My notes for Wednesday night, Sept 4th. Remember, these are my personal study notes and not a manuscript of the sermon. They are provided as an outline each week for our Tabernacle Church family. Our study over the next few months will be “The Roots of the Faith.” This study will focus on key biblical truths that will transform our thinking and allow us to faithfully live out the Christian life. You can find Sermon Notes, Family Devotional Guides, Prayer List, and other resources at our Church Website.
We are working through the main topic of Sanctification
Sanctification: A progressive work of God and man that makes us more and more free from sin and more like Christ in our actual lives[1]
Sanctification—specifically progressive sanctification—is the cooperative work of God and Christians by which ongoing transformation into greater Christlikeness occurs.[2]
Spiritual Disciplines
The book that will guide our study: GET IT AN READ IT!!!!! We have a few available at church.
Donald S. Whitney, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, Revised and Updated. (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress; Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2024)
Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life – Amazon Link
Bible Intake
Prayer
Worship
Evangelism
Serving Stewardship
Fasting
Silence and Solitude
Spiritual Disciplines – Those practices found in Scripture that promote spiritual growth among believers in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
- When the Disciplines are rightly practiced, they take us deeper into the gospel of Jesus and its glories, not away from it as though we’ve moved on to more advanced levels of Christianity.
1Timothy 4:7-10 – 7 Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train (discipline) yourself for godliness; 8 for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. 9 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. 10 For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe. [3]
γυμνάζω gumnázō; fut. gumnásō, from gumnós (1131), Generally to exercise, train. Thus gumnásion, gymnasium, is a place of exercising. Metaphorically to train in godliness (1 Tim. 4:7; Heb. 5:14; 12:11);[4]
TOWARD GODLINESS (THAT IS THE GOAL)
- Christlikeness
- Spiritual maturity
- Holiness
Hebrews 12:14 – We should PURSUE HOLINESS… will not see the Lord.
The Disciplines are:
- Personal and interpersonal. Individually and corporately practiced.
- Doing and being. WE DO… SO THAT WE CAN BE MORE CHRIST TLIKE.
- Biblically based. (not our own disciplines to follow, but God’s)
- Sufficient for knowing and growing in our relationship with God.
[1] Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine, Second Edition. (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Academic, 2020), 1523.
[2] Gregg R. Allison, 50 Core Truths of the Christian Faith: A Guide to Understanding and Teaching Theology (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books: A Division of Baker Publishing Group, 2018), 265.
[3] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 1 Ti 4:7–10.
[4] Spiros Zodhiates, The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2000).