Discipleship Part 7: Spiritual Practices

I could have started this discipleship series here. To be clear, by saving this to the end, I am in no way making a statement of priority. Instead, I assume that because of your spiritual vitality and time with Jesus, you are motivated to disciple others. It is because of your spiritual habits that discipleship is a priority. This series has sought to help you in the skill of that very endeavor. I do want to highlight a few foundational practices and recommend further reading.

Jesus taught and modeled several spiritual practices, not to restrict us to those practices only, but to highlight the importance of our rhythms.

For centuries, faithful men and women have continued to pursue a vibrant relationship with our Trinitarian God. The relational pursuit throughout history has varied in its expression while aiming to be faithful, grounded, transformational, communal, and experiential. Different traditions access scripture, history, art, and other pathways in a myriad of ways. The following are a few key areas that I believe are foundational as we continue to pursue a relationship with God that is honoring to his name.

We pray, both speaking to and hearing from God.

Foundational to every disciple's life is their prayer life. Jesus took time away to pray. Often. His disciples took note and asked him in Luke 11:2 to teach them how to pray. Jesus replied, “He (Jesus) said to them, 'When you pray, say…” Prayer is talking with God, speaking and listening. Jesus taught his disciples to pray. Beyond the kinds of words we use in prayer, Jesus shared in Luke 11 a story of how we are to approach him as well. Be bold, be persistent.

There is a lifetime to pursue various types and postures in prayer. Extended fasting as part of prayer. A silent retreat. Journalling. Prayer gatherings. Remember we are in relationship with God, and conversations are two-way. Listen. Speak. Listen.

Prayer Warning: We will do well to heed Jesus’s warning from Matthew 6:5, When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. It isn’t the length, brilliance of vocabulary, or volume in a public place that impresses God. As a spiritual practice, it is our heart that God sees.

We read Scripture to learn our history as God’s people and to be equipped for today’s challenges. 

Paul writes in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is useful… some may seem more useful than others, but the point is we have all of Scripture. Spending time in God’s Word to know him and his character better is never a waste of time. In 2 Peter 3:15-16, Peter writes that some of what Paul wrote as Scripture was hard to understand! Maybe you can relate. Anyone who says the bible is easy to understand needs to be reminded that even Scripture doesn’t describe itself that way. This reminds us to read in community and be grateful for the spiritual gift of teaching. We can read the bible ourselves and learn from trusted bible teachers who are trained. We avoid “influencers” whose interpretations may be popular but are often not academically thought through or peer-reviewed in a way that honors the Holy Spirit. Practically, stay tied in with your local church, asking good questions of those who teach. This is the spirit of the Bereans that Paul commended.

Keep it Simple: Be careful not to create another checklist of what spiritual maturity looks like. We remember that spiritual disciplines are for the purpose of our transformation to be like Jesus. They do not exist so we get good at them. We use various practices to help form us more into the image of Christ. When we gather in worship, practice hospitality, serve, financially support Kingdom work, use our spiritual gifts, honor marriage, and exhibit the Fruit of the Spirit we are living as God intended. We are becoming more and more human.

For a more complete list of spiritual practices and thoughtful engagement with them, I highly recommend the following books as a next step.

• The Art of Missional Spirituality: 31 Sacred Practices for Jesus-Followers by Jeremy Chambers and Monica Paredes Chambers

• The Spirit of the Disciplines: Understanding How God Changes Lives by Dallas Willard

Reflection

• What spiritual practice currently helps you remain connected to Jesus?

• Where have you allowed spiritual practices to become routine rather than transformational?

• What is one simple practice you could begin—or return to—that would help you take your next step toward Jesus?