The Celebration of Discipline
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……………………………………………… ........................................................4 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
person 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
completion 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
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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
attitude 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,...
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