LIBERTY UNIVERSITY THE CELEBRATION OF DISCIPLINE A Paper Submitted to Dr. David Kitchens In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Course Personal Evangelism EVAN 565 BY SAMUEL MARRERO 17 DECEMBER 2009 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 3 Nature………………………………………….. ……………………………………………………. 3 Purpose……………………………………………… ……………………………………………….. Process……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 5 Product………………………. ……………………………………………………………………………. 5 Closing…………………………………………………………………………………….. 6 Reference……………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 7 Introduction Richard J. Foster’s purpose of Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth, is to show people for control, work, and operate their faith. He reveals that each erson has an immense obligation to God to process and develop important relationship with Him. Whether someone is seeking to be a spiritual entity or simply wanting a closer relationship with their Creator, they must walk in the footsteps of Christ who has shown his Word. Foster identifies two popular difficulties that hinder believers from practicing the disciplines: popular science (i. e. prejudice against a spiritual reality) and ignorance of the classical spiritual disciplines. Foster positions his book as a “how to” guide for spiritual disciplines, and a developing of spiritual character. Upon ompletion of the book, the reader will be quipped with the tools to empower himself to defend His Mighty Word. Nature Foster exemplifies the nature of twelve positioned spiritual disciplines that are explained and demonstrated into three equal groups such as Inward (meditation, prayer, fasting, study), Outward (simplicity, solitude, submission, service); and Corporate (confession, worship, guidance, and celebration). Each of the disciplines presented by Foster holds a solid Biblical standing; however, are not intended to be practiced only by those with the highest scholar with a theology degree.
Foster deepens this explanation by advising the only requirement to practice these disciplines is to seek God. 1 If a person ________________________ 1 Foster, Richard J. Celebration Of Discipline. San Francisco, CA: HarperSanFrancisco. 1988, Pg 2 2 Foster, Richard J. Celebration Of Discipline. San Francisco, CA: HarperSanFrancisco. 1988, Pg 4 practices these disciplines so that others may see what they are doing, then as Foster describes it in a Biblical sense, that person would be no more then “whitened sepulchers. “2 Moreover, the foundation of the disciplines, is found in the heart and ttitude of the one who practices them. Purpose Throughout the text, the question is frequently heard is, “why? ” “Why integrate the spiritual disciplines into ones life and put ones self through unneeded suffering? ” Foster conveys, “God has ordained the Disciplines of the spiritual life as the means by which we place ourselves where He can bless us. “3 Foster explains this blessing as a multifaceted blessing. However, its foundational core, the blessing people shall inherit when practicing obedience in the spiritual disciplines is a divine becoming of transformation from the inside out.
Furthermore, transformation can a continual ultimate transformation of removing the sinful nature and exchanging it with the nature of God and Holiness. Every sinful area of a person’s life that can be pushed out must be filled with something Holy. Following, development will start to shape. Moreover, the evil desires one naturally leans onto will ultimately release and eradicate give way and become unnatural. Therefore, the sinful behaviors that were once practiced will become detestable with the divine practice of the spiritual disciplines. In conjunction, each iscipline has a specific purpose or freedom that it offers to one who is willing to incorporate it into their life. 4 Fosters offers an example of the Discipline of Submission, ________________________ 3 Foster, Richard J. Celebration Of Discipline. San Francisco, CA: HarperSanFrancisco. 1988, Pg 7 4 Foster, Richard J. Celebration Of Discipline. San Francisco, CA: HarperSanFrancisco. 1988, Pg 110 5 Foster, Richard J. Celebration Of Discipline. San Francisco, CA: HarperSanFrancisco. 1988, Pg 111 the freedom it offers to the one who undertakes it is the release from the burden of always aving to get his own way. 5 In short, one must be sharp, transformation is not something a person just passively waits on God to perform. God must be at work, but “there is something we can do” too. 6 Process Foster delivers practical applications for each of the twelve disciplines, where the reader is offered immense flexibility to experiment the approach of the disciplines in a most Biblical manner. This is with a hope that it will augment a better understanding of the process. Foster, states he personally goes through a period similar to this before riting The Celebration of Discipline. Foster is very seasoned and real as his experience and wisdom of others -he gives readers what he thinks are the best approaches to incorporate each discipline. Moreover, each discipline is significantly different and can be practiced in different ways, there is a premise that is consolidated. Spiritual development is a process of elimination and rebuilding; a regeneration of the mind. Therefore, time must be spiritually invested. This is accomplished by, continuous attention and obedience to cultivating the freedom that lies in each of the divine isciplines. Product Youth at early development and introduction to church are taught to understand and be like Jesus. This is why many implement forms of spiritual disciplines into their habits and lives, in order to be more spiritual as Jesus was. Current Christian cultures ________________________ 6 Foster, Richard J. Celebration Of Discipline. San Francisco, CA: HarperSanFrancisco. 1988, Pg 6 have adopted many slogan and themes to make sense, which would start a transformation of thinking differently evolving to behave differently. Different approaches are needed or different situation, times, and settings. Closing This is the essence to effectively witness and evangelize. In addition, this guides me to acknowledge the common postmodernism trends and how effective I can preach the Word of God to a nonbeliever or a believer that is in the middle of ones faith; furthermore, effectively and continuously keep ones faith and preventing ones faith to dry-up. In hindsight, spiritual disciplines are another way to get people to this end. By the training of the Word, people in areas of sin will be ready to put on the shining armor to
