40 Days of Discipline

Category Archives: 2016

2016 Posts


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40 Days of Discipline: Day 30 – Spiritual Warfare

16 “Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.”  17 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”  18 He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. 20 However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:16-20)

 

Yesterday we focused on our adversary in spiritual warfare.   Today, we turn our attention to the battle.

As we think about the battle, there are many questions that arise.  For example, how do we succeed?  Or, what are our weapons?   I am sure that the lessons we have been learning from our review of the Disciplines provide many answers, but Jesus also provides a unique perspective in today’s passage.

Please carefully read the passage and answer the questions below.

Today’s Questions:

  1. What assurances do you take from the passage?
  2. Jesus clearly had a high awareness of spiritual warfare, how would you assess your awareness?


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40 Days of Discipline: Day 29 – Spiritual Warfare

42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me.  43 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. (John 8:42-44)

 

In the volumes of literature on the Spiritual Disciplines, spiritual warfare is not often listed as a Discipline.  What is clear though, is that this was a practice that Jesus engaged in.  Our study of the temptation of Jesus earlier in our 40 day journey certainly emphasized this point.  So, over the next two days we will be focusing on the Discipline of Spiritual Warfare.  If you are a Christian, then you are in a spiritual battle.  To win, we have to “Be like Jesus”.

Let’s start our discussion by considering the enemy.  Please carefully read the passage above and answer the questions below.

Today’s Questions:

  1. How do you relate to the description of the devil that Jesus provides?
  2. To many Christians the devil is more like the bogeyman of childhood than a real adversary.  Why do you believe this is the case?


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40 Days of Discipline: Day 28 – Review

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24)

 

What a great week of learning!  Observing Jesus practice the Disciplines of Service and Stewardship certainly challenges and inspires.  The comments posted are also a source of challenge and inspiration.

Please review the thoughts that have been shared this week and respond to the question below.

 

Today’s Question:

What have you learned this week that you could apply to your practice of the Disciplines of Service and Stewardship?


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40 Days of Discipline: Day 27 – Stewardship

41 Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. 42 Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. 43 So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; 44 for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood.” (Luke 12:41-44)

 

The Discipline of Stewardship certainly speaks to an attitude of the heart much like the other disciplines.  Jesus not only lived the Disciplines but he also honored people who were similarly inclined.  Today’s passage tells an amazing story about stewardship.  The story places the poor widow in the prestigious group of people whose actions were publicly commended by Jesus.

Please read the passage and answer the questions below.

Today’s Questions:

  1. What key principle(s) of stewardship do you believe Jesus honored in this powerful story?
  2. Do you consciously think about the fact that Jesus also watches your giving and other acts of stewardship?


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40 Days of Discipline: Day 26 – Stewardship

And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49)

37 Each day Jesus was teaching at the temple, and each evening he went out to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives, 38 and all the people came early in the morning to hear him at the temple. (Luke 21:37-38)

 

We now switch our attention to the Discipline of Stewardship.  This Discipline reminds us to submit to God’s agenda.  The word stewardship is often linked to money.  However, we know it involves much more than money.  In fact, today’s passage highlights an area of stewardship that we often struggle with, our time.

Please read the passage and answer the questions below.

Today’s Questions:

  1. How would you describe the way Jesus related to His father’s agenda?
  2. How do you test your calendar for alignment with God’s agenda?


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40 Days of Discipline: Day 25 – Service

35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’  37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?  38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’  40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ (Matthew 25:35-40)

 

Based on the feedback over the last two days, we are going to consider the Discipline of Service for another day.  Over the last two days we have focused primarily on the “servant”, today we examine a passage that focuses heavily on the people being “served”.   Jesus clearly cared about these people and our aim is to be like Him.

Please read the passage and answer the questions below.

Today’s Questions:

  1. How would you categorize the people Jesus identified in the passage, and how challenging is it to serve these people?
  2. How can we stay motivated to serve even when the recipients of service are not who we would choose?


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40 Days of Discipline: Day 24 – Service

25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”  26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”  27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”  28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”  29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”  30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ 36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”  37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”  Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” (Luke 10:25-37)

 

In the well know parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus articulates the standard for being a good neighbor.  In real life, Jesus is the Good Samaritan who sacrifices all for a world in need – the ultimate act of service.  The parable provides great insights into the Discipline of Service.

Please read the parable (above) and answer the questions below.

Today’s Questions:

  1. The parable of the Good Samaritan contains many profound lessons.  Focusing on the Discipline of Service, what stands out for you?
  2. What lessons can you take away about being a “good neighbor”?


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40 Days of Discipline: Day 23 – Service

20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him.  21 “What is it you want?” he asked.  She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.”  22 “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?”  “We can,” they answered.  23 Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.”

24 When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. 25 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”   (Matthew 10:20-28)

 

With more than half of our journey complete, we have been able to observe Jesus as our perfect example in the practice of the Disciplines of Bible Study, Prayer, Fasting, Worship, Fellowship and Creation.

Today, we turn our attention to the Discipline of Service.  Here again we should strive to “Be like Jesus”.   He set the bar for service so high that there is no way we can meet that standard without the help of the Holy Spirit.  Jesus has a servant’s heart!  If we don’t allow him to reign in our lives we find it very easy to seek to be served rather than to serve.

Please carefully read the passage above and answer the questions below.

Today’s Questions:

  1. Based on the passage, what was the priority of service in the life of Jesus and how does this compare to the priorities in your life?
  2. What are possible differences between performing acts of service and having a servant’s heart?


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40 Days of Discipline: Day 22 – Review

“I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” (John 13:15)

 

We have had another great week observing how Jesus practiced the Disciplines.  The Disciplines of Worship, Fellowship and Creation are clearly linked to our relationship with God and fellow believers.  I am, therefore, confident that if we apply the lessons we have learned from Jesus our relationship with God and others will improve.    I hope you will take the time to dig a little deeper into these topics.

Please review the thoughts that have been shared this week (including the comments) and respond to the question below.

Today’s Question:

What have you learned this week that you could apply to your practice of the Disciplines of Worship, Fellowship and Creation?


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40 Days of Discipline: Day 21 – Creation

27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?  28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.  29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. (Matthew 6:27-29)

29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.  30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. (Matthew 10:29-31)

 

Time certainly flies – we are already half way through our journey.  As we think about how quickly time flies, it is a good time to focus on the Discipline of Creation, which often suffers from our inability to slow down.  The Discipline of Creation encourages us to experience God through creation.  Again, Jesus serves an excellent model in this regard.  The passages above demonstrate that Jesus took the time to focus on creation.

Please read the passages and consider the requests below.

Today’s Questions:

  1. Please take some time today to focus on some aspect of creation and meditate on what it tells you about God.
  2. We would love to hear about the outcome of your meditation.