Donald S. Whitney - Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life Study Guide

Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness.

(1 T IMOTHY 4:7, NASB )

The only road to Christian maturity passes through the practice of the Spiritual Disciplines. These personal and interpersonal activities given by God in the Bible have been practiced by Gods people since biblical times. They are the sufficient means Christians are to use in the Spirit-filled pursuit of godliness, that is, closeness to Christ and conformity to Christ. Jesus modeled them for us and expects us to pursue them. In doing so, we will taste the joy of a spiritually disciplined lifestyle.

1. Describe a time when you disciplined yourself in order to reach a specific goal or when you did not discipline yourself and failed to reach a specific goal.

When it comes to discipline in the Christian life, many believers feel its discipline without direction. Prayer threatens to be drudgery. The practical value of meditation on Scripture seems uncertain. The real purpose of a discipline like fasting is often unclear.

The Bible says of Gods elect, For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son (Romans 8:29). Gods eternal plan ensures that every Christian will ultimately conform to Christlikeness. We will be changed when he appears so that we shall be like him (1 John 3:2). This is no vision; this is you, Christian, as soon as he appears.

So why all the talk about discipline? If God has predestined our conformity to Christlikeness, where does discipline fit in? Although God will grant Christlikeness to us when Jesus returns, until then He intends for us to grow toward it. We arent merely to wait for holiness; were to pursue it. Strive for peace with everyone, were commanded in Hebrews 12:14, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

This leads us to ask what every Christian should ask: How then shall I pursue holiness? How can I be like Jesus Christ, the Son of God? We find a clear answer in 1 Timothy 4:7: Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness ( NASB ).

The only road to Christian maturity and godliness (a biblical term synonymous with Christlikeness and holiness) passes through the practice of the Spiritual Disciplines. Godliness is the goal of the Disciplines, and when we remember this, the Spiritual Disciplines can become a delight instead of drudgery.

The original language of the words discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness makes it plain that this is a command of God, not merely a suggestion. Holiness is not an option for those who claim to be children of the Holy One (see 1 Peter 1:15-16), so neither are the means of holiness that is, the Spiritual Disciplines an option.

The expectation of disciplined spirituality is implied in Jesus offer of Matthew 11:29: Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me. The same is true in this offer of discipleship: And he said to all, If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me (Luke 9:23). These verses tell us that to be a disciple of Jesus means, at the very least, to learn from and follow Him. Learning and following involve discipline, for those who learn only incidentally and follow accidentally are not true disciples. That discipline is at the heart of discipleship is confirmed by Galatians 5:22-23, which says that spiritual self-discipline (implied in self-control) is one of the most evident marks of being Spirit-controlled.

The Lord Jesus not only expects these biblical Spiritual Disciplines of those who follow Him, He is the model of discipline for the purpose of godliness.

First, the Bible prescribes both personal and interpersonal Spiritual Disciplines. Some Spiritual Disciplines like private prayer we practice alone; others like small group or congregational prayer we practice with other Christians. Second, Spiritual Disciplines are activities, not attitudes. Disciplines are practices, not character qualities, graces, or fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Third, the subject matter of this book is limited to those Spiritual Disciplines that are biblical, that is, to practices taught or modeled in the Bible. Fourth, this book takes the position that the Spiritual Disciplines found in Scripture are sufficient for knowing and experiencing God, and for growing in Christlikeness. Fifth, the Spiritual Disciplines are practices derived from the gospel, not divorced from the gospel. When the Disciplines are rightly practiced, they take us deeper into the gospel of Jesus and its glories, not away from it as though weve moved on to more advanced levels of Christianity. Sixth, the Spiritual Disciplines are