Teleos Blog that we may present everyone complete in Christ

Spiritual Disciplines: FastingPosted by Phil on February 17th, 2009

We’re finishing up w/ the one that we were all probably most afraid of. The discipline that most of us don’t want to do, because we love to eat. We’re going to finish up with fasting. This is a tough one for me because my body convinces me that I need food. I get hungry and need it. And this is a spiritual exercise to convince me that God truly needs to be the most important thing in my life.

My goal for you is that you’d try to skip at least one meal that you would normally eat. No skipping breakfast if you normally don’t eat it. For obvious health reasons, you may not be able to go long…might not be able to fast for a full day or 2, but most can skip a meal. Then maybe you use that time to spend on one of the other disciplines we’ve used. Still take a lunch break, but pray, study, memorize, sit in silence. Fasting is often done with a purpose in mind and we’re asking you to jump into it. If God lays something on your heart, fasting may be one way to spend time praying and trying to figure it out. But fasting can also be a regular practice without a specific issue in mind….a way to focus on God and not yourself. This article, I went back to the blog we’ve been using all along…good insights on fasting. I hope you enjoy your time.

Article 1
Article 2

Posted by Phil on February 11th, 2009

We’re down to the final few disciplines that we’re going to cover. This week we’ll be looking at simplicity, or frugality, or what I have always called a media fast. We live in a world that pushes bigger and better. On Sunday, we looked at the stuff that we have and we’ve been talking about contentment. Simplicity is all about doing without. What can I cut out of my life that creates clutter. It’s not that you’re removing bad things, but you could be intentionally setting aside good things in order to slow down your life.

The past 2 weekends I’ve been on 2 different winter retreats. Three days each week with no cell phone, no internet, and no TV….and it wasn’t a bad thing. I was amazed to find that I didn’t miss those things…I don’t need them even though they are really nice to have. For a goal, I’d love for you to find something that you can give up….maybe it’s for the week, maybe for just a day. I wouldn’t expect you to give up your cell phone for the week, but maybe you leave it at home one day to realize that it’s not life or death if you don’t have it. Maybe you say no to Facebook for the week, or the internet all together except for school work. The purpose is to realize that you can do without…that these things can sometimes complicate our lives. And you might have more time for better things….reading your Bible, doing school work, reading, taking a nap, hanging out with your family, or talking with a friend. It also might show an addiction to something and that it might be more important than it should be in your life.

Simplicity.

Frugality: Appropriate Smallness in a Bigger-Better World

Spiritual Disciplines: Bible StudyPosted by Phil on January 27th, 2009

We’re going to look at different disciplines in random order. We’ll jump back and forth between disciplines of engagement and disciplines of abstinence so there’s variety. You may want to read chapter 9 of the book to get an overview of many of them. Each week you’ll get notes with a couple of brief articles on the discipline we’ll be looking at and a goal for you to look towards. Really, I’ll set the goal as a minimum…I’d encourage you to go beyond it if you are able. Then during the week, take a look at the articles and try to get through that discipline. Then we’ll use our small group time to talk about our experiences, if it was useful, if it was lame, or if we weren’t able to handle it. And finish up with if we could see ourselves using that discipline again in the future to teach us something about ourselves or about God.

Bible study probably sounds kind of like a duh statement and possibly a simple spiritual discipline. However, there are many different ways to study the Bible. For me, when I read my Bible at home is completely different than when I’m preparing a lesson, which is completely different than when I’m preparing a series. At home I’m looking specifically for application whatever the section I might be reading. For a series, I’m trying to pick up the big picture so I can break it down as we go on. And each week becomes an in depth study of a passage often w/ word studies or trying to figure out the whole context of the passage.

Hopefully you’re already in the habit of reading your Bible on a regular basis. But for the next 2 weeks I’d love for you to try a few different Bible study methods. This time, you need to go online to get your materials because I’ll give you a link to a site with Bible study methods and then a site to provide helps and study materials for you as well.

Bible Study Methods

http://www.eachnewday.com/HowToStudyTheBible/the_Bible_study_methods.htm

Bible Study Tools

http://bible.crosswalk.com/

Spiritual Disciplines: SecrecyPosted by Phil on January 20th, 2009

We’re going to look at different disciplines in random order. We’ll jump back and forth between disciplines of engagement and disciplines of abstinence so there’s variety. You may want to read chapter 9 of the book to get an overview of many of them. Each week you’ll get notes with a couple of brief articles on the discipline we’ll be looking at and a goal for you to look towards. Really, I’ll set the goal as a minimum…I’d encourage you to go beyond it if you are able. Then during the week, take a look at the articles and try to get through that discipline. Then we’ll use our small group time to talk about our experiences, if it was useful, if it was lame, or if we weren’t able to handle it. And finish up with if we could see ourselves using that discipline again in the future to teach us something about ourselves or about God.

The idea of secrecy, at least to me doesn’t seem like a spiritual discipline. I guess I naturally think of keeping secrets and then start thinking about gossip and I can’t quite figure out how gossip could possibly be spiritual. But all of us crave attention, we want to be noticed, we want to be praised, and we want to be loved. Those aren’t bad things, but sometimes we go out of our way to make sure someone pats us on the back and tells us well done.

So secrecy as a spiritual gift is all about kindness. Doing something for someone just because. Not expecting any credit…in fact, hoping that you don’t get any credit. Really, this week I would hope that you’d set 2 goals. First, try to pick out the moments where you try to get credit for something you did. But then, set a second goal to do something nice for someone. Leave a gift for a stranger, an anonymous note for a friend, since it snows every day it seems, maybe shovel your neighbors driveway. Come up with ideas w/ your group….what could you do? And then pick one or two, or get really ambitious and do a bunch of stuff. Again, it’s not bad to be thanked or praised, but this week, let’s try to serve people because it will please God and not because we want people to notice us.

Article

Also check out the small group book The Spirit of the Disciplines (pg 172-174)

Spiritual Disciplines: MemorizationPosted by Phil on January 13th, 2009

We’re going to look at different disciplines in random order. We’ll jump back and forth between disciplines of engagement and disciplines of abstinence so there’s variety. You may want to read chapter 9 of the book to get an overview of many of them. Each week you’ll get notes with a couple of brief articles on the discipline we’ll be looking at and a goal for you to look towards. Really, I’ll set the goal as a minimum…I’d encourage you to go beyond it if you are able. Then during the week, take a look at the articles and try to get through that discipline. Then we’ll use our small group time to talk about our experiences, if it was useful, if it was lame, or if we weren’t able to handle it. And finish up with if we could see ourselves using that discipline again in the future to teach us something about ourselves or about God.

The next discipline we’re going to tackle is memorization. It might not be something you’d done since you were a kid. I know I’ve definitely gotten away from memorizing verses. The goal is putting God’s word in your head. Are you ever amazed by people who can quote verse after verse? Wouldn’t it be nice if your mind wandered and it was Bible verses that popped into you head? That won’t happen unless we put in effort to do it.

So pick a new passage. Not something you memorized as a kid and forgot it, but something new. Push yourself a little, but don’t go overboard. And don’t “memorize” like you did as a kid, where you read it over and over and over just before time is up. Read over your text every day. Maybe write it on a post it note and put it in your car or in your bathroom. The goal is to still remember this passage weeks, months, or even years from now.

Article 1
Article 2 -This is from Dallas Willard’s website.  The short section on memorization is down near the bottom of the page.

Spiritual Disciplines: SolitudePosted by Phil on December 16th, 2008

We’re going to look at different disciplines in random order. We’ll jump back and forth between disciplines of engagement and disciplines of abstinence so there’s variety. You may want to read chapter 9 of the book to get an overview of many of them. Each week you’ll get notes with a couple of brief articles on the discipline we’ll be looking at and a goal for you to look towards. Really, I’ll set the goal as a minimum…I’d encourage you to go beyond it if you are able. Then during the week, take a look at the articles and try to get through that discipline. Then we’ll use our small group time to talk about our experiences, if it was useful, if it was lame, or if we weren’t able to handle it. And finish up with if we could see ourselves using that discipline again in the future to teach us something about ourselves or about God.

Over Christmas break, I’d love for you to set aside some time for solitude. I want to give you time for this when you’re off school and possibly off work. Things have a tendency to slow down and yet still be really busy during the holiday season. I’m asking you to intentionally take some time to slow down. We mentioned this before, but solitude typically goes along with silence, but we split the two up to give you time to get used to being in quiet before asking you to be in quiet and then not doing anything.

Make it a goal to set aside at minimum 1 hour in solitude. Really, I hope that you’ll try to get away for 3 hours or more if at all possible. I know that sounds ridiculous and long, but there’s a reason for it….rest. You might sleep, and that might be a very good thing…especially after a long semester. And don’t feel bad if you do. But spend time alone w/out noises to distract you…although you might talk to yourself during this time or listen for nature if you venture outdoors. Exist in the presence of God. Pray, read, or journal for a time, but try to really sit and listen. You’re so used to noise and business that we might often miss God trying to speak to us.

Article 1 – This is a great article that talks about how to have a time of solitude.  If you only read 1 article….make it this one.
Article 2 & 3 – These are from Mark Driscoll’s blog.  Very brief comments on how solitude ties into fellowship and to understand one shows the need for the other.