Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life - Tyndale House

1 Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian life A NavPress published resource in alliance with Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. 1991, 2014 by Donald S. WhitneyA NavPress published resource in alliance with Tyndale House Publishers, rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without written permission from NavPress, Box 6000, Colorado Springs, CO and the NAVPRESS logo are registered trademarks of NavPress, The Navigators. Absence of in connection with marks of NavPress or other parties does not indicate an absence of registration of those is a registered trademark of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

2 ISBN 978-1-61521-617-8 Cover image by ShutterstockSome of the anecdotal illustrations in this book are true to life and are included with the permission of the persons involved. All other illustrations are composites of real situations, and any resemblance to people living or dead is otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV ), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken from the New American Standard Bible, copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

3 Used by permission. Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the Holy Bible, King James Version. Cataloging-in-Publication Data is in the United States of America19 18 17 16 15 146 5 4 3 2 1 NavPress is the publishing ministry of The Navigators, an international Christian organization and leader in personal Spiritual development.

4 NavPress is committed to helping people grow spiritually and enjoy lives of meaning and hope through personal and group resources that are biblically rooted, culturally relevant, and highly more information, visit Contents Acknowledgments vii Foreword ix chapter 1: The Spiritual Disciplines .. for the Purpose of Godliness 1 chapter 2: Bible Intake (Part 1) .. for the Purpose of Godliness 21 chapter 3: Bible Intake (Part 2).

5 For the Purpose of Godliness 37 chapter 4: Prayer .. for the Purpose of Godliness 79 chapter 5: Worship .. for the Purpose of Godliness 101 chapter 6: Evangelism .. for the Purpose of Godliness 119 chapter 7: Serving .. for the Purpose of Godliness 141 chapter 8: Stewardship .. for the Purpose of Godliness 159 chapter 9: Fasting .. for the Purpose of Godliness 191 chapter 10: Silence and Solitude .. for the Purpose of Godliness 221 chapter 11: Journaling .. for the Purpose of Godliness 249 chapter 12: Learning .. for the Purpose of Godliness 271 chapter 13: Perseverance in the Disciplines .

6 For the Purpose of Godliness 287 Notes 305 About the Author 319 Scripture Index 321 Subject Index 327 ForewordI was asked to write a foreword for this book before I saw it. Having now gone through it, I would in any case have volunteered for the job, so that I can go on record as urging all Christians to read what Don Whitney has written; indeed, to read it three times over, with a month s interval (certainly not less, and ideally, I think, not more) between each reading.

7 This will not only make the book sink in, but will also give you a realistic picture of your seriousness, or lack of it, as Jesus disciple. Your first reading will show you several par-ticular things that you should start doing. In your second and third readings (for each of which you should choose a date on the day you complete the previous reading) you shall find yourself review-ing what you have done and how you have fared in doing it. That will be very good for you, even if the discovery comes as a bit of a shock at since Richard Foster rang the bell with his Celebration of Discipline (1978), discussing the various Spiritual Disciplines has become a staple element of conservative Christian in-talk in North America.

8 This is a happy thing. The doctrine of the Disciplines (Latin disciplinae, meaning courses of learning and training ) is ixreally a restatement and extension of classical Protestant teaching on the means of grace (the Word of God, prayer, fellowship, the Lord s Supper). Don Whitney s Spiritual feet are blessedly cemented in the wisdom of the Bible, as spelled out by the Puritan and older evangelical masters, and he plots the path of discipline with a sure touch. The foundations he lays are evangelical, not legalistic.

9 In other words, he calls us to pursue godliness through practicing the Disciplines out of gratitude for the grace that has saved us, not as self-justifying or self-advancing effort. What he builds on these foundations is as beneficial as it is solid. He is in truth showing us the path of , then, as a Christian you want to be really real with your God, moving beyond the stage of playing games with yourself and Him, this book provides practical help. A century and a half ago the Scottish professor Rabbi Duncan sent his students off to read John Owen, the Puritan, on indwelling sin with the admonition, But, gentlemen, prepare for the knife.

10 As I pass you over to Don Whitney, I would say to you, Now, friend, prepare for the workout. And you will find health for your soul. J. I. Packerx || Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian lifeChapter 1 The Spiritual Disciplines .. for the Purpose of GodlinessOurs is an undisciplined age. The old Disciplines are breaking down.. Above all, the discipline of divine grace is derided as legalism or is entirely unknown to a generation that is largely illiterate in the Scriptures. We need the rugged strength of Christian character that can come only from Raymond EdmanDiscipline without direction is six- year- old Kevin, whose parents have enrolled him in music lessons.