The Celebration of Discipline

Topics: God, Spirituality, Supernatural Pages: 7 (1033 words) Published: August 8, 2010
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

________________________
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,...
Continue Reading

Please join StudyMode to read the full document

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Celebration of Discipline Essay

    ...Celebration of Discipline, by Richard J. Foster, is a comprehensive guide to spiritual disciplines. In this book, Foster addresses twelve main ones (meditation, prayer, fasting, study, simplicity, solitude, submission, service, confession, worship, guidance, and celebration), and shows how we can implement them in our lives. It is only through spiritual practices that we can move from superficial living into deeper lives. To balance our inward and outward lives and overcome our sin, we must first receive the inner righteousness which is a grace given from God. When we allow the Disciplines into daily practices, they allow God to come inside and bring an abundance of God into our lives. Overall, Celebration of Discipline is a true book every Christian ought to read. After having read this book, I am motivated to practice the spiritual discipline of prayer and fasting. According to Foster, prayer is very important because it takes us into perpetual communion with the Father and it is the central avenue for personal examination and change. I chose prayer because prayer was such a big part of my life and it brings positive outpourings in my life. Constant prayer allows me to get closer to God and love the people around me more. Without prayer, I have less tolerance for those I find hard to love, more concern with earthly things, feelings of disconnect with God...

    Read More
    326 Words 1 Pages
  • Discipline Essay

    ...MIND November 2012 What is Discipline? Discipline may be defined as a set or system of rules and regulations; it is the behavior in accord with rules of conduct that is socially accepted. Discipline is important in our life as adhering to specified socially accepted norms people can develop themselves to become good person. Discipline is trait that we learn in our school and at home, where we learn to maintain time table in doing our things and behaving appropriately. For example: * We should respect our elders; * We should be affectionate and polite to our younger; * We should be friendly to our class mates; * We should do our class-work and home-work on time; and * We should eat, play, and sleep on time. We should bring the good learning’s and adopt it in all sphere of our life. For example: * We should not spit on the roads and public places; * We should put a handkerchief when we cough and sneeze. Uttering “excuse me” after that is a sign of being cultured; and * We should not litter here and there. We should try to use the waste bin as much as possible. In developed countries, they even have different bins for different items like plastic, cans, paper, others. If we have such bins, we should use it appropriately. How does discipline help us? Discipline is the basic requirement for a civilized life. It helps us achieve our goals and helps us to...

    Read More
    917 Words 3 Pages
  • Essay about Discipline

    ...Discipline The Code of Conduct Apart from developing an intellectual curiosity among its students, Trident aims at enriching character of all its members in order to equip them encounter all the challenges on and off the campus.Therfore, all the students shall conform to a high standard of discipline and conduct within the campus in a manner Parallel to that of the students of institutions of National repute. He must inculcate in him/her the seriousness of career objective and shall, in every way, train himself/herself to lead a life, quintessential to the next door. a. Trident seeks to instill, co-operation, honesty, integrity and sense of responsibility among the students inside the Institute as well as outside. b. Any student, evidently proven guilty of being engaged violence, riots, fraud, misappropriation of funds or misconduct with a fellow student, faculty or staff of Trident, will be seriously dealt with and will be subject to immediate expulsion from the Institute. c. chewing of betel leaves and use of tobacco & alcohol etc, are considered as offence, hence strictly prohibited within the Institute premise. d. Use of mobile phones in the academic Zones of the Institute is banned. e. The faculty members as well as the employees of the Institute must respected by the students. f. The Institute maintains absolute discipline and students violating this are liable for severe penalty including expulsion. Students...

    Read More
    1190 Words 4 Pages
  • Essay about Discipline

    ...Discipline is extremely important in student life it’s the bridge between goals and achievements. It forms the core of virtues such as success, manners and honesty. Discipline lays the foundation for achieving better results, outshining in class and more importantly, gaining higher goals in life. Quite frankly discipline in modern day public schools is something we are clearly lacking. Back when our parents were younger discipline in schools was respected and standards of achievement were much higher. Nowadays students are getting away with too much therefore they think they can do whatever they want and what they’ll get a detention? A recent international study ranked New Zealand students among the worst-behaved in the world. Discipline not only affects success in terms of academic results but it readies people for life. Students leave school to join apprenticeships, go into the work place, attend high level institutions or even go on the benefit. There are rules everywhere outside school such as work times, clothing or safety requirements, social or interpersonal guidelines, compulsory interviews or exams. This is real life and we should be preparing students for this, clearly stating that later on in life there are going to be rules that they have to follow. Out in the real world you can’t just wear what you want, or say or do what you want,...

    Read More
    754 Words 3 Pages
  • Discipline Essay

    ...Jonathan Zatarain Mrs. Hedrick English 115 5 December, 2012 Discipline: A Limitless Code of Behavior How much discipline is too much discipline? Is there a limit to strict parenting? Families and parents really have no blueprint on raising their own children. Parents have to figure out the right passage through their traditions and values on to their children; it can either be in a conservative, liberal, or anything in between. In her essay, “Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior” Amy Chua explains why her strict disciplining methods are better than anybody else’s. She compares the way Western parents and Chinese mothers teach and parent in two completely different ways, and describe the indifferences, “Even when Western parents think they’re being strict, they usually don’t come close to being Chinese mothers.”(2) But who is to say what parenting style produces successful children? Although strict parenting techniques are controlled through discipline, they are in fact successful and influence an individual to gain self-respect and dedication. Chua’s essay consists of how self-esteem is interpreted as shown in Amy Chua’s article, “Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior,” a professor at Yale Law School, makes a case that “Western parents worry a lot about their children’s self-esteem. But as a parent, one of the worst things you can do for your child’s self-esteem is to let them give up.”(1) She argues about how there are...

    Read More
    1350 Words 4 Pages
  • Essay on Discipline

    ...Anonymous 20 November 2012 Discipline Discipline is the most useful quality. It means to act in an orderly manner, to act strictly according to principle. Discipline involves the ability to obey and follow simple task, orders, or request. Discipline is something you acquire through years of being taught, from young to old discipline should be a huge factor of your life. It should be something you live by and use often. Discipline leads to success in everything you do from school, or sports as a child or teenager to your career as an adult. If you use discipline in school or athletics you’ll be a better student, getting good grades. If you use discipline in athletics you gain success in being a recognized athlete which can lead to scholarships and awards. In this case using discipline as a soldier can lead you to a successful career, obtaining promotions and respect. A small number of disciplined soldiers can easily defeat a large number of undisciplined soldiers. A person with a disciplined life style will provide them happiness. As a student discipline is shown and instilled in you. You are required to do certain task from homework to showing up on time to every class. This is because discipline is the key to success in everything we do. You should obey rules and regulations given to you by your superiors and...

    Read More
    2041 Words 5 Pages
  • Essay on Discipline

    ...B.F. Skinner's theories on discipline in the classroom have helped to mold the way teachers instill discipline in their students for decades. His theories were not directed at classroom behavior, but his findings have influenced and led the way in many classroom discipline methods since the 1960s (Charles & Senter, 2004). This essay will discuss the impact of B.F. Skinner's theories on discipline in the classroom. Behavior Modification Skinner wrote many articles and essays on "how our voluntary actions are influenced by what happens to us immediately after we perform a given act" (Charles & Senter, 2004, pp. 33). These papers led to the theory of behavior modification which is used everywhere in the educational field. Behavior modification refers to the use of reinforcement in order to shape the behavior of a student. Constant Reinforcement Skinner noted in many of his works that "much if not most of our voluntary behavior is shaped as we receive reinforcement immediately after we perform an act" ( Charles & Senter, 2004, pp. 45). This theory led teachers to use constant reinforcement as a form of discipline in the classroom. This type of reinforcement allowed students to learn new desired ideas, rules, and skills. This type of discipline must be done every time a student does something correct (Charles & Senter, 2004). Intermittent Reinforcement After rules and...

    Read More
    902 Words 3 Pages
  • Essay about Discipline

    ...Graffiti: Vandalism or Art The debate between graffiti being a form of vandalism, or a form of art has become a major issue within the urban community. Some people view graffiti as a form of vandalism because of the act of defacing property. Others may view graffiti as a form of art and self expression. Although its artistic merits cannot be denied, graffiti is still in fact a form of vandalism. There are four primary motivating factors for graffiti vandalism: fame, rebellion, self expression, and power. Graffiti vandals that use graffiti for fame choose a style that attracts the eye of the urban community. In this form of graffiti vandalism, the vandal uses a “tag” style of writing. This style of graffiti is the most popular and common form found on surfaces in a community. The vandal tags his or her name using spray paint or marker as a signature to gain recognition and compete with other vandals. Vacant properties, factories and bridges, fall victim to graffiti vandalism. Vandals will also use graffiti as a form of rebellion. One common way graffiti is used by rebellious vandals is by disseminating political ideas. The political agendas being promoted varies depending on the individual(s). Both sides of a political rebellion use their own form of graffiti to communicate their beliefs. This form of vandalism is usually found on political murals that depict societal issues. Urban youth use graffiti vandalism as a form of self expression. Most of the...

    Read More
    907 Words 3 Pages

Popular Essays

Become a StudyMode Member

Sign Up - It's Free