Celebrating the Disciplines

During this first quarter of 2009, we focus on Celebrating the Spiritual Disciplines in our Bible study groups and our worship gatherings.  Last Sunday we kicked off the series by defining spiritual disciplines as those practices that help us stay in tune with God and God’s purposes for your life. 

As we grow in our faith, we are encouraged to live in a way that honors God every day in every way.  Colossians 3:17 (NIV) challenges us to translate our faith into action so that “whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”                   

Next Sunday we will zero in on the spiritual discipline of meditation.  Here is a list of the spiritual disciplines we will consider during the series:

Meditation                  Simplicity                   Confession

Prayer                         Stewardship              Worship

Fasting                       Submission                Guidance

Study                          Service                       Celebration

 

No matter whether you are a veteran Christian or a new believer, you can grow deeper in your faith and stronger in your capacity to serve by learning and practicing the spiritual disciplines.

In 2009, we are calling on each other to discover our spiritual gifts and to get involved with at least one ministry team.  We are learning that the spiritual disciplines help us to sharpen our spiritual gifts so that we can serve more effectively.

Here are some ways you may discover your spiritual gifts:

• Take one of the spiritual gift inventories (available online or on hard copy).
• Enlist a small group of trusted friends or an accountability partner to affirm or identify the gifts they see in you.
• Evaluate your spiritual passion.  (What area of service brings you joy?  Or for what area are you specifically burdened?)

Then connect with one or more ministry teams that correlate to your spiritual gift and passion.  Our church has several congregational ministry teams and deacon-led ministry teams that provide specific opportunities for you to serve.

On Sunday evenings in January during our Winter Bible Study, we are considering lifestyle disciplines, other practices that help us to honor God in the 21^st century.  We meet at five o’clock in Pleitz Chapel.  Bring a Bible, a notebook, and arrive early to get a seat.

During our Midweek Worship Gatherings on Wednesdays in January, I am covering the lifestyle disciplines from Richard Foster’s book, Money, Sex, and Power.  It’s a great opportunity to bring a friend and introduce them to our First Baptist family and our relevant life application conversations.

I look forward to seeing you this week in worship and Bible study.