Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is superficiality?
What is superficiality?
- The doctrine of instant and surface level satisfaction (correct)
- A complex philosophical concept
- An intense love for simplicity
- The depth of understanding
Why is superficiality such a curse?
Why is superficiality such a curse?
Because it only looks at the surface level of things and ignores anything deeper.
What are two difficulties facing one who desires to explore the Spiritual Disciplines?
What are two difficulties facing one who desires to explore the Spiritual Disciplines?
- The materialistic base of our age has given people doubts about their ability to reach beyond the physical world. 2. We do not know how to go about exploring inner life.
What does it mean to say that the spiritual disciplines are inward?
What does it mean to say that the spiritual disciplines are inward?
What is it that practicing the spiritual disciplines does for us?
What is it that practicing the spiritual disciplines does for us?
Explain what Foster means by way of death and give an example.
Explain what Foster means by way of death and give an example.
What is Christian meditation?
What is Christian meditation?
What is the difference between Christian meditation and Secular/Eastern meditation?
What is the difference between Christian meditation and Secular/Eastern meditation?
What result on behavior should meditation have?
What result on behavior should meditation have?
Why is meditation so threatening to us?
Why is meditation so threatening to us?
What does Foster mean by 'using our sanctified imagination'? Give an example.
What does Foster mean by 'using our sanctified imagination'? Give an example.
What does Foster advise in terms of time, place, and posture for meditation?
What does Foster advise in terms of time, place, and posture for meditation?
How is meditation different from the study of scripture?
How is meditation different from the study of scripture?
What other things might Christians meditate on?
What other things might Christians meditate on?
What are the three crucial points about prayer that Foster makes in the beginning of Chapter 3?
What are the three crucial points about prayer that Foster makes in the beginning of Chapter 3?
Name at least three things Foster said he learned about prayer.
Name at least three things Foster said he learned about prayer.
What is the relationship between the prayer of guidance and the prayer of faith?
What is the relationship between the prayer of guidance and the prayer of faith?
What are flash prayers?
What are flash prayers?
What two things help account for the disregard for fasting in our own culture?
What two things help account for the disregard for fasting in our own culture?
What is the Biblical purpose for fasting?
What is the Biblical purpose for fasting?
What are the normal means of fasting?
What are the normal means of fasting?
What biblical and historical examples of group fasting are there?
What biblical and historical examples of group fasting are there?
What does the Bible teach about fasting? (Should Christians fast?)
What does the Bible teach about fasting? (Should Christians fast?)
What does fasting do more than any other discipline?
What does fasting do more than any other discipline?
In what sense does fasting keep our balance in life?
In what sense does fasting keep our balance in life?
What purpose of the disciplines is most clearly seen in study?
What purpose of the disciplines is most clearly seen in study?
What is study?
What is study?
What are the four steps of study and what do they involve?
What are the four steps of study and what do they involve?
What are three 'intrinsic' rules to reading a book?
What are three 'intrinsic' rules to reading a book?
What are three extrinsic aids for reading?
What are three extrinsic aids for reading?
What key principle underlies the study of 'non-verbal books'?
What key principle underlies the study of 'non-verbal books'?
Give some examples of non-verbal books and what we can learn from each.
Give some examples of non-verbal books and what we can learn from each.
What does it mean to say that the lust for affluence in contemporary society is psychotic?
What does it mean to say that the lust for affluence in contemporary society is psychotic?
Give two examples from the Old Testament to support Foster's claim that the Bible challenges nearly every economic value of contemporary society.
Give two examples from the Old Testament to support Foster's claim that the Bible challenges nearly every economic value of contemporary society.
Give three examples of Jesus's attitude toward money and related economic issues.
Give three examples of Jesus's attitude toward money and related economic issues.
Explain: 'Asceticism and simplicity are mutually incompatible'.
Explain: 'Asceticism and simplicity are mutually incompatible'.
What is the result of the fact that simplicity is the most visible of the disciplines?
What is the result of the fact that simplicity is the most visible of the disciplines?
What saying of Jesus is the central point for the discipline of simplicity?
What saying of Jesus is the central point for the discipline of simplicity?
What are three inner attitudes that characterize freedom from anxiety?
What are three inner attitudes that characterize freedom from anxiety?
Foster lists 10 principles for the outward expression of simplicity. Choose three and apply them to your life.
Foster lists 10 principles for the outward expression of simplicity. Choose three and apply them to your life.
How is solitude different from loneliness?
How is solitude different from loneliness?
Why is being silent so difficult and what does this indicate about most of our speech?
Why is being silent so difficult and what does this indicate about most of our speech?
What is the dark night of the soul?
What is the dark night of the soul?
What is the fruit of solitude?
What is the fruit of solitude?
The disciplines are only the means towards what end?
The disciplines are only the means towards what end?
The discipline of submission produces the ability to do what?
The discipline of submission produces the ability to do what?
How is biblical self-denial different from self-hate?
How is biblical self-denial different from self-hate?
How does Paul work out Jesus's teaching in his letters?
How does Paul work out Jesus's teaching in his letters?
What are limits of submission? Give two examples.
What are limits of submission? Give two examples.
What are the various acts of submission?
What are the various acts of submission?
What are the ways in which self-righteous service differs from true service?
What are the ways in which self-righteous service differs from true service?
How does service develop humility?
How does service develop humility?
What is the difference between service and being a servant, and how does Foster illustrate his point by reference to slavery?
What is the difference between service and being a servant, and how does Foster illustrate his point by reference to slavery?
Of the many forms of service, choose three and describe how you might practice them.
Of the many forms of service, choose three and describe how you might practice them.
What is the biblical basis for the statement: 'The followers of Jesus Christ have been given the authority to receive the confession of sin and to forgive it in his name'?
What is the biblical basis for the statement: 'The followers of Jesus Christ have been given the authority to receive the confession of sin and to forgive it in his name'?
What are three things necessary for a good confession?
What are three things necessary for a good confession?
What does Foster claim about the Discipline of confession?
What does Foster claim about the Discipline of confession?
What is worship?
What is worship?
What must happen before worship can happen?
What must happen before worship can happen?
Why is corporate worship important?
Why is corporate worship important?
How can we prepare for corporate worship effectively?
How can we prepare for corporate worship effectively?
What does it mean to say that Christ is the leader of worship?
What does it mean to say that Christ is the leader of worship?
What are a few of what Foster calls the avenues of worship?
What are a few of what Foster calls the avenues of worship?
What are some of the steps to worship Foster suggests?
What are some of the steps to worship Foster suggests?
In his survey of how God has guided his people corporately, make note of how God's people received guidance in three experiences.
In his survey of how God has guided his people corporately, make note of how God's people received guidance in three experiences.
What is the John Woolman incident?
What is the John Woolman incident?
What is the spiritual director?
What is the spiritual director?
Study Notes
Superficiality and Spiritual Disciplines
- Superficiality equates to a desire for instant and surface-level satisfaction, leading to a narrow perspective of life.
- This mindset ignores the deeper aspects of existence, causing spiritual stagnation.
- Challenges in exploring spiritual disciplines include skepticism due to materialism and a lack of knowledge on engaging with one's inner life.
- Spiritual disciplines are characterized as inward practices, focusing on the mind and heart rather than external actions.
Impact of Spiritual Disciplines
- Practicing spiritual disciplines facilitates experiencing the abundance of God's presence in life.
- They can be misconstrued as laws for earning righteousness, reminiscent of the Pharisees' approach.
- Christian meditation involves listening for God's voice, contrasting sharply with Eastern meditation, which emphasizes emptying the mind.
Transformation Through Meditation
- Meditation aims to transform the inner self, aligning behavior with Christ-like qualities.
- It demands deep reflection and personal confrontation with God, making it a daunting practice for many.
- Using a "sanctified imagination" can assist in prayer, such as envisioning Jesus during meditation.
Guidelines for Meditation
- Foster suggests setting aside specific times and places for meditation, ideally in quiet environments to minimize distractions.
- Posture is not critical but should promote relaxation.
- Meditation serves to internalize scripture, opting for personal engagement over scholarly analysis.
Exploring Prayer
- Significant aspects of prayer include its life-affirming nature, the notion that prayer itself induces change, and the importance of asking rightly within prayer.
- Continuous prayer throughout daily life, termed 'flash prayers,' encourages spontaneous communication with God.
Fasting and Its Significance
- Fasting has lost respect in contemporary culture due to misconceptions and the constant cultural push for food consumption.
- The biblical purpose of fasting is to replace earthly dependencies with a renewed focus on God.
- Fasting reveals what controls individuals, helping in maintaining spiritual balance.
Study as a Spiritual Discipline
- Study consists of engaging with reality through four steps: repetition, concentration, comprehension, and reflection.
- Reading habits can be enhanced through intrinsic rules (understanding, interpreting, evaluating) and extrinsic aids (experience, other texts, discussion).
- Non-verbal books, like nature and culture, can provide insight into spiritual truths.
Economic Views and Material Simplicity
- The Bible confronts modern economic values, emphasizing God's ownership of all.
- Jesus criticized wealth, viewing it as a rival to God and promoted the idea of sacrificing material possessions for spiritual gain.
- Simplicity contrasts with asceticism, advocating for placing material possessions in proper perspective rather than complete renunciation.
Solitude, Silence, and Service
- Solitude is a mindset fostering connection with God, distinct from loneliness.
- Silence reveals our reliance on communication, indicating a struggle with self-centeredness.
- True service is shown through acts that prioritize the needs of others, fostering humility and selflessness.
Confession, Worship, and Corporate Worship
- Confession ends the facade of perfection, encouraging authenticity and transparency in relationships with God and others.
- Worship is a reciprocal act of love between God and humanity, necessitating divine inspiration before engagement.
- Corporate worship strengthens the church body, uniting believers and facilitating experiences unavailable in isolation.
Guidance Through Community and Spiritual Direction
- God's people have historically received guidance through communal experiences, such as those in the Old Testament and the New Testament church.
- John Woolman's example illustrates waiting for divine prompting before taking action on moral issues, embodying the role of the spiritual director as God's facilitator rather than authority.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
Test your knowledge on the key concepts and definitions from Chapters 1 to 13 of 'Celebration of Discipline'. This flashcard quiz will help reinforce your understanding of superficiality and the spiritual disciplines. Perfect for students looking to deepen their insight into these important themes.
