Spiritual Disciplines Bible Unzipped, November 2012

bedroom theology

the sound of silence

the soul

yeats, from the man and the echo While man can still his body keep, Wine or love drug him to sleep, Waking he thanks the Lord that he Has body and its stupidity, But body gone he sleeps no more, And till his intellect grows sure That all’s arranged in one clear view, Pursues the thoughts that I pursue, Then stands in judgment on his soul, And, all work done, dismisses all Out of intellect and sight And sinks at last into the night. (VP 633)

the question how is your soul?

exercise: traditioned? we do not approach anything as a blank canvas. rowan williams contends that all theology ‘starts from the middle.’ exercise: take a few minutes to consider your traditions and framework, a diagram or list might help

embodied values

exercise: embodied there is a pursuit of the integrated spiritual life where the things we believe affect the things we do exercise: take a moment to look back at your framework and traditions, to what extent do you embody what you believe?

doctrine of sanctification Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and work for his good pleasure. Philippians 3:18, ESV

Disciplines of abstinence solitude, silence, fasting, frugality, chastity, secrecy, sacrifice

disciplines of engagement study, worship, celebration, service, prayer, fellowship, confession, submission

exercise: practice key here is the sense that the focus moves away from the function of church to ‘grow us’ despite ourselves and back to us as a member of the community who is discipling and being discipled. here it is about a life with God, not simply for God exercise: what disciplines do you regularly practice? are there others you could add in?