The word "discipline" comes from the same root word as "disciple." Indeed, you might say that the whole purpose of discipline is to make disciples. Or, putting this another way, if someone is not interested in being a disciple, then a study of discipline is rather pointless. Therefore, in thinking about discipline, it perhaps makes sense to begin with some understanding of discipleship.
1. Consider the following words of Jesus himself:
Or, as John put it (1 John 2:6 NIV): "Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did."
In light of these verses (and lots of others you may want to find), consider what it really means to be a "disciple." What did Jesus actually mean when he said, "Follow me"? It pays to think clearly about this -- the object of such an exercise is to develop, with the support and encouragement of those who care for you, a sense of the specific ways in which obedience to Jesus demands a radical transformation of your life.
2. Read 1 John 3:9-10. Suppose you were to come in to Sunday School one day and say, "I intend to quit sinning." Or, alternatively, suppose you were to come in and say, "I don’t intend to quit sinning." Which is more shocking? Consider the following:
"Either I must intend to stop sinning or not intend to stop. There is no third possibility. I must plan to follow Jesus fully or not plan to follow him. But how can I honestly do either? And does not planning to follow him really differ, before God and humanity, from planning not to follow him?" (D. Willard, Spirit of the Disciplines, p.13.)
Or, as Bonhoeffer phrased it:
"Cheap grace means the justification of sin without the justification of the sinner. Grace alone does everything, they say, and so everything can remain as it was before. ... Well, then, let the Christian live like the rest of the world, let him model himself on the world’s standards in every sphere of life, and not presumptuously aspire to live a different life under grace from his old life under sin." (Cost of Discipleship, p.46)
Again, candidly and with the support of your friends, it pays to discuss whether you can fairly say that your life over the past year has shown an inner intent to forsake all sin, to live a holy, perfect, and Godly life. If yes, then what strength and encouragement do you need? If no, then what do you intend to do about it?
3. Consider the form of a prayer for the Holy Spirit’s encouragement and strengthening and wisdom -- for obedience and transformation. The transformation that we are pursuing, the discipline to be a disciple, is beyond mortal means -- no degree of will power or pop psychology will do -- we need the Holy Spirit to give us a swift kick in the pants. That, ultimately, is what we are praying for.
4. Foster distinguishes and classifies the spiritual disciplines as follows:
| Inward Disciplines | Outward Disciplines | Corporate Disciplines |
| Prayer | Simplicity | Confession |
| Meditation | Solitude | Worship |
| Fasting | Submission | Guidance |
| Study | Service | Celebration |
Because this course was originally designed for a weekend retreat, it would be too much to study all disciplines. Those that are addressed in the following pages are indicated above in italic type.
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7/12/97