The Celebration of Discipline

LIBERTY UNIVERSITY

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,...