January 3, 2006
"Receptacles for grace..."
There is nothing that is as critical for a church as individuals staying intimately connected to the Living God. One of the areas we want to emphasize in 2006 is the area of spiritual disciplines to aid and encourage each one of us in this area. Our goal is to focus on one spiritual discipline each month to help focus us in spiritual formation. We are encouraging the various groups and ministries to use these in a variety of ways throughout the year. This emphasis will come alongside our sermon series throughout the year, but will not be the specific focus (with the exception of Prayer in January).
Dallas Willard is a teacher and writer in the area of spiritual formation. He speaks about the power of spiritual disciplines in a persons life, and how they are not about a works salvation, but rather are "receptacles for grace". They become receptacles through which we experience God's grace in our lives. "Grace is God acting in our lives to do things we can't do on our own. Grace is not opposed to effort; it's opposed to earning" says Willard.
Richard Foster wrote the well know book, "Celebration of Discipline" and states that superficiality is the curse of our age and that the desperate need today is not for a greater number of intelligent people, or gifted people, but for deep people. Spiritual disciplines call us to move beyond surface living into the depths.
We look forward to what God will do as we journey together.
Posted by Bruce Enns at January 3, 2006 4:53 PM
Comments
I think that is a fantastic emphasis for the year. I think that depth of maturity is most often developed, tested and made true by what happens behind closed doors.
Posted by: Markio at January 6, 2006 1:24 PM
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