Spiritual Disciplines, Part 1

November, 2007

by: Brock Bolde

As a Children’s Pastor, one of the best things that I can do to help the children of this church to grow spiritually is to help their parents to grow spiritually. A parent is without question the most influential person in their child’s life. A parent’s walk with the Lord, or lack thereof, can do much to shape a child’s desire to know, love and follow Jesus Christ. So, over the next few months I want to take some time to challenge the parents of Calvary Bible Church to examine their pursuit of God. I want each of us to take a close look at the message we are sending to our children, not just verbally, but through our regular and consistent practice of “The Spiritual Disciplines.” Over the next few months, we’re going to cover disciplines such as – Reading, Praying, and Serving. But in this first article, I want to lay the foundation as to why we are to practice certain spiritual disciplines. What is it about the Spiritual Disciplines that moves the immature believer towards maturity? What is it about the Spiritual Disciplines that will help grow a baby who can only handle milk into an adult who can and desires to eat meat?

Richard Foster puts it well when he writes – “By themselves the Spiritual Disciplines can do nothing; they can only get us to the place where something can be done. They are God’s means of grace” (Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth (Revised Editon), p. 7). The Spiritual Disciplines are the means by which the believer grows in godliness; they are the means by which we place ourselves before God so that He can do His transforming work in and through us. If we are to cultivate and grow in our relationship with Jesus Christ, if we are to be a people that are transformed and conformed into Christ-likeness, then we must take time to use the means that God has provided for us to meet and dwell with the Risen Christ so that we might breathe in the life-changing grace that He freely and abundantly gives to His children. Charles Spurgeon puts it like this: “I must take care above all that I cultivate communion with Christ, for though that can never be the basis of my peace – mark that – yet it will be the channel of it” (“Peace by Believing” in Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, vol. 9, p. 283).

So then, if we are to make any headway in our pursuit of Christ-likeness, we must strive to commune with Him; we must discipline ourselves to godliness such that we might be the people that God calls us to be – a people that love the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength. While it is true that no one can grow in godliness apart from the grace of God (John 17:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 2:11), it is equally true that God’s people are called to action (1 Timothy 4:7-8; Philippians 2:12; Hebrews 12:14). The question I want to ask you, parent, is this – How are you doing at disciplining yourself? How faithful are you to use the means that God has placed before you so that you might become more godly; more Christ-like?

Jay Adams writes – “The word discipline has disappeared from our minds, our mouths, our pulpits, and our culture. We hardly know what discipline means in modern American society. And yet, there is no other way to attain godliness; discipline is the path to godliness” (Godliness Through Discipline, pp. 2-3).

No believer can expect to grow as he should apart from the means that God has provided for our growth. Our practicing of the Spiritual Disciplines helps us to connect with God in a manner that is acceptable and pleasing to Him. Therefore, let none of us forsake this great privilege that is ours, in Christ. Let each of us discipline ourselves for the purpose of godliness so that we might become more and more like the One who died and gave Himself up for us. Let each of us exemplify godliness to our children as we utilize the means that God has afforded to us in the Spiritual Disciplines.

• Spiritual Disciplines, Part 1
• Spiritual Disciplines, Part 2
• Spiritual Disciplines, Part 3
• Spiritual Disciplines, Part 4