Tag Archives: Spiritual growth

Roots of the Faith – Spiritual Disciplines: Our Prayer Life (part 2)

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My notes for Wednesday night, October 9th. 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.
Over the next several weeks we will be walking through the following Spiritual Disciplines:

  • Bible Intake
  • Prayer
  • Worship
  • Evangelism
  • Serving
  • Stewardship
  • Fasting
  • Silence and Solitude
  • Journaling
  • Learning
  • Perseverance in the Disciplines

Donald S. Whitney, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, Revised and Updated. (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress; Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2024)

The book that will guide our study: GET IT AN READ IT!!!!! We have a few available at church.

Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life – Amazon Link

Some great resources on Prayer:

Ligonier Ministries: Prayer

Grace to You: John MacArthur. Prayer

The Lord’s Prayer – Matthew 6:5-13

Divided in 2 parts

  • In relationship to God – HIS GLORY – vv. 9-10
    • His Holiness – v. 9
    • His Reign – v. 10a
    • His Rule and Purpose – v. 10b
  • In relationship to believers – OUR NEEDS – vv. 11-13
    • Our Physical – v. 11
    • Our Spiritual – vv. 12-13

Our Physical Needs – v. 11

Give us

  • the supplication
  • We are dependent upon Him.
  • We are to work, but we also realize that as we do our part that He IS doing His part.

This day

  • Our daily needs (not our GREEDS)
  • One day at a time.  Ok to have a vision for the future, but the key is having a daily trust in His Provision.

Our Daily Bread

  • Our daily needs (Not greeds)
  • Philippians 4:19

Our Spiritual Needs – vv. 12-15

Forgive us our debts

Forgiveness and the spiritual debt owed to God

  • Once and for all – Regeneration (Born again)
    • Romans 5:1 – Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (ESV)
  • Ongoing purging of self and sin – Our Sanctification (Maturing toward Christlikeness)

As we have forgiven our debtors

Because our HUGE SIN DEBT has been forgiven…We should be able to forgive others.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Temptations/Trials/Testing

  • The danger is when it leads to the enticement to sin.
  • When difficulties come, we may wonder…. Is this from God – Is this from Satan
  • We all will face trials and testing.  WHEN WE ARE TEMPTED TO SIN as we walk through them.
  • James 1:2–4; James 1:14–15

Deliver us from the evil one

1 Corinthians 10:13 – No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. (ESV)

The Gospel/Jesus is enough to overcome the evil one.

  • Matt. 4:1-11 – He did it. (Wilderness Temptation)
  • John 19:30 – He did it. “It is Finished”
  • Rom 8:37-39 – He continues to do it. “More than conquerors in Christ Jesus”

Roots of the Faith – Spiritual Disciplines (An intro)

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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).

Roots of the Faith – “Sanctification: Ephesians 4:22-24 – Putting Off and Putting On”

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My notes for Wednesday night, Aug 28th. 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.

Ephesians 4:22-24

Colossians 1:28–29 – Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me. (ESV)

1 Peter 2:1–3 – So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. (ESV)

PUTTING OFF the Old Man – 4:22

  • Old man / old self = the HABITS of thinking and acting that our corrupt fallen nature.
  • Due to our bad habits of the flesh we tend to live for what we want.
  • Lay aside / put off = to strip off, as in the case of old filthy clothes; it emphasizes personal RESPONSIBILITY for change.
  • Corrupt = spoiled; contaminated; rotten; perverted; evil.
  • Lust – a desire that is so strong it motivates behavior.  The O.T. calls them ‘idols of the heart’ Ezek. 14.  Idol of the heart is often so close that we can’t see it. (hand right in front of face keeps you from focusing)
  • These lusts are DECEITFUL because they promise what they cannot deliver, for instance peace and joy. Heb. 3:12-13 “Beware…lest any of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin”

PUTTING ON the New Man -4:24

  • Put On = as in the case of clean clothes; to adopt new ways of thinking and acting; emphasizes again personal responsibility for change.
  • New man / new self = the habits of thinking and acting that emulate Christ.
  • Righteousness, holiness, truth = Jesus Christ; the Word of God
  • Adopt a lifestyle that is truth-oriented… the Word.

RENEW YOUR THINKING – 4:23

  • The major battleground for lasting change is between the ears!
  • ‘Mind’ in the Bible is synonymous with HEART and is to be viewed as the center of thought, understanding, belief, motives, actions.
  • RENEWED = to be rejuvenated; to be renovated – Always means DRASTIC change, and the flesh resists drastic change.  Typically, we resist renovation but are wide open to remodeling (i.e. difference between renovating or remodeling a kitchen)
  • Remodel – is the old man made to look better.  The Christian life has no place for remodeling.
  • Renovation – all the old out – then all new in place
  • SPIRIT OF THE MIND – attitude, overall flavor, that which gives the mind both its bent and its material of thought.
  • Renewed thinking will lead to putting off the old man and putting on the new man. You cannot simply BREAK a habit; you must REPLACE it.

2 Corinthians 5:9 – Our goal is to have thinking patterns changed so drastically that we automatically, unconsciously, skillfully and comfortably act like Jesus in every situation in life.

Key resources for the “Roots of the Faith” study

50 Core Truths of the Christian Faith – Gregg R. Allision

Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine – Wayne Grudem

Biblical Doctrine: A Systematic Summary of Bible Truth – John MacArthur & Richard Mayhue

Bible Reading Plans for 2024 #NewYearNewYou

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Start each day with a plan to read the Word!

Ligonier Ministries – Bible Reading Plans

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How to Have a Quiet TimeDownload

Discipline yourselves for the purpose of Godliness

1 Timothy 4:7–8
Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness;  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. (ESV)

Long for the Word

1 Peter 2:2–3
Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. (ESV)

Grow in your knowledge of the Lord through His Word

2 Peter 3:18
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. (ESV)
READ THE WORD
MEDITATE ON THE WORD

Speak the Word

LIVE THE WORD OUT

New Testament Discipleship

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My Bible study notes for Wednesday night, Aug 9th. 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. You can find Sermon Notes, Family Devotional Guides, Prayer List, and other resources at our Church Website.

INTRO THOUGHTS

  • The importance of healthy church growth
  • Every true believer is a disciple.
  • Every true disciple is a discple maker.
  • Why D-Life is so important

The Model of the Early Church

(If it was good enough for them, it should be good enough for us)

Acts 11:19-26

19 Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. 20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. 22 The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, 24 for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.25 So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.

  • Sharing the Gospel
  • Experiencing the grace of God
  • Exhorting and encouraging to remain faithful to the Lord
  • Investing in the lives of one another

 
Our Church/Discipleship Strategy

(As we fulfill Matthew 28:18-20 & Acts 11:19-26)

Build Relationships

  • Develop relationships with those that God has brought into your life at work, school, and in your neighborhood. Trust God to put people in your path. Get to know others and see what is happening in their life.

Share the Gospel

  • Share the Good News of Jesus Christ with those you encounter.  Share with them the hope that is within you. Ask questions and provide the answers. Point others to Jesus.

Bring into the Church Family

  • Invite people to church with you each week. Begin to communicate the importance of belonging to a church family. Have an attitude of excitement and expectation about what God is doing in your church, I promise it will become contagious.

Encourage Spiritual Growth

  • Discipline yourself for the purpose of Godliness. Develop a desire to grow in your knowledge and application of the Bible. Encourage others to grow in their daily walk with Christ. Become a disciple that makes disciples.

Develop Servant Leaders

  • Mentor others in ministry. As you serve the Lord and His church, invite others to walk alongside you.  Become a Barnabas.