INTRODUCTION

To be a follower of Christ is a continuous journey to being transformed to become more like Christ. Man was deformed by sin and is being re-formed by the fallen nature of this world unless we allow ourselves to be counter-formed to become more like Christ.

You will notice that at the end of every sermon, the preacher or host will ask the audience to “respond”. The audience is always invited to take an active step – e.g. putting up your hand or praying. This is not for show to any human, but to God. Carrying out a spiritual discipline is our response to God’s Word. It is not an end unto itself. Spiritual disciplines teach us to be available to God’s transforming work in our lives. The early church grew exponentially not because of a focused evangelism strategy but because people were drawn to the transformed lives of the believers, who were genuinely different from the rest of society. If we want to live transformed lives, we must make God our priority and spiritual disciplines help us to surrender more fully to His work in our lives. 

Ps Rhordan introduced 8 different spiritual disciplines (fasting, serving, simplicity, celebration, solitude and silence, scripture, prayer, and secrecy). Let us take a closer look at the disciplines of scriptural reading/meditation, prayer, silence and solitude this week.

DISCUSSION

Scripture reading and meditation

1. Nobody can deny that there is a universal call for God’s people to know the word of God. In the Old Testament: Joshua 1:8, and the New Testament: 2 Timothy 3:16-17. It is from the Bible that all other spiritual disciplines flow and against which we must test the truth of what we see (Acts 17:10-12).

   In an era of unprecedented levels of literacy, translations of the Bible, and even audio-visual forms of the Bible, we forget what a privilege it is to have such easy access to the Bible.

   a. Some may debate over what is the ‘best translation’ of the Bible, but the best Bible is the Bible you actually read (or listen to or watch a video of). What works best for you?

   b. ‘Read big and meditate small’. Only reading the ‘verse of the day’ without context can lead to misinterpretation. On the other hand, ambitious bible reading plans may not allow for absorption of the word.

   How can you draw a balance between reading more of the Bible and meditating on parts of it?

   (Suggestion: One option might be to follow a daily devotional that methodically covers an entire book of the bible. E.g. Timothy Keller’s year of daily devotions in the Psalms.)

   Silence and solitude

2. In a world that is constantly shouting for our attention, do you intentionally set aside time to be alone in silence?

   a. When you are alone, what do you find yourself doing or thinking?

   b. Some parents describe hiding in the toilet for a moment of silence. It is not uncommon to find followers of other faiths using stairwells or hidden corners for prayer. Others use their commute to and from work to find solace. Be creative! Have you ever managed to find an unexpected moment of silence?

   Consider using tools such as the pause application or a guided prayer of examen.

   Prayer

3. We do not know that much of Jesus’ day to day routine (What time did he wake up or go to sleep? What did he like to eat?). But there is one activity that is mentioned several times in the gospels. Read Mark 6:46; Matthew 14:13.

   Jesus knew the limited time he had on earth for his ministry. If we applied our expectations of productivity to Jesus, we might have expected him to work 9-9-6 hours or to speak to as many people as he could. But that is not what Jesus did.

   a. Jesus makes an express exhortation for us to set aside time to be alone. Read Matthew 6:6. What did Jesus do when he intentionally went away to be by himself? Read Mark 13:35-36.

   b. What does your personal prayer life look like?

   c. Prayer is both personal and communal. Just as personal prayer makes room for God to speak to us, praying with others makes room for Him to speak to the community. Often, God does this by using us to speak into the lives of each other. Read John 11:38-44 and Matthew 18:19-20.

   Do you pray with your fellow believers? Consider joining our weekly prayer meetings, or asking to pray together with your family.

WHAT WILL YOU DO

The entire concept of spiritual disciplines is practical ways in which we can respond to God. 

There is no better day than today to start. The discipline we find the most challenging is often where God is looking to refine us the most. 

If you struggle with: busyness, restlessness, control or shame – consider the discipline of solitude and silence.

If you struggle with confusion, lack of purpose, sin and temptation, anxiety and fear – consider the discipline of scripture.

If you struggle with being self-reliant, self-centred, emptiness – consider the discipline of prayer, seeking the presence of God.

If you feel your appetites are out of control – consider taking up fasting.

If you feel you struggle with selfishness, pride, and entitlement – consider taking up serving and putting someone else first.

If you struggle with greed, feeling dissatisfied with what you have, jealousy – consider taking up simplicity. 

If you are jealous, envious, lack joy and wonder – consider taking up celebration.  

What is one discipline you can introduce into your life this week?

MEMORY VERSE

Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives’ tales. Instead, train yourself to be godly. “Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come. – 1 Timothy 4:7-8

AN E1R1 REFLECTION

From Matthew 4:12-17.

Matthew 4:16 NLT

“…the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light. And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow, a light has shined.”

The people who sit in the darkness do not know that they are in the darkness until a light is shined into the darkness. They may not even know that they have the ability to see.

The light in this passage was Jesus. This was the time when Jesus started his ministry on earth. In the very next chapter of Matthew, Jesus extended this prophecy. In the sermon on the mount, Jesus told the people “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.” (Matthew 5:14)

Would you be the light for those sitting in the darkness?