Bible Study Week 1 - Spiritual Discipline

Celebration of Discipline Bible Study
Prepared by: Rev. Willetta Ar-Rahmaan
Spiritual Discipline Lesson

Over the next year we will deepen our relationship with God through the disciplines Richard Foster outlined in his book, Celebration of Discipline. Today’s lesson will be on the meaning and understanding of Spiritual Discipline. Let us take a look at the word discipline. The word discipline has several meanings. At first thought upon hearing the word discipline we think about punishment or correction for something we have done wrong. Another thought would be the choice we had to make in college when selecting a discipline within our major for our degree. Another meaning found in Merriam-Webster Dictionary is the training that corrects, molds, or perfects the mental faculties or moral character. The last definition is the definition of discipline we want to discuss in this weeks lesson. As followers in Jesus Christ we ought to grow in our faith. Our growth in Christianity does not end when we accept Christ.

Our acceptance is the beginning of a lifetime process. The process is one that will train, mold and shape us into the spiritual image of God. This process is not easy but it is necessary for our growth (1 Timothy 4:7, Hebrews 12:11). As we discipline ourselves we are more able to accept the discipline of God and discipline our children in the same way (Job 5:17, Ephesians 6:4, 2 Timothy 2:24-25). When we are in acceptance of God’s discipline we are obedient to the Holy Spirit. Obedience to discipline is not chastisement it is the building of boundaries in our life to stay focus on God daily. Now that you have a basic concept of Spiritual discipline let us turn to Foster’s book and examine his definition of spiritual discipline and the importance of it on this Christian Journey.

According to Foster, Spiritual Discipline is a door to liberation because it moves us from the stifling slavery to self-interest and fear (pp 1-2). The spiritual discipline is for every human being. It helps us to understand ourselves as one created in the image of God. “The classical Disciplines of the spiritual life call us to move beyond surface living into the depths. They invite us to explore the inner caverns of the spiritual realm” (p. 1). We do not have to be in the upper echelon of the spiritual realm when it comes to Spiritual Discipline, we need to be at the place where we can receive the knowledge from God as we start our quest of discipline.

Our quest is one of deepness. It is not a quest of shallow and surface discipline. This quest for a deeper knowledge and understanding of God produces a freedom only some people can explain. The deeper we go in God the deeper we are able to reach and see the manifestation of God because of our faith and hope. So when we are liberated in the spirit we find ourselves singing (Psalms 105:43, Acts 16:25-26, Ephesians 5:18-19, Revelation 4:9-10); dancing (Exodus 15:20, 1 Samuel 18:6, Psalm 149:3); shouting/praising (2 Chronicles 15:14-15, Luke 4:40-41, Luke 17:12-15, Acts 3:7-9). You are probably are saying, Rev I’m liberated but I don’t express myself outwardly that way. I’m saying that’s fine too, however, when the spirit moves in us after we have been in deep communion with God using the spiritual disciplines we may not want to stop praising God. When we become new Christians or rededicate our life back to God we are not sure how we are suppose to approach the disciplines. Often we rely on others to help and guide us during this Christian Journey.

Therefore, the more we read our Bibles we notice the lack of instructions regarding the spiritual disciplines because the people were so ingrained in the discipline it wasn’t necessary to explain. While researching this week’s lesson perform a Bible wordsearch for the following: meditation, fasting, prayer, worship and celebration. Take note of any instructions given and then add comments to this week’s blog. Also feel free to add questions about the lesson and the reading of the first chapter.

Questions to ponder:
1. Why is it harder for us to practice the disciplines of fasting, prayer, worship and celebration?
2. What are some ingrained habits that are so natural to you that you must use mind control or willpower to control them?
3. Have our willpower turned us into Will worshippers?

Reading for Next Week: Pages 6-11