Chapter 19

We need to keep freedom in mind as we explore the theme of spiritual discipline. If we don’t, the demands of discipline will discourage us. We’re called to the freedom of discipline, not to the burden of discipline. The New Testament often uses athletic metaphors in its description of the Christian faith. No athlete trains just for the sake of training. Athletes train for what in the ancient world was called “the contest,” that is, athletic competition. Basketball players practice free throws at the end of every practice because they realize that in a real game, victory or defeat might come down to a last-minute free throw. In the Christian faith that larger purpose is learning to live for God in ordinary life, and to do so faithfully and fruitfully because we are prepared for it. Discipline helps us get ready for the inevitable challenges and opportunities that come our way. The real test of being a follower of Jesus comes when we are not doing distinctively religious activities, like attending worship. What do you learn about spiritual discipline in the following texts?

I Timothy 4:6-16; I Corinthians 9:19-27; Philippians 3:7-13; Luke 10:25-42; Luke 6:12-19; Luke 17:1-19

This spiritual exercise could lead you in a number of different directions. It’s important that we learn to discern where we face the biggest challenges in our walk with God. For some of us it’s our tendency to complain too often; for others it’s our struggle to resist and overcome indulgence or addiction, like watching too much TV or drinking too much alcohol or spending an obsessive amount of time on our smart phones; for still others it’s self-sensitivity and self-pity. We all have weaknesses. A person moving toward health knows what those weaknesses are. The practice of spiritual discipline will help us address, resist, and overcome those weaknesses. Choose a particular spiritual discipline that challenges a weakness in your life and replaces it with a strength. Practice it over the next two weeks Be as concrete as you can. If you complain too much, excel in gratitude. If you indulge an appetite, fast from it for a week or two (turn off the TV, for example). If you check your smart phone first thing in the morning and last thing at night, put it to bed in the evening, long before you go to bed, and don’t get it out of bed in the morning until after you have had devotions, showered, and eaten breakfast. Pursue one spiritual discipline that addresses some area of real need. Be prepared to report on this when your group next meets.

What did you learn about spiritual discipline from the chapter, the biblical texts, and the spiritual exercise? Have you had positive experiences in the past as you have practiced one or more spiritual disciplines? What has been the result? If it’s a struggle, find out why. How can you view spiritual as if it were like hoisting a sail rather than propelling your own boat? How did you fare in experimenting with one spiritual discipline?

I Timothy 4:7-10