Pastor Alan started a new series called “The Christian Disciplines.” He has spoken about the first few of the twelve disciplines, and you can find those messages below with audio and outlines for each.
The Christian Disciplines
Key introduction verses: 1Timothy 4:7-8; 1 Corinthians 9:24-27; Hebrews 12:1-3; Matthew 16:24, 28:19-20.
- The Disciplines: What are the key Christian disciplines? They are as follows:
- Meditation
- Prayer
- Fasting
- Study
- Simplicity
- Solitude
- Submission
- Service
- Confession
- Worship
- Guidance
- Celebration
- Key Truths in the Practice of Disciplines
- Christian disciplines are often commanded by God.
- Christian disciplines require sacrifice. Matthew 16:24.
- Christian disciplines begin now. Luke 9:57-62
- Christian disciplines are to be sown.
- Sowing them, in part, determines destiny. Galatians 6:7-8
- Christian disciplines are to be a source of joy because, if practiced, they free us. John 8:31-36
- Christian disciplines are a safeguard against the natural tendency of spiritual laziness. Proverbs 24:33-35.
- Christian disciplines are to put us on the path, and in the place, of deeper transforming intimacy with God. James 4:8
- Hindrances to Practice of Disciplines
- Distractions. Hebrews 12:1-3
- Ingrained bad habits. Romans12:2
- Weariness. Isaiah 40:29-31
- Lack of longing. Psalm 42:1-2
- Conclusion: Christian discipline is not to be a drudgery, nor is it simply an exercise in will power alone. It is an acknowledgement of God working in us while at the same time we work out our salvation in practice. Philippians 2:12-13, Colossians 1:29.
“Joy is the keynote of all the disciplines. The purpose of the disciplines is liberation from the stifling slavery of self-interest and fear.” Richard Foster, Celebration of Discipline.
“Everybody thinks of changing humanity, and nobody thinks of changing themselves.” Leo Tolstoy
The Christian Disciplines: Meditation
*Note: only the last fifteen minutes or so of the message were recorded, but the entire outline is here. Sorry!
Key Idea: Part of discipleship (following Jesus) is the disciplined practice of practicing the Christian disciplines.
Purpose of Practicing: To grow closer to God so our lives are transformed to be less self-centered (dying to self) and more Christ-centered.
Warning: The Christian disciplines aren’t a means of salvation. We are saved by the work of Christ appropriated by faith. We are however, to grow in our walk with God and the disciplines are one means to do that. We are to be transformed into the image of Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18).
The Disciplines: Meditation, Prayer, Fasting, Study, Simplicity, Solitude, Submission, Service, Confession, Worship, Guidance and Celebration
Meditation: Key verses: Psalm 19:14; 1:2; 119:97, 101, 102, 148
- Christian Meditation vs. Eastern or secular forms of meditation.
- The focus of Christian meditation is an intense reflection on obedience and faithfulness. This is seen in the Psalms.
- Psalm 119:15 – meditate and reflect upon the face of Christ.
- Eastern meditation is an attempt to empty the mind while Christian meditation an attempt to fill the mind by focusing on the wonderful works of God.
- Be careful of what the vacuum (the empty space) is filled with.
- Detachment (if that’s really possible) is the goal of Eastern meditation using language such as merging with the cosmic mind. Christian meditation goes beyond detachment to attachment. We detach from life’s distractions so we can be better attached to God.
- Eastern meditation stresses an exploration of the subconscious (scary stuff sometimes); Christian meditation explores resting in Jesus.
- Pray God would guard your mind.
- The focus of Christian meditation is an intense reflection on obedience and faithfulness. This is seen in the Psalms.
- Practicing Christian Meditation
- Christian meditation is the practice of silencing our mind so that we can listen, hear and obey.
- Two Hebrew words for meditation:
- hagah: to mutter, ponder, or speak quietly to yourself
- siyach: to muse/reflect upon, then act on it (in obedience)
- Jesus practiced this in relation to His heavenly Father. John 5:19, 30.
- Two Hebrew words for meditation:
- Jesus says that his sheep hear his voice.
- We hear His voice primarily through His Word.
- Are we listening to hear his voice or all the voices of the world? John 10:1-5, 14
- Jesus invites us to sit still, be silent, and hear.
- He knocks; can we hear the knocking? Will we open the door? Revelation 3:20
- Get outside in God’s creation and reflect. Psalm 19:1
- Christian meditation is the practice of silencing our mind so that we can listen, hear and obey.
- Why Meditation Matters
- Produces spiritual stability. Psalm 1
- Leads to obedience. Joshua 1:8
- Renews the mind. Philippians 4:8
- Shapes our decisions. Luke 6:12
- Keeps us from shallow engagement. Psalm 119:18
- Conclusion: This week practice.
- Select a short passage.
- Slow down and read it repeatedly.
- Speak it, muttering it to yourself.
- Reflect deeply, asking questions.
- Apply. How will I obey?
- Further exploration: Classic Books on Christian Meditation
- Confessions – Augustine of Hippo
- The Imitation of Christ – Thomas a Kempis
- The Cloud of Unknowing – Anonymous
- The Practice of the Presence of God – Brother Lawrence
- Desiring God – John Piper
- Knowing God – J. I. Packer
The Christian Disciplines: Prayer
Key Idea: Part of discipleship (following Jesus) is the disciplined practice of practicing the Christian disciplines.
Purpose of Practicing: To grow closer to God so our lives are transformed to be less self-centered and more Christ-centered.
The Disciplines: Meditation, Prayer, Fasting, Study, Simplicity, Solitude, Submission, Service, Confession, Worship, Guidance and Celebration.
- Principles of Prayer:
- Prayer is to transform our desires and passions. James 4:3
- Prayer is listening and talking.
- We primarily hear God by meditating on scripture.
- 1 Samuel 3:10, Ecclesiastes 5:2
- Prayer is learned. Luke 11:1
- What do we learn from the model prayer?
- God is sovereignly above us and near us.
- Our Father (John 1:11-12); who art in heaven (James 1:17)
- God is sacred.
- Hallowed be Thy name (Exodus 3:5)
- We are to pray for His kingdom to come and will be done.
- God intervenes in our earthly affairs.
- We are daily dependent on God.
- We are to ask for forgiveness and forgive others, even praying for our enemies (Matthew 5:44)
- We are in a spiritual battle (Matthew 4)
- God is sovereignly above us and near us.
- What do we learn from the model prayer?
- Prayer requires persistence. Luke 18:1-8, Colossians 4:2, 1 Thessalonians 5:17
- Prayer is the way of obtaining mercy and grace. Hebrews 4:16
- Prayer requires humility. Luke 18:9-14
- Prayer is not for impressing people. Matthew 6:5-7
- Prayer changes circumstances. Exodus 32:11-14, Jonah 3:10.
- Prayer is framed and fueled by meditation on Scripture.
- Read and study the prayers in Scriptures. Psalm 143:5-6
- Prayer involves relinquishing our will to God’s will. Luke 22:42.
- Conclusion: One thing in the Christian life that we spend all our life doing is praying.
- Books on Prayer:
- Prayer, Richard Foster
- Prayer, Timothy Keller
- Pray Big, Alistair Begg
- A Guide to Fervent Prayer, Arthur Pink
- With Christ is the School of Prayer, Andrew Murray
- Books on Spiritual Disciplines:
- Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, Donald Whitney
- Celebration of Discipline, Richard Foster.
The Christian Disciplines: Fasting
Note: this message also only has the last fifteen minutes or so recorded. I apologize. We’ll get back in the swing of things soon!
Key Idea: Part of discipleship (following Jesus) is the disciplined practice of practicing the Christian disciplines.
Purpose of Practicing: To grow closer to God so our lives are transformed to be less self-centered and more Christ-centered.
The Disciplines: Meditation, Prayer, Fasting, Study, Simplicity, Solitude, Submission, Service, Confession, Worship, Guidance and Celebration.
- Fasting: Fasting is mentioned almost as many times as baptism in the Bible.
- Fasting is instructed by Jesus. Matthew 6:16-18, Matthew 9:14-15, Luke 18:12
- Fasts are found throughout the Bible. They fall into different categories:
- Normal – no food, just water.
- Jesus in wilderness didn’t eat for forty days. (Matthew 4:1-2)
- Doesn’t say he went without water.
- Partial – abstaining from certain kinds of food.
- Most notable example is Daniel.
- Absolute – No food or water for three days.
- Three days is the maximum time the body can go without water before things begin to break down.
- Supernatural – There are two supernatural fasts recorded in the Bible.
- Moses (Exodus 34:28) and Elijah (1 Kings 19:8) both went forty days without food or water.
- People who fasted in various ways, and for different reasons, in the Bible: Moses, Daniel (Daniel 9:3), Elijah, Esther (Esther 4:16), Anna (Luke 2:36-38), Paul (Acts 9:9), Jesus, Apostles (Acts 13:2-3).
- Normal – no food, just water.
- Fasting’s primary purpose is to create a deeper hunger for God.
- John 4:31-34
- Matthew 4:1-4
- “The birthplace of Christian fasting is homesickness for God.” John Piper
- Fasting exposes emotions and bad habits (sin) that need to be addressed.
- Ezekiel 16:49
- Philippians 3:18-19
- “Few disciplines go so radically against the flesh and culture.” Donald Whitney
- Fasting is associated with a call to repentance and dependence on God.
- The Jewish people were told to fast on the Day of Atonement.
- Leviticus 16:29-31
- Joel 2:12
- Acts 27:9
- Fasting puts you in a better place to listen for God’s guidance.
- Fasting helps us realize that sacrifice is a part of worship.
- Fasting is a reminder that we are to do all things to the glory of God.
- Conclusion: Fasting is not a means for manipulating God; we already have God’s love and attention. The primary purpose of fasting is to increase our hunger for God.
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