DOING THE SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES TOGETHER A Study Based on Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life By Donald S. Whitney PLACING OURSELVES IN THE PATH OF GOD S GRACE
BIBLE INTAKE LEARNING JOURNALING PRAYER SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES WORSHIP FOR THE PURPOSE OF SILENCE & SOLITUDE GODLINESS FASTING EVANGELISM SERVICE STEWARDSHIP
SO... HOW WE DOING? 60 # 50 For the purpose of godliness, I have taken steps to begin, renew, or enhance my practice of these disciplines: of People 53 # of Responses 44 40 Prayer 31 Bible Intake 24 30 Silence & Solitude 21 Worship Service Stewardship 15 Evangelism 13 Fasting 11 9 9 20 10 Haven't Started 3 0 # of People # of Bible Intake Responses Prayer Worship Evangelism Service Stewardship Fasting Silence & Solitude Haven't Started
WHAT IS A JOURNAL? A JOURNAL IS A PLACE (TANGIBLE OR DIGITAL) IN WHICH A PERSON RECORDS INFORMATION IMPORTANT TO HIM OR HER PERSONALLY FOR PRESERVATION OR CONSIDERATION Donald Whitney Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life
IS JOURNALING REALLY A BIBLICAL SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE? JOURNALING IS NOT MANDATED IN THE BIBLE BUT A FORM OF JOURNALING IS MODELED KING DAVID POURED OUT HIS SOUL TO GOD IN THE SCROLLS OF THE PSALMS
8 POTENTIAL BENEFITS 1. SELF-UNDERSTANDING AND EVALUATION 5. CREATING / PRESERVING A SPIRITUAL HERITAGE 2. MEDITATION 6. CLARIFYING / ARTICULATING INSIGHTS 3. EXPRESSING FEELINGS TO THE LORD 7. MONITORING GOALS AND PRIORITIES 4. REMEMBERING THE LORD S WORK 8. MAINTAINING THE OTHER SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES
WAYS TO KEEP A JOURNAL THE METHOD YOU FIND MOST EDIFYING AND USEFUL IN YOUR PURSUIT OF GODLINESS IS THE WAY YOU SHOULD KEEP A JOURNAL
LEARNING
CHOOSE YOU THIS DAY WHOM YOU WILL SERVE... Head Scholarship Study Truth HEART DEVOTION PASSION SPIRIT
Does it have to be head vs. heart?
5 MINUTE BIBLE STUDY WHAT DOES THE BOOK OF PRACTICAL WISDOM SAY ABOUT THE HEAD?
THE WISE PERSON IS A LEARNER WISE & RIGHTEOUS PEOPLE REMAIN TEACHABLE Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning. PROVERBS 9:9 (ESV)
THE WISE PERSON IS A LEARNER The wise lay up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool brings ruin near. WISE MEN AND WOMEN DESIRE TO LEARN BECAUSE THEY SEE KNOWLEDGE AS A TREASURE PROVERBS 10:14 (ESV)
THE WISE PERSON IS A LEARNER An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge. A WISE PERSON NOT ONLY ACQUIRES KNOWLEDGE BUT HE OR SHE SEEKS KNOWLEDGE AS WELL. PROVERBS 18:15 (ESV)
THE WISE PERSON IS A LEARNER Apply your heart to instruction and your ear to words of knowledge. A DURABLE YEARNING FOR LEARNING CHARACTERIZES THOSE WHO SEEK TO BE WISE PROVERBS 23:12 (ESV)
JESUS WAS A LEARNER 46 TO BE LIKE JESUS WE MUST BE LEARNERS After three days they found Him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers.... 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man. LUKE 2:46-47, 52 (ESV)
A DISCIPLE IS A LEARNER 3101 μαθητη ς mathetes math-ay-tes 3129 μανθα νω manthano man-than -o from 3129; n 1) to learn, be appraised 1) a learner, pupil, disciple 1a) to increase one s knowledge, to be increased in knowledge 1b) to hear, be informed 1c) to learn by use and practice
BEING A LEARNER IS BIBLICAL IT S THE WAY...... OF THE WISE... OF THE MASTER... OF THE DISCIPLE
THE PURPOSE FOR LEARNING There is a knowledge that puffs up (1Cor. 8:1) There is a knowledge that brings about godliness (Rom. 12:2)
LEARNING... 1. FULFILLS THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT 2. IS ESSENTIAL FOR INCREASED GODLINESS 3. IS MOSTLY BY DISCIPLINE, NOT BY ACCIDENT 4. CAN HAPPEN IN A VARIETY OF WAYS
LEARNING FULFILLS THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT 28 GOD HAS MADE US WITH A HARMONY OF HEART AND HEAD.... TO BE CENTRAL IN OUR HEARTS HE MUST BE FOREMOST IN OUR MINDS ~ R.C. SPROUL... Which commandment is the most important of all? 29 Jesus answered, The most important is, Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. MARK 12:28-30 (ESV)
LEARNING IS ESSENTIAL FOR INCREASED GODLINESS 5 WE BEGAN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE THROUGH LEARNING WE WILL GROW IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE THROUGH LEARNING... our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.... 6 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, 7so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. PHILIPPIANS 4:8-9 (ESV)
LEARNING IS MOSTLY BY DISCIPLINE, NOT BY ACCIDENT
LEARNING IS MOSTLY BY DISCIPLINE, NOT BY ACCIDENT AGE AND EXPERIENCE BY THEMSELVES DON T INCREASE YOUR SPIRITUAL MATURITY. THE DISCIPLINE OF LEARNING TRANSFORMS ACCIDENTAL LEARNERS INTO INTENTIONAL LEARNERS 6And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said: I am young in years, and you are aged; therefore I was timid and afraid to declare my opinion to you. 7 I said, Let days speak, and many years teach wisdom. 8But it is the spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand. 9It is not the old who are wise, nor the aged who understand what is right. JOB 32:6-9 (ESV)
LEARNING CAN HAPPEN IN A VARIETY OF WAYS LISTENING TO AUDIO BOOKS INTERNET AUDIO & VIDEO RECORDINGS TEACHING PROGRAMS ON CHRISTIAN RADIO STUDY GUIDES PURPOSEFUL DIALOGUE READING THE BEST BOOKS
READ A PAGE A DAY CHALLENGE 1 page a day 2 books a year n books between now and age 75 The hard part is establishing the discipline of reading a page a day... But bet ya can t read just one
LEARNING... 1. FULFILLS THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT 2. IS ESSENTIAL FOR INCREASED GODLINESS 3. IS MOSTLY BY DISCIPLINE, NOT BY ACCIDENT 4. CAN HAPPEN IN A VARIETY OF WAYS
HOMEWORK Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness by committing to one or more of the following: 1. Resolve, by God s grace and enable, to be an intentional learner 2. Determine how will you start & when 3. Try reading a page a day... See what happens
LEARNING
DOING THE SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES TOGETHER PLACING OURSELVES IN THE PATH OF GOD S GRACE