veti mission statement - api.ning.commspe387w2...week viii: final. 4 discipline of meditation in...
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Spiritual Disciplines
Instructor: Mike Marquez, M.A.
Victory Outreach Chino
For additional resources visit: TheVetiNetwork.com
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V.E.T.I. Mission Statement
Victory Education and Training Institute assists the Elders, Regional Pastors, and
Pastors in equipping there people to fulfill the mission and vision of Victory
Outreach International. The School does this by providing doctrinal correct,
practical oriented, centralized and decentralized training tailored to fit the mission
and people of Victory Outreach International.
Course Description:
This course is designed to expose the student to the various disciplines found in the Bible.
The course will help you firmly establish a sound theological life for functioning
spiritually in this 21st Century. The topics such as meditation, prayer, fasting, study,
simplicity, solitude, submission, service, confession, worship, guidance and lastly
celebration will be covered.
Course Format: The class will focus on spiritual formation, with information input from the instructor,
and opportunities for dialoging will be encouraged for all students.
Homework: You are required to purchase and read the book by Richard J.
Foster entitled Celebration of Discipline, ISBN # 0-446-51342-39 you will write a five
(5) page term paper for the class (details will be discussed in class).
Recommended Reading: Celebrating the Disciplines; A journal workbook to
accompany The Celebration of the Discipline text. ISBN # 0-06-069867-5.
Devotional Classics by Richard J. Foster and James Bryan Smith. ISBN 0-06-
069867-5
I. Course Goals: At the end of this course, students will:
A. Cognitive
Know the various spiritual disciplines and their purpose for our
lives.
Identify the difference between the inward and outward
disciplines.
B. Affective
Perceive God’s leading to apply various disciplines.
Experience the inner growth from application of the disciplines.
Discern God’s Spirit in a greater meaningful way.
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C. Behavioral
Be willful in the use of the spiritual disciplines.
Set individual and corporate time aside for spiritual exercise.
Be motivated to embark on a journey of spiritual growth.
D. Existential
Become more dynamic witness for the faith.
Be a greater asset to God and your local church.
II. Required Materials:
Bible
Spiritual Discipline Class Syllabus and home work sheets.
Celebrating the Disciplines, Richard Foster, Harper and Row,
ISBN #: 0-06-062839-1. Website: http://isbn.nu/0060628391
Many of the questions in your home work are taken from the journal work
book by Richard Foster and Kathryn A. Yanni and will be an asset to your
work and success in the class. If you are an instructor or pastor these books
will be a great addition to your library.
Course Schedule: reading assignments
Week I: Introduction – Spiritual Disciplines: Door to Liberation
Inward Disciplines
Week II: Meditation and Prayer: pages 15-46;
Week III Fasting and Study: pages 47-76
Outward Disciplines
Week IV: Simplicity and Solitude: pages 79-109;
Week V: Submission and Service: pages 110-140
Corporate Disciplines
Week VI: Confession and Worship: pages 143- 174;
Week VII: Guidance and Celebration: pages 175-2001
Week VIII: Final.
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Discipline of Meditation
In meditation … the perpetual presence of the Lord (omnipresence, as we say) moves
from a theological dogma into a radiant reality. “He walks with me and talks with me”
ceases to be pious jargon and instead becomes a straightforward description of daily
life. (Thomas Kempis)
The Old Testament book of Joshua sets out a form of meditation based on scripture:
“Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night,
so that you may be careful to do everything written in it, then you will be prosperous
and successful (Joshua 1:8)
Read the entire the chapter on Meditation and answer questions and be ready to elaborate
on them in class. (pgs. 15-32)
In your reading, what are three things that our adversary majors in to distract us?
(15-32) what is his objective?
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What is the meaning of Meditation? Be able to give at least two definitions found in
your reading.
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In Foster’s discussion of meditation as “Hearing and Obeying,” what insights does
he provide into what it means to be intimate with God?
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What happens in meditation? Does Meditation changes us, how and what happens?
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Have you ever held any of the views of meditation described in “Understanding
Misconceptions” on pages 20-21?
1 .Eastern forms of meditation stress what?
2. Christian Meditation, what is there emphasis?
What ideas can you find in this chapter that can help you “sanctify” your
imagination as part of your practice of meditation?
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Meditation exercises
Use the following ideas as you find them helpful for practicing meditation. Select one of
more Scripture passages (possibly selected from the list below, from any current Bible
reading you may be doing, or simply from your own personal favorites) to meditate on in
the coming weeks, perhaps one each week. How does your understanding of the truth in
these passages change or deepen as a result of your meditation on it?
Set aside one day per week to engage in “holy leisure.” Seek to integrate a meditative
way of life in your daily routines over the week(s) that you engage in this practice.
Reflect on your experiences with this practice by considering: “How can I continue to
replace frantic activity with holy leisure in my daily life?”
Scripture Passages for Meditation
Psalm 8 is a model for meditation on the glory of God revealed in the creation. (See also
Psalm 19.)
Psalm 46:10 provides insight into the nature and focus of meditation.
Psalm 119 is a rich collection of meditations on the Word of God, suggestive for the
practice as well as the benefits of meditation. You might want to select a few stanzas, or
perhaps the repeated refrain of delight in God’s commandments.
Matthew 26:36-46 records Jesus’ meditation in the Garden of Gethsemane, revealing his
responses to one of the most anguished moments of his life.
John 16:12-15 describes the presence and ministry of our Divine Guide, the Holy Spirit.
(See also the insights into the ministry of the Spirit in 1 Corinthians 2.)
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Discipline of Prayer
Meditation introduces us to the inner life, fasting is an accompanying means, study
transforms our minds, but it is the Discipline of Prayer that brings us into the deepest
and highest work of the human spirit. Real prayer is life creating and life changing.
“O though that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come” – Ps. 65:2
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him; for he that cometh to God must
believe that he is, and that he is the rewarder of them that diligently seek him” – Heb.
11:6
It is Gods nature to hear prayer
Our God is a God who hears and answers prayer! Prayer hearing is one of His attributes,
a part of His nature. He inspired the Psalmist to call him “Though that hearest prayer
“(Psa. 65:2). He selected that title Himself and He delights to be called the God that hears
prayer and answers prayer. Gods attributes, his character, are revealed in the titles given
him in scripture.
God’s mercy never changes; it is a part of His character, unaffected by changing
dispensations. Gods Holiness and righteousness never vary. He is always holy, always
righteous. The characteristics and attributes of God are unchanging and everlasting. He
says “Iam the Lord I change not” (Mal. 3:6). “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today
and forever” says Hebrews 13:8. God is in all generation the same God who delights to
hear, and does hear, and answers prayer. (Author unknown)
Read the entire the chapter on Prayer and answer questions and be ready to elaborate on
them in class. (pgs. 33-46)
What is real prayer, and what does it do? Class discussion; all are to contribute.
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Explain James 4:3 what does it involve?
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Name and tell me about some “Giants of the Faith” that excelled in prayer.
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What did the “Giants of the Faith” do to achieve there spiritual success?
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Can a child of God influence God threw prayer, if so, give illustration from scripture
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Name some of the philosophical questions that Fosters mentions about prayer. Page
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If real prayer is something we learn, then who will teach us, or how will we learn?
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Review the analogy of the TV set in determining what may be blocking our prayer.
Do you agree with the point made here that “we can know that our prayers are being
answered as surely as we can know that the television set is working”? Why or why not?
One of the most critical aspects in learning to pray for others is to get in contact with God
so that his life and power can flow threw us into others, how is this done?
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Kierkegaard once observed, “A man prayed, and at first he thought that prayer was
talking. But he became more and more quite until in the end he realized that prayer is
listening.” (Foster 39)
Listening to God is the necessary prelude to intercession. Class discussion, all must
elaborate.
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How should we come to God without making prayer to complicated?
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Make a list of prayers that God has answered.
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Prayer Exercises
Here are some suggestions from Richard Foster’s workbook that will help you
develop good discipline for prayer.
Class exercise; what has helped you in developing your prayer life?
1. Choose a good book on prayer to refresh and stimulate your practice. Read slowly
and reflectively, one portion at a time, while concurrently spending as much or more
time actually praying. Do not let reading become a substitute for praying.
2. Deepen your practice of intercessory prayer by choosing a few individuals or
groups for whom you will pray in an intensified way in coming weeks and months.
3. Establish a schedule of prayer times, and write down very specific requests,
changing or adjusting those requests as is appropriate during the duration of your
intensified intercession for them. During these prayer times, seek God’s leading by
listening for divine guidance regarding the nature of the prayer you are about to offer,
perhaps in the form of a mental picture of what the Spirit desires to do in this person’s
life.
4. Ask God to deepen your sensitivity to these persons over the course of time. Apply
the Discipline of study to heighten your awareness of their needs and circumstances.
5. Meditate on the truths you want to take hold in their lives by the power of the
Spirit of God. Celebrate the reality of God’s transforming work in their lives.
Consider asking a few trusted friends to pray for them as well, sharing your specific
requests, as it seems appropriate to do so.
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Scripture Passages on Prayer
Models of Intercession:
I Samuel 2:1-10 and Luke 1:46-55 (praise and thanksgiving for the miraculous work of
God in human history)
Ephesians 1:16-19 (for growth in spiritual depth and wisdom)
Philippians 1:3-6 (for partners in ministry)
I Thessalonians 1:2-3 (remembrance of fellow believers)
2. “How-to” Passages on prayer:
Psalm 62:8 (how to be honest in prayer)
Psalm 136:1-3, 26 (how to pray
Matthew 6:5-14 (how and what to pray)
John 15:7 (the proper context for expecting answers to prayer)
Ephesians 6:18 (when and how to pray)
Philippians 4:4-7 (how to experience joy and peace through prayer)
Hebrews 4:14-16 (how to approach God in prayer)
James 1:5-8 (how to approach God in prayer)
James 4:3 (how not to pray, and an explanation of unanswered prayer)
I John 3:19-24 (how to be confident in prayer)
3. The results of Prayer:
Isaiah 30:19-22 (God’s responsiveness to us; divine guidance)
Jeremiah 29:12-13 (God’s responsiveness to us)
Matthew 18:19-20 (what happens when we pray in community)
I John 1:9 (the prayer of confession)
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Discipline of Fasting
In Isaiah God makes it very clear on the type of “fast “that He wants; “is it a fast like this
which I choose, a day for a man to humble himself? Is it for bowing ones head like a reed
and for spreading out sackcloth and ashes like a bed? Will you call this a fast, even an
acceptable day to the Lord?” Is this not the fast that I choose, to loosen the bonds of
wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free and break
every yoke? Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry and to bring the homeless poor
into the house; when you see the naked to cover him; and not to hide yourself from your
own flesh?
Then your light will break out like the dawn, and your recovery will speedily spring
forth; and your righteousness will go before you. The Glory of the Lord will be your rear
guard.
Then you will call and the Lord will answer; you will cry and the Lord will say, “Here
I am” (Isa.58:5-9)
The Great Commission: “ Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and low Iam with you
always even to the end of the age. Mathew 28:19, 20
“When you fast” – Not “if”; When you give alms ….when you pray…. When you fast –
Mathew 6:2, 5, 16. Jesus taught the disciples how to live a life pleasing to Him, fasting
has never been an option.
Fasting reminds us that we are sustained “by every word that proceeds from the
mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). Food does not sustain us; God sustains us.
Read the entire the chapter on Fasting and answer questions and be ready to
elaborate on them in class. (pgs. 47-61)
Fosters states that the shrines of our modern contemporary landscape, make us feel out of
step? Why? (pg.47)
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Give two reasons for the total disregard for fasting? ( bot. 47, top 48 )
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Study the “who’s who” list of biblical fasters-those from church history as well as those
outside Judeo-Christian heritage. Why do you think they valued fasting so much? Why
does modern society devalue it so much? How do you account for the difference?
(Pg.48)
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In scripture what is the normal way of fasting and are there different fasts that we can do?
(pg. 49)
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Is fasting a commandant? Is Mathew 6:16 a commandant? (pg.52, 53)
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Fasting Exercising
In Fosters workbook He has this list;
o For beginners: as you feel God leading you to so, try one brief fast, once per
week, of two meals’ duration – for example, skip lunch and dinner or perhaps
you may decide to skip dinner and the following morning’s breakfast.
o For those already experienced with fasting: as you seek God’s leading,
consider possibilities such as two brief fasts per week, during which you focus
on a particular purpose of central concern in your life right now; or a whole
day fast once per week; or set aside a period of fasting related to an upcoming
event in your life, a need to clarify major life decisions or direction, or a
sacred season or holy day.
o General: engage in a partial fast by abstaining from a particular kind of food
or beverage (solid foods, foods with a high-sugar content, caffeine, and so on).
o General: fast from some activity unrelated to food as a way of breaking a
pattern or desisting from behavior that is in some way compulsive, unhealthy,
or problematic. For example, you might feel led to fast from:
Watching TV
The media (as a gratification of the need for “instant information”
about anything and everything; instead, use the time to reflect on what
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is significant in life, and see if this gives you a clearer perspective on
social events)
Any reading that has become a false substitute or way of avoiding
something you need to face.
Self-deprecating remarks
Offering an opinion before being asked to do so
Non-medical use of substances
Excessive busyness or overachievement
o Ask a group of people from your family or church to consider fasting together
for a common purpose – whether related to an issue of concern within the
group, or to a needy context outside the group that is a focus of ministry or
service. Clarify the timing and duration of your fast, and plan to break your
fast together with prayer, thanksgiving and rejoicing.
Scripture passages on Fasting
Isaiah 58 reveals God’s displeasure with fasting as an empty human ritual of
religious performance, divorced from a life-changing relationship of obedience
that results in intimacy with God and ethical integrity in our individual and
communal relationships.
Zechariah 7:5-6 addresses the motives and underlying purposes of fasting. (Read
the surrounding context, at least 7:1-8:8, for a sense of what God wanted His
people to turn away from, and what he wanted to do in their lives.)
Matthew 4:1-4 records Jesus’ profound statement, when the devil challenged Him
during his fast in the wilderness, regarding the provision of God. See also John
4:31-34. (Note that Jesus combined fasting and solitude as a way of strengthening
Himself for the coming trial of temptation.)
Matthew 6:16-18 records Jesus’ corrective for religious people who corrupt their
spiritual practices by using them as tools for achieving personal pride and social
status.
Acts 13:1-3 cites an instance of group fasting, in combination with other
Disciplines, in the context of commission for ministry.
Galatians 5:13 is a reminder that freedom in Christ is not a license for indulgence,
but an opportunity for serving in love.
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The Discipline of Study
Knowledge that is self discovered is stored in the deepest part of the mind and remains
the longest, in memory. There is no Jewel more precious than that which you have mined
yourself. Howard Hendricks
“Teach me, O Lord, to follow every one of your principals. Give me understanding and I
will obey your law; I will put it into practice with all my heart” Psalm 119:33-35
“You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free” (John 8:32). Good feelings
will not free us. Ecstatic experiences will not free us. Getting “high on Jesus” will not
free us. Without knowledge of the truth, we will not be free.
“He that studies only men will get the body of knowledge without the soul; and he that
studies only books, the soul without the body. He that to what he sees, ads observation,
and to what he reads, reflection, is on the right road to knowledge, provided that in
scrutinizing the hearts of others, he neglects not his own.” Caleb Colton
Read the entire the chapter on Study and answer questions and be ready to
elaborate on them in class. (pgs. 62-76)
What is the purpose of the spiritual disciplines? What is the aim? (pg 62)
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Why do Christians remain in bondage to fears and anxieties? (pg 62)
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What is study? (pg. 63)
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How are ingrained habits formed? (bot. Pg. 63)
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Discuss Deuteronomy 11:18 what is the purpose of this instruction? (pg. 64)
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What four steps does study involve, name them and explain how they work? (pg.64)
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Where do you think the Disciplines of study and meditation overlap? (pg.65)
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How would you describe the difference between knowledge and wisdom? (bot. pg 65,
66)
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What do you think are the major distinctions between reading a book and studying a
book? Between reading Scripture and studying Scripture? (pg.69)
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2.
In your experience, how does “live discussion” of what you are reading affect your
interaction with the material? Do you seek out others for this kind of discussion?
Why or why not? (pg 68)
Where can you go to study? Why is the place important? (pg.71)
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What are the points given to study found in page71?
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What is the key to remember in the discipline of study? (bot pg.72)
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Study is well worth our most serious effort!
The Inductive Study Method will teach us three basic skills to ensure our understanding
of Gods word. Living by the Book; Howard G. Hendricks and William D. Hendricks is
the author of this teaching.
I. Finding the facts (observation)
1. Read the passage through several times before you write anything down. Read
enthusiastically, read it as if it were the very first time, maybe it is.
2. Start with simple observations about the text. Is it a letter? A poem? A proverb? A
narrative? A prophetic message?
Who? – Who is writing? Who is he writing to? Who are the people in the text? Who was
the text originally for?
What – What is happening? What is being said to (or about the people)? What is the
order of events?
Where? – Where are the people in the text? Where are they coming from or going to?
Where is the writer? Where is the story located?
When – When did these events take place? When was the writer writing? When did he
intend for his readers to read this? When were the events prophesied, and supposed to
take place?
Why – Why is the writer saying these things? What purpose?
How – How do these details have an impact on this passage?
3. Look for things that are:
Emphasized – How much does the writer give to one topic as compared to another?
Repeated – Do you see the same word, or phrase, or thought repeated?
Related – Is there a question and answer? A cause and effect? (e.g. “therefore “What is
it therefore? Look to the previous verse to find the context).
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Alike – Does the writer use similes? “As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul
pants for the O God” – Psalm 42. Does the writer use metaphor? Jesus said, “I’ am the
vine…you are the branches…John 15
Unlike – Does the writer use contrast? The word “but” is a signal to look for contrast.
“Now the deeds of the flesh are evident …but the fruit of the spirit is…Gal. 5
II. Finding the Spiritual Lessons (Interpretation)
What does the passage mean?
A spiritual lesson is a time less truth or general principal that would apply to anyone. It
reveals God’s Character, or His plan, or instructs us about life. When you look for a
spiritual lesson, be careful not to isolate a section of scripture from the rest of the
passage---- keep it in context. Ask yourself, “What lesson would the original readers get
from this? Do I see another lesson as well?” Do not try and stretch the scripture to
support an idea that is not there.
Be sure you understand how the words in the passage are used; consult a Bible
concordance / dictionary for help.
Consider the figure of speech; is it meant to be taken literally or figuratively?
Consider whether other scriptures can support the lesson.
To find a spiritual lesson, ask questions such as:
a. Is there an example to follow?
b. Is there an error to avoid?
c. Is there a promise to claim?
d. Is there a command to obey?
e. Is there a condition to meet?
f. Is there a challenge to face?
g. Is there a warning to heed?
H. Is there sin to avoid?
I. Is there Biblical “truth given”?
III. Making Application
What does the passage mean to me? Be personal …….
This is where change comes. Remember: God does not want us gust to know – He wants
us to grow. God’s Word does not bear fruit in our lives because we understand it, but
because we apply it. Don’t just settle for knowledge- think of how God wants to turn that
knowledge into experience.
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Consider…….
a. How does this alter how I look at God?
b. How does this affect my attitude/ behavior toward others?
c. What change/ changes is God requiring of me to bring me into line with His will?
d. What course of action must I take to make this lesson a real part of my life?
e. What has hindered me in the past?
f. What must I get rid of to apply this lesson?
g. Put the spiritual lesson in the form a question that you may ask yourself or another
person.
Scripture Passages on Study This list can be found in Richard Fosters Work Book Celebrating the Disciplines
Psalm 8 models the fruit of studying creation as evidence of God’s majesty.
Ecclesiastes 12:12-13 warns that study for the sake of study is not enough: it must
be done in service to deepening our obedience to God.
Matthew 22:37-40 sums up what God wants of us-including the use of our mind
in loving God.
Luke 18:11 captures the posture of a person whose perpetual self-deception cuts
him off from understanding others and the common humanity they share. (Read
the surrounding context, 18:9-14, to understand the parable in which this
character plays a central role.
John 5:39-40 contains a warning about people who study diligently but do not
embrace and live according to the truth revealed in what they study.
John 8:31-32 declares the life-changing fruit of knowing the truth.
Romans 12:1-2 calls us to offer our whole selves to God by seeking
transformation through the renewing of our minds.
`Philippians 4:8 lists the content of what our minds should be dwelling on. (Do
not over spiritualize this list. Good and lovely things can be found in many
contexts.)
2 Timothy 2:15 affirms the importance of knowing the truth well enough to
“explain” it rightly.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 lists the purposes that the study of Scripture can accomplish in
our lives.
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The Discipline of Simplicity
When we are truly in this interior of simplicity our whole appearance is franker, more
natural. This true simplicity……makes us conscious of a certain openness, gentleness,
innocence, gaiety, and serenity, which is charming when we see it near to and
continually, with pure eyes. O, how amiable this simplicity is! Who will give it to me? I
leave all for this. It is the pearl of the Gospel.
Simplicity sets us free to receive the provision of God as a gift that is not ours to keep
and can be freely shared with others. Foster pg. 85
Read the entire the chapter on Simplicity and answer questions and be ready to
elaborate on them in class. (pgs. 79-95)
What does Foster mean by Simplicity is freedom? Duplicity is bondage? (pg 79)
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2.
What is an inward and outward life- style?
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2.
Discuss Divine Center Page 80
What is the Biblical attitude toward Simplicity? (Pg 82-85) read 85
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3.
On page eighty-six what does Foster say is the Central point for the Discipline of
Simplicity?
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2.
The Outward expressions of Simplicity;
To describe simplicity only as an inner reality is to say something
false. The inner reality is not reality until there is an outward
expression.
Discuss the 10 points given by Foster pages 90-95
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Exercises in the Discipline of Simplicity
Take a personal inventory of where your attitudes coincide with or depart from
the inner attitudes of simplicity by responding honesty to the following three
groups of questions: (pg. 127 Foster and Yanni work book)
1. Do I trust everything in my life to Gods care and protection? How much time
and energy do I spend worrying about what might happen to people, things, or
circumstances in my life? What patterns of thought or behavior in my life arises
out of an anxious attempt to control the unknown or eliminate uncertainties.
2. “Do I trust everything in my life to God’s care and protection? How much time
and energy do I spend worrying about what might happen to people, things, or
circumstances in my life? What patterns of though or behavior in my life arises
out of an anxious attempt to control the unknown or eliminate uncertainties?”
3. “Am I free to make my possessions and resources available to others? Or do I
cling to them in fear that sharing means losing? What am I willing to share, and
what am I not willing to share? Where do I exhibit a selfishness that God wants
me to let go of?” (ibid 128)
4. Memorize and meditate on a key passage about the kingdom, such as Matthew
6:25-33 (see other Scripture passages listed in the following section).
5. Combine prayer and meditation in listening to God for guidance in how to seek
God’s kingdom and above all other concerns.
6. Study Scripture passages, commentaries, and topical books on the subject of
the Kingdom of God.
7. Set aside periods of fasting in which you affirm that seeking the Kingdom
should be our primary focus; food and material necessities will be provided by
God and should not occupy our primary attention or concern.
8. Practice solitude as a way of quieting the clamor of the everyday concerns
Jesus calls us to leave behind in our seeking of the Kingdom.
9. Look for ways to submit to the authority of the Kingdom of God, rather than
living as though you are under only your own authority. Surrender body, mind,
and spirit to the Lord’s purpose, not your own.
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Scripture Passages on Simplicity
1. Psalm 62, which is a profound expression of trust in God, declares the insubstantial
nature of earthly life and goods.
2. Psalm 78 records the Israelites’ failure to trust God for their needs, despite His
miraculous intervention. (See especially verses 18-22)
3. Matthew 6:25-33 reveals the foundational orientation in life that undergirds the
Discipline of Simplicity. (See also Luke 12:13-34)
4. Matthew 13:44-46 contains two brief parables teaching that the Kingdom is to be
cherished above all earthly possessions.
5. Luke 10:38-42 records Jesus’ affirmation of what is most important in life, above
the worries and distractions of daily living.
6. Acts 2:44-45 provides a glimpse of the freedom and generosity that characterized
the life-style of believers in the early church.
7. Philippians 4:11-13 addresses the issue of freedom from anxiety regarding the
nature of our circumstances. (Foster and Yanni pg 130)
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The Discipline of Solitude
Settle yourself in Solitude and you will come upon Him in yourself - Teresa of Avila
(Foster 96)
Don’t you feel a tug, a yearning to sink down into the silence and solitude of God?
Don’t you long for something more? Doesn’t every breath crave a deeper, fuller
exposure to His Presence? It is the Discipline of Solitude that will open the door.
You are welcome to come in and listen to God’s speech in His wondrous, terrible,
gentle, loving, all-embracing silence. (Foster 109)
Read the entire the chapter on Solitude and answer questions and be ready to
elaborate on them in class. (Pg.96-109)
How would you define solitude in your own words?
1.
Do people like being alone?
1.
Do you need to have the light on to go to bed?
1.
Loneliness or clatter are not are only alternatives. We can cultivate an inner solitude and
silence that sets us free from loneliness and fear.
Loneliness is inner emptiness. Solitude is inner fulfillment
What kind of positive and negative images come to your mind when Solitude is
mentioned?
1. Jail
2. Freedom
Solitude is more a state of mind and heart than it is a place. Discuss (pg 96)
1. There is solitude of heart that can be maintained at all times.
2 Crowds, or lack of them, have little to do with this inward attentiveness
Page 97 Inward solitude has outward manifestations. There is the freedom to be
alone, not in order to be away from people but in order to hear the Divine whisper
of God
22
What is the purpose of Solitude? (pg 98)
1.
2.
Discuss:
James 3:1-12
Eccles. 3:7
James 3:6
Abraham Lincoln said “Better to remain silent and be thought
a fool than to speak and remove all doubt”
What is the Sacrifice of fools? Give scripture Eccles. 5:1, 5:2 page 99
1.
2.
Silence is one of deepest Disciplines of the Spirit simply because it puts a stopper on
all self justification. One of the fruits of silence is the freedom to let God be our
Justifier!
Discuss: spirit of bondage page 101
What is the Dark Night of the Soul? Page102
1.
2.
Exercises for the Discipline of Solitude Exercises can be found I n Foster and Yanni work book pg. 134-138
Remember that solitude is not simply “being alone.” Learn to practice it in the midst of
people as well as away from people. Draw on your relationships with others as you seek
the fruit of solitude: an increased sensitivity to others and a new freedom to be with
people.
To counteract the pull of demands and pressures on your life, take advantage of the “little
solitudes” in your daily routines for reorienting your perspective. Consider using these
times of inward quietness for: rest and refreshment; a checkpoint for evaluating whether
you are making conscious choices about how you spend you day and drifting with the
23
current of external forces; an interlude of communion with God; listening for the divine
Whisper of guidance for your day.
Practice the Discipline of Solitude in combination with one of the other Spiritual
Disciplines. For example:
1. Spend “little solitudes” in some form of intercession, such as flash prayers.
2. Set aside weekly sessions in a quiet place to practice “centering prayer” as a way
of releasing anxieties and concerns.
3. Meditate during regular walks in your neighborhood or a nearby park. Turn them into
special times of communion with God, pursuing what Thomas a Kempis calls “a familiar
friendship with Jesus.”
4. Spend time alone to study areas of your life in which silence is an unhealthy practice.
They might include, for example, fear of speaking up on justice issues; intimidation by
those in position, authority, or particular social status; anxiety regarding the effects of
confrontation; and more. Contrast these with your healthy practices of silence to gain
better self-understanding.
5. If you are struggling with control of the tongue, spend part or all of one day each week
without words. While you refrain from speech, reflect on why this area is difficult for
you.
6. Seek the recreating stillness of silent communion with God. Orient your mind and
heart in wordless prayer and meditation. Shed the clutter and clatter of everyday living in
order to return to your routines cleansed and refreshed.
7. Pursue God’s leading for reorienting your life goals.
8. If you are undergoing a period of darkness, enter into the deep, inner, listening silence
that will lead you to accept rather than fight the dryness, confusion, lost ness, or
loneliness you may be suffering. Seek openness to God’s purposes in this experience
rather than release from it.
Scriptures Passages on Solitude
1. Psalm 23, a lyrical meditation on the gracious provision of God, comments on the
spiritual refreshment God gives us in quietness (see especially verses 1-3).
2. Ecclesiastes 5:1-2 contrasts rash speech with reverent silence.
3. Isaiah 30:15 declares the profound importance of rest and quietness.
4. Zephaniah 3:17 identifies the nature of the inner fulfillment that may be found in
solitude.
5. The Gospels cite many instances in which Jesus taught or practiced solitude:
A. In response to tragic news – Matthew 14:12-13
b. In order to pray – Matthew 14:23, Luke 5:16.
C. In company with his closest companions – Matthew 26:36-46.
D. Amid the demands of ministry – Mark 1:32-39.
e. In counseling His disciples to rest from the demands of ministry – Mark 6:30-32.
F. In seeking guidance for making major decisions – Luke 6:12-13.
g. To elude the crowd’s attempts to control the events of His life – John 6:15.
h. James 3:1-12 discusses the roots, the manifestations (Foster and Yanni 138)
24
The Discipline of Submission
A Christian is a perfectly free lord of all, subject to none. A Christian is a perfectly
dutiful servant of all, subject to all.
Martin Luther p. 110
In submission we are at last free to value other people. Their dreams and plans become
important to us. We have entered into a new, wonderful, glorious freedom – the freedom
to give up our own rights for the good of others. For the first time we can love people
unconditionally. We have given up the right to demand that they return our love.
Read the entire the chapter on Submission and answer questions and be ready to
elaborate on them in class. (Pg.110-125)
Why does Foster state that the Discipline of Submission can be abused or manipulated by
some?
1.
2.
What is the purpose of the Disciplines, what is the aim? p110
1.
2.
Foster states that every Discipline has its corresponding freedom, what freedom
corresponds to submission? p111
1.
2. Meditate on pros and cons of having your own way.
Biblical teaching on submission focuses on what? p112
1.
2.
Discuss the Touchstone for Biblical teaching in Mark 8:34-35 what is meant by pick up
your cross, losing your life and finding it again? p 113
1.
2.
Does self denial mean the loss of our identity? Explain p114 (read entire page)
1.
25
2.
What is meant by revolutionary subordination as taught by Jesus? Also define “cross
death and cross life.” P115-116
1.
2.
Read and discuss Revolutionary Subordination as taught in the Epistles p117-120
1.
2.
When does submission reach its end, or does it? Pg.120
1.
2.
What are the seven acts of submission?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Exercises for Submission
Suggestive exercises from Foster and Yanni work book pg 143
Submit yourself to God by performing acts of unconditional love for others. Ask God
to show you ways in which you can submit to their interests without expecting
anything from them in return.
1. If someone asks you to do something that is usually someone else’s responsibility,
do it cheerfully.
2. If you find yourself in disagreement over something that is not a genuine issue of
concern, yield to the other point of view.
3. If you are criticized unfairly, resist the impulse to defend yourself.
4. If a friend or family member wants you to do something you don’t feel like doing,
do it anyway, freely and graciously.
5. Spend ten to fifteen minutes each morning in listening prayer as you submit the
coming day to God’s purposes.
26
6. Submit yourself to the Scripture by hearing it preached in worship. Then reflect on
the same text in your own sessions of meditative reading and study. Make it your
goal to hear, receive and obey the Word.
7. Submit to the interests of others in your family community by taking time to listen
carefully to family members.
8. Look for small, hidden acts of service you can perform for neighbors and
acquaintances.
Scripture Passages on Submission
Genesis 50:15-21 records the reconciliation of Joseph with his brothers, who had
grievously wronged him many years before. Joseph’s response models the godly
submission that characterized his entire life. (For the origin of the conflict see
Genesis 37 ff.)
Psalm 32:8-9 emphasizes the importance of voluntary submission to God’s
instruction and guidance.
Mark 8:34-35 (see also Luke 9:23-24) records Jesus’ foundational teaching on
self-denial – which paradoxically, is the way to self-discovery.
Ephesians 5:21 contains the key instruction for mutual subordination out of
reverence for Christ that is the foundation for submission within family life.
Philippians 2:3-9 presents Jesus’ life of servant hood and death on the cross as the
model for our way of living with each other.
I Peter 2:13-25 places submission to human authority in the larger context of our
calling to follow the example of Christ’s submission. (See also Romans 13:1-7.)
(ibid 146)
27
The Discipline of Service
Learn the lesson that, if you’re to do the work of a prophet, what you need is not a scepter
but a hoe.
Bernard of Clairvaux p126
True service builds community. It quietly and unpretentiously goes about caring for the
needs of others. It draws, binds, heals, and builds. Foster 129-130
Read the entire the chapter on Service answer questions and be ready to elaborate
on them in class. (Pg.126-140)
Discuss the opening statement “As the Cross is the sign of submission, so the towel is the
sign of service.” p126
1.
2.
What was Jesus example to the Disciples that they were to follow? p126
1.
2.
Radical self-denial gives the feel of adventure. But in service we must experience the
many little deaths of going beyond ourselves. Service banishes us to the mundane,
the ordinary, and the trivial.
More than any other single way what is worked out in our lives threw the Discipline
Service? p130
1.
Humility is one of those virtues that are never gained by seeking it. Of all the classical
disciplines, service is the most conducive to the growth of humility! Nothing
disciplines the inordinate desires of the flesh like service, and nothing transforms
the desires of the flesh like serving in hiddenness!
The Apostle John writes “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of
the eyes and the pride of life is not of the Father but of the world” 1 John 2:16 p130
Explain
1 “Lust of the flesh,”
2. “Lust of the eyes,”
28
3. “Pride of Life,”
In each case the same thing is seen: infatuation with natural human powers and
abilities without any dependence upon God.
William Law in His book “A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life” He urged that
every day should be viewed as a day of humility. How did He suggest doing this? p131
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
The fruit of this will be the Grace of Humility
What is Service in the marketplace? Is it a new life style? p134
1.
2.
List the Seven “services” we can do found on pages 136-139
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Exercises for Discipline of Service
Suggestive exercises found in Fosters and Yanni work book pg. 150-151
Remember that Service, like submission, is to be undertaken voluntarily and joyfully.
Ask yourself these questions;
1. “Am I serving in the frantic energy of human effort, or am I serving in sensitivity to
God’s promptings?”
2. “Do I wait for opportunities that seem important enough to merit my service, or am
I willing to act on any and all opportunities that come my way?”
3. “Am I focused on the approval of people, or on the approval of God?”
4. Do I judge the value of my serving based on outcome, or do I take delight simply in
serving?”
29
5. “Do I make judgments about whether someone is worthy of my service, or do I
view myself as the servant of all, regardless of their status, position, or receptivity to
me?”
6. Do I serve only when I feel like it, or am I faithful to continuing serving regardless
of my feelings?”
7. “Do I view servanthood as a role to take on and put off, or do I accept it as a
permanent lifestyle?”
8. “Do I insist upon serving others according to what I think they need, or do I listen
and wait without forcing opportunities to help.
9. Is my service focused on building community or glorifying my individual role in
it?”
Scriptures on Service
Reflect on the following Scripture passages to motivate and guide you in developing
a servant lifestyle. (ibid 152-153)
1. Joshua 24:14-27, a record of Joshua’s challenge to the people of Israel to renew
their covenant with God, provides insight into the all-or-nothing commitment to
servanthood which God asks of us.
2. Isaiah 52:13-53:12 describes the ministry of God’s suffering servant, the Messiah
of Israel. (See also Isaiah 42:1-9, 49:1-7, and 50:4-9.)
3. Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 20:25-28 and Mark 9:33-35 reverses the world’s value
system in the priority it places on service.
4. John 13:1-20 recounts Jesus’ dramatic teaching of servanthood as He washed the
disciples’ feet and set an example for all believers.
5. I Corinthians 12:1-11 affirm the legitimacy of the service that each of us is
equipped by the power of the Spirit to offer. Paul emphasizes that the purpose of
these gifts is for serving the common good, not for gaining individual advantage or
status.
6. Ephesians 6:5-9 and Colossians 3:22-25 define the inner nature of servanthood
amid the external realities of unjust treatment
30
Discipline of Confession
God has given us our brothers and sisters to stand in Christ’s stead and make God’s
presence and forgiveness real to us. (Foster 147)
The Confession of evil works is the first beginning of good works. (St. Augustine)
It is an abuse to confess any kind of sin, whether mortal or venial, without a will to be
delivered from, since confession was instituted for no other end.
(St. Frances de Sales: Introduction to a Devout Life, XIX)
It is the duty of nations as well as men to confess there sins and transgressions in humble
sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy.
(Abraham Lincoln: Proclamation, March 30, 1863)
Read the entire the chapter on Confession and answer questions and be ready to
elaborate on them in class. (Pg.143-157)
At the heart of God is the desire to give and forgive (Exodus 34:6, 7)
1. What was it that God gave?
2. What was it that God forgave?
I was Gods love that sent Jesus to the Cross not His anger. His intention was…….
1.
2.
3.
Jesus took in all the violence, all the fear, and all the sins of all the past,
all the present, and all the future. This was His highest and most holy
work, the work that makes confession and forgiveness of sins possible.
1 John 1:9 If we confess or sins Jesus is faithful and righteous to forgive our sins, and
cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
31
The Redemptive Process is a great mystery hidden in the heart of God. It is the ground
upon which we know that confession and forgiveness are realties that transform. Tell me
about this great mystery.
1.
2.
The Discipline of Confession helps the believer grow into………. (Eph 4:13)?
1.
2.
Class discussion; explain what these scriptures mean. Is there a contradiction?
1.
2.
What are the three things necessary for a good confession?
1.
2.
3.
The Discipline of Confession brings an end to pretending. God is calling
into being a Church that can openly confess its frail humanity and know the
forgiving and empowering grace of Christ. Honesty leads to confession, and
confession leads to change. May God give grace to the Church once again to
recover the Discipline of Confession!
32
Exercises on the Discipline of Confession
Suggestions are from Foster and Yanni; Celebrating the Discipline.
1. Meditate on the death of Christ as God loves sacrifice of forgiveness.
2. Study a few key Scripture passages and memorize two or more of them. Dwell on
these passages meditatively and prayerfully.
3. Study a classic Christian writer on the subject of sin and forgiveness. Pray for inward
illumination as you read.
4. Meditate on areas in which you find it difficult to accept God’s forgiveness. Set aside
times of solitude for listening prayer. Seek guidance from others to help you identify the
blockages. Open yourself to experiencing the reality of God’s presence and forgiveness
through a fellow believer.
5. Enter into a mutual commitment with another believer for regular sessions together in
which you will focus on confession, forgiveness, thanksgiving, and praise. As an
alternative to discussing issues that come up day-to-day, you might choose to focus your
time together on nagging or long-term struggles to find release from self-condemnation
or to let go of long-standing bitterness. Together, seek the manifestation of God’s
transforming work in the joy arising from celebrating the forgiveness of sins.
6. Through your practice of corporate confession, seek the transforming work of the
Spirit in preparing you to minister to those who confess sin to you. Seek the help of a
spiritual mentor or support group in the following areas:
7. Deepening your understanding of the common frailty of the human condition and the
boundless grace and mercy of God’s acceptance.
8. Increasing your ability to keep a confidence.
9. Freeing you from any impulses to control or “straighten out” others.
10. Reflecting the love and grace of God.
11. Cultivating the gift of spiritual discernment.
12. Practicing listening silence with others.
13. Praying for healing in the proclamation of forgiveness and the laying on of hands.
Scriptures on the discipline of Confession
1. Nehemiah 1:4-11 and Daniel 9:4-19 record prayers in which individuals confess not
just personal sins but the sins of an entire community and race.
2. Psalm 32:1-5 illuminates the crucial connection between confession and the experience
of God’s forgiveness.
3. John 20:19-23 records Jesus’ post-resurrection appearance to His disciples, in which
He commissioned them for ministry and granted them authority to forgive sins in His
name or to withhold this ministry of forgiveness.
4. James 5:16 calls us to confession in community.
5. I John 1:5-10 teach central truths about the universality of sin, the importance of
confession, and the assurance of forgiveness.
33
Discipline of Worship
“Worship is our response to the overtures of love from the heart of the Father.”
Celebration of Discipline 158
“Worship is to quicken the conscience by the holiness of God, to feed the mind with the
truth of God, to purge the imagination by the beauty of God, to open the heart to the, to
the love of God, to devote the will to the purpose of God.” William Temple
“God is to be worshiped by faith, hope and love.” St. Augustine
Read the entire the chapter on Worship and answer questions and be ready to
elaborate on them in class. (Pg.15843-174)
To worship is to experience reality, to touch life. It is to know, to feel, to experience the
resurrected Christ in the midst of the gathered community. I this is true, elaborate on this
in a sentence or two.
1.
2.
God is seeking “true worshipers,” John 4:23 Explain true worshipers
1.
2.
What are Gods efforts to restore<
1.
2.
Do forms and rituals produce worship? What are they for?
1.
2.
34
What or who is the object of worship? Are there any other things or people who are
worshiped?
1.
2.
In the priority of worship; the first commandment of Jesus, “Love the Lord your God
with all your heart, and with all your mind, and with all your strength” (mark 12:30).
What is Divine Priority?
1.
2.
I preparation for worship, what did the people gather for? What do you gather for?
1.
2.
How do you cultivate “Holy Expectancy?”
1.
2.
Who is the leader of worship?
1.
What are some avenues to worship?
1.
2.
Name the seven steps to worship.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
Define the fruit of worship. What does worship do to an individual?
1.
35
Exercises on Worship
Suggestions are from Foster and Yanni work book pg 177
1. Set aside at least one or two sessions for reflection and prayer. Study key Scripture
passages about worship.
2. Take your reflections to a close friend or spiritual adviser. Ask that person to respond
to where you are now and how you ought to be thinking about growth in worship.
3. Gather a small group of people together for an informal session of worship and praise.
4. Practice intercessory prayer for the human worship leaders in your next gathering.
Ask Christ to draw you and others into intimate communion with God as the gifts of the
Spirit are exercised and received.
5. If possible, obtain Scripture texts for the service in advance. Read and study them
before you gather for worship. Dwell on them prayerfully in the days leading up to your
gathering.
6. Cultivate a holy expectancy by developing a worshipful spirit in the week prior to your
gathering.
7. Fast for a period of time before the worship service in order to center on
contemplative adoration of God. Plan to break your fast after worship with a few others
(who may also choose to fast in preparation with you). Celebrate God’s good gifts –
chief among them your common life in Christ.
8. Get together for worship with another person. Begin with confession as a way of
cleansing your spirits. (Consider how the other Disciplines – such as meditation, prayer,
fasting, and solitude – can be combined with this confession.) Then enter worship with
thanksgiving for God’s gracious forgiveness in Christ.
36
Scriptures on Worship
1. Exodus 20:1-17 records the giving of God’s Law to Israel: the Decalogue, or the
Ten Commandments. See especially verses 2-6 for the primacy of worship.
2. Deuteronomy 4:32-39, part of Moses’ great parting speech to the Israelites, calls
God’s people to reflect on who God is and miraculous nature of God’s deeds.
3.1 Chronicles 16:8-36 and Psalm 100 are two of many recorded psalms or worship
and praise.
4. In John 4:24, Jesus describes the kind of worship that God desires us to offer.
5. Colossians 3:11-17 provides instructions for the common life to which we are
called, including the kinds of worship we are encouraged to offer to God in the
gathered fellowship.
6. Revelation prophetically pictures the ultimate and eternal worship for which we
were created. See especially: 4:1-5:14, 19:6-9; and 21:1-4.
37
Discipline of Guidance
[Paul] saw that the gifts of the Spirit were given by the Spirit to the body in such a way
that interdependence was ensured. No one person possessed everything. Even the most
mature needed the help of others. The most insignificant had something to contribute.
No one could hear the whole counsel of God in isolation. (Foster 179)
Guide; in our contemporary society who are the guides of this age?
1. What influence do they?
2. Who is making a greater impact the, church guides or the world? Why?
Something to think about as you proceed threw the chapter on Guidance.
Read the entire the chapter on Guidance and answer questions and be ready to
elaborate on them in class. (Pg.175-189)
Foster states, “ Many are having a deep and profound experience of Emanuel of the
Spirit- God with us; a knowledge that in the power of the Spirit Jesus has come to guide
his people himself; an experience of his leading that is as definite and as immediate as the
cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night”. (Foster 175)
Can you identify with this statement, and sensed the Devine guidance of God? Explain
this guidance.
1.
How does God get threw to us, how does he guide us?
1.
2.
3.
38
What is the pre-occupation of western society, and what is there emphasis?
1.
2.
3.
Biblical Perspective- History pg.176-177
1. God lead the children of Israel out of bondage as a people.
2. Everyone saw the cloud and fiery pillar and followed.
3. They were not individuals; they were a people under the theocratic rule of God.
4. Gods presence and immediacy was with them.
5. The people soon found Gods prance to awful, to glorious, Israel soon begged, “Let not
God speak to us lest we die. (Exodus 20:19)
6. So Moses became there mediator, this began a great string of prophets whose ministry
was to hear Gods word and bring it to his people.
7. This was a step away from the corporate leading of the Holy Spirit; there remained a
sense of being a people under the rule of God.
8. But there came a day when the people rejected even the prophet in favor of a king.
From that point on the prophet was an outsider, he was a lonely voice crying in the
wilderness, sometimes obeyed, sometimes killed, but almost always outside!
9. Patiently God prepared a people and in the fullness of time Jesus came and with Him
dawned a new day.
10. Once again a people were gathered who lived under the immediate theocratic rule of
the Spirit and He also showed them what it meant to live in response to the voice of the
Father.
11. He called them to work together, and said, “If two of you agree on earth about
anything they ask, it will be done for them by my heavenly father in heaven. For where
two or three are gathered in my name, there I’m in the midst of them. (Math. 18:19-20)
12. The Holy Spirit would be the advisor utilizing checks and balances of the different
believers to ensure that there hearts were in unity, His will plus there unity equaled
authority
13. They became a gathered people, one heart, one soul, they had nothing of there own,
they had all things in common.
14. They had become a fiery band of witnesses, declaring everywhere that Christ voice
could be heard and his voice obeyed. There most astonishing feature was there sense of
Corporate Guidance.
39
Can you identify with the stories? Give examples. Pg.177-178
1. Acts 13:1-3
2. Acts 15
What is the purpose of a spiritual director, and are they used today? p.185
1.
2.
3.
What are the qualities of a Spiritual director? p.186
1.
2.
3.
What are some forms of spiritual direction? p.186
1.
2.
3.
Limits and dangers of Corporate Guidance.p186-187
1.
2.
Exercises on Guidance
Suggestions from Foster and Yanni work book pg.177
1. Read a good book on spiritual guidance, and spend several weeks studying it.
Make your reading an active participation by taking notes, thinking critically and
posing questions, looking up Scripture references, and so on. Ask those with whom
you are in a guidance relationship to read the book as well. Possible books mentioned
in Celebration of Discipline include: Tilden H. Edwards, Spiritual Friend:
Reclaiming the Gift of Spiritual Direction; Henri Nouwen, the Way of the Heart; and
Barry A. Woodbridge, A Guidebook for Spiritual Friends.)
2. Seek God’s leading in exercising a spiritual gift you have been withholding.
Ask for the group’s response to a particular issue or decision you are facing.
Take action on a decision regarding some level of group involvement that you have
been contemplating recently.
3. In sensitivity to the guidance of the Spirit, address an unresolved issue that you
may have left hanging with someone in the group. (The Inward Discipline may be
helpful here in preparation for conducting a meeting or opening a dialogue.)
4. If God is using you in some way to provide spiritual direction for others, whether
regularly or sporadically, set aside several sessions for meditation, prayer, and
40
guidance to evaluate how you are remaining open to be used by God in this kind of
ministry. Search out the answers to such questions as:
Do I stay up to date on the social needs and forces that are shaping or pressuring the
lives of individuals around me?”
Am I increasingly sensitive to where others are in their spiritual journey?”
Do I stay honest with myself about where I am spiritually and emotionally, and am I
willing to be honest and vulnerable with others?”
Do I pray carefully, compassionately, and earnestly about those who look to me for
guidance?”
Am I aware that guidance is a two-way relationship, with Jesus as our ever-present
Teacher?”
Do I have resources in others who can advise me about giving spiritual direction?”
Do I rely on the leading of the Holy Spirit, the Scriptures, and the testimony of the
body of Christ to inform how I advise others, rather than on my own easily arrived at
opinions?”
Scriptures on Guidance
Proverbs 27:17 graphically pictures the growth that takes place in community.
Matthew 18:19-20 proclaims the assurance of divine presence and the power of
divine guidance for believers gathered in Jesus’ name.
Acts 2:1-4 recounts the commissioning of gathered believers on Pentecost. The entire
Book of Acts provides numerous models of divine guidance in the community of
faith. For example:
Conviction of sin – Ananias and Sapphira, 5:1-11
Faithfulness during persecution – the apostles before the Sanhedrin, 5:17-42.
Distribution of tasks in community ministry – the choosing of the seven 6:1-7.
Direction and focus of ministry – Peter and Cornelius, 10:1-48.
Sending out members on mission – Paul and Barnabus, 13:1-3.
Resolving divisive issues – the council at Jerusalem, 15:1-35
.
I Corinthians 10:23-11:1 provides guidelines for Christian freedom based on what
will benefit others both inside and outside the community of faith.
Galatians 6:1-10 teaches individual responsibility within the context of the shared life
of Christian community. (Foster and Yanni Pge. 180)
41
Discipline of Celebration
Definition of Celebration: A. to perform a sacrament or a Solomon ceremony publicly
and with appropriate rites. B. To honor as a holiday by Solomon ceremonies or by
refraining from ordinary business. C. To demonstrate satisfaction in festivities. To
observe a notable occasion with festivities, perform religious ceremonies.
Webster
Celebration is placed at the end of the book because joy is the end result of the spiritual
disciplines functioning in our lives. Without a joyful spirit of festivity the disciplines
become dull!
Foster
The decision to set the mind on the higher things of life is an act of the will. That is why
celebration is a Discipline. It is not something that falls on our heads. It is the result of a
consciously chosen way of thinking and living. When we choose this way, the healing
and redemption in Christ will break into the inner recesses of our lives and relationships,
and the inevitable result will be joy. Celebration of Discipline Pge. 195
The Christian should be an alleluia from head to foot!
Augustine of Hippo
Read the entire the chapter on Worship and answer questions and be ready to
elaborate on them in class. (Pg.190-201)
Celebration is at the heart of the way of Christ. He entered the world on a high note of
Jubilation: “I bring you good news of a great joy,” cried the angel, which shall come to
all people” (Luke 2:10) Read entire paragraph, break up in groups and discuss its
meaning. Remember ask the questions, what do I see? How do I interpret this? How do I
apply this to my life? p.190
1.
2.
3.
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The Good News produces Joy, Joy prompts us to celebrate, and we are called to a
perpetual Jubilee of the spirit. Johannes Hockendijk writes, “Jubilee is Exodus spelled out
in terms of social salvation”
What were the Old Testament stipulations of the year of Jubilee, and what is the basis for
Celebration? p.190
1.
2.
3.
What is absent and what is present in our contemporary society? p.191
1.
2.
Celebration brings joy into life and joy makes us strong Nehemiah 8:10 “the joy of the
Lord is our strength.” Give examples of these truths. p.191
1.
2.
3.
Celebration is central to al the disciplines, why?
1.
2.
3.
Ancient Israel was commanded to gather together three times a year to celebrate
the goodness of God. Those were festival holidays in the highest sense. They were
experiences that gave strength and cohesion to the people of Israel.p.192
The path of Joy: In the spiritual life what is it that produces Joy? Class discussion, give
examples, using scripture.p.192
1.
2.
3.
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When does Joy come to the believer and why? p.193
1.
2.
3.
The Spirit of Carefree celebration, Discuss the scriptures given in this section. p.194
1.
2.
3.
The benefits of Celebration: What are they? p.196
1.
2.
3
What is the practice of Celebration? Give scripture examples. p197
1.
2.
3.
Read the bottom of 2001 “Finis”
Exercises on Discipline of Celebration
Suggestions for the Discipline Celebration are from Foster and Yanni work book Pge.
192-193
Your practice of celebration at this point in your journey can involve looking back as
well as looking ahead. You can look back in joyful recognition of the transforming work
of God to which you have opened up your life through Spiritual Disciplines. You can
look ahead in trust that God is at work in your journey of growth to draw you ever more
deeply into the abundant freedom of life in the Spirit. In this context, celebrations of the
present moment can be truly joyful and carefree.
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1. Choose a quiet place for a time of solitary reflection on the following question: “In
what ways am I aware of God’s transforming work in my life during my journey through
the Disciplines?” As you reflect on your experiences, review your journal entries during
the time you have spent with this workbook. Look for attitudinal and behavioral changes.
2. Notice how your responses to people and circumstances may have shifted.
3. Write your thoughts down, perhaps in your journal reflections. Then share them with
someone – a close friend, a spiritual mentor, and a group – who can help you, affirm and
celebrate the work of God in your life.
.
4. A helpful image here comes from Psalm 84:5-7, which describes God’s people in
pilgrimage together:
Happy are those, whose strength is in you,
In whose heart are the highways to Zion?
As they pass through the valley of Baca,
They make it a place of springs;
The early rain also covers it with pools.
They go from strength to strength;
The God of gods will be seen in Zion.
5. Luke 4:18-19 records Jesus’ announcement that He had come to fulfill Isaiah’s
prophecy that the Messiah would set humanity free from the bondage of sin and all its
consequences.
6. Get together with several others for a few celebration gatherings. Look for ways to
participate in “singing, dancing, or noise-making” – or any other form of celebration – in
a spirit of thanksgiving and praise. You might choose to focus your time on something
specific to your experiences, or, alternatively, on the ways in which you see
manifestations of a general scriptural theme, such as:
o God’s ability to provide for all our needs (Ps. 66; Eph. 3:20-21; Phil.
4:19).
o God’s good gifts (Matt. 7:7-11; Phil 4:8; James 1:17).
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Scriptures on Celebration
Scripture begins in wonder and ends in praise – a celebration of the creative and
redeeming work of God wide enough to stretch across all of human history and deep
enough to contain all the tragedy, mystery, and glory of individual human lives,
centrally that of the God-man, Jesus Christ. Following are just a few of the passages
throughout the Bible that call us to the joyful living that is made possible by God’s
loving faithfulness.
Exodus 15:1-21 celebrates the Israelites’ deliverance from the Egyptian pharaoh’s
army.
2 Samuel 6:1-23 pictures a joyful celebration. Two twists in the story illuminate our
calling to obedience and to participation in the rejoicing community.
Psalm 126 is a moving and lyrical testimony to how the great deeds of the Lord call
forth joy from sorrow.
Luke 4:18-19 records Jesus’ words.
A note from the teacher: the material in a great portion in this class is from our text,
‘Celebration of Discipline and Celebrating the Disciplines (a work book) both by
Richard Foster. I’m indebted to the author for His outstanding work.