RichardJ.Foster’sStudyGuideforCelebrationofDiscipline

RichardJ.Foster

ToKenandDorisBoycewhobelievedinmeandencouragedme

andfilledagreatvoidwithinmewhenthelivesofmyownparentswerecutshort

Contents

AcknowledgmentsPreface

Introduction:TheGoodLifeDailyScriptureReadingsSuggestedBooksforFurtherStudy

1.TheSpiritualDisciplines:DoortoLiberationDailyScriptureReadingsStudyQuestionsSuggestedBooksforFurtherStudy

PartI.TheInwardDisciplines

2.TheDisciplineofMeditationDailyScriptureReadingsSuggestedBooksforFurtherStudy

3.TheDisciplineofPrayerDailyScriptureReadingsStudyQuestionsSuggestedBooksforFurtherStudy

4.TheDisciplineofFastingDailyScriptureReadingsStudyQuestionsSuggestedBooksforFurtherStudy

5.TheDisciplineofStudyDailyScriptureReadingsStudyQuestionsSuggestedBooksforFurtherStudy

PartII.TheOutwardDisciplines

6.TheDisciplineofSimplicityDailyScriptureReadingsStudyQuestionsSuggestedBooksforFurtherStudy

7.TheDisciplineofSolitudeDailyScriptureReadingsStudyQuestionsSuggestedBooksforFurtherStudy

8.TheDisciplineofSubmissionDailyScriptureReadingsStudyQuestionsSuggestedBooksforFurtherStudy

9.TheDisciplineofService

DailyScriptureReadingsStudyQuestionsSuggestedBooksforFurtherStudy

PartIII.TheCorporateDisciplines

10.TheDisciplineofConfessionDailyScriptureReadingsStudyQuestionsSuggestedBooksforFurtherStudy

11.TheDisciplineofWorshipDailyScriptureReadingsStudyQuestionsSuggestedBooksforFurtherStudy

12.TheDisciplineofGuidanceDailyScriptureReadingsStudyQuestionsSuggestedBooksforFurtherStudy

13.TheDisciplineofCelebrationDailyScriptureReadingsStudyQuestionsSuggestedBooksforFurtherStudy

ScriptureIndex

AbouttheAuthorOtherBooksbyRichardJ.FosterCopyrightAboutthePublisher

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Debtsoffriendshipandhelpareunrepayable,butonecanatleastacknowledgethedebt.Thesupportandencouragementofmywife,Carolynn,andourboys,JoelandNathan,havebeensuperb,especiallywhenthe“writingmarathon”began.ThisStudyGuidewouldnothavebeenwrittenwereit

notfortheefficiencyandsupportofmyadministrativeassistant,KarenChristensen.AtonepointintheprojectIstoodinmyofficeglaringatmycrowdeddatebookanddeclared,“Itcan’tbedone!”Quietly,Karenresponded,“Butitcanbedone,”andsoitwas.ManyothershelpedbringtheStudyGuideintoits

presentform.MyspecialthanksgotoLeeFarleyBurkhartforherpersistentconcernthatastudyguidebeproducedforthemanysmallgroupsstudyingCelebrationofDiscipline.Severalofthestudyquestionsinthepresentvolumeowetheirinspirationtoher.Thanks,too,toDorothyCravenandDavidHolly,whoreadthemanuscriptandofferedmanyhelpfulcomments.Mygreatestdebt,however,istotheuntoldnumberofindividualswho,throughletters,intheclassroom,andinseminarsthroughoutthecountry,havehelpedtoshapeandsharpenmyownunderstandingof(andexperiencein)

theSpiritualDisciplines.

PREFACE

IfIrightlyunderstandtheconceptofastudyguide,ithastwopurposes.First,astudyguideisdesignedtohighlighttheissuesraisedinthebook.Second,itisdesignedtoenlargeandtofurtherthediscussionofthebook.Thesetwogoalsarevirtualopposites.Onetriestonailthingsdown;theothertriestoopenthingsup.Onetriestonarrowthediscussion;theothertriestobroadenthediscussion.Butbothareessentialinanygenuinelearningsituation.Thebriefessaysthatbegineachchapterareusually

aimedatbroadeningandilluminatingthelandscapeoftheDiscipline.Thisisespeciallytruewiththeintroductorychapter,inwhichIattempttoexposetoyourviewthefoundationuponwhichtheSpiritualDisciplinesarebuilt.Inacoupleoftheessays,Idotrytoclarifyseveralitemsmentionedinthebook.EachessayisfollowedbyalistofScripturepassages

forpersonalorgroupstudy.ItisofutmostimportancethatwefleshoutourunderstandingoftheSpiritualDisciplinesinlightoftheBible,foritisoursurefoundationinallmattersoffaithandpractice.Itisimportantthatyouunderstandthefunctionofthe

studyquestions.Whilesomeofthequestionsareaimedat

helpingyoutoreadthebookcarefully(thatis,theyfulfillthefirstgoalofmakingtheissuesclear),mostofthequestionsaremeanttoencourageanexpandedunderstandingoftheSpiritualDisciplines.Thequestionsdonothaveanswersthatareaforegoneconclusion.Theyarenotintendedtoelicitparrot-likeresponses;insteadtheyaremeanttoencouragethoughtanddiscussion.Incompilingthequestions,IhavekeptinmindtheperceptivecommentofJohnCiardi:“Agoodquestionisneveranswered.Itisnotabolttobetightenedintoplacebutaseedtobeplantedandtobearmoreseedtowardthehopeofgreeningthelandscapeofideas.”Obviously,thebibliographiesareprovidedinthehope

thatyouwillbecomedrawnintothesubjectanddesirefurtherexploration.Thebooksprovidemarkingsforyourjourney.Ihaveattemptedtoincludeahealthyvariety,fromliteratureforthebeginnertomoreadvancedreading.Hopefully,theannotationswillguideyoutoselectthosebooksthatmeetyourspecificneeds.ForeachchapterIhaveincludedseveraloftherecognizedclassicsinthefield.Itismyhopethatthisstudyguidewillserveinsome

smallwaytoenhanceyourabilitytobeattentivetothevoiceofthetrueShepherd.Ifthesewords(whichareabrokenandfragmentarywitnessatbest)candirectyoutoJesusChrist,yourever-living,ever-presentTeacher,theywillhaveservedtheirpurpose.

RICHARDJ.FOSTER

March1982FriendsUniversity

INTRODUCTION:THEGOODLIFE

Itisonethingtopraisediscipline,andanothertosubmittoit.

—DonQuixotedeLaMancha

IfweexpecttoenterwholeheartedlyintotheexperienceoftheSpiritualDisciplines,wemustunderstandclearlythattheseDisciplinesopenustotheGoodLife.*Theirpurposeisnottomakelifemiserablebutjoyful,nottoputusinbondagebuttosetusfree,nottoconfinebuttoliberate.Thereisageneralculturalconfusiontodayaboutthe

GoodLife.Andgiventhepopularnotionofabundance,itisalmostimpossibletobelievethatGodisgoodandthatHisdesireistofillourliveswithHisgoodness.Inthemodernworld,theGoodLifeisoftenidentifiedwithpower,wealth,status,andfreedomfromallauthority.Wehavetodaytwosystemsofteachingabouttheabundantlifethatarediametricallyopposedtooneanother.Onesystemhasitsrootsintheculturearoundus;theotherhasitsrootsintheGodofAbraham,Isaac,andJacob.BothclaimtobringusintotheGoodLife,andwemustunderscorethefactthattheirteachingsaremutuallyexclusive.

WewillneverseetheclassicalDisciplinesofthespirituallifeasagoodthinguntilweperceivetheirfunctionofbringingusintotheabundantlifeoftheKingdomofGod.AndwecannotseethisuntilweareabletounderstandhowlifeunderGodandinHisKingdomistrulygoodandultimatelyfulfilling,asopposedtothe“goodlife”ofhumaninvention.IntheBible,weseethatGoddesirestogiveeachofus

afulllifeandthatabundanceconsistsinthepropercorrelationofatleastthreethings:provision,place,andpersonality.Humanlifeissuchthatgoodnessconsistsinacombinationofthesethree.

ProvisionProvisionmeansallthingsnecessarytocarryonhumanlifeadequately.Godintendsthatweshouldhaveenoughtocareforourselves.Inhumansociety,thereismiseryfromasimplelackofprovision—witnesstheimmensesufferingofmanyintheThirdWorld.Christianityisthemostmaterialisticoftheworld’sreligions:thatis,ittakesmaterialthingsseriouslyascreatedgoodsGodhasgivenustoenjoy.TheOldTestamentcontainspromiseafterpromiseof

provision.“TheLordyourGodwillblessyouinallyouproduceandinalltheworkofyourhands,sothatyouwillbealtogetherjoyful”(Deut.16:15).Notethattherejoicingisbecauseoftheabundantprovisionfromthe

handofGod.TheNewTestamentpicksupthissamethemeofGod’scareforthosewhotrustinHim.JesusmakesitunmistakablyclearthatallthosewhoseekfirstHisKingdomandHisrighteousnesshavealloftheprovisionnecessaryforahappylife.Wewillbemoreadequatelycaredforthantheliliesofthefield.Ontheotherhand,wemustbewareofhowpeoplehave

takentheteachingonprovisionandtwisteditintoathingoftheirown.Ithasbeenturnedintoareligionofpersonalpeaceandprosperity,crudelystated,“LoveJesusandgetrich.”However,itisalsoincarnatedinmuchmoresubtlebutequallydestructiveforms.Andtheinterestingthingsaboutallthesegimmickstogetblessednessisthattheywork;thatis,theyworkifwhatwewantisalittlemoney.ButifwedesiretheabundantlifeoftheKingdomofGod—alifefilledwithholinessandfreeofavarice—theyfailmiserably.Whatweneedtoseeisthatprovisionisalimitedgood,

limitedinthesensethatwecannotmakealifeoutofit.Themomentwemakealifeoutofprovision,wedeifyitandlosethespiritualgraceofcontentment.Wemustneverdenythefactthatprovisionisgood,butwemustalwaysunderstandthatitisalimitedgood.Ishouldaddthatundertheconceptofprovisionisthe

importanceoftheadequateprovisionoftime.Peoplewhoselivesarefracturedandfragmentedcannotknowabundance.Weallneedadequatetimeforreflection,meditation,rest,conversation.Thereasonsmanyofusdo

nothavethetimefullifearevaried,buttherootproblemisoneoffailingtoliveintheChristiangraceofsimplicity.ItiseasytoseethattheSpiritualDisciplinesofmeditation,solitude,andsimplicitydealinlargepartwiththeconceptofprovision.

PlacePlaceisthesecondelementessentialtotheGoodLife.Placeisamutuallyunderstoodandacceptedsetofpersonalrelationshipsthatgiveidentitytoone’slife.WhenIsaythatplacemustbe“mutuallyunderstood,”Imeanthateveryoneinvolvedneedstohavethesameexpectationlevelofanindividual’splace.WhenIusetheword“accepted,”Imeanthatplaceshouldbeviewedasagoodthing.(Itisverycommontodaytoviewplaceasbad.)Obviously,placeismoreasocialfunctionthana

location.Whenwespeakofrefugeesas“displacedpersons,”wearereferringtomorethanthefactthattheyhavehadtoleavetheirhomes.Wemeanthatalltheirrootshavebeentornupandtheirwholesenseofidentityaspersonshasbeenshattered.Scripturehasagreatdealtosayaboutplace.IntheOld

Testamentworld,therewasaplacefortheaged,thewidowed,theorphaned.Todaythereisnorealplaceforthesepeopleinthemainstreamofhumansociety.(Thechurchtodayisstrugglingtofindplaceforthedivorced,

andthatsinglestruggleaccountsforanimmenseamountofgriefincontemporarysociety.)TheNewTestamentdescribesthechurchasasetof

places.TheApostlePaulisdescribingtheplacesofthevariousmembersofthebodyofChristwhenhediscussesthespiritualgifts.Thereisaplace,aproperfunction,fortheapostle,theprophet,theevangelist,theteachingpastor,andallthegiftsoftheSpirit.TheEpistlesincludequitesensitiveandsensibledescriptionsoftheplaceofthehusbandandwife,theparentandchild,theslaveandmaster.Inourday,somepeoplehavehorriblymisunderstoodtheseinstructionsandhaveusedthemtomanipulateandtocontrolotherhumanbeings.Others,deeplyfearfulofthestereotypesthathavebeengiventoplace,haverejectedtheconceptofplacealtogether.NeithergrouphasunderstoodtheteachingofScripture;bothendinmisery.Wemustunderstandthatthereissimplynoabundant

lifeapartfromplace.Thatstatementgoesdownhardtoday,especiallyamongpeoplewhohavefeltoppressedbytheirplace(andweshouldrejectoppressiveplaces),butwecannotbeplaceless.Aslongaswearefinite,wemusthaveasenseofplace,arole,afunction.YoucanquicklyseethattheSpiritualDisciplinesof

submission,service,andguidancedealwiththequestionofplace.

Personality

Thethirdelementthatneedstobeintegratedintohumanlifefortheretobeabundancecouldbecalledpersonality.Personalityreferstotheinwardperson,expressedincertaindeterminatewaysoringrainedhabits.Thisisamajorproblemformanyofus.Wehaveacquiredhabitsthatdefeatusoverandoveragain.Itisatthelevelofhabitthatthemainworkofredemptionoccurssofarasthetransformationofourlivesisconcerned.IfwearegoingtoexperiencetheGoodLife,certaindeeplyimbeddedhabitsarerequired.Conversely,therearealsocertainingrainedhabitsfromwhichweneedtobeliberated.Sinceourslaveryoccursmainlyatthehabitlevel,ourfreedomisdiscoveredprimarilyatthislevel.Inshort,Iamspeakingofpower,powerfromGodthatentersthelifeandtransformsthehabitpatterns.JesusdiagnosedtheApostlePeter’sproblemthisway:

“Thespiritiswilling,butthefleshisweak.”Hisstatementgraphicallydepictsthesituationformanyofus—thoughwewanttodowhatisright,weseemunable.ButJesusChristdidnotintendthatproblemtocontinueforPeter,nordoesHeintenditshouldcontinueforus.InScripture,weareinstructedonhowthefleshcanbebroughtintoaworkingharmonywiththespiritinobediencetothewaysofGodandinthecontextofcontemporarylife.Butthisrealityisnotfoundinafeweasystepsto

blessedness.Rather,itinvolvesavoluntarilyacceptedandconsciouslychosencourseofactionthatincludesboth

individualandgrouplifewhichwillsetusbeforeGodinsuchawaythatHecanproducetheneededchange.ThemajortaskofCelebrationofDisciplineistodescribethisprocessandtoshowhowthepersonalitycanbetransformedbythepoweroftheHolySpirit.Itisapracticalmanualonsanctification.

TheFailureofLawandRitualAllofusareawareofthefactthatwefallshortofthisgrandvisionofGod’sgoodnessforourlives.Inafranticscrambletoexperienceadequateprovision,wesuccumbtothegoldencalfofmaterialism.Then,inanattempttoexorcisetheconsumerdemon,wecutbackinsuchawaythatwethreatenthefamily’slivabilityandthechildren’shopesforcollegeeducation.Or,webecomedeterminedtounderstandwhoweare—todiscoveroursenseofidentity,oursenseofplace—butintheprocessdevelopinnerhabitpatternsofegoismanddownrightarrogance.Or,perhaps,webegintoseevictoryovertheingrainedhabitofgluttonyonlytodiscoveraninnerpatternofangerthatnowcomesbubblingtothesurface.Andthemomentwethinkweareholdingeverythinginline,thedeep-seatedpatternsofpridecloudtheentirelandscape.Humansiniswrittenacrossthefaceofhumanity.Itis

veryrealtousallandonlyservestoshowourinabilitytoentertheGoodLifeoftheKingdomofGod.Fromthebeginning,menandwomenhavesoughtto

freethemselvesfromthiscrushinghumanpredicament.Thenormalmeansforsolvingourdilemmahasbeenlawandritual.Eitherwesetupaseriesoflaws,whichwehopewillcovereverysituation,orwedevisereligiousrituals.(Itmatterslittlewhichweuse—high-churchtypesusuallytendtowardritual,low-churchtypestowardlaw—theyareinrealitytwosidestothesamecoin.)Neitherlawnorritualsucceedsintransformingthehumanpersonality,although,asJesusmentioned,bothoftenmakequitenice-lookingwhitenedsepulchres.Aheavyexertionofthewillmaybeemployedtoaccomplishourgoal,buttheeffortisdoomedtofailure.PaulTournierwrites,“Todependonone’sownwill-power,one’sgoodresolutions,especiallyagainsttheimpulsionsofinstinctandthedeterminismofpowerful,psychologicalcomplexes,istoaskforfailureandforaperpetualconflictwhichwilldestroyratherthanstrengthentheforcesoftheperson.”Thereisaproperplaceforthewill,butitisnotin

transformingtheinnerperson.ThewillfunctionsinthedecisiontoplaceourlivesbeforeGodsothatHemayworkwithinus,astheoldspiritualputsit,“IhavedecidedtofollowJesus.”Andthatdecisionisacontinualone,forthefollowingofJesusiscontinual.ThewillplaysanimportantpartinthefunctionoftheSpiritualDisciplines,butwearenevermaderighteousbyexertionofthewill.RighteousnessisagiftfromGod,whichcomesasweplaceourselvesbeforeHim.ThefunctionoftheSpiritualDisciplinesisnowclear.

TheyarethemeansforreceivingGod’sgrace.God’sdesireistobringusintothatwayoflivinginwhichourneedsarecaredfor,oursenseofidentityasindividualsisclarified,andtheinwardlifebecomeswholeandunified.Tothisend,JesusChristlived,died,wasresurrected,andeverlivestobeourpresentprophet,priest,andking.ThesalvationthatisinChristinvolvesnotonlytheforgivenessofsinsandheavenwhenwedie,butthebreakingofthepowerofsinsothatwecanliveinnewnessoflifenow.TheGoodLifeoftheKingdomofGodbreaksintoour

heartsbythegraceofGodalone.Wearenotonlysavedbygrace,butwelivebyitaswell.However,wemustsee(andthisisessentialifwearetoavoidtheancientheresyofantinomianism)thatwehaveaparttoplayinthedramaofholiness.Tobesure,itisonlyabitpartinahugepageant,butitisanessentialone.Ourwork—ouronlywork—istoplaceourselvesinthewayofChristandinviteHimtoworkinourlives,individuallyandcollectively.TheSpiritualDisciplinesaremerelyanattempttodescribehowwecanaccomplishthatwork.Theysketchout(surely,onlyinpart)themeansofgracewherebyweareplacedbeforeGod.Havingdonethis,theDisciplinescandonomoreforus.Beyondthispoint,nohumanbeingcango.ThechangethenisGod’swork,andasitcomes,wesingjoyfully,“Amazinggrace,howsweetthesound,thatsavedawretchlikeme.”

DailyScriptureReadingsWhatmodernthinkerscall“theGoodLife,”biblicalwriterswouldidentifyas“theGodlyLife.”OurunderstandingisimmeasurablydeepenedbystudyingscripturalexamplesofthosewhocametowalkinthejoyoftheLord.

Sunday:JesusChrist:theSummumbonumoftheGoodLife/allfourgospelsbeginningwithMark.Monday:TheexampleofAbraham/Genesis12–25.Tuesday:TheexampleofElijah/1Kings17–19,2Kings1–2.

Wednesday:TheexampleofDavid/1Samuel16–27,2Samuel1–12,22–23:7.Thursday:TheexampleofDaniel/Daniel1–12.

Friday:TheexampleofPeter/thegospels,Acts1–5,Acts10–11(seealsohisepistles).Saturday:TheexampleofPaul/Acts9,Acts11–28(seealsohisepistles).

SuggestedBooksforFurtherStudyThereisnothingthatgivescontenttotheGoodLifeandfleshesoutthemeaningofourownspiritualityquitelikereadingthesaintsthroughouttheages.Theyliftour

spirits,freeusfromthecultofthecontemprary,andgiveusmodelstoimitate.

Anderson,Courtney.TotheGoldenShore:TheLifeofAdoniramJudson.GrandRapids,Mich.ZondervanPublishingCo.,1977.(Themovingstoryofthemanwho,throughgreatsuffering,burnedthegospelintotheheartofBurma.)

Brainerd,David.TheLifeandDiaryofDavidBrainerd.EditedbyJonathanEdwards.Chicago:MoodyPress,1980.(Inthisfinebook,EdwardsreconstructstheinwardconflictsandstrugglesofthesoulofagodlypioneermissionarytotheNorthAmericanIndians.)

BrotherUgolinodeMonteSants.TheLittleFlowersofSt.Francis.TranslatedbyRaphaelBrown.GardenCity,N.Y.:ImageBooks,1958.(StoriesofearlyFranciscansthatwilldelight,shock,andchallengeyou.)TheConfessionsofSaintAugustine.TranslatedbyEdwardB.Pusey,D.D.NewYork:CollierBooks,1961.(TheintensespiritualsearchofamandestinedtobecomeoneofthemajorfiguresinChristianhistory.)

Fitts,A.P.TheLifeofD.L.Moody.Chicago:MoodyPress,1979.(ThestoryoftheevangelistwhodaredtoseewhatGodwoulddowithamantotallycommittedtoHim.)

Fox,George.TheJournalofGeorgeFox.EditedbyJohnNickalls.NewYork:CambridgeUniversityPress,

1952.(Thefirstofthemodernjournalsandonethatsetthestandardforthemanythatwouldfollow,includingthemorefamousJournalofJohnWesley.Writtenbythemajorfigureofseventeenth-centuryQuakerism,itisfilledwithpowerandvigor.)

Grubb,Norman.ReesHowellsIntercessor.Ft.Washington,Penn.:ChristianLiteratureCrusade,1979.(ThestoryoftheWelshmanwhomadeprayerthemostnotablefeatureofhislife.)JournalsofJimElliott.EditedbyElizabethElliott.OldTappan,N.J.:FlemingH.Revell,1978.(ThepowerfuljournalwritingsofoneofthefivemenmartyredbytheAucaIndiansatthemiddleofthiscentury.)

JulianofNorwich.Showings.TranslatedbyEdmundColledge,O.S.A.,andJamesWalsh,S.J.NewYork:PaulistPress,1978.(Sixteen“Showings”orrevelationsofGod’slove,whichcametoJulianinaseriesofvisions.Afourteenth-centuryEnglishmystic,JulianandherrevelationsofthefemininesideofGodareofparticularinteresttoday.)

MadameGuyon.MadameGuyon:AnAutobiography.Chicago:MoodyPress,n.d.(Thiswell-knownseventeenth-centurymysticwrotethisintrospectiveaccountofherlifewhileinprisonforherfaith.)

Merton,Thomas.TheSevenStoreyMountain.NewYork:HarcourtBrace,1948.(Theearlydaysofthetwentiethcentury’smostfamousTrappistmonk.YoumightalsowanttoreadMonicaFurlong’sexcellent

Merton:ABiography,publishedbyHarper&Row,1980.)

Müller,George.AutobiographyofGeorgeMüller.EditedbyH.LincolnWayland.GrandRapids,Mich.:BakerBookHouse,1981.(ThestoryofthemanwhointerpretedforusthemeaningoffaiththroughhislargeorphanagesandotherChristianwork,whichhefinancedandsustainedthroughprayeralone.)Pascal’sPensees.TranslatedbyW.F.Trotter.NewYork:CollierBooks,1960.(Tersestatementsonlifeanddeathbytheacclaimedscientist,inventor,psychologist,philosopher,andChristianapologistofseventeenth-centuryFrance.)

SadhuSundarSingh.AttheMaster’sFeet.TranslatedbyRev.ArthurandMrs.Parker.OldTappan,N.J.:RevellCompany,1922.(Movingwordsonthelifeoffaithby“theSaintPaulofIndia.”YoumayalsowanttoreadthepowerfulstoryofSundar’slife,SadhuSundarSingh,writtenbyCyrilJ.Daveyandpublishedin1980bySTLBooks,P.O.Box48,Bromley,Kent,England.)

Seaver,George.DavidLivingstone:HisLifeandLetters.NewYork:HarperandBrothers,1957.(ThemovingstoryofLivingstone’spioneerworkinAfrica,bothinevangelismandineffortstoabolishtheslavetrade.)

Sheen,FultonJ.TreasureinClay:TheAutobiographyofFultonJ.Sheen.NewYork:Doubleday,1980.(AnintimatebiographybythearchbishopwhobecamesowellknowntoAmericansthroughhisradiobroadcasts

and,later,histelevisionseries.)Taylor,Dr.andMrs.Howard.J.HudsonTaylor:ABiography.Chicago:MoodyPress,1965.(ThestoryofthemanwhoopenedinlandChinatothegospelandlearnedtowalkinfaithinexceptionalways.)

Walker,F.Deauville.WilliamCarey:FatherofModernMissions.Chicago:MoodyPress,1980.(Thelifeofthemanwhocalledtheworldto“expectgreatthingsfromGod!AttemptgreatthingsforGod!”)

Wesley,John.TheJournalofJohnWesley.EditedbyPercyLivingstoneParker.Chicago:MoodyPress,1951.(Thejournalrecordofthemanwhoboldlysaid,“Theworldismyparish,”andwhofoundedtheMethodistmovement.)

Woolman,John.TheJournalandMajorEssaysofJohnWoolman.EditedbyPhillipsP.Moulton.NewYork:OxfordPress,1971.(Intermsoftheissuesitaddresses—thatis,racism,warandpeace,faithinGod,etc.—thisisthemostcontemporaryofallthejournals,inmyopinion.)

1.THESPIRITUALDISCIPLINES:DOORTOLIBERATION

AsyoubeginthisstudyoftheChristianDisciplines,advancewarningmayhelpyoutoavoidseveralpitfalls.Briefly,Ishalllistsevenofthesepitfalls—though,surely,therearemore.ThefirstpitfallisthetemptationtoturntheDisciplines

intolaw.ThereisnothingthatcanchoketheheartandsouloutofwalkingwithGodlikelegalism.Therigidpersonisnotthedisciplinedperson.RigidityisthemostcertainsignthattheDisciplineshavegonetoseed.Thedisciplinedpersoncandowhatneedstobedonewhenitneedstobedone.Thedisciplinedpersoncanliveintheappropriatenessofthehour.Thedisciplinedpersoncanrespondtothemovingsofdivinegracelikeafloatingballoon.AlwaysrememberthattheDisciplinesareperceptionsintolife,notregulationsforcontrollinglife.Thesecondpitfallisthefailuretounderstandthesocial

implicationsoftheDisciplines.TheDisciplinesarenotasetofpiousexercisesforthedevout,butatrumpetcalltoobedientlivinginasin-rackedworld.Theycallustowagepeaceinaworldobsessedwithwar,topleadforjusticeinaworldplaguedwithinequity,tostandwiththepoorandthedisinheritedinaworldfullofindividuals

whohaveforgottentheirneighbors.AthirdpitfallisthetendencytoviewtheDisciplinesas

virtuousinthemselves.Inandofthemselves,theDisciplineshavenovirtue,possessnorighteousness,containnorectitude.ItwasthisimportanttruththatthePhariseesfailedtosee.TheDisciplinesplaceusbeforeGod;theydonotgiveus“browniepoints”withGod.Afourthpitfall,similartothethird,isthetendencyto

centerontheDisciplinesratherthanonChrist.TheDisciplinesweredesignedforthepurposeofrealizingagreatergood.AndthatgreatergoodisChristHimself,whomustalwaysremainthefocusofourattentionandtheendofourquest.Afifthpitfallisthetendencytoisolateandelevateone

Disciplinetotheexclusionorneglectoftheothers.TheDisciplinesarelikethefruitoftheSpirit—theycompriseasinglereality.Sometimeswebecomeintriguedwithfasting,forexample,andwebegintothinkofthatsingleDisciplineascomprisingthewholepicture.Whatisonlyonetreeweseeasthewholeforest.Thisdangermustbeavoidedatallcosts.TheDisciplinesofthespirituallifeareanorganicunity,asinglepath.Thesixthpitfallisthetendencytothinkthatthetwelve

DisciplinesmentionedinCelebrationsomehowexhaustthemeansofGod’sgrace.IhavenoexhaustivelistoftheChristianDisciplines,andasfarasIknow,noneexists.ForwhocanconfinetheSpiritofGod?Celebrationismerelyoneattempttocompilethoseactsofdevotionthat

thewritersofScriptureandthesaintsthroughoutthehistoryofthechurchhavesaidwereimportantinexperientialfaith.ButChristisgreaterthananyattempttodescribeHisworkingswithHischildren.Hecannotbeconfinedtoanysystem,nomatterhowworthy.Theseventhpitfallisthemostdangerous.Itisthe

temptationtostudytheDisciplineswithoutexperiencingthem.TodiscusstheDisciplinesintheabstract,toargueanddebatetheirnatureorvalidity—theseactivitieswecancarryoutincomparativesafety.Buttostepoutintoexperiencethreatensusatthecoreofourbeing.Andyetthereisnootherway.Prayerfully,slowly,perhapswithmanyfearsandquestions,weneedtomoveintothisadventurouslifeoftheSpirit.

DailyScriptureReadingsSunday:Thelongingtogodeeper/Psalm42.Monday:Theslaveryofingrainedhabits/Psalm51.Tuesday:Theslaveryofingrainedhabits/Romans7:13–25.

Wednesday:Thebankruptcyofoutwardrighteousness/Philippians3:1–16.Thursday:Sininthebodilymembers/Proverbs6:16–19.

Friday:Sininthebodilymembers/Romans6:5–14.Saturday:ThevictoryofSpiritualDiscipline/Ephesians

6:10–20.

StudyQuestions1. Isaythat“superficialityisthecurseofour

age.”Ifyoutendtoagree,listseveralindicatorsinAmericanculturethatillustratethis.Ifyoutendtodisagree,listseveralindicatorsinAmericansocietythatsupportyourconviction.WhatcurrentinfluencesmightcausetheChristianpeopleofthiscenturytobemoresuperficialthanChristianfolkofothercenturies?

2. IrefertotheDisciplinesdiscussedinthisbookas“classical.”WhatreasondoIgiveforusingthisdescriptionanddoyouagreeordisagree?Why?

3. WhatisthepurposeoftheSpiritualDisciplines?

4. Whatprimaryrequirementmustyouhavetoembarkonthisjourney?Whatthingswouldkeepyoufromfulfillingthisrequirement?

5. ConsidercarefullyHeiniArnold’sstatement,“Wewanttomakeitquiteclearthatwecannotfreeandpurifyourownheartbyexertingourownwill.”HowdoesArnold’sstatementcomparewithyourownexperience?

6. Iindicatethatthosewhodesiretoexplorethe

worldoftheSpiritualDisciplinesarefacedwithtwodifficulties.Whatisthe“practicaldifficulty”andhowcanitbeseeninyourownlife?Whatisthe“philosophicaldifficulty”andhowcanitbeseeninyourownlife?

7. WhatdoImeanby“disciplinedgrace”?Whatdoestheconceptof“cheapgrace”mean?Withwhichofthesetwotypesofgraceareyoumostfamiliar?

8. IfyouwerewalkingalongthenarrowledgeofwhichIspeak,whichsidewouldyoufalloffofmostoften?Explainhowthiscanbeseeninyourownlife.

9. Asyoureadthisbook,considerwhatyoufeelareitsmostdangerouselements.Thatis,whatconceptspresentedheremightleadpeopleawayfromGod,ratherthantoGod?

10. Whatideasstruckyoumostforcefullyinthischapter?Weretherestatementsyoudisagreedwith,orwereunabletoidentifywith,orperhapsfounddifficulttounderstand?

SuggestionsforFurtherStudyThereisawealthofliteratureontheSpiritualDisciplines,andthefollowinglistrepresentssomeofthebestworksinthegeneralfieldofthespirituallife.Itprovidesanexcellentbackgroundandframeworkoutofwhichto

studytheChristianDisciplines.

Arnold,Heini.FreedomfromSinfulThoughts.NewYork:PloughPublishingHouse,1973.(Aninsightfullittlebookoninnerthought-lifebyaleaderintheHutterianSocietyofBrothers.)

Bonhoeffer,Dietrich.TheCostofDiscipleship.NewYork:TheMacMillanCompany,1963.(Thebookthatgaveustheterm“cheapgrace”andsoforcefullycalledustoamorecostlyformofdiscipleship.)

BrotherLawrence.ThePracticeofthePresenceofGod.Mt.Vernon,N.Y.:PeterPauperPress,1963.(ThesesimplelettersandconversationsbyNicholasHerman[BrotherLawrence]ofFrancehaveinspiredthreecenturiesofChristianstolifeinmoreintimatecommunionwithChrist.)

Day,AlbertEdward.DisciplineandDiscovery.Nashville,Tenn.:TheUpperRoom,1977.(Amanualwrittenespeciallyforthe“DisciplinedOrderofChrist”butcontainingpracticalwisdomforusall.Thisupdatedworkbookeditionkeepsthisfineworkavailabletous.)

Fénelon,Francois.ChristianPerfection.Minneapolis:BethanyFellowship(DimensionBooks),1975.(LettersofspiritualcounselanddirectiononamultitudeofpracticalmattersbytheFrenchArchbishopwhoadvisednumerousindividualsinthecourtofLouisXIV.OtherrecenteditionsofhiswritingsincludeTheRoyalWayoftheCrossandLetGo.)

FrancisdeSales.IntroductiontotheDevoutLife.TranslatedbyJohnK.Ryan.NewYork:Harper&Row,1950.(MuchofthismaterialistheresultofcounselFrancisgavetoasingleindividual,Mme.LouiseCharmoisy,intheearlyseventeenthcentury.Thisworkcoversawidevarietyofspiritualmattersforthoseseekingtodeepentheirdevotionallife.)

Freer,HaroldWiley.ChristianDisciplines.NewYork:PageantPress,1960.(ShortmeditationsthatevidenceanunusualawarenessoftheDevotionalClassics.)

Jean-PierredeCaussade.TheSacramentofthePresentMoment.SanFrancisco:Harper&Row,1982.(Writtenbyaneighteenth-centuryFrenchJesuit;itissheerdelighttoread.)

Kelly,ThomasR.ATestamentofDevotion.NewYork:Harper&Row,1941.(Icancountononehandthetwentieth-centuryclassicsofdevotion—thisisoneofthem.)

Kempis,Thomasà.TheImitationofChrist.TranslatedbyE.M.Blaiklock.Nashville,Tenn.:ThomasNelsonPublishers,1979.(AnewtranslationbyE.M.BlaiklockaddsfreshvitalitytothisundisputedleaderoftheclassicsofChristiandevotion.)

Law,William.ASeriousCalltoaDevoutandHolyLife.EditedbyPaulG.Stanwood.NewYork:PaulistPress,1978.(AninfluentialworkontheChristianlifebythepersonoftencalledthegreatestofthepost-ReformationEnglishmystics.Lawwastheleaderofasmallspiritual

communityandincludedamonghisdisciplesJohnandCharlesWesley.)

Nee,Watchman.TheNormalChristianLife.FortWashington,Penn.:ChristianLiteratureCrusade,1964.(AnimportantstatementontheChristianlifewhichstandsincounterdistinctiontosomuchof“normalChristianity.”)

Nouwen,HenriJ.M.MakingAllThingsNew.SanFrancisco:Harper&Row,1981.(AsmallbutpowerfulinvitationtothespirituallifecenteringontheDisciplinesofsolitudeandcommunity.)

O’Connor,Elisabeth.JourneyInward,JourneyOutward.NewYork:Harper&Row,1968.(MorethanacontinuationofthestorybeguninCalltoCommitment,thisworksetsforthinlifesituationsthetwindisciplinesoftheinwardjourneyofdevotionandtheoutwardjourneyofservice.)

Peterson,EugeneH.ALongObedienceintheSameDirection.DownersGrove,Ill.:InterVarsityPress,1980.(Throughastudyofthe“SongsofAscents”[Psalms120–134],EugenePetersonhelpsChristianswrestlewithmanyoftheclassicalSpiritualDisciplines.)

Sanford,Agnes.TheHealingLight.St.Paul,Minn.:MacalesterParkPublishingCo.,1972.(TheclassicstatementonthehealingministrytowhichJesuscallsthechurchandabookthathasinfluencedmyownpilgrimageimmensely.)

Taylor,RichardShelley.TheDisciplinedLife.Minneapolis:BeaconHillPress,1962.(Asharp,stacattopleafordisciplinedlivinginanageofself-indulgence.)

Tozer,A.W.ThePursuitofGod.Harrisburg,Pa.:ChristianPublications,1948.(Atendersensitivebookfilledwithinsightandacatholicityofoutlookthatisrefreshing.)

AnthologiesofDevotionalClassicsAnAnthologyofDevotionalLiterature.EditedbyThomasS.Kepler.GrandRapids,Mich.:BakerBookHouse,1977.(ContainsselectionsofmanyoftheimportantChristianwritersfromClementofRometoKarlBarth.)TheDoubledayDevotionalClassics.EditedbyGlennHinson.3vols.NewYork:Doubleday,1978.(ContainsawidevarietyofchoicespecimensfromthevasttreasuryofProtestantspirituality.)LivingSelectionsfromtheGreatDevotionalClassics.Nashville,Tenn.:TheUpperRoom(variousdates).(Twenty-ninebookletsthatareavailableasasetorindividually.Anexcellentintroductiontosomeofthebestofthedevotionalwriters.)

PARTI

TheInwardDisciplines

2.THEDISCIPLINEOFMEDITATION

ThepurposeofmeditationistoenableustohearGodmoreclearly.Meditationislistening,sensing,heedingthelifeandlightofChrist.Thiscomesrighttotheheartofourfaith.ThelifethatpleasesGodisnotasetofreligiousduties;itislisteningtoHisvoiceandobeyingHisword.Meditationopensthedoortothiswayofliving.Jean-PierredeCaussadewrote,“Thereremainsonesingleduty.Itistokeepone’sgazefixedonthemasteronehaschosenandtobeconstantlylisteningsoastounderstandandhearandimmediatelyobeyhiswill.”MeditationisamorepassiveDiscipline.Itis

characterizedmorebyreflectingthanbystudying,morebylisteningthanbythinking,morebyreleasingthanbygrabbing.IntheDisciplineofmeditationwearenotsomuchactingasweareopeningourselvestobeactedupon.WeinvitetheHolySpirittocomeandworkwithinus—teaching,cleansing,comforting,rebuking.WealsosurroundourselveswiththestronglightofChristtoprotectusfromanyinfluencenotofGod.Sincesomehaveasked,Imightjustaswellcomeclean

andtellyouthatIhavenointerestatall,norexperience,inastro-traveloranyoftheotherratherexoticformsofmeditation.Perhapsthatreflectsmyownprejudice,but

suchapproaches,itseemstome,donotresonatewellwiththebiblicalwitness.Ifindlittleethicalcontentorconcernformoraltransformationintheseformsofmeditation.IammuchmoreinterestedinthekindofhearingthatAbraham,Moses,andElijahknew,whichbroughtfortharadicalobediencetotheonetrueGod.InCelebration,Igaveonlyabriefdescriptionofthe

meditationuponScripture,assumingthatpeoplewerequitefamiliarwiththisformofmeditation.InthisassumptionIwaswrong,andsoIshouldlikeheretoprovideabriefmeditationuponJohn6asanexampleofoneapproachtothemeditationScripturarum.Itismyhopethatthiswillencourageallofustodrinkdeeplyandextensivelyatthis,themostcentralandimportantformofChristianmeditation.Thestoryisafamiliarone—Jesus’feedingofthefive

thousand.Beginbyimaginingyourselfasthechildwhogavehislunch.Or,perhaps,imaginethatyouareoneofthechild’sparents.Atanyrate,trytoplaceyourselfintheactualscene.FollowingthecounselofIgnatiusofLoyola,attempttouseallofyoursensesasyouslowlyreadthepassage.Trytoseethestory—thegrass,thehills,thefacesofthepeople.Trytohearthestory—thesoundofthewater,thenoiseofthechildren,thevoiceoftheMaster.Trytofeelthestory—thetextureofyourclothing,thehardnessoftheground,thecoarsenessofyourhands.Finally,trytofeelwithyouremotions—hesitancyatbringingyourlunch,astonishmentatthe

miracleofmultipliedfood,joyatthegraciousprovisionofGod.Atfirstthisapproachmaynecessitateseveralreadingsofthetext.Then,inyourimagination,watchthecrowdleaveand

Jesusgoupintothehills.Youareleftalone.Yousitonarockoverlookingthewaterandre-experiencetheeventsoftheday.Youbecomequiet,andafteralittlewhile,Jesusreturnsandsitsonanearbyrock.Foratime,youarebothsilent,lookingoutoverthewaterperhapsandenjoyingoneanother’spresence.Afterabit,theLordturnstoyouandasksthisquestion,“WhatmayIdoforyou?”ThenyoutellHimwhatisinyourheart—yourneeds,yourfears,yourhopes.Ifweepingorotheremotionscome,donothinderthem.Whenyouhavefinished,youbecomequietforalittle

while.ThenyouturntotheLordandask,“WhatmayIdoforyou?”Andyoulistenwiththeheartquietly,prayerfully.Noinstructionneedstocome,foryouarejustgladtobeinChrist’spresence.Ifsomewordsdocometoyou,youtakethemwithutmostseriousness.Moreoftenthannot,theywillbesomeutterlypracticalinstructionaboutseeminglytrivialmatters,forGodwantsustoliveoutourspiritualityintheordinaryeventsofourdays.AndIhaveoftenfoundthemtobewonderfulwordsoflife.WhatIhavesharedhereis,ofcourse,onlyanexample—Godwill,Iamsure,giveyoumanyotherwaystoenterintothelifeofScripture.Beyondthis,mayImakeapleaforthememorization

ofScripture?*Throughmemorization,thebiblicalwitnessbecomesrooteddeeplyintheinnermindandbeginstomoldandadjustourworldviewalmostwithoutourrealizingit.Then,too,aswesubmitourselvestothissmalldiscipline,GodisabletoreachusthroughthewordofScriptureatanygivenmoment,evenaswesleep.MemorizationisahelpfulmeanstoenhanceourmeditationuponScripture.

DailyScriptureReadingsSunday:Thegloryofmeditation/Exodus24:15–18.Monday:Thefriendshipofmeditation/Exodus33:11.Tuesday:Theterrorofmeditation/Exodus20:18–19.

Wednesday:Theobjectofmeditation/Psalm1:1–3.Thursday:Thecomfortofmeditation/1Kings19:9–18.

Friday:Theinsightsofmeditation/Acts10:9–20.Saturday:Theecstasyofmeditation/2Corinthians12:1–4.

StudyQuestions1.Whataresomeofyourfirstreactionstotheideaofmeditation?Whatisyourbackgroundexperienceinthisarea?

2.Whatisthebasicdifferencebetweeneastern

meditationandChristianmeditation?3.Whatthingsmakeyourlifecrowded?DoyouthinkyouhaveadesiretoheartheLord’svoiceinthemidstofalltheclutter?

4.ExperiencethefollowingwordsofFrederickW.Faberforfifteenminutes.Recordwhatyoulearnfromtheexperience.

OnlytositandthinkofGod,Ohwhatajoyitis!Tothinkthethought,tobreathetheNameEarthhasnohigherbliss.

5.Whatthreatensyoumostaboutmeditation?6.HaveyoueverconsidereddreamsasameansofhearingfromGod?Haveyouhadanyexperienceinthisarea?

7.ListthefiveformsformeditationthatIgive.Ponderthefifthformandwhatitmightmeantoday,giventhecontemporarypoliticalscene.

8.Whatisthevalueofthinkingthroughthespecificsoftime,place,andpositionduringthemeditationexperience?

9.Whatarethedangersinconcentratingontime,place,andpositioninthemeditationexperience?

10.Do“palmsdown,palmsup”today.Noteanythingyoulearnaboutyourself.

SuggestedBooksforFurtherStudyBrotherLawrenceandFrankLaubach.PracticingHisPresence.EditedbyGeneEdwards.Goleta,Calif.:ChristianBooks,1981.(Ahelpfulbringing-togetherofselectionsfromLettersbyaModernMysticandTheGamewithMinutesbyLaubachandamodernrewriteofLawrence’sfamousThePracticeofthePresenceofGod.)

Downing,Jim.Meditation:TheBibleTellsYouHow.ColoradoSprings,Colo.:NavPress,1976.(ApracticallittlebookbyaleaderamongtheNavigatorsontheactivesideofmeditationuponscripture.)

Kelsey,MortonT.TheOtherSideofSilence.NewYork:PaulistPress,1976.(ThemostimportantsinglebookonthetheologyandpsychologybehindtheexperienceofChristianmeditation.)

Merton,Thomas.ContemplativePrayer.GardenCity,N.Y.:ImageBooks,1971.(Apowerfulanalysisofthecentralnatureofcontemplativeprayer.Amustbook.)

Merton,Thomas.SpiritualDirectionandMeditation.Collegeville,Minn.:TheLiturgicalPress,1960.(Writtenmainlywiththemonasticlifeinmind,butfilledwithdiscernmentandapracticalwisdomthatallcanappreciate.)

Moffatt,Doris.ChristianMeditation:TheBetterWay.NewYork:ChristianHeraldBooks,1979.(Simple,meaningfulprayertechniquesandspecificmeditations

thatwillhelpthebeginnermoveforwardintoChristianmeditation.)

O’Connor,Elizabeth.SearchforSilence.Waco,Tex.:WordBooks,1972.(Bringsintofocustheartofquietnessandcontemplationthroughmeaningfulexercisesandawealthofquotationsfromthedevotionalmasters.)

Russell,Marjorie.AHandbookofChristianMeditation.OldGreenwich,Conn.:Devin-AdairCompany,1978.(Apractical,easy-to-understandguidetotheactualmethodsofmeditation.)

Tilmann,Klemens.ThePracticeofMeditation.Ramsey,N.J.:PaulistPress,1977.(AhandbookonChristianmeditationthatdrawsonbothEasternandWesterntradition.ThelastthirdofthebookhasnumerousmeditationsuponScripture.)

3.THEDISCIPLINEOFPRAYER

AsItravel,Ifindseveralcommonmisconceptionsthatdefeattheworkofprayer.Thefirstmisconceptionisthenotionthatprayermainly

involvesaskingthingsfromGod.Answerstoprayerarewonderful,buttheyaresecondarytothemainfunctionofprayer,whichisagrowing,perpetualcommunion.TosinkdownintothelightofChristandbecomecomfortableinthatposture,tosing,“HewalkswithmeandHetalkswithme”andknowitasaradiantreality,todiscoverGodinallofthemomentsofourdays,andtobepleasedratherthanperturbedatthediscovery—thisisthestuffofprayer.Itisoutofthisrefreshinglifeofcommunionthatansweredprayercomesasahappyby-product.Thesecondmisconceptionistheviewthatprayermust

alwaysbeastruggle,“gettingundertheburdenofprayer,”aswesay.Icertainlywouldnotwanttodenythosetimesofintensityanddifficulty,butIhavenotfoundthatsuchtimesarethemostcommonexperience.NorwouldIwanttominimizethesenseofawe,andeventerror,whichwefeelinthepresenceoftheSovereignoftheuniverse.Andyet,themostfrequentexperienceduringprayerisoneoflightness,joy,comfort,serenity.

Evenlaughtercomesattimes,thoughitisricherandlesspretentious(shouldIsay,moreholy)thanordinarylaughing.Thereisafeelingofcompanionship,thoughagainitisofadifferentqualityfromtheordinaryhumanvariety.PerhapsitisthatwearebecomingfriendswithGod.Athirdmisconceptionistheideathatweliveina

closeduniverse,thateverythingisfixed.Wethink,“SinceeverythingissetandGodknowstheendfromthebeginning,whypray?”Thequestionisagoodone.Perhapsyouhavehadthefrustratingexperienceoftalkingwithanemployeraboutsomecompanypolicybeingconsideredforadoption.Youremployermayinviteyoutoshareyourconcernsandmayseemtolistenintently.Thenlateryoudiscoverthatthedecisionhadalreadybeenmadelongbeforeyoueverenteredtheroom.Manyfolkfeelthatprayerisasimilarsituation.ButiftheApostlePaulisrightthat“wearefellowworkerswithGod”(1Cor.3:9),thenoursisindeedanopenuniverse.WeareworkingwithGodtodeterminetheoutcomeofthings.Itneedstobesaidreverently,butitdoesneedtobesaid:weareco-creatorswithGodinadvancingHiskingdomupontheearth.Afourthmisconceptionisthefearthatourfaithwill

crumbleifourprayersarenotansweredthefirsttimeeverytime.Asonepersonputittome,“IfGoddoesn’tanswerthisprayer,itisallover;Iwillneverbeabletobelieveinprayeragain.”Itisthisfearthatcausesusto

gravitatetowardvagueprayers—thenifnothinghappens,nooneisthewiser.ButsupposeIwalkintomyofficeandturnonthelightandnothinghappens.WouldIsay,“Ineverbelievedinelectricityanyway”?No,Iwouldassumesomethingiswrong,andIwouldsetouttofindoutwhatitis:perhapsthebulbisburnedoutorthewiringconnectionsarefaulty.Thesameistruewithprayer,andveryoftenIhavefoundtheproblemisindeedafaultyconnectiononourend.Afifthmisconceptionaboutprayeristhecommon

teaching,“Prayonce!Anymorethanthatshowsalackoffaith.”NowIunderstandthegoodintentionsofpeoplewhoteachthisway,but,veryfrankly,itfliesinthefaceofagreatdealofbiblicalexperienceandteaching,especiallyJesus’parablesonimportunity.Wearetokeepatthiswork,mainly,Ithink,becausewearethechannelthroughwhichGod’slifeandlightflowsintoindividualsorsituations.And,incidentally,IhavefoundprayertobethemosthelpfuloftheDisciplinesinfreeingusfromthemonstersofthepastbecauseoftheinnerhealingthatcomesthroughthehandsofthosewhoprayforus.MayIcallyoutotheadventureofprayer?Nothing

drawsusclosertotheheartofGod.

DailyScriptureReadingsSunday:Thepatternofprayer/Matthew6:5–15.Monday:Theprayerofworship/Psalm103.

Tuesday:Theprayerofrepentance/Psalm51.Wednesday:Theprayerofthanksgiving/Psalm150.

Thursday:Theprayerofguidance/Matthew26:36–46.Friday:Theprayeroffaith/James5:13–18.Saturday:Theprayerofcommand/Mark9:14–29.

StudyQuestions1. WhydoIsay,“Toprayistochange”?Have

youeverexperiencedthatinyourownlife?2. Howcanwekeepfrombeingdiscouragedby

theexampleofthe“giantsofthefaith”?3. Whatdifferencedoesitmakeinourprayingif

webelievethatweliveinan“openuniverse”?A“closeduniverse”?

4. Whyisitimportanttoviewprayerasalearningprocess?

5. Distinguishbetweentheprayeroffaithandtheprayerofguidance.

6. FrankLaubachsaid,“Iwanttolearnhowtolivesothattoseesomeoneistoprayforthem.”Experimentwiththatapproachtolifeforonewholedayandrecordwhatyoulearnfromtheexperience.

7. Whatisyourresponsetotheideaofusingtheimaginationintheworkofprayer?

8. Lookatsomeonetodayandimaginewhatthey

couldbeiftheyreceivedadoubleportionofthelightofChrist.Byfaith,givethatportiontothemandrecordwhatyoulearnfromtheexperience.

9. Whatshouldwedowhenwedon’tfeellikepraying?

10. WhatexperiencehaveyouhadoftheThomasKellystatementonpage40ofCelebration?

SuggestedBooksforFurtherStudyBounds,E.M.PowerthroughPrayer.GrandRapids,Mich.:ZondervanPublishingHouse,1979.(Thisstimulatingcalltotheministryofprayerwaswrittenprimarilyforpreachersbutprovidesplentyofchallengetoallwhodaretoreadit.)

Grou,JeanNicholas.HowtoPray.TranslatedbyJosephDalby.Nashville,Tenn.:TheUpperRoom,1973.(ThisbookbyaFrenchJesuitoftheeighteenthcenturyis,inthewordsofEvelynUnderhill,“oneofthebestshortexpositionsoftheessenceofprayerwhichhaseverbeenwritten.”)

Hallesby,Ole.Prayer.Minneapolis,Minn.:AugsburgPress,1975.(WrittenbyoneofNorway’sleadingdevotionalwriters,thisbookisaimedathelpingtheaverageChristiandevelopamoremeaningfullifeofprayer.)

Kimmel,Jo.StepstoPrayerPower.NewYork:

AbingdonPress,1972.(Abrief,intentlypractical,andgenuinelyhelpfulguidetoprayer.)

Laubach,FrankC.Prayer:TheMightiestForceintheWorld.OldTappan,N.J.:FlemingH.RevellCo.,1959.(Abookbornoutofthepracticeandzealofoneofthetrulygreatmissionariesofthetwentiethcenturywhowasoftencalled“theapostleofliteracy.”)

Leech,Kenneth.TruePrayer.SanFrancisco:Harper&Row,1980.(HenriNouwensaiditwell:“TruePrayernotonlyspeaksaboutprayer,butitcreatesthespaceinthereaderwhereprayercangrowandmature.”)

Murray,Andrew.WithChristintheSchoolofPrayer.OldTappan,N.J.:FlemingH.RevellCo.,1970.(Agrandclassicthatdealswiththeministryofintercessionbyagreatpreacherandprayerofthelastcentury.)

Nee,Watchman.ThePrayerMinistryoftheChurch.Hollis,N.Y.:ChristianFellowshipPublishers,1973.(Morelikelythannot,thisbookwilldisturbyouandchallengemanyofyourcherishedideasaboutprayerand,asaresult,forceyoutothinkaboutandexperiencemoredeeplytheworkofprayer.)

Sanders,J.Oswald.PrayerPowerUnlimited.Chicago:MoodyPress,1977.(Apracticalguidetopersonalprayerwithusefuldiscusssionquestionsattheendofeachchapter.)

TheresaofAvila.TheInteriorCastle.TranslatedbyKieranKavanaughandOtilioRodriguez,O.C.D.New

York:PaulistPress,1979.(Writtenbyasixteenth-centurySpanishCarmelite,thisbookdescribesseveninwarddwellingplacesintowhichthesoulentersthroughthegatewayofprayer,andintheseventh,whichisinthecenter,Goddwellsinthegreatestsplendor.)

4.THEDISCIPLINEOFFASTING

Thecentralideainfastingisthevoluntarydenialofanotherwisenormalfunctionforthesakeofintensespiritualactivity.Thereisnothingwrongwithanynormallife-functions;itissimplythattherearetimeswhenwesetthemasideinordertoconcentrate.Whenweviewfastingfromthisperspective,wecanseeitsreasonablenessaswellasitsbroaderdimensions.TheBibledealswithfastinginregardtofood,butallowmetotakethecentralprincipleandapplyittootheraspectsofcontemporaryculture.*First,thereisaneedtodaytolearntofastfrompeople.

Wehaveatendencytodevourpeople,andweusuallygetsevereheartburnasaresult.Isuggestthatwemustlearntofastfrompeoplenotbecauseweareantisocial,butpreciselybecausewelovepeopleintentlyandbecause,whenwearewiththem,wewanttobeabletodothemgoodandnotharm.TheDisciplineofsolitudeandtheDisciplineofcommunitygohandinhand.Untilwehavelearnedtobealone,wecannotbewithpeopleinawaythatwillhelpthem,forwewillbringtothatrelationshipourownscatteredness.Conversely,untilwehavelearnedtobewithpeople,beingalonewillbeadangerousthing,foritwillcutusofffromhurting,bleedinghumanity.

Second,letuslearntofastfromthemediaattimes.Ithasalwaysamazedmethatmanypeopleseemincapable(oratleastunwilling)togothroughanentiredaywhileconcentratingonasinglething.Theirtrainofthoughtisconstantlybrokenupbythisdemandandthat—thenewspaper,theradio,thetelevision,themagazines.Nowondersomanypeoplefeelfracturedandfragmented.Obviously,thereisatimeforthemedia,butthereisalsoatimetobewithoutthemedia.Parentssendtheirchildrentosummercampandthechildrencomebackthrilledbecause“Godspoketome!”Whathappenedatcampwasthis:theysimplywerefreedofenoughdistractionsforalongenoughperiodoftimethattheywereabletoconcentrate.Wetoocandothatthroughthecourseofourordinarydays.Third,Iwouldsuggesttimesoffastingfromthe

telephone.Thetelephoneisawonderfulinvention,butitmustnotcontrolus.Ihaveknownpeoplewhostopprayinginordertoanswerthetelephone!Iwanttoletyouinonasecret:youareundernoobligationtoanswerthatgadgeteverytimeitrings.Inourhome,whenweareeatingorwhenIamreadingstoriestothechildren,wedonotanswerthetelephonebecauseIwantmyboystoknowtheyaremoreimportantthananyphonecall.Anditisterriblyoffensivetointerruptanimportantconversationjusttoansweramachine.Fourth,IwouldliketosuggesttheDisciplineoffasting

frombillboards.IstillrememberthedayIwasdrivingon

theLosAngelesfreewaysystemwhen,allofasudden,Irealizedthatforonesolidhourmymindhadbeendominatedbythebillboards.NowwhenIsuggestthatwefastfrombillboards,Idonotmeanthatweshouldrefrainfromlookingatthem.ButIdosuggestthatthebillboardshouldbecomeasignaltousofanotherreality.Whentheadmanshoutshisfour-letterobscenity,“More,more,more,”letitremindusofanotherfour-letterword,arich,full-bodiedword,“Less,less,less.”Whenwearebombardedwithbigger-than-lifepicturesoffoxyladiesandwell-fedbabies,perhapswecanusethosepicturestotriggerinourmindsanotherworld,aworldinwhich460millionpeoplearethevictimsofacutehunger(tenthousandofthemwillbedeadbythistimetomorrow),aworldinwhichamillionhogsinIndianahavesuperiorhousingtoabillionpeopleonthisplanet.Thisleadsmetomyfifthandfinalsuggestion

concerningfasting,whichisthatwediscovertimestofastfromourgluttonousconsumerculturethatwefindsocomfortable.Foroursoul’ssake,weneedtimeswhenwegoamongChrist’sfavorites—thebroken,thebruised,thedispossessed—nottopreachtothem,buttolearnfromthem.Forthesakeofourbalance,oursanity,weneedtimeswhenweareamongthosewho,inthewordsofMahatmaGandhi,livean“eternalcompulsoryfast.”FastingisaSpiritualDisciplineordainedbyGodfor

thegoodoftheChristianfellowship.MayGodfindourheartsopentothismeansofreceivinggrace.

DailyScriptureReadingsSunday:TheexampleofChrist/Luke4:1–13.

Monday:God’schosenfast/Isaiah58:1–7.Tuesday:Apartialfast/Daniel10:1–14.Wednesday:Anormalfast/Nehemiah1:4–11.

Thursday:Anabsolutefast/Esther4:12–17.Friday:Theinaugurationofthegentilemission/Acts13:1–3.

Saturday:Theappointmentofeldersinthechurches/Acts14:19–23.

StudyQuestions1. Checkyourfirstreactiontothethoughtof

fasting:_____ugh_____hmmm_____wow!_____ok_____freedom_____youhavetobekidding

2. HowdoesChristianfastingdifferfromthehungerstrikeandhealthfasting?

3. Define“anormalfast,”“apartialfast,”and“anabsolutefast.”

4. Whatistheprimarypurposeoffasting?5. Howcanfastingrevealwhatcontrolsyourlife?6. Whatismostdifficultaboutfastingforyou?7. Fastfortwomeals(twenty-fourhours)and

givethetimesavedtoGod.Recordanythingyoulearnfromtheexperience.

8. Tryfastingfromthemediaforoneweekandseewhatyoulearnaboutyourselfduringthattime.

9. ConsiderwhetherfastingisaculturalexpressionofChristianfaithonlyorwhetheritisanexpressionoffaithforallculturesatalltimes.

10. Inhisday,JohnWesleyrequiredthateveryministerordainedintheMethodistChurchregularlyfasttwodaysaweek.Discusstheimplicationsthatsucharequirementwouldhaveinourday.

SuggestedBooksforFurtherStudyCartwright,Thomas.TheHolyExerciseofaTrueFast.London:1610.(WrittenbyaPuritanleaderwhowasthefirstministerinEngland,aftertheReformation,tomakecleartheimportantdistinctionbetweenfastingforhealthpurposesandfastingforspiritualpurposes.)

Ehret,Arnold.RationalFasting.Beaumont,Tex.:EhretLiteraturePublishingCo.,1971.(Aconsiderationof

fastingfromtheperspectiveofphysicalhealthandwell-being.)

Knox,John.OrderandDoctrineofaGeneralFast.Edinburgh:1565.(WrittenbytheleaderoftheScottishReformation.)

Prince,Derek.ShapingHistorythroughPrayerandFasting.OldTappan,N.J.:FlemingH.RevellCo.,1973.(Filledwithmanyinterestinghistoricalexamples,thisstudybyaleaderinthecharismaticmovementseekstoshowtheimpactoffastinguponsocieties.)

Rogers,EricN.Fasting:ThePhenomenonofSelfDenial.Nashville,Tenn.:ThomasNelsonInc.,1976.(Asurveyoffastingamongthegreatreligionsoftheworld,includingastudyoffastingforpoliticalandhealthpurposes.)

Smith,DavidR.Fasting.FortWashington,Penn.:ChristianLiteratureCrusade,1969.(Anexcellentstudythatincludesthebestbibliographytobehadonfasting.)

Smith,FredW.JournalofaFast.NewYork:BallantineBooks,1972.(Thejournalnotationsofablue-collarworkerwhoundertookanextendedfast.Itisfilledwithhumaninterestandpracticalwisdom,eventhoughyoumayfindsomeofhisphilosophicalandtheologicalcommentsstrange.)

Wallis,Arthur.God’sChosenFast.FortWashington,Penn.:ChristianLiteratureCrusade,1971.(Inmyopinion,thebestsinglebookonthemarkettodaythat

bringstogetherthetheoryandthepracticeofChristianfasting.)

5.THEDISCIPLINEOFSTUDY

Themindwillalwaystakeonanorderthatconformstotheorderofwhateveritconcentratesupon.OncesomefriendsletususetheirbeachhouseontheOregoncoast.Itslocationwasasecludedspotwherevirtuallytheonlybuildinginsightwasanoldlighthouseonafarpeninsula.Ouronlyvisitorswereseagulls.Thecabinhadnotelevisionandnotelephone.Eventheradiodidn’twork.Buttherewerearecordplayerandtwooldrecords—thesoundtracksfromOklahoma!andJohnnyAppleseed.“Hownice,”Ithought.“Onerecordforthechildrenandonefortheadults.”Inthecourseofaweek,wemusthaveplayedthosetworecordssomefiftytimes.Formonthsafterward,Ifoundmyselfsingingorhummingthesongsonthosealbums—intheshower,inboardmeetings,inchurch.Ievensangtheminmydreams.Whathappenedwassimple:thefunctioningofmymindhadtakenontheorderofthemusic.Thisiswhytheproblemofmindpollutionissocrucial.

NowwhenIspeakofmindpollution,Iamnotthinkingonlyof“bad”books,movies,andsoforth,butofthemediocreonesaswell.Yousee,unlesswesetbeforeourselvesan“habitualvisionofgreatness,”wewillsurelydegenerate.Thisiswhyitisruinousthatsomuchofour

Christianliteratureisofsuchpoorliteraryquality.Thesadfactofthemodernworldisthat,inthemain,mendonotreadatall,andmanywomenarecaptivestotheescaperomancenovel,whichisofsuchpoorqualitythatitshouldnotevenbeconsideredliterature.Wesimplymustraiseoursights.Haveyoueverponderedwhypeopleinourdaydonot

read?Certainly,wedonotlackthetime.In1981,wespentseventy-fivethousandman-yearsplayingvideogames*andGodknowshowmanymorethousands(ormillions?)entrancedbytelevision.ThoughIhaveyettojointhevideo-gamecraze(I’mtooself-conscious),Icertainlydon’tmindatelevisionprogramnowandthen.Ontheotherhand,abjectslaveryisanotherthingaltogether.Thisweek,myson’sfifth-gradeteacherpolledthemembersoftheclassontheirweekendactivitiesandfoundthatthemajorityoftheclasswatchedoverfifteenhoursoftelevisionandreadunderonehour.OnlyoneotherstudentbesidesJoelhadwatchedlessthantwohoursoftelevisionandhadreadforaboutsevenhours.InordertoraiseoursightsandtaketheSpiritual

Disciplineofstudyseriously,mayIputinaplugfordisciplinedreading.Inmycoursesattheuniversity,Iusuallyrequiresevenoreightbooksineachclass.Atfirst,studentsthinktheyarebeingsenttotheguillotine,butbytheendoftheterm,theyarethrilledtodiscoversucharichworld,aworldthatmakes“pacman”or“TheDukesofHazzard”lookdrabanddull.

Ourchildrenarerequiredtoreadeachevening.Bothboysgototheirroomat8:00P.M.(Notice,thismeansthatwemustsaynotomosteveningchurchmeetingsandentertainmentextravaganzas,thoughwewillmakerareexceptions.)Joel,ourten-year-old,isallowedtoreadforonehour.Nathan,ourseven-year-old,readsforfifteenminutes.Andwithonlyminimalencouragementfromus,theyhavegottenintosomesubstantialliterature—JoelispresentlydevouringTheLordoftheRings.Wealsoreadtogetheroutloud.Recently,NathanhasrequestedTheChroniclesofNarniaandso(althoughJoelhasreadthiscollectionmanytimes)weallsittogetheraftersupperandshareinthewonderfuladventuresthattakeplaceinthemagicallandofNarnia.NextweplantoreadaloudThePilgrim’sProgress.Study,ofcourse,isamuchlargerDisciplinethan

reading,andmanywhoreadneverstudy;butreadingisanimportantelementinstudyandshouldnotbelost.I’msureyouwillfindGodwaitingforyouasyouengageintheministryofstudy.

DailyScriptureReadingsSunday:Thecalltostudy/Proverbs1:1–9,23:12,23.Monday:Thesourceoftruth/James1:5,Hebrews4:11–13,2Timothy3:16–17.Tuesday:Whattostudy/Philippians4:8–9,Colossians

3:1–17.Wednesday:Thevalueofstudy/Luke10:38–42.

Thursday:Activestudy/Ezra7:10,James1:19–25.Friday:Studyintheevangelisticenterprise/Acts17:1–3,17:10–12,19:8–10.Saturday:Thestudyofanonverbalbook/Proverbs24:30–34.

StudyQuestions1. Whydoesstudymorefullybringaboutthe

purposeoftheSpiritualDisciplines,whichisthetransformationoftheindividual?Inotherwords,whatdoesstudydothatotherDisciplinesdonot?

2. Whatisstudy?(Thisisanimportantquestion,becausesomanyChristiansdonotknowitsanswer.)

3. Haveyouhadanyexperiencewiththestudyofnonverbalbooks?

4. ThefourstepsintostudythatIgivearerepetition,concentration,comprehension,andreflection.Whichofthesefourstepsdoyoufeelisthemostimportantinbringingaboutthegoalofthetransformationoftheindividual?

5. OutsideoftheBible,whatbookhashadthemostprofoundimpactuponyourownlife?

Why?6. Onpage60ofCelebration,Iwrite,“Instudy

wearenotseekingspiritualecstasy;infact,ecstasycanbeahindrance.”Howcouldspiritualecstasybeahindrance?

7. ListthreethingsthatyoucoulddothisnextweekinordertofollowthedictumofSocrates:knowthyself.

8. Studyaplantortreefortenminutesandthenwritedownwhatyoulearnfromtheexperience.

9. Whydoesstudyproducejoy?10. Considerthepurchaseofaseriousbookonthe

spirituallifetoreadthisnextweek.

SuggestedBooksforFurtherStudyAdler,MortimerJ.HowtoReadaBook.NewYork:SimonandSchuster,1958.(Thestandardbywhichallofusmeasureourefforts.Essentialreadingforallwhowanttoreadcorrectly.)

Blamires,Harry.TheChristianMind.AnnArbor,Mich.:ServantBooks,1963.(AcarefulanalysisoftheassumptionsofthecontemporarycultureandacalltoamoreauthenticChristianworldviewbyaformerstudentofC.S.Lewis.)

Rutherford,Jean,etal.HowtoStudytheBible.EditedbyJohnB.Job.DownersGrove,Ill.:InterVarsityPress,

1972.(PresentssomeeightapproachestoBiblestudy,includingcharacterstudy,wordstudy,andthemestudy.)

Sire,JamesE.HowtoReadSlowly:AChristianGuidetoReadingwiththeMind.DownersGrove,Ill.:InterVarsityPress,1979.(HelpsChristiansreadsothattheworldviewoftheauthorbecomesobvious.)

Stott,JohnR.W.UnderstandingtheBible.GrandRapids,Mich.:ZondervanPublishingHouse,1982.(AnexceedinglyhelpfulresourceforpersonalBiblestudycoveringissuesofinterpretationandauthorityaswellasthebasicflowoftheBiblicalstory.)

Trueblood,Elton.TheNewManforOurTime.NewYork:Harper&Row,1970.(ApleaforChristianstoloveGodwiththeirmindsaswellastheirheartsandtheirhands.)

PARTII

TheOutwardDisciplines

6.THEDISCIPLINEOFSIMPLICITY

Simplicityisopenness,unselfconsciousness,naturalness.Itistheoppositeofsubtlety,cunning,duplicity.Wheresimplicityabounds,wordscanbetakenatface

value:thereisnohiddenagenda.Andyet,simplicityisnotsynonymouswith“easytounderstand.”JesuswasnoteasytounderstandnorwasPaul,butbothwerecharacterizedbysimplicityofspeech.Theirintentwasnottoconfuseordeceivebuttoclarifyandilluminate.Simplicityfreesusfromthetyrannyoftheself,the

tyrannyofthings,andthetyrannyofpeople.*Theselfclamorsforattention,self-recognition,

applause.Throughartfuldeception,itappearstobeyounger,wiser,richer,saintlierthanisactuallythecase.Theselfwillgotoextravagantlengthstoseemtobelongtotheintelligentsia.Inmeetings,itwillquoteauthorsithasneverreadormaintainadiscreetsilenceinsupposedsuperiorityoversouneducatedagroup.Confrontandchallengethetyrannyoftheselfwiththe

followingquestions:

—AmIpretendingtobeanexpertwhereIamonlyanamateur?

—DoIreallyreadthebooksIquote?

—DoIuserhetoricasacurtaintoconcealmytrueintentions?

—DoIgivetheimpressionofbeingmoregodly(ormoreprofane,whicheverwillgivemorestatusinthegroup)thanItrulyam?

—DoItrytoimpresspeoplewithmydegrees,titles,orhonors?

Simplicityalsoprevailsagainstthetyrannyofthings.Outoffearthatothersmightdiscoverwhoweare,wecreateanartificialworldofostentatiousdisplay,extravagantornamentation,andpretentiousstyle.Wecalluponthebeautician,thetailor,andthedressmakertocreateanimpressionofperpetualyouth.Webuyclothes,cars,andhousesbeyondourmeansinafranticattempttoappearsuccessful.Rebukethetyrannyofthingswiththefollowing

questions:

—AmIlivingcontentedlywithinmyincome?—DoIactmyage?—AmIacompulsivebuyer?—DoItrytoimpresspeoplewithgadgets?—DoIbuywhatIcanaffordandwhatmyresponsibilitytothepoorsuggests?

Finally,thereisthetryannyofpeople.Whathorrendousgymnasticswewillputourselvesthroughjust

toinsurethatotherswillhaveagoodopinionofus.Howdesperatelyandsincerelywelabortocreatetherightimpression.Insteadofbecominggood,weresorttoallsortsofdevicestomakepeoplethinkwearegood.Joyfullyattackthetyrannyofpeoplewiththefollowing

questions:

—CanIallowanunfavorablecommentaboutmyselftostand,withoutanyneedtostraightenoutthematter?

—Inrecountingevents,doIshiftthestoryeversoslightlytomakemyselfappearinamorefavorablelight?

—MustIalwaysmakeexcusesformybehavior?—DoIaimatexcellenceinmyworkwithoutregardforwhatpeoplemaysayorthink?

—CanIacceptcomplimentsfreelywithoutanyneedtoshrugthemoffinself-consciousmodesty?

Onlythesimplearefree.Allothersaretyrannizedbytheambitiousself,thedemandforrecognitionthroughthings,andapreoccupationwiththeopinionsofothers.FrançoisFénelondeclared,“Simplicityisanuprightnessofsoulwhichpreventsself-consciousness.Verilysuchsimplicityisagreattreasure!”

DailyScriptureReadings

Sunday:Simplicityassinglenessofheart/Matthew6:19–24.Monday:Simplicityastrust/Matthew6:25–34.

Tuesday:Simplicityasobedience/Genesis15.Wednesday:Thegenerosityofsimplicity/Leviticus25:8–12.Thursday:Simplicityinspeech/Matthew5:33–37,James5:12.

Friday:Simplicityandjustice/Amos5:11–15,24,Luke4:16–21.Saturday:Thefreedomfromcovetousness/Luke12:13–34.

StudyQuestions1. Whatarethetwoaspectsofsimplicityandwhy

arebothessential?2. Inoneparagraph,attempttosetforththe

biblicalteachingonpossessions.3. WhatwouldtheconceptoftheyearofJubilee

looklikeinamodernsociety(Lev.25:8–12)?4. WhatdoIsetforthasthefocalpointforan

understandingofChristiansimplicity?5. Whatarethethreeinwardattitudesof

simplicity?Ofthethree,whichdoyoufindthemostdifficultforyoupersonally?

6. WhatisthegreatestdangerinsettingforthanoutwardexpressiontoChristiansimplicity?Whymustwetaketherisk?

7. Whichofthetencontrollingprinciplesforoutwardsimplicityisthemosthelpfultoyou?Arethereanyyoufeelareunrealistic?

8. Whatisproducinganaddictioninyou?9. Wrestlewiththeimplicationsoftheninth

principle.(Rejectanythingthatwillbreedtheoppressionofothers.)

10. Listonethingthatyoucoulddothisnextweektosimplifyyourlife.Doit.

SuggestedBooksforFurtherStudyCooper,JohnC.FindingaSimplerLife.Philadelphia:UnitedChurchPress,1974.(Laysthegroundworkforanauthenticvisionofsimplicityinmodernsociety.)

Cooper,JohnC.TheJoyofthePlainLife.Nashville,Tenn.:ImpactBooks,1981.(Ajoyouscelebrationofthegiftofsimplicity.Cooperhasmadehisbookparticularlyhelpfulbyhavingindividualsfrommanywalksoflifeshareattheendofeachchaptertheirpracticalexperiencesofthechaptertheme.)

Edwards,Tilden.LivingSimplythroughtheDay.NewYork:PaulistPress,1977.(Beginningwithapersonalpilgrimage,Edwardshelpstofreeusfromouranxiety-riddenculturebysimpleexercisesthataretiedtoour

dailyexperiencesofeating,playing,serving,sleeping,etc.)

Eller,Vernard.TheSimpleLife.GrandRapids,Mich.:EerdmansPublishingCo.,1973.(AlookatinwardsimplicitythroughtheeyesofthegospelrecordsandinthewritingsofSørenKierkegaard.)

Foster,Richard.FreedomofSimplicity.SanFrancisco:Harper&Row,1981.(AttemptstoplacesimplicitywithinthecontextofthewholeofChristiandevotionandtobringtogetherthevariousemphasesuponinnerandoutersimplicity.)

Gish,ArthurG.BeyondtheRatRace.NewCanaan,Conn.:KeatsPublishing,1973.(Gishlaunchesanuncompromisingattackonmaterialismandavigorouscalltooutwardsimplicitythatisguaranteedtodisturbyoutothecore.)

Hengel,Martin.PropertyandRichesintheEarlyChurch.Philadelphia:FortressPress,1974.(AscholarlystudyoftheChristianapproachtopropertyandrichesfromthetimeofChrist—withabriefdiscussionofOldTestamentviews—toaboutthefourthcentury.ExtensiveattentionisgiventotheAnte-NiceneFathers.)

Longacre,DorisJanzen.LivingMorewithLess.Scottsdale,Ariz.:HeraldPress,1980.(Afollow-uptoherbestsellingMore-With-LessCookbook.ThisvolumeisfilledwithawealthofpracticalsuggesionsbyMennonitesthroughouttheworld.)

Sider,RonaldJ.RichChristiansinanAgeofHunger:ABiblicalStudy.DownersGrove,Ill.:InterVarsityPress,1979.(Extremelyvaluablebiblicalandpracticalstudyofthequestionofjusticeinmodernsociety.Mustreading.)

Taylor,RichardK.EconomicsandtheGospel.Philadelphia:UnitedChurchPress,1973.(ApowerfulanalysisofeconomicjusticeinthecontextofChristianethics.)

Ziegler,EdwardK.SimpleLiving.Elgin,Ill.:TheBrethrenPress,1974.(AlookatsimplicityfromtheperspectiveoftheChurchoftheBrethren.)

7.THEDISCIPLINEOFSOLITUDE

HenriNouwenhasnotedthat“withoutsolitudeitisvirtuallyimpossibletoleadaspirituallife.”Whyisthisso?Because,insolitude,wearefreedfromourbondagetopeopleandourinnercompulsions,andwearefreedtoloveGodandknowcompassionforothers.Toentersolitude,wemustdisregardwhatothersthink

ofus.Whowillunderstandthiscalltoaloneness?Evenourclosestfriendswillseeitasaterriblewasteofprecioustimeandasratherselfishandself-centered.But,oh,whatlibertyisreleasedinourheartswhenweletgooftheopinionsofothers!Thelesswearemesmerizedbyhumanvoices,themoreweareabletohearthedivineVoice.Thelessweareboundbyother’sexpectations,themoreweareopentoGod’sexpectations.But,insolitude,wedienotonlytoothersbutalsoto

ourselves.Tobesure,atfirstwethoughtsolitudewasawaytorechargeourbatteriesinordertoenterlife’smanycompetitionswithnewvigorandstrength.Intime,however,wefoundthatsolitudedidnotgiveuspowertowintheratrace;onthecontrary,ittaughtustoignorethestrugglealtogether.Slowly,wefoundourselveslettinggoofourinnercompulsionstowinandourfranticefforttoattain.Inthestillness,ourfalse,busyselveswere

unmaskedandseenfortheimposterstheytrulywere.Itisoutofourliberationfromothersandselfthatour

earsbecomeopentohearandoureyesunveiledtoseethegoodnessofGod.WecanloveGodbecausewedonothavetolovetheworld.Throughoursolitude,anopeninnerspacehasbeencreatedthroughwhichGodfindsus.Insolitude,weexperienceasecond(andthird,andfourth,andfifth…)conversion.Inadeepermoreprofoundway,weturnfromtheidolsofthemarketplacetothegloryofGodinthefaceofJesusChrist.Godtakesthis“useless”Discipline,this“wastedtime,”tomakeusHisfriend.Ahappyby-productofbecomingthefriendofGodis

anincreasedcompassionforothers.Oncewehavepeeredintotheabyssofourownvanity,wecanneveragainlookatthestrugglesofothersincondescendingsuperiority.Oncewehavefacedthedemonsofdespairinourownaloneness,wecanneveragainpassofflightlythequietdepressionandsadlonelinessofthosewemeet.Webecomeonewithallwhohurtandareafraid.Wearefreetogivethemthegreatestgiftwepossess—thegiftofourselves.Theprivateretreatisonewaytonurturesolitude.In

Celebration,Isharedseveralideasregardingwhattodoinaprivateretreat;however,itisofutmostimportancethatwedonotlosesightofourmajorworkonretreat.Itcanbesaidinoneword—PRAYER.WeentertheterrifyingsilencestolistentoGod,toexperiencecommunion.Thispurposeneedstobekeptbeforeus

because,atfirst,timethusspentwillseemsouseless,sowasted.Wewillsoonbeseverelytemptedtomake“gooduseofourtime”byreadingmanybooksorwritingmanypages.WhatwemustclearlyunderstandandunderscoreisthatourrealtaskonretreatistocreateaspaceinourliveswhereGodcanreachus.Oncethatspacehasbeencreatedwewaitquietly,expectantly.Fromthispointon,theworkbelongstoGod.AndIhavefoundHimmosteagertousherusintotheHolyofHoliesandsharewithusthegloriesofHisKingdom.InFruitsofSolitude,WilliamPennobservedthat

solitudeis“aschoolfewcaretolearnin,tho’noneinstructsusbetter.”MaywebeamongthefewthatcaretolearnthroughthismercifulmeansofGod’sgrace.

DailyScriptureReadingsSunday:Thefreedomtocontrolthetongue/James3:1–12,Luke23:6–9.Monday:Prayerandsolitude/Matthew6:5–6,Luke5:16.Tuesday:Theinsightsofsolitude/Psalm8.

Wednesday:“Thedarknightofthesoul”/Jeremiah20:7–18.Thursday:Thesolitudeofthegarden/Matthew26:36–46.

Friday:Thesolitudeofthecross/Matthew27:32–50.

Saturday:Thecompassionthatcomesfromsolitude/Matthew9:35–38,23:37.

StudyQuestions1. Whatisthedifferencebetweenlonelinessand

solitude?Whichdoyouexperiencemore?2. Whydoweneedbothsolitudeandcommunity

inordertofunctionwithspiritualsuccess?3. Whydoyouthinkthatsolitudeandsilenceare

closelyconnected?4. Whatisthe“sacrificeoffools”?Haveyouever

beenguilty?5. Haveyoueverhadanexperiencesuchasthis

describedbyCatherinedeHaeckDoherty:“Allinmeissilentand…IamimmersedinthesilenceofGod”?Ifso,youmightwanttoshareitwithsomeone;ifnot,youmightwanttoponderthereasonforthelack.

6. Haveyoueverexperienceda“darknightofthesoul”?

7. Imentionfivepossiblestepsintosolitude.Whichonewouldyoufindmosthelpfulatthispointinyourlife?

8. Whatkeepsyoufromsolitude?9. Whatpracticalreorderingofyourlifecouldbe

doneinordertocreatemorespaceforGod?10. Whatexperienceinsolitudewouldyouliketo

havetwoyearsfromnowthatyoudonotpresentlypossess?Wouldyoubewillingthisweektoplanitintoyourscheduleforsometimeinthenexttwenty-fourmonths?

SuggestedBooksforFurtherStudyDoherty,CatherinedeHueck.Poustinia:ChristianSpiritualityoftheEastforWesternMan.NotreDame:AveMariaPress,1974.(AsensitiveandhighlyapplicablediscussionofhowWesternculturecanfindspaceforthelifeofsolitude.)

Hoyland,Geoffrey.TheUseofSilence.InnerLifeSeries#5.London:S.P.C.K.,1955.(ApamphletontheQuakerexperienceofthe“LivingSilence”onbothindividualandcorporatelevels.)

Maloney,GeorgeA.,S.J.AlonewiththeAlone.NotreDame:AveMariaPress,1982.(HelpstheindividualenterintotheexperienceofGod—[theAlone]—throughtheformatofaneight-dayretreat.)

Nee,Watchman.DeepCallethuntoDeep.LosAngeles:TheStream.(Atinybookletthatbeckonsyoutotheinnersanctuaryofthesoul.)

Nouwen,HenriJ.M.TheGeneseeDiary.NewYork:Doubleday,1976.(GoingfromanactivelifeofteachingatYaleDivinitySchooltoaseven-monthexperienceinaTrappistMonastery,Nouwensharestheinsightsofhissojourn.)

Nouwen,HenriJ.M.OutofSolitude.NotreDame:AveMariaPress,1974.(Threebriefpassagesonthefruitofsolitudeincontemporaryministry.)

Nouwen,HenriJ.M.TheWayoftheHeart.NewYork:TheSeaburyPress,1981.(AmeaningfulinterpretationintothetwentiethcenturyofthewisdomoftheDesertFathers.)

Oats,Wayne.NurturingSilenceinaNoisyHeart.NewYork:Doubleday,1979.(Mosthelpfulcounselonhowinnersolitudecantakeupresidenceinthemidstofourbusylives.)

Waddell,Helen.TheDesertFathers.AnnArbor,Mich.:UniversityofMichiganPress,1957.(ContainsmanyofthewisesayingsoftheDesertFathersaswellasthestoriesoftheirexperiences.)

8.THEDISCIPLINEOFSUBMISSION

Insubmission,werecognizethelegitimateauthorityofothersoverus.Itisnothingmorethanthesimpleunderstandingthat“nomanisanisland.”Lifeincommunityisourrightfulhome:relationshipswithotherhumanbeingsisourinheritance.Toconfessourcommitmenttocommunitymeanstoconfessourcommitmenttomutualsubordination.Petercrystallizedthisprincipleinthesimplephrase,“Honorallmen”(1Peter2:17a),andPaulsetforththeideainwhatmustbeconsideredthemostmemorablesentenceonthesubject,“BesubjecttooneanotheroutofreverenceforChrist”(Eph.5:21).Submissionisaconceptasbroadaslifeitselfanda

DisciplinefoundthroughoutScripture.Itraisesissuesthataredeepanddifficult:issuesofsubmissiontothewaysofGod,issuesofsubmissiontothestate,issuesofsubmissiontotheChristianfellowship,issuesofsubmissionintheChristianhouseholdandmuchmore.Aswehammeroutourunderstandingofthesematters,wewillalwayswanttoholdbeforeusthelifeanddeathofChristasthedivineparadigmbywhichalltheverbsofChristiansubmissionaretobeconjugated.InregardtotheChristianfamily,theNewTestament

daredtofleshoutthemeaningofsubmissioninabodyofinstructionsthatMartinLuthercalledtheHaustafeln,or“TheTableofInstructionsfortheChristianHousehold.”*Thisteachingwasagraciouswayofsettingforththefunctionofsubmissionwithinthefamilyinfirstcenturyculture.Inourday,however,thisbodyofinstructionshasbeenterriblygarbledandabused.Thefollowingdistortionsofsubmissionrevealinparttheknackwemodernshavefortakingthebestteachingandusingitfortheworstends.TheDoormat.Thisisthepersonwhoallowsothersto

misuseandabusehimtosuchanextentthatheistreatedasathingratherthanaperson.Inafalseandunhealthysubmission,heallowsotherstowalkoverhimasonewouldadoormat.Hisopinionisneithersoughtnordesired,andintimehelosestheabilityeventohaveanopinion.Suchapersonsoonbecomesanobjectratherthanasubject—ahousekeeperratherthanawife,abreadwinnerratherthanahusband.Heisdefinedbywhathecanproduceratherthanbywhoheis.Intheend,hebecomesathing.ThePleaser.Thisisthepersonwhowantsmorethan

anythingelsetoavoidconflict.Heseesafightcomingamileawayandwillgotoanylengthstokeepitfromoccurring.Itiscomical(andtragic)tofindtwo“pleasers”marriedtoeachother:“Whatwouldyouliketodotonight,honey?”

“Whateveryouwouldlike,dear.”“Well,Ijustwanttomakeyouhappy.”“AndthatisexactlywhatIwanttodoforyou.I’lldo

anythingthatwillmakeyouhappy.”“Ifitwouldpleaseyou,Iwouldbegladtogooutto

dinner.”“I’dloveto,ifitwouldmakeyouhappy.”“Fine,whatkindoffoodwouldyoulike?”“Whateveryouwouldenjoy,dear.”…andonitgoesadnauseam.TheDependent.Thisisthepersonwhofearsmaking

decisionsliketheplague.Ratherthanownuptothematuringprocessofchoice,hefindsrefugeinapseudo-submissionthatallowsotherstomakeallhisdecisions.Fearisattherootofsuchsubmission—fearofleadingothersinthewrongway,fearofmakinganill-timeddecision,fearofblameifprogramsfail.Andsohenevercauseswaves,heneveroffends,andheneveraccomplishesanythingoflastingvalue.TheManipulator.Thisisthepersonwhofollowsallof

theoutwardrulesofsubmission,butemployseverysubtletrickofthetradetogethisownway.Actsofmercyaredonetoputusintohisdebt.Wordsofkindnessaregiventowinustohisside.Whilefullyagreeingwithourdecisions,littlehintsofdoubtaresownthroughalookoragestureorperhapsaslightquaveringofthevoice.Oftenthepracticeissoingrainedthattheindividualhimself

doesnotrealizethathehastakencontrolofeverysituation.ThedistortionsthatIhavesharedhereare,forthemost

part,religiouslyapporovedmeanstodehumanizinganddestructiveends.ButJesusChristcallsustoamoreexcellentway—awayofloveandcompassion,awayofsubmissionandservice.

DailyScriptureReadingsSunday:Thecalltosubmission/Mark8:34,John12:24–26.Monday:TheexampleofChrist/Philippians2:1–11.Tuesday:TheexampleofAbraham/Genesis22:1–19.

Wednesday:TheexampleofPaul/Galatians2:19–21.Thursday:Submissioninthemarketplace/Matthew5:38–48.

Friday:Submissioninthefamily/Ephesians5:21–6:9,1Peter3:1–9.Saturday:Submissionwithreferencetothestate/Romans13:1–10,Acts4:13–20,5:27–29,16:35–39.

StudyQuestions1. HowhaveyouseentheDisciplineof

submissionabused?

2. Whatisthefreedominsubmission?Haveyouenteredintoanyexperienceofthis?

3. Iwrite,“Insubmissionweareatlastfreetovalueotherpeople.”Whatisitaboutsubmissionthatallowsthistohappen?

4. WhydidIbeginthechapterbydiscussingwhatsubmissiondoesbeforeIdefinewhatitis?

5. Whatimagescometoyourmindwhenyouthinkofthewordself-denial?

6. WhywasJesus’teachingonsubmissionsorevolutionary?

7. Inonebriefparagraph,attempttosummarizewhatyoufeelistheteachingoftheEpistlesonsubmission.

8. Whatarethelimitsofsubmission,andwhyaretheyimportant?

9. Ofthesevenactsofsubmission,whichonedoyoufeelyouneedtoworkonmost?

10. WhatdoyouthinkitwouldmeantobeinsubmissiontothewaysofGod?(Ponderthisquestioncarefullybecauseitdoesnotyieldtopatanswers.)

SuggestedBooksforFurtherStudyThesmallnumberofbookslistedbelowdoesnotreflectmyunawarenessofthebreadthofcontemporarywriting,butmyunwillingnesstocommendmostofittoyou.The

ideaofsubmissionpervadedtheworldviewoftheoldwriters(thinkofàKempis’ImitationorFénelon’sChristianPerfection),butitisastrangemutationtomodernwriters.Forthemostpart,contemporarydiscussionsarelimitedtotwosmallcornersoftheDiscipline—theman/womanquestionandtheShepherdingorDisciplingconceptincertaincharismaticcircles.Tomyknowledge,noonehasprovideduswithafull-blown,intelligentdiscussionofthissubject.

Butt,Howard.TheVelvetCoveredBrick.NewYork:Harper&Row,1973.(Theexperienceofoneman’sattempttotakethebiblicalconceptsof“authority”and“submission”andhammerthemoutonthehardanvilofthebusinessworld.)

Smedes,LewisB.LovewithinLimits.GrandRapids,Mich.:WilliamB.EerdmansPublishingCo.,1978.(Basinghisdefinitionupon1Corinthians13,Smedesdescribesloveas“thepowerthatmovesustorespondtoaneighbor’sneedwithnoexpectationofreward”bythisdescription,hedefinesthefundamentalprincipleoutofwhichtheDisciplineofsubmissionoperates.)

Yoder,JohnHoward.ThePoliticsofJesus.GrandRapids,Mich.:EerdmansPublishingCo.,1972.(Impressiveinitsscholarshipanditsinsight.Containstwoimportantchaptersonthesubject:“RevolutionarySubordination”and“LetEverySoulBeSubject:Romans13andtheAuthorityoftheState.”Yoder

givesusanexcellentfoundationforamodernunderstandingoftheDisciplineofsubmissionforourday:wenowneedsomeonewhocouldbuilduponit.)

9.THEDISCIPLINEOFSERVICE

Inhismostfamousteachingonservice,Jesusconcluded,“ForeventheSonofMandidnotcometobeserved,buttoserve,andtogivehislifearansomformany”(Mark10:45,NIV).OurLord’suniqueserviceofredemptionthroughtheCrossisunrepeatable.However,wearecalledtoservethroughthemanylittledeathsofgoingbeyondself.Andasweliveoutourlivesforthegoodofothers,amazingly,wefindourselves,wediscoveroursenseofplace.WhenPaulspokeofthegenerosityofthebelieversin

Macedonia,henotedthat,“Firsttheygavethemselves(2Cor.8:5a).ThisisthefirstmarkoftheDisciplineofservice.Servicecannotbedoneinabsentia.Itnecessitatesourpersonalinvolvement.LikeSt.FrancisofAssisi,wemusttouchtheleper,wemustreachouttotheoneinneed.Howcounterthisistothemoderncalltowatchoutfor

numberone.(AndmayIjustaddthatifyouaredrivenbytheneedtowatchoutfornumberone,Godhelpyou,becausenooneelsewill!)ButintheKingdomofGod,wecanletgoofsuchdrivesbecauseweareabletocastallourcareuponhim,forhecaresforus(1Peter5:7).Onerealitymustbeclearlyunderstoodinthelifeof

service.Theveryfactthatwearefinitemeansthatifwesayyestoonetask,thenwemustsaynotoothertasks.WhenIagreedtotheserviceofwritingthisstudyguide,Ihadtoturnawaymanygoodandnobletasks.Icouldnotgotospecialmeetings,serveonworthycommittees,speakatimportantgatherings,orevencounselwithneedypeople.Tohavegivenintotheseotherimportantministrieswouldhavemeantfailingtoservethroughwriting.Listentothisheartbreakingstoryofayoungmother

whointhebeginningthoughtservicemeantacceptinganyandalldemandsuponhertimeandenergy:

Someonewasalwaysdroppinginforavisitandstayinglate,oftentill2A.M.untilwewereexhausted.Wehadnotimetobetogetherasafamily.TheroutineanddisciplineofourtwosmallchildrenweredisturbedtothepointthattheywerebeingraisedbyotherpeoplewhilewehadBiblestudiesandsharedwithneedyfolk.Therelationshipbetweenmyhusbandandmesufferedbecausewewereexhaustedandhadverylittletimealone.IbecamethedumpingplaceforpreschoolersuntilIwasjustaboutberserkfromtheresponsibility.Ibecamethemakerofclothesformanyofthewomenwhowereworkingoutsidethehomeandsimplydidn’thavetimetosew.Ibecame“thelistener”whospentsomuchtimeonthephone

thatthereweremanydaysthatmychildren’sluncheswerefixedfromthingsIcouldreachfromthephoneandmyhouseworkwasuntouchedduetoservingothers.AndonandonitwentuntilIfinallycracked,putmyfootdownandlearnedtosay“No.”

Thisdeeplycommittedwomanwashavingtosaynotoherchildrenandhusbandbecauseshewassayingyestothedemandsofotherfolk.Thepointisthatwearenotomnipresentandweshould

admitasmuch.TheDisciplineofserviceasksustoserveirrespectiveofclassorstatusdistinctions,butitalsorecognizesourhumanlimitations.Loveisareasonedconcernforthewell-beingofall.IfIbringpeopleintomyhomeunderthesuppositionthatIamservingthem,butintheprocessIdestroymywifeandchildren,thenIamnotlivinginlove.MostlikelyIammerelygratifyingmyegocentricneedtofeelrighteousratherthanenteringintotrueservice.Admittedly,thebalanceisnoteasytomaintain—significantmattersinlifeseldomare.Thatisthereasonfordiscipline:remember,thedisciplinedpersonisthepersonwhocandowhatneedstobedonewhenitneedstobedone.Discernmentandobediencearethekeys.Learning

whentosaynoisimportant;soislearningwhentosayyes.Oncewehavebeenburnedbyacompulsiveyes,thetemptationwillbetosaynotoeverythingor,atleast,to

thosethingswefinddistasteful.Butthatcanbeasenslavingastheformerstate.WhatweneedistolearntherhythmoftheHolySpiritsothatouryesornotocallsofservicewillariseoutofthatharmony.

DailyScriptureReadingsSunday:Thecalltoservice/Matthew20:20–28.Monday:Thesignofservice/John13:1–17.Tuesday:Thecommitmentofservice/Exodus21:2,21:5–6,1Corinthians9:19.

Wednesday:Theattitudeofservice/Colossians3:23–25.Thursday:ServiceintheChristianfellowship/Romans12:9–13.

Friday:Theministryofsmallthings/Matthew25:31–39.Saturday:Serviceexemplified/Luke10:29–37.

StudyQuestions1. Ifthetowelisthesignofservice,howcanthat

signbemanifestedintwentieth-centuryculture?

2. Didyoufindthediscussionofself-righteousservice,ascontrastedfromtrueservice,tobe:_____righton_____terriblyidealistic

_____naive_____faithfultoScripture,butimpracticalfortoday_____strangeDiscussyouranswerwithothers.

3. Debatethenotionthatloveisa“reasonedconcernforthewell-beingofall,”andconsidertheimplicationsofthisnotionwithreferencetoservice.

4. InthebookImentionthatserviceworkshumilityintoourlives.Whatintheworlddoyouthinkhumilitymeans?Thatis,whatdoeshumilitylooklike?

5. Haveyoueverallowedyourselftobetakenadvantageof?Didtheexperienceturnouttobedestructiveratherthanredemptive?

6. Doesthebelieverhaverightsthatshouldnotbegivenupforthesakeofothers?

7. Whatwouldtheserviceofhiddennesslooklikeinyourlife?

8. Duringthisnextweek,seeifyoucanfindonewayeachdaytoexercisetheserviceofcommoncourtesy.

9. Whenshouldyousaynotothedemandsthatpeopleplaceuponyourtimeandattention?

10. Givethisprayeratrysometimethismonth:“LordJesus,IwouldsoappreciateitifyouwouldbringmesomeonetodaywhomIcan

serve.”

SuggestedBooksforFurtherStudyBonhoeffer,Dietrich.LifeTogether.TranslatedbyJohnW.Doberstein.SanFrancisco:Harper&Row,1976.(Powerfulinsightsintothelifeofservice,solitude,andconfession.Essentialreading.)

Greenleaf,RobertK.TheServantasLeader.Cambridge,Mass.:CenterforAppliedStudies,1973.(Athirty-sevenpageessayintendedasthefirstoffourpamphletsonserviceasitrelatestoindividuals,trustees,andinstitutions.)

Greenleaf,RobertK.ServantLeadership.NewYork:PaulistPress,1977.(AseminalworkonthenatureoflegitimatepowerandgreatnessbyonewhoclearlyunderstandsboththeworldofcorporatemanagementandtheChristianwitnesstoservice.)

Mains,KarenBurton.OpenHeartOpenHome.Elgin,Ill.:DavidC.CookPublishingCo.,1981.(AnencouragingcalltotheministryofChristianhospitality.)

Swindoll,CharlesR.ImprovingYourServe.Waco,Tex.:WordBooks,1981.(Helpful,life-relatedsermonsontheartofunselfishliving.)

PARTIII

TheCorporateDisciplines

10.THEDISCIPLINEOFCONFESSION

ConfessionisacorporateDiscipline,becausesinbothoffendsGodandcreatesawoundintheChristianfellowship.IntheearlycenturiesoftheChristianera,forgivenessandreconciliationinvolvedalengthyprocessofhealingbywhichtheoffenderwasrestoredtohealththroughtheministryofthetotalChristiancommunity.IntheearlyMiddleAges,confessionwasturnedincreasinglyintoaprivatesacrament,andfollowingtheReformation,ProtestantsbegantoviewismoreandmoreasamatterexclusivelybetweentheindividualandGod.Butinthebeginning,confessionwasnottheprivatisticeventitistoday;infact,inMatthew18,Jesusexpressedtheessentialcommunalnatureofconfessionandexplainedhowforgivenesscancomeintoacommunitywithoutdestroyingthegroup.ItisGodwhodoestheforgiving,butoftenHechooseshumanbeingsasthechannelofHisforgivinggrace.Humanbeingsaresuchthat“lifetogether”always

involvestheminhurtingoneanotherinsomeway.Andforgivenessisessentialinacommunityofhurtandhurtfulpersons.Inexperiencingforgiveness,itisimportanttounderstandwhatitisnot.Fourthingsareoftenmistakenforforgiveness.

First,someimaginethatforgivenessmeanspretendinganinjurydoesn’treallymatter.Wesay,“Oh,that’sallright,itreallydidn’thurtmeanyway!”Thatisnotforgiveness;itislying.Andloveandliesdonotmixwell.Thetruthisthatthesethingsmatteragreatdeal,anditdoesnothelptoavoidtheissue.Whatweneedisnotavoidancebutreconciliation.Second,somethinkthatforgivenessmeansceasingto

hurt.Thereisthebeliefthatifwecontinuetohurtwemusthavefailedtoforgivecompletely.Thatissimplynottrue.Hurtingisnotevil.Wemayhurtforaverylongtimetocome.Forgivenessdoesnotmeanthatwewillstophurting.Third,manywouldhaveusbelievethatforgiveness

meansforgetting.“Forgiveandforget,”weoftensay.Butthetruthofthematteristhatwecannotforget.Weremember;thedifferencewillbethatwenolongerneedordesiretousethememoryagainstothers.Thememoryremains,thevindictivenessleaves.Theattempttoforcepeopletoforgetwhatcannotbeforgottenonlyputstheminbondageandconfusesthemeaningofforgiveness.Fourth,manyassumethatforgivenessmeans

pretendingthattherelationshipisjustthesameasitwasbeforetheoffense.Butthisissimplynotthecase.Therelationshipwillneverbethesameagain.Wemightjustaswellmakepeacewiththatfact.BythegraceofGod,itmaybeahundredtimesbetter,butitwillneverbethesame.

TrueconfessionandforgivenessbringjoytotheChristiancommunityandhealingtothepartiesinvolved.Mostwonderfulofall,confessionspellsreconciliationwithGodtheFather,forasthebelovedApostlesaidsolongago,“Ifweconfessoursins,heisfaithfulandjust,andwillforgiveoursinsandcleanseusfromallunrighteousness”(1John1:9).

DailyScriptureReadingsSunday:Theneedforconfessionandforgiveness/Isaiah59:1–9,Romans3:10–18.Monday:Thepromiseofforgiveness/Jeremiah31:34,Matthew26:28,Ephesians1:7.Tuesday:Theassuranceofforgiveness/1John1:5–10.

Wednesday:JesusChrist,ourAdequateSavior,Mediator,andAdvocate/2Timothy1:8–10,1Timothy2:5,1John2:1.Thursday:Aparableofconfession/Luke15:11–24.

Friday:Authorityandforgiveness/Matthew16:19,18:18,John20:23.Saturday:TheministryoftheChristianFellowship/James5:13–16.

StudyQuestions

1. Inyourownwords,trytodescribethetheologythatliesbehindtheDisciplineofconfession.

2. Whatarethethreeadvantagestoformalizedconfession?Aretheredisadvantages?

3. Imentionthreethingsthatarenecessaryforagoodconfession.Whichofthethreedoyoufindmostdifficulttoexperience?

4. Whatdoestheideaofliving“undertheCross”meaninreferencetoconfession?

5. ListtwoorthreedangersthatyoucouldimaginewouldaccompanytheexerciseoftheChristianDisciplineofconfession.

6. Doesabsolutionindicatetheforgivenessofsinsordoesiteffectit?

7. WhenistheDisciplineofconfessionanunhealthypreoccupationwithsinandwhenisitaproperrecognitionofourneedforforgiveness?

8. Howwouldyoudistinguishbetweenfalseguiltandgenuineguilt?

9. St.Augustinecallsthesacramentsofbaptismandcommuniontheverbavisibilia(visiblewords)ofourforgiveness,andJohnStottnotes,“Baptism,beinguniqueandunrepeatable,isthesacramentofouronce-for-alljustification:HolyCommunion,beingrepeatedlyenjoyed,isthesacramentofourdailyforgiveness.Bythemweareassured,

audiblyandvisibly,ofouracceptanceandforgiveness.”Whatisyourreactiontothisidea?

10. SometimethisweekspendfifteenminutesinsilencebeforeGodandinviteHimtorevealanythingwithinyouthatneedstobeconfessed.

SuggestedBooksforFurtherStudyAugsburger,David.CaringEnoughtoForgive.Ventura,Calif.:RegalBooks,1981.(Aforcefulandperceptivediscussionnotonlyofthevalueoftrueforgivenessbutofthedestructivenessoffalseforgiveness.)

Betz,Otto,ed.MakingSenseofConfession.Chicago,Ill.:FranciscanHeraldPress,1969.(FromaRomanCatholicperspective,thisworkoffershelpfulsuggestionsonhowchildrenandteenagersarenurturedintheDisciplineofconfession.)

Cornwall,Judson.LetUsEnjoyForgiveness.OldTappan,N.J.:FlemingH.RevellCo.,1978.(AveryreadablestudyofdivineforgivenessandexactlyhowthatsetsusfreetoloveGodandenjoyhimforever.)

Haring,Bernard.Shalom:Peace.TheSacramentofReconciliation.NewYork:ImageBooks,1969.(AvigorousdescriptionofthesacramentofpenancefromaRomanCatholicperspective.)

Scanlan,MichaelT.O.R.ThePowerinPenance:ConfessionandtheHolySpirit.NotreDame:Ave

MariaPress,1972.(ApowerfullittlebookletthatbringsfreshvitalitytoanancientpracticeintheCatholicchurchasaresultofthecharismaticrenewal.)

Schlink,M.Basilea.Repentance:TheJoy-FilledLife.GrandRapids,Mich.:ZondervanPublishingHouse,1973.(AslenderbuthelpfulworkbytheleaderoftheMarySisterhood,aLutheranorderinGermany.)

Stott,JohnR.W.ConfessYourSins.Waco,Tex.:WordBooks,1974.(AnextrenelyhelpfuldiscussionoftheformsofconfessionaswellasthemeaningofreconciliationbytheleadingevangelicalAnglicanofourday.)

11.THEDISCIPLINEOFWORSHIP

Wearetoldthat,ononeoccasion,St.FrancisofAssisi“rejoicedgreatlyinSpirit,andheraisedhisfacetowardHeavenandstoodforalongtimewithhismindabsorbedinGod.”Heenteredworship.CaughtupintoGod,JulianaofNorwichexclaimed,“I

sawHim,andsoughtHim:andIhadHim,IwantedHim….HewillbeseeingandHewillbesought:HewillbeabidedandHewillbetrusted.”Sheenteredworship.Worshipissomethingthathappens.Itisexperience.

Whenwespeakofhavinga“worshipservice,”weareusuallyreferringtothevariouselementsofworship—hymns,Scripturereadings,preaching,HolyCommunion,liturgy.Allofthesemayleadtoworship,butworshipismuchmorethananyoftheseexpressions.TheexpressionsareimportantbecausetheyarethemeansofGod’sgrace,butitisquitepossibletodothemallwithoutenteringintoworship.Worshipcentersintheexperienceofreality.Whatever

ushersusintotheDivinePresenceshouldbewelcomed.WhateverhindersagenuineencounterwiththelivingChristshouldbeshunned.Thebiblicalrequirementsforworshipincludesuchmattersasconfession,adoration,andproclamation,buttheBibledoesnotholdustoany

universalwineskinorforminwhichworshipmustbecontained.Whatwearetobecommittedtoisreality—realworship,realconfession,realpraise,realadoration.Ifparticularformsatparticulartimesbringusmorefullyintoworship,wearefreetousethem;ifnot,toobadfortheforms.Wearefreetousethehighestliturgy,noformatall,oranythinginbetweensolongasitbringsusintorealworship.Theformsofworshipmustalwaysbesubjecttotherealityofworship.Christaloneistheleaderofworship,anditisHewho

decideswhatisneededandwhenitisneeded.Weshouldrecognizeandwelcomethefreeexerciseofallthespiritualgifts,astheyareusedanddirectedbytheSpirit.ChristputsHisWordinthemouthofwhomeverHechooses,andHeconfirmsthissameWordintheheartsofthemembersofHiscommunity.Ifthereisanyexcess,Hewillraiseupaprophettobringtheneededcorrection.Alltheseloftywordsaboutthepriorityofrealityover

formsmaymakeyouthinkthatIhavelittleuseforworshipforms.Nothingcouldbefartherfromthetruth.Worshipformsareessentialifwearetoinfleshtherealityofworship.Aslongaswearefinite,wemusthaveforms.Andsowebringourbodies,minds,andspiritsbeforeGodtogiveHimtheglorydueHisname.Weofferthesacrificeofourlips—oursinging,ourpraising,ourpreaching,ourconfessing.WeofferHimthesacrificeofourbodies—ourlisteninghearts,oureucharisticcelebration,ourobedientlives.Anditisimportanttodo

thesethingswhetherwefeellikedoingthemornot.OftenIcomeintoaworshipexperienceandmusthonestlyconfess,“Lord,Idonotfeellikeworshipping,Idonotfeelrighteous,I’mtiredanddistractedinbothbodyandspirit,butIwanttogiveyouthistime.Thishourbelongstoyou.IloveyouandtothebestofmyabilitywanttogiveyoutheglorydueYourname.Therefore,IwillsingandprayandlistenandaskthatinYourmercyYouwillfreemyspirittoworshipyou.”AndasIdothis,oftensomethingseemstoletgoinside:perhapsitisthereleaseofanoldfear,oralittlebitterness,ormaybejustatight-fisteddeterminationtocomeintoGod.Whenthishappens,thenthesingingofhymns,thereadingofScripture,theconfessionofsin,thepreachingoftheWord,thereceivingofCommunionleadmeintopraiseandadoration,whichinturnopentheinnersanctuaryofthesoulintoworship.InthiscontextmayIliftuponeformofworshipthat

hasaveryancienttraditionbuthasfallenonhardtimesinourcentury.Itistheuseofthedance.Forathousandyears,Christiansdidasimpledancemovementcalledthetripudiumtomanyoftheirhymns.Itworkedwellwithanysongin2/2,3/4,or4/4time.Astheysang,worshipperswouldtakethreestepsforward,onestepback,threestepsforward,onestepback.Indoingthis,Christianswereactuallyproclaimingatheologywiththeirfeet.TheyweredeclaringChrist’svictoryinanevilworld,avictorythatmovesthechurchforwardbutnot

withoutsetbacks.Thissimplewaytoworshipwiththebodycanbeusedinanynumberofinformalworshipsettings.Itcanevenbedoneinthesanctuaryprovidedtheaislesarewideenoughtoaccommodatethreeorfourabreast,andthenworshipperscanmarcharoundthesanctuarysingingthegreathymnsofthefaith.Aboveall,worshipleadsustoChristtheCenter,as

BernardofClairvauxputitsowell:

Jesus,ThouJoyofLovinghearts!ThouFountoflife!ThouLightofmen!Fromthebestblissthatearthimparts,WeturnunfilledtoTheeagain.

DailyScriptureReadingsSunday:Worshipinspiritandtruth/John4:19–24.Monday:Communion:theessenceofworship/John6:52–58,6:63.

Tuesday:Thelifeofworship/Ephesians5:18–20,Colossians3:16–17.Wednesday:TheLordhighandliftedup/Isaiah6:1–8.Thursday:SingtotheLord/Psalm96.

Friday:Worshipofallcreation/Psalm148.Saturday:WorthyistheLamb/Revelation5:6–14.

StudyQuestions1. Howcanwecultivate“holyexpectancy”?2. InthebookIsaythat“Godisactivelyseeking

worshipers.”HaveyouhadanysenseofGodasthe“HoundofHeaven”seekingyououtanddrawingyouintofellowshipandcommunionwithHim?

3. Theseventeenth-centuryQuakertheologian,RobertBarclay,spokeoftheQuakerworshipexperienceofbeing“gatheredinthepoweroftheLord.”Hewasobviouslyreferringtomorethanthefactthattheyhadcometogetherinthesameroom.Discusswhatthephrasemightmeanandonceyouagreeonthemeaning,considerwhatcouldbedonetoencourageafullersenseofthatexperienceinyourlocalchurch.

4. Whichformsofworshipyouhaveexperiencedhavebeenespeciallymeaningfultoyou?Doyouhaveanysenseofwhytheseparticularformshavebeenmoremeaningfulthanothers?

5. CritiquemyratherboldstatementthattheBibledoesnotbindustoanyuniversalform(thatis,wineskin)ofworship.CanyouthinkofanyworshipformsthatshouldbeuniversallybindinguponallculturesofChristiansatalltimes?

6. WhatadvantagesordisadvantagesdoyouseeintheformalizedliturgyusedinchurchesliketheEpiscopalchurchasopposedtothemoreinformalworshipformsusedinchurchesliketheSouthernBaptistchurch?

7. IfwetrulybelievethatChristisaliveandpresentamongHispeopleinallHisoffices,whatpracticaldifferencewouldthatmakeinourapproachtoworship?

8. DoyouthinkexperiencesofDivineecstasyarecentraltoworship,peripheraltoworship,ordestructivetoworship?

9. Whatcovenantcanyoumakethatwillopenthedoortoworshipmoreeffectivelyforyou?

10. Iwrite,“JustasworshipbeginsinHolyExpectancyitendsinHolyObedience.”Whatdoesthatmeanforyouthisnextweek?

SuggestedBooksforFurtherStudyAdams,Doug.CongregationalDancinginChristianWorship.Austin,Tex.:TheSharingCo.,1971.(Givesadiscussionofthehistoryofdanceinthechurch.)

Emswiler,ThomasNeufer,andSharonNeuferEmswiler.WholenessinWorship.SanFrancisco:Harper&Row,1980.(Contemporaryandpractical.Itcanbringfiretoworshipthatisoverlyrationalisticanddepthtoworshipthathasfocuseduponfeelings.)

Kelly,Thomas.TheEternalPromise.NewYork:Harper&Row,1966.(Kelly’sessay,“TheGatheredMeeting,”whichiscontainedinthisbook,isprobablythemostpowerfulQuakerstatementonworshipinthetwentiethcentury.)

Nee,Watchman.AssemblingTogether.NewYork:ChristianFellowshipPublishers,1973.(Practicalinstructioninthelifeofworship.)

Steere,DouglasV.PrayerandWorship.NewYork:AssociationPress,1940.(Anintimatediscussionofprivateandpublicworshipbyacontemporarygiantonthedevotionallife.)

Underhill,Evelyn.Worship.Westport:HyperionPress,1980.(Astandardbyanimportantfigureamongthedevotionalwriters.)

White,JamesF.ChristianWorshipinTransition.Nashville,Tenn.:Abindgon,1976.(Providessubstantialhistoricalandtheologicalrootsforworship.)

White,JamesF.NewFormsofWorship.Nashville,Tenn.:Abingdon,1971.(PracticalguidanceforthoseplanningworshipbyonewhoteachesChristianworshipatPerkinsSchoolofTheology.)

12.THEDISCIPLINEOFGUIDANCE

GuidanceisthemostradicaloftheDisciplinesbecauseitgoestotheheartofthismatterofwalkingwithGod.GuidancemeansthegloriouslifeofhearingGod’svoiceandobeyingHisword.Thegoalofguidanceisnotspecificinstructionsabout

thisorthatmatterbutconformitytotheimageofChrist.Paulsaid,“Thosewhomheforeknewhepredestinedtobeconformedtotheimageofhisson”(Romans8:28b).Specificguidanceinparticularmattersisahappyby-productofthisgoalhavingworkeditswayintoourlives.Wemakesuchamysteryoutofthematterofthewillof

God.ThesurestsignthatitisGod’swillforustobewhereweareissimplythatwearethere.Nowifwethrowthataway,wethrowawaythesovereigntyofGodoverourlives.Whenwecancometotheplacewhereweunderstandthatwhereweareisholyground,wewillbegintounderstandthemeaningofguidance.ThewillofGodisdiscoveredaswebecomeacquainted

withGod,learnHisways,andbecomeHisfriend.Aswedothis,Godwilltakeusrightwhereweareandproduceinusthewinsomefruitoflove,joy,peace,patience,kindness,goodness,faithfulness,gentleness,andself-control(Gal.5:22–23).Asthefriendshipgrows,asthe

conformitygrows,wewillknowinstinctivelywhatactionswouldpleaseHim,whatdecisionswouldbeinaccordwithHisway.Justlikeourintimateknowledgeofandloveforourwifeorhusbandguidesustodecisionsweknowtheywouldapprove,soourinwardfellowshipgivesaninwardknowledgeofthewaysofGod.Thereare,ofcourse,theoutwardtestsofGod’s

guidancesuchasScripture,theChristiancommunity,divineprovidenceworkingthroughcircumstance,andourownpersonalintegrity.Therearealsotheexceptionalmeansofguidancessuchasfleeces,dreams,visions,signs,andangels.ItisimportantforustorememberthatGodwillnotleadusinwaysthatarecontrarytoHisknownwill.TheSpiritthatinspiredtheScripturewillleadusinwaysconsistentwiththeScripture.OurunderstandingofGod’swaysisshapedandtemperedbyHisself-revelationtousintheBible.Wemustalsorememberthatthereissuchathingas

supernaturalguidancethatisnotdivineinorigin.JohntheBelovedwarnsusto“testthespiritstoseewhethertheyareofGod”(1John4:1).ThereareprincipalitiesandpowerswhowagewaragainsttheKingdomofGod,andtheyarebothrealanddangerous.Andsowearenottolistentoeveryvoicethatcomes

ourway,butonlytothevoiceofthetrueShepherd.Buthereisthewonderofitall.For,asJesusremindedus,HeistheGoodShepherdandHissheepknowHisvoice(John10:4).Wewalkinthelight,wefulfillhis

commandments,weputonthemindofChrist,andaswedo,wefindthevoiceofthetrueShepherdquitedifferentfromallimposters.WhileSatanmaypushandcondemn,Christdrawsandencourages,anditisHisvoicethatweobey.

DailyScriptureReadingsSunday:Thepolestaroffaith/Hebrews11.Monday:TheguidanceofdivineProvidence/Genesis24:1–21.Tuesday:Theguidanceofjusticeandobedience/Isaiah1:17,18–20.

Wednesday:Ledintoalltruth/Proverbs3:5–6,John14:6,16:13,Acts10:1–35.Thursday:Closeddoors,opendoors/Acts16:6–10,2Corinthians2:12.

Friday:Listeningorresisting?/Acts21:8–14.Saturday:Thefamilylikeness/Romans8:14,28–30.

StudyQuestions1. Istheideaofguidanceasacorporate

Disciplineneworstrangetoyou?2. WhatdoyouthinkImeanbythetermtheApostolicChurchoftheSpirit?(Note:Iam

tryingtogivearatherdifferenttwisttotheoldconceptof“ApostolicSuccession.”)

3. DoyoubelievethatthisSpirit-led,Spirit-intoxicated,Spirit-empoweredpeoplehavealreadybeengathered,orareyettobegatheredinourcentury?

4. DoyouthinkthatthenotionofapeopleunderthedirecttheocraticruleofGodisworkable,orisitonlyanillusionarypipe-dream?AmIreadingthehistoryoftheearlychurchthroughrose-coloredglasses?

5. InwhatsensedoesthecontemporarycharismaticmovementapproximateorfallshortofthisvisionofagatheredpeopleoftheSpirit?

6. Whataresomeofthedangersofcorporateguidance?

7. Whatdoyouunderstandtheideaofa“spiritualdirector”tomean?Aretheredangerstotheidea?Arethereadvantagestotheidea?

8. Howshouldtheideaofguidanceinfluencethewaysinwhichwecarryonbusinessinourchurches?Ifwebelievedinguidance,howmightitchangeourpresentchurchpolity?

9. Haveyoueverseentheideaofcorporateguidanceusedindestructiveways?Whatlessonswereyouabletolearnfromthatexperience?

10. IflivinginguidancecomesaboutmainlythroughenteringintofriendshipwithGodsothatweknowanddesireHisways,whatshouldyoudropfromyourlifeandwhatshouldyouaddtoyourlifeinordertodeepenyourintimacywithChrist?

SuggestedBooksforFurtherStudyEdwards,Tilden.SpiritualFriend.NewYork:PaulistPress,1980.(SensitiveandsanecounselonreclaimingthegiftofSpiritualDirection.)

Elliot,Elisabeth.ASlowandCertainLight.Nashville,Tenn.:AbingdonPress,1973.(Aslendervolumefilledwithmeaningfulandmaturecounsel.)

Leech,Kenneth.SoulFriend.SanFrancisco:Harper&Row,1977.(ProvidesasuperbhistoryofSpiritualDirectionandlinksittothebestofcontemporarypsychology.)

Mumford,Bob.TakeAnotherLookatGuidance.Plainfield,N.J.:LogosInternational,1971.(Wiseandpracticalinstructionfromaleaderinthecharismaticmovement.)

Nebe,August.LutherasSpiritualAdviser.TranslatedbyC.A.HayandC.E.Hay.Philadelphia:1894.(HelpsustounderstandLutherinthegreattraditionofSpiritualDirectors.)

Smith,BlaineM.KnowingGod’sWill:Biblical

PrinciplesonGuidance.DownersGrove,Ill.:InterVarsityPress,1979.(Helpfulcommonsensecounselonguidancewithanespeciallyvaluablesectionontheprocessofdecision-making.)

St.JohnoftheCross.TheDarkNightoftheSoul.NewYork:ImageBooks,1959.(AclassiconthespirituallifeshowingGod’sguidanceandteachingintheexperiencesofhiddennessandstillness.)

13.THEDISCIPLINEOFCELEBRATION

ThePsalmistexclaimed,“Ourmouthwasfilledwithlaughter,andourtonguewithshoutsofjoy”(Ps.126:2a).AndSt.AugustineechoedScripture’swordswiththedeclaration,“AChristianshouldbeanalleluiafromheadtofoot.”CelebrationisahappycharacteristicofthosewhowalkcheerfullyovertheearthinthepoweroftheLord.ThejoyoftheLordisnotmerelyagoodfeeling.Itis

acquaintedwithsufferingandsorrow,heartacheandpain.Itisnotfoundthroughseeking.Itdoesnotcomebytryingtopumpuptherightemotions,norbyhavingacheerydisposition,norbyattemptingtobeanoptimist.Joyistheresultofprovision,place,andpersonality

functioningproperlyinthecourseofourdailylives.ItcomesasaresultoftheabundantlifeJesuspromisedhavingtakenovertheingrainedhabitpatternsofourlives.ItslipsinunawaresasourattentionbecomesfocusedupontheKingdomofGod.Joymakesusstrong.I’llneverforgetthedayIheard

thewordsofAgnesSanford:“Ononeofmymostjoyfulandthereforemostpowerfuldays….”Idonotremembertherestofthestatement,butIneverforgottheconnectionshemadebetweenjoyandpower.Ihavefoundthistobe

true,andIimagineyouhavealso.OnthosedayswhenthejoyoftheLordseemstoengulfus,thereisanalmostunhinderedflowofGod’slifeandpowerfromustoothers.Celebrationisagracebecauseitcomesunmeritedfrom

thehandofGod.ItisalsoaDisciplinebecausethereisworktobedone.InHebrews,weareinstructedto“continuallyofferupasacrificeofpraisetoGod,thatis,thefruitoflipsthatacknowledgehisname”(Heb.13:15).Thesacrificeofpraiseistheworktowhichwearecalled.IntheOldTestament,therewasamorningandaneveningsacrifice.That,Ithink,isagoodbeginningforallNewTestamentpriests,ofwhichyouareone.Beginthedaywiththemorningsacrificeofpraise,“Lord,Iloveyou,adoreyou,worshipyou,desireyourwillandway…”Concludethedaywiththeeveningsacrificeofthanksgiving,“Thankyou,Lord,thankyouforyourlove,yourpresence,yourstrengthandgrace…”Andaswedothis,thefirewillfalluponthesacrificeofourlipsjustasitdiduponthealtarofold.God’sjoywillcome,andtherewillbedanceandsongandjoyunspeakableandfullofglory.Beforelong,wewillfindourselvestakinga

“thanksgiving”breakratherthanacoffeebreakattenandattwo.SoonsorichandfullwillbeourexperiencethatwewilldesiretobecontinuallyinHispresencewiththanksgivinginourhearts.Andallofthiswillbeoccurringwhilewearecarryingoutthedemandsofour

days—eating,working,playing,evensleeping.BeliefinGodturnsintoacquaintanceshipandthenintofriendship.WelookintothefaceofGoduntilweachewithbliss;asFrankLaubachwitnessed,“Iknowwhatitmeanstobe‘God-intoxicated.’”Asnotedbefore,thisjoyisbeyondthepseudo-gaietyof

superficialreligion.Itisinnowayconnectedwiththe“smileifyouloveJesus”frothoftoday.Itisnotevennecessarilytiedtospiritualecstasy.ItssourceisfoundintheassuranceofbeingrootedandgroundedinGod.ItistheexperienceknowntoallthesaintsandconfessedbyBrotherLawrence,“Lord,Iamyours,drynessdoesnotmatternoraffectme!”

DailyScriptureReadingsSunday:TheLordhastriumphedgloriously/Exodus15:1–2,20–21.Monday:ThejoyoftheLord/2Samuel6:12–19.Tuesday:BlesstheLord/Psalm103.

Wednesday:PraisetheLord/Psalm150.Thursday:Hosanna!/Luke19:35–40,John12:12–19.

Friday:WalkingandleapingandpraisingGod/Acts3:1–10.Saturday:Hallelujah!/Revelation19:1–8.

StudyQuestions1. DoyouenjoyGod?2. Thereisabodyofteachingthatinstructsusto

praiseGodforallthings;thereisanotherthaturgesustopraiseGodinallthings.Doyoufeelthatthedifferencebetweenthesetwobodiesofteachingissignificant?Ifso,why?

3. Imaginethatsomeclosefriendsinyourchurchhavejustreceivedthenewsthattheireight-year-olddaughterhasbeenkilledinanautomobileaccident.Shouldyourattitudewiththembe,“Weepwiththosewhoweep”?Orshoulditbe,“RejoiceintheLordalways:againIsay,rejoice”?

4. Whydoyouthinkawholesomeeveningofside-splittinglaughterwithfriendsdoesyousomuchgood?

5. Whydoyouthinkhumanbeingsoftenfindcelebrationsodifficult?

6. Whichdoyoulikebetter:spontaneousburstsofjoyorplannedexpressionsofcelebration?Why?

7. Ifyouareinastudygroup,wouldyoubewillingtodevisetogethersomeheartyholyshoutandtryitouttogetherbeforedismissingthemeeting?

8. Howaboutplanningafamily,nonholiday

celebrationthisyear?9. Doyoufinditeasytolaughatyourself?10. Atthecloseofthisstudy,whatcovenantmust

youmakewiththeLord?

SuggestedBooksforFurtherStudyCornwall,Judson.LetUsPraise.Plainfield,N.J.:LogosInternational,1973.(Asimple,nuts-and-boltsbookonthesubjectofpraiseincorporateworship.)

Howard,Thomas.ChanceortheDance?Wheaton,Ill.:HaroldShawPublishers,1969.(Anengagingpleaforthe“oldmyth”ofimaginationandadevastatingcritiqueofthe“newmyth”ofmodernsecularism.)

MacDougall,Bruce.RejoiceintheLord.Nashville,Tenn.:AbingdonPress,1978.(Acelebrationofallthose“unexpected”changesinlifethatoftencauseconfusionbutcanbringdoxology.)

Reid,Clyde.CelebratetheContemporary.SanFrancisco:Harper&Row,1972.(Ahappybookabouttheauthor’spersonalpilgrimageand,particularly,hisencounterswiththehumanpotentialmovement.)

Smith,HannahWhitall.TheChristian’sSecretofaHappyLife.Westwood,N.J.:RevellCompany,1952.(Firstpublishedin1870,thisworkhasbecomeagenuineclassiconthelifeofjoy.)

Wainwright,Geoffrey.Doxology:ThePraiseofGodinWorship,DoctrineandLife.NewYork:OxfordPress,

1980.(Thebestmodernworkonthesubject.In609pages,WainwrightperceptivelydiscussesChristianfaithandlifefromtheviewpointofpraiseandworship.)

SCRIPTUREINDEX

GENESIS12–25,715,4122:1–19,5024:1–21,69

EXODUS15:1–2,20–21,7320:18–19,2121:2,5–6,5424:15–18,2133:11,21

LEVITICUS25:8–12,41

DEUTERONOMY16:15,2

ISAMUEL16–27,7

IISAMUEL

1–12,76:12–19,7322–23:7,7

IKINGS17–19,719:9–18,21

IIKINGS1–2,7

EZRA7:10,34

NEHEMIAH1:4–11,30

ESTHER4:12–17,30

PSALMS1:1–3,218,4542,1151,11,2696,65103,25,73120–134,14

126:2a,72148,65150,26,73

PROVERBS1:1–9,333:5–6,696:16–19,1223:12,23,3324:30–34,34

ISAIAH1:17,18–20,696:1–8,6558:1–7,3059:1–9,60

JEREMIAH20:7–18,4531:34,60

DANIEL1–12,710:1–14,30

AMOS5:11–15,24,41

MATTHEW5:33–37,415:38–48,506:5–6,456:5–15,256:19–24,406:25–34,419:35–38,4616:19,6018,5918:18,6020:20–28,5423:37,4625:31–39,5426:28,6026:36–46,26,4527:32–50,46

MARK8:34,509:14–29,2610:45,52

LUKE4:1–13,304:16–21,415:16,4510:29–37,54

10:38–42,3412:13–34,4115:11–24,6019:35–40,7323:6–9,45

JOHN4:19–24,656:52–58,656:63,6510:4,6912:12–19,7312:24–26,5013:1–17,5414:6,6916:13,6920:23,60

ACTS1–5,73:1–10,74:13–20,505:27–29,509,710:1–35,6910:9–20,2110–11,711–28,7

13:1–3,3014:19–23,3016:6–10,6916:35–39,5017:1–3,3417:10–12,3419:8–10,3421:8–14,69

ROMANS3:10–18,606:5–14,127:13–25,118:14,28–30,698:28b,6812:9–13,5413,5113:1–10,50

ICORINTHIANS3:9,259:19,5413,51

IICORINTHIANS2:12,696:21,608:5a,52

12:1–4,21

GALATIANS2:19–21,505:22–23,68

EPHESIANS1:7,605:18–20,655:21,485:21–6:9,506:10–20,12

PHILIPPIANS2:1–11,503:1–16,114:8–9,34

COLOSSIANS3:1–17,343:16–17,653:18f.,48n3:23–25,54

ITIMOTHY2:5,60

IITIMOTHY

3:16–17,33

TITUS2:4f.,48n

HEBREWS4:11–13,3311,6913:15,72

JAMES1:5,331:19–25,343:1–12,455:12,415:13–16,605:13–18,26

IPETER2:1f.,48n2:17a,483:1–9,505:7,52

IJOHN1:5–10,601:9,602:1,60

4:1,69

REVELATION5:6–14,6519:1–8,73

AbouttheAuthor

RICHARDJ.FOSTERistheauthorofseveralbestsellingbooks,includingCelebrationofDisciplineandStreamsofLivingWater.HeisthefounderofRENOVARÉ,aninfrachurchmovementcommittedtotherenewaloftheChurchinallhermultifacetedexpressions,andageneraleditoroftheforthcomingRENOVARÉSpiritualFormationStudyBible.

Visitwww.AuthorTracker.comforexclusiveinformationonyourfavoriteHarperCollinsauthor.

OTHERRENOVARÉRESOURCESFORSPIRITUALRENEWAL

CelebratingtheDisciplinesbyRichardJ.FosterandKathrynA.YanniEmbracingtheLoveofGodbyJamesBryanSmithSongsforRenewalbyJanetLindebladJanzenwithRichardJ.FosterSpiritualClassicsco-editedbyRichardJ.FosterandEmilieGriffinASpiritualFormationJournalcreatedbyJanaReawithLyndaL.GraybealASpiritualFormationWorkbookbyJamesBryanSmithwithLyndaL.GraybealStreamsofLivingWaterbyRichardJ.FosterWildernessTimebyEmilieGriffin

OTHERBOOKSBYRICHARDJ.FOSTER

CelebrationofDisciplineTheChallengeoftheDisciplinedLifeFreedomofSimplicityPrayer:FindingtheHeart’sTrueHomePrayersfromtheHeart

RichardJ.Foster’sStudyGuideforCelebrationofDisciplineSeekingtheKingdom

Copyright

RICHARDJ.FOSTER’SSTUDYGUIDEFOR“CELEBRATIONOFDISCIPLINE”.Copyright©1983byRichardJ.Foster.AllrightsreservedunderInternationalandPan-AmericanCopyrightConventions.Bypaymentoftherequiredfees,youhavebeengrantedthenon-exclusive,non-transferablerighttoaccessandreadthetextofthise-bookon-screen.Nopartofthistextmaybereproduced,transmitted,down-loaded,decompiled,reverseengineered,orstoredinorintroducedintoanyinformationstorageandretrievalsystem,inanyformorbyanymeans,whetherelectronicormechanical,nowknownorhereinafterinvented,withouttheexpresswrittenpermissionofHarperCollinse-books.

LibraryofCongressCataloginginPublicationData

Foster,RichardJ.ASTUDYGUIDETOCELEBRATIONOFDISCIPLINE

Includesbibliographies.1.Foster,RichardJ.CelebrationofDiscipline.2.Spirituallife—Quakerauthors.I.Foster,RichardJ.CelebrationofDiscipline.II.Title.BV4501.2.F6551978Suppl248.4'89682-15596

ISBN0-06-062833-2

EPubEdition©February2010ISBN:978-0-06-200657-8

10987654321

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*ItwasmyfriendDr.DallasWillard,AssociateProfessorofPhilosophyattheUniversityofSouthernCalifornia,whofirsthelpedmetoseetheconnectionbetweentheSpiritualDisciplinesandtheclassicaldiscussionsoftheGoodLife.Ioweagreatdebttohiminhelpingmetounderstandwhatmakeslifeabundantthroughbothhisteachingandhislife.

*Contrarytopopularmyth,memorizationisquiteeasyonceonecatchesontotheidea.TheNavigatorshavepublishednumerousaidsthatmakethetaskevenmorepossible.

*Someofthefollowingideashaveappearedinasomewhatdifferentforminanotherbookofmine,FreedomofSimplicity(SanFrancisco:Harper&Row,1981),pp.138–139.

*“AlienCreaturesintheHome.”Timemagazine,January18,1982,p.57.

*ThesebriefwordsareadoptedfrommaterialinAlbertDay’sbook,DisciplineandDiscovery.

*Eph.5:21ff.,Col.3:18ff.,Titus2:4ff.,and1Pet.2:1ff.