An Overview of Disciplines for Christian Growth

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What are disciplines for Christian growth? They are practices (sometimes called “habits” or “rhythms”) that God outlines for us in the Bible that develop our relationship with him.

More specifically, they are practices that connect us with God (and sometimes with others) and help us temporarily separate from people and things to allow us to refocus on God himself.

Disciplines of Connection include:

  • listening to, studying, meditating on, memorizing, and obeying God’s Word (see Donald Whitney’s Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life chapters 2 and 3).

  • praying to God (including thanksgiving, confession of sin, and praying for yourself and others).

  • singing to God.

  • fellowship with other Christians (with an emphasis on caring for one another).

  • serving others with your time, talents, and treasures.

  • submitting yourself to those in God-ordained positions of authority (such as your church leaders).

In this category, we directly engage God and his people to grow in our relationship with God.

Disciplines of Separation include:

  • abstaining from food (fasting)

  • separating from people (solitude)

  • separating from noise and distractions to focus on listening to God (silence)

  • reducing your amount of sleep (rising earlier and/or staying up later than you would otherwise)

  • avoiding public recognition for your good deeds (secretive giving and service)

  • putting aside work (rest and recreation).

In this category, we separate from people and things for a time so that we turn to God, particularly through the Word and prayer.

For more information about spiritual disciplines using this twofold (connection and separation) approach, see here.

While I find explanations like these helpful, someone may be tempted to believe that each of these habits makes an equal contribution to our growth as Christians or that some of the habits are optional. For example, I meet many self-confessing Christians who have little desire and no plan to read God’s Word, perhaps reasoning to themselves that they experience God differently.

While each of the disciplines for Christian growth listed above is important, the spiritual disciplines that consistently appear throughout the Bible are receiving and sharing the Word of God and praying to God—calling on him for forgiveness, strength, and guidance. Then, flowing from an intimate, Word-centered relationship with God, we serve others with the gifts and resources God has given to us. These habits are essential to obey and please God (since they are so clearly outlined and repeated in the Bible) and to grow in our relationship with him (since they are the primary means by which we mature in the Christian faith).

With this in mind, it is wise to think about how these three disciplines fit into various contexts of our lives before God: in our one-on-one relationship with him, in our families, in our churches, and in our networks of non-Christians.

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Here is a simple framework for how to visualize the primary habits for Christian growth in your life:

  1. One-on-one with God

    • Studying God’s Word privately

    • Praying privately

  2. In Our Families

    • Receiving God’s Word from and sharing it with our family members

    • Praying with our family members

    • Serving our family members

  3. In Our Churches

    • Receiving God’s Word from and sharing it with those in our churches

    • Praying with those in our churches

    • Serving one another within our churches

  4. In Our Networks of Non-Christians

    • Sharing God’s Word with non-Christians

    • Praying for non-Christians

    • Serving non-Christians through good deeds

I encourage you to think about your own Christian habits in these categories and then to build in other disciplines as outlined in Scripture. Again, I recognize the importance of other Christian habits. For example, by God’s grace I give financially to my local church and sometimes I fast from food. But God himself requires that we prioritize his Word, prayer, and serving others.

For Reflection and Discussion

  1. In your own words, what are habits of Christian growth? Why are they often referred to as “disciplines” of the Christian faith (see 1 Tim. 4:7)?

  2. Which habits of Christian growth are the most important for developing your relationship with God? For each habit you identify, explain its importance.

  3. For each of the habits listed below, what are multiple ways you can incorporate that habit into your routines?

    • Bible Intake

    • Prayer

    • Serving Others

    • Meeting Regularly with Other Christians