Basic Disciplines | Part 1

A Spiritual Discipline is an intentional habit cultivated in our lives that is designed to lead us into greater Christlikeness in our thoughts, affections, and behavior.

These are things we do so that we might become. The disciplines themselves are not ends in the themselves. The disciplines aren’t the goal. Unbelievers can learn discipline. Unbelievers cannot be transformed by them.

I’d like to start us off with Titus 2:11-13, who would like to read that?

Titus 2:11–13 “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us that, denying ungodliness and worldly desires, we should live sensibly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,”

The grace of God has come.

It brought salvation

It also brings instruction.

Grace teaches.

Grace empowers.

We deny ungodliness.

We are taught to live sensibly, righteously, and godly, in the present age.

How does this grace come to us?

In the reformed tradition, they have a category they call the ordinary means of grace. This is found in the Westminster Confession of Faith. By means of grace they DO NOT mean that these things bring about salvation, but rather that they are means of God’s sanctifying grace in our lives. These are the things that instruct us to deny that which is negative and say yes to that which is good and godly.

The ordinary means of grace. By ordinary they mean these are things common, customary, or habitual. Not mundane or plain.

This does not deny that God can work extraordinarily! But for most people, he uses the ordinary means to bring about his work in our lives.

The WCF identifies three things as these ordinary means. What do you think they are?

The Word, usually understood to be the preached word, and sometimes broadened to include private and family devotional reading.

The sacraments. We call them ordinances. Baptism and the Lord’s Table

Prayer. Private and corporate.

I think I would word some things a little differently than the WCF, but the basics of what they are trying to say is good.

God does use things that are ordinary to produce extraordinary fruit in our lives.

Let’s talks about the Word.

Bible intake.

What are ways to engage with the Bible. Not a trick question.

Sermons/teaching

read it!

memorize it!

meditate on it!

teach it!

Study it!

Copy it!

Are we commanded in Scripture to have a daily Bible reading plan?

Are you in sin if you are not reading the bible regularly?

No.

Does regularly Bible reading earn you favor with God? No.

Is it a good thing to do that?

Does regular and intentional engagement with the Bible provide increased opportunities for growth? YES!

Psalm 19:7–11 “The law of Yahweh is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of Yahweh is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of Yahweh are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of Yahweh is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of Yahweh is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of Yahweh are true; they are righteous altogether. They are more desirable than gold, even more than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them Your slave is warned; In keeping them there is great reward.”

Law (revealed will)....Perfect (flawless wisdom)... restoring the soul.

testimony (God’s attestation)....sure (confirmed, verified)....makes us wise!

precepts (details of the commands)...right (morally)...brings joy

commands (authority)...pure (free of imperfection)...brings enlightenment (understanding, clear sight)

Fear (reverence...this is what the word produces)...clean (not dirty or poluted)...endures forever.

Judgments (verdicts)...true (accurate, just)...righteous in their entirety.

The law, testimony, precepts, commands, fear, and judgments are more desirable than gold and sweeter than honey.

The law testimony precepts commands and judgments warn us. We are prone to stupidity. The Scriptures warn us against our foolish choices.

Keeping the law, testimony, precepts, commands, fear, and judgments of the Lord leads to blessing! Great reward!

Tremendous! I would hope this causes you to desire to engage the word of God regularly!

I want to be spiritual restoration, to be made wise, to have enlightened eyes, to have joy, and be warned against my own foolishness.

So, the question becomes, how do we engage it?

We have noted that personal daily bible reading is not a biblical requirement. It is a good thing, however.

It exposes you to the God who created you, revealed himself, and gave us His communication.

It builds self-discipline which is helpful for all areas of life.

It puts us into regular contact with the very means God has said he uses to being about change in our hearts and lives.

I don’t know about you, but I can testify that I have started multiple bible reading plans and never finished them. I’m going to read the Bible in a year!

In February you hit Leviticus and you stall out. I’ve been there. It’s a battle. How do we have success?

Start with the right goal.

Take the pressure off

Have a plan

Reading plan

Reading time

Reading location

Readable translation

Start with the right goal. The goal isn’t information. The goal isn’t checking boxes. The goal isn’t bragging rights. The goal is transformation through regular encounters with the Word.

Take the pressure off. We can get legalistic about our reading plans. we get behind and we want to catch up. Don’t worry about catching up. That’s not the point.

When I was in bible college and joined the soccer team, we were doing preseason training. We had to run a lot in order to build stamina. We had a predetermined course for the run. The team captain finished first, and he turned around and started yelling at all the guys to run faster and sprint across the finish line. One of the other experienced players cross the line and challenged the captain. Hey. That’s not the purpose of this particular run. We’re just building the base right now. We have to build stamina, and if you introduce sprinting at the end of the endurance run before we’ve even trained the basics, someone is going to get hurt and it will be counterproductive.

Bible reading can be like that. We want to excel and read faster! Not the point here. We’re building a base. You missed a day. or two. Or seven. It’s okay. Don’t beat yourself up. Just pick up on the next passage and start again.

Have a plan.

BibleReadingPlanGenerator.com is a great place to build plans. Shorter plans. shorter readings. Read Proverbs in a month. Read the NT in 6 month. If you’ve never really had much of a habit with the bible, don’t try to read the bible in a year. You need quick easy wins to keep you encouraged.

Try reading Matthew in a month. 28 chapters, gives you couple of flex days.

Time and location. For most people, first thing in the morning works out well. fewer distractions. For me, I struggle reading just about anything later in the day. My mind starts running and doesn’t stop. In the mornings, my mind is still quiet, and I can engage what I’m reading.

Translation. I personally struggled to read the ESV. didn’t flow well fo me. I found that reading the CSB, HCSB, and NKJV were much more natural, and even more recently reading through the LSB was surprisingly enjoyable.

Audio Bible can help! Listen and follow along. That’s how I got through the ESV.

I thought this would take a little longer to run through.

Any questions? Can I help you troubleshoot your reading?

Personal testimony....I didn’t read through the entire Bible until I went to bible college and it was required for class. I didn’t read through the whole thing again until a few years later when I started using by HCSB more frequently and started loving to read it. It was so enjoyable to me!

A Spiritual Discipline is an intentional habit cultivated in our lives that is designed to lead us into greater Christlikeness in our thoughts, affections, and behavior.