During this first quarter of 2009 our church family is studying the Spiritual Disciplines. Each week in Bible study and worship, we are focusing on one of the disciplines that have helped believers across the centuries become more effective followers of Jesus. And we are discovering that these Spiritual Disciplines are practical and relevant for the season in which we live.
A few months ago, we began challenging each other to participate in a Spiritual Gifts Assessment in order to discover, affirm, and channel our spiritual gifts into ministry action. Our goal is for every church member to discover his or her spiritual gifts and to commit those gifts to the service of the Lord in the church and community. We are discovering that the practice of the Spiritual Disciplines empower and enable us to transform our ordinary lives into extraordinary opportunities for ministry.
Some of us have been practicing the Spiritual Disciplines for many years and we are growing in our consistency of applying them to life. Perhaps some of us have been introduced to the Spiritual Disciplines and we have practiced them off and on, but not with continuity. Still others of us are becoming acquainted with the Spiritual Disciplines for the first time, and trying to put them into practice seems a bit overwhelming.
Here are a few suggestions on putting the Spiritual Disciplines into practice in your own life:
- Begin by focusing on two or three of the disciplines most needed in your life and grow from there.
- Do not be discouraged if you cannot practice all the disciplines consistently all the time.
- Expect to discover how the disciplines interact, overlap, and complement one another.
- Remember that the word practice indicates a gradual learning process.
This Sunday we are studying the Discipline of Worship. In Bible study we will look at a variety of biblical passages related to worship. And in each of our morning services, I will be describing worship as Close Encounters with God.
Invite a friend to join you as we gather for worship and Bible study this Sunday.
