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Neglected Spiritual Disciplines

Neglected Spiritual Disciplines. What are your gut reactions to the phrase ‘Spiritual Disciplines’?. Spiritual Disciplines - Biblical Basis. 1 Timothy 4: 7-10

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Neglected Spiritual Disciplines

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  1. Neglected Spiritual Disciplines What are your gut reactions to the phrase ‘Spiritual Disciplines’?

  2. Spiritual Disciplines - Biblical Basis 1 Timothy 4: 7-10 Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. That is why we labour and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Saviour of all people, and especially of those who believe.

  3. Discussion Train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come What does Paul’s athletic/sporting metaphor teach us?

  4. Spiritual Disciplines: learning from sporting training • Sacrifice • Pain • Repetition • Persistence • Variety • Growth • Reward • (Almost) anyone can do it and get fit

  5. Spiritual Disciplines – definition Those personal and corporate disciplines that promote spiritual growth. Habits of personal discipleship which are modelled and taught in Scripture and have been practised by Christians since biblical times. Spiritual Disciplines of the Christian LifeDon Whitney

  6. Spiritual Disciplines – Don Whitney • Bible reading • Bible meditation • Bible memorisation • Prayer • Fasting

  7. Spiritual Disciplines – Don Whitney • Journaling = keeping a spiritual diary • Silence and solitude • Worship • Serving • Stewardship = giving

  8. Prayer as a Spiritual Discipline Habits of prayer as part of the rhythm of life

  9. Prayer as a Spiritual Discipline What are the three biggest difficulties you have with establishing or maintaining habits of prayer?

  10. Prayer as a Spiritual Discipline • Understanding ourselves • Working with our temperament • Working on our temperament

  11. Prayer as a spiritual discipline • Patterns not prisons • Hope not condemnation • Specific lists not vague intentions • Set long term expectations • Variety esp. if you like change • Company esp. if you are extravert

  12. Prayer as a Spiritual Discipline Assess your current habits and patterns of prayer. • What are the areas you would most like to see growth in? • How does the concept of ‘discipline’ specifically connect with your issues in prayer

  13. Bible Reading: as a Spiritual Discipline Reading the Bible as part of the rhythm of life

  14. Bible Reading: as a Spiritual Discipline What helps and hinders us reading the Bible as part of the rhythm of life?

  15. Bible Reading as a Spiritual Discipline – hindered by • Time issues • Pressure issues • Staleness issues • Dryness issues

  16. Bible Reading: as a Spiritual Discipline • Be convinced of the value • Be aware that it will not always ‘come easily’ • Don’t give up when you miss one (or more) • Vary the approach • Remember that rhythm matters more than length • Don’t just read, connect, through meditation on the text and your life, with conscious openness to the Holy Spirit

  17. Bible Reading: as a Spiritual Discipline Assess your patterns of Bible reading • What is going well? less well? • How does the metaphor of discipline specifically connect with where you are at? • What two things could you do to see change?

  18. Fasting; as a spiritual discipline Jesus said: ‘When you fast….’ Matthew 6:16

  19. Fasting; as a spiritual discipline Jesus said: ‘When you fast….’ Matthew 6:16 Abstaining from food (or something else) for a period to focus on God in prayer

  20. Fasting; as a spiritual discipline • Give it a go • Be wise medically • Start small • Use the extra time or space to move towards Christ • Turn your longings into prayers

  21. Fasting; as a spiritual discipline Jesus said: ‘When you fast….’ Matthew 6:16 • What keeps you from fasting? • How does the ‘discipline’ idea motivate you here? • What could you fast from? • What could you do with that?

  22. Spiritual Disciplines THINK AND PLAN POSITIVELY AND EXPECTANTLY • What has God been saying to you in this session? • Why not pray it over on your own or with someone?

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