⁹ “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. ¹⁰ If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. ¹¹ I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. ¹² My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. ¹³ Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. ¹⁴ You are my friends if you do what I command. ¹⁵ I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. ¹⁶ You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. ¹⁷ This is my command: Love each other. (John 15:9 – 17)

Theme:  The Local Church

Today we conclude our 40 days of Discipline journey.  Thank you for being a part of this experience! 

As we close another year of studying the Spiritual Disciplines, today is a good day to be reminded that the Disciplines only matter when under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, they advance God’s kingdom.  We repeatedly emphasize that we are not just interested in information sharing, we are more interested in growing to be more like Jesus. 

For this year’s journey, we have examined our involvement in the local church.  We have focused on the part we play in making the local church as effective as possible.  If you have kept track of the questions posed every week, you have a useful collection of issues you may want to pay close attention to as you associate with a local church.

As you perform your final review for this year’s journey, one point should be abundantly clear – being a part of a local church is God’s design. 

Please prayerfully consider how God wants you to continue to pursue his mission in community. 

Question:

Having focused on the local church over the last few weeks, are you feeling led to focus more on any particular aspect(s) of your local church?

Please consider sharing your thoughts so others can be blessed.  Thank you very much to all the commentators who ensured we had feedback every day of this journey! 

Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.  (1 Corinthians 12:27, New International Version)

Theme:  The Local Church

Today is dedicated to reviewing what we have learned over the past five days about Counsel, Creation and Sabbath in our local churches.  It is a great time to reflect on what was covered this week including in the comments.  

As a reminder, our desire is to make this journey transformative and not just informative.

Question:

Based on your studies this week, is there anything you are now more committed to doing in your local church? 

Please leave a comment.  We would love to hear from you.

Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.  (1 Corinthians 12:27, New International Version)

Theme:  The Local Church

Today is dedicated to reviewing what we have learned over the past five days about Service and Stewardship in our local churches.  It is a great time to reflect on what was covered this week including in the comments.  

As a reminder, our desire is to make this journey transformative and not just informative.

Question:

Based on your studies this week, is there anything you are now more committed to doing in your local church? 

Please leave a comment.  We would love to hear from you.

Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.  (1 Corinthians 12:27, New International Version)

Theme:  The Local Church

Today is dedicated to reviewing what we have learned over the past five days about Worship and Fellowship in our local churches.  It is a great time to reflect on what was covered this week including in the comments.  

As a reminder, our desire is to make this journey transformative and not just informative.

Question:

Based on your studies this week, is there anything you are now more committed to doing in your local church? 

Please leave a comment.  We would love to hear from you.

Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.  (1 Corinthians 12:27, New International Version)

Theme:  The Local Church

Today is dedicated to reviewing what we have learned over the past five days about Prayer and Fasting in our local churches.  It is a great time to catch up on any comments you may have missed.    

As a reminder, our desire is to make this journey transformative and not just informative.

Question:

Based on your studies this week, is there anything you are now more committed to doing in your local church?  

Please leave a comment.  We would love to hear from you.

Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.  (1 Corinthians 12:27, New International Version)

Theme:  The Local Church

Today is dedicated to reviewing what we have learned over the past five days about Bible Study and Spiritual Warfare in our local churches.  I cannot encourage you enough to review the comments associated with each day’s post.  There are many nuggets of wisdom worthy of your consideration.    

As a reminder, our desire is to make this journey transformative and not just informative.

Question:

Based on your studies this week, is there anything you are now more committed to doing in your local church?  

Please leave a comment.  We would love to hear from you.

Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.  (1 Corinthians 12:27, New International Version)

Theme:  The Church

Today is dedicated to reviewing what we have learned over the last three days.  As you perform your review, please consider catching up on any comments you may have missed.  The commentary provided by others on this journey are critical to the process we employ for 40 Days of Discipline.  There is no guarantee that every comment will be 100 percent correct but we value greatly the contributions of everyone.  As guided by the Holy Spirit, we are confident that we can lovingly work through divergent doctrinal views if they arise.  As you read through the comments you will find that they reflect thoughtful contributions that demonstrate how God is working in individual lives and communities.

Our desire is to make this journey transformative and not just informative.

Question:

Are you encouraged by the prescribed activities of the local church that we encountered in the Scripture over the last three days?

Please leave a comment.  We would love to hear from you.

⁹ “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. ¹⁰ If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. ¹¹ I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. ¹² My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. ¹³ Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. ¹⁴ You are my friends if you do what I command. ¹⁵ I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. ¹⁶ You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. ¹⁷ This is my command: Love each other. (John 15:9 – 17)

Theme:  If not You, then Who?

Today we conclude our 40-Days-of-Discipline journey.  Thank you for being a part of this experience! 

We are all living through challenging times brought on by the pandemic, and we have seen potent reminders of the world’s need for God.  It was timely therefore, to consider our role in advancing God’s kingdom supported by Spiritual Disciplines.  The world’s need for God means that the world also needs those who are prepared to be soldiers in God’s army.  If not you, then who? 

Let us recommit to imitating Jesus as He empowers and inspires us to represent God’s kingdom.  We can do this with discipline because the Holy Spirit provides the resources we need.

Suggestions:

• Please review the key points from this week and reflect on the overall 40-Days-of-Discipline journey.
• Pray specifically for God to show you what he wants you to focus on.

For I am the Lord your God   who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear;   I will help you. (Isaiah 41:13)

Theme:  If not You, then Who?

Today is dedicated to reviewing what we have learned over the past five days.  This is a good time to catch up on the comments if you haven’t had a chance to read them all. 

What can you apply to your life from the discussions related to Counsel, Creation and Sabbath?

Suggestion

Please share any thoughts from your review that you believe others could benefit from. 

¹⁷ Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. ¹⁸ Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. ¹⁹ In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. (1 Timothy 6:17 – 19)

Theme:  If not You, then Who?

Today is dedicated to reviewing what we have learned over the past five days.  This is a good time to catch up on the comments if you haven’t had a chance to read them all. 

What can you apply to your life from the discussions related to Service and Stewardship?

Suggestion

Please share any thoughts from your review that you believe others could benefit from.