individually – alone (i.e. Prayer*, Journaling, etc.) [5]

1. “Both the personal and interpersonal Disciplines are means of blessing for followers of Jesus and a part of growth in godliness…” (5).
2. The word godliness is “a biblical term synonymous with Christlikeness and holiness…” (4).

3. The Goal of Spiritual Disciplines

1. “The goal of practicing a given Discipline … is not about doing as much as it is about being, that is being like Jesus…” (6).

4. A Call for Spiritual Disciplines

1. “Godliness, being like Jesus, is the purpose , but the God-given path to that purpose is through certain activities found in Scripture known as the Spiritual Disciplines” (6).

1. Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (NIV).
2. II Peter 3:18 “Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (NLT).
3. I Timothy 4:7

1. “But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness” (NKJV).
2. “Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly” (NIV)
3. “Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives’ tales. Instead, train yourself to be godly” (NLT).

• Note the phrase “ train yourself to be godly.”

• “The word train comes from the word gumons , which means naked and is from which we get our English word gymnasium” (14).**
• “Gymnasticize (exercise, work out, train) yourself for the purpose of godliness conveys the feel of what Paul is saying” (14).**

5. A List of Personal Spiritual Disciplines

1. Bible Intake

1. Hearing the Word – (Rom 10:17)
2. Reading the Word – (Rev 1:3)
3. Studying the Word – (II Tim 2:15)
4. Memorizing the Word – (Ps. 119:11)
5. Meditating on the Word – (Joshua 1:8)

2. Prayer

1. Expected – (Matthew 6:5)
2. Learned – (Luke 11:1)
3. Answered – ( I John 5:14-15)

3. Worship

1. Focusing on God and Responding to God – (Ps 86:11)
2. Done in Spirit and Truth - (John 4:23)
3. Expected - (Heb 10:25, Matt 4:10)
4. Cultivated – (Hosea 10:12)

4. Evangelism

1. Expected – (Matt. 28:18)
2. Empowered – (Matt 28:19-20)

5. Serving

1. Expected – (Ps. 100:2; Matt. 25)
2. Gifted – (I Peter 4:10)

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Source Cited:

Hughes, Kent R. Disciplines of a Godly Man. Revised Ed. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2001.**

Whitney, Donald S. Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life. Revised and Updated. Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2014.