Imagine you are handed a screw and a painting and are tasked with hanging it on the wall. Would you rather use a regular screwdriver or an electric drill? Your answer should be obvious. Every year was take at least a month or two to talk about the Spiritual Disciplines, which are (in John Pryor's words), the spiritual equivilent of power tools.
"Don't you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified." 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
Do you want to get serious about your faith? These Spiritual Disciplines are here for you. Follow along with this series if you want to learn how you might better integrate them into your daily life.
Speaker: John Pryor, Senior Minister
Notes:
Worship is primarily about surrender, allegiance, and obedience. Matthew 2:1-12 & 4:8-11; John 4:21-24; Romans 12:1-2
1 Timothy 2:8; 1 Peter 3:13-17; Judges 7:15; Luke 6:40, Isaiah 1:10-18
2 Quotes from Richard J. Foster:
“If worship does not propel us into greater obedience, it has not been worship. To stand before the Holy One of eternity is to change.”
“Eastern meditation is an attempt to empty the mind; Christian meditation is an attempt to fill the mind. The purpose of meditation is to enable us to hear God more clearly.”
Singing is a wonderful, biblical way to worship and to meditate!
Psalm 9:11, 13:6, 47:6, 96:1-4, and Psalm 100
Acts 16:25, Romans 15:9, 1 Corinthians 14:15,26, Colossians 3:16
3 Prayers we should all be praying:
“Break my heart for what breaks Yours.” (see Isaiah 1:10-18)
Paul's Prayer in Ephesians 3:18-21
“Yes, Lord, I will...”