Growing With God 2013Growing With God 2013

‘‘Growing with God’ Growing with God’ ……

Keeping the main thingKeeping the main thing

the main thing.the main thing.

Introducing the Spiritual DisciplinesIntroducing the Spiritual Disciplines

What comes to mind when you What comes to mind when you hear the word ‘discipline’?hear the word ‘discipline’?

Dr Andrew Newberg:Dr Andrew Newberg: Prayer and spiritual practice reduce stress and Prayer and spiritual practice reduce stress and

anxiety. anxiety. Just twelve minutes of meditation per day may slow Just twelve minutes of meditation per day may slow

down the aging process.down the aging process. Contemplating a loving God reduces anxiety, Contemplating a loving God reduces anxiety,

depression, and stress and increases feelings of depression, and stress and increases feelings of security, compassion, and love.security, compassion, and love.

Intense prayer and meditation permanently change Intense prayer and meditation permanently change structures and functions in the brain, altering your structures and functions in the brain, altering your values and the way you perceive reality.values and the way you perceive reality.

http://www.andrewnewberg.com/change.asphttp://www.andrewnewberg.com/change.asp

““The first and best thing in life is nothing less than The first and best thing in life is nothing less than a transforming relationship with the God who a transforming relationship with the God who made us, named us and called us into being.” made us, named us and called us into being.” Adele Calhoun, contemporary.Adele Calhoun, contemporary.

““I consider everything a loss compared to the I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Jesus Christ surpassing greatness of knowing Jesus Christ my Lord.” my Lord.” St Paul, Philippians 3:8St Paul, Philippians 3:8

““The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure hidden The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.” bought that field.” Jesus, Matthew 13:45-46Jesus, Matthew 13:45-46

Or, to put it another way…Or, to put it another way…

A deep thought…A deep thought…

"Superficiality is the curse of our age…. The "Superficiality is the curse of our age…. The desperate need today is not for a greater desperate need today is not for a greater number of intelligent people, or gifted number of intelligent people, or gifted people, but for deep people."people, but for deep people."

Richard FosterRichard Foster

The Twelve DisciplinesThe Twelve Disciplines The Inward DisciplinesThe Inward Disciplines

Prayer, meditation, fasting, studyPrayer, meditation, fasting, study

The Outward DisciplinesThe Outward DisciplinesSimplicity, solitude, submission, serviceSimplicity, solitude, submission, service

The Corporate DisciplinesThe Corporate DisciplinesConfession, worship, guidance, celebrationConfession, worship, guidance, celebration

Richard FosterRichard Foster

TheThe ‘Growing with God’ ‘Growing with God’ scheduleschedule January January PrayerPrayer A vital way to start the year A vital way to start the year FebruaryFebruary ConfessionConfession Ash Wednesday falls on Feb 13Ash Wednesday falls on Feb 13 MarchMarch FastingFasting Lent includes almost all of MarchLent includes almost all of March AprilApril CelebrationCelebration The joyous Easter seasonThe joyous Easter season MayMay Worship Worship May includes PentecostMay includes Pentecost JuneJune StudyStudy Coinciding with the end of schoolCoinciding with the end of school JulyJuly GuidanceGuidance Summer quiet for listening to GodSummer quiet for listening to God AugustAugust MeditationMeditation Kicking back and tuning in to GodKicking back and tuning in to God September ServiceSeptember Service The start of a new church yearThe start of a new church year OctoberOctober SimplicitySimplicity Stewardship time Stewardship time NovemberNovember SubmissionSubmission Creation begins its annual deathCreation begins its annual death DecemberDecember SolitudeSolitude Advent waiting for the Kingdom Advent waiting for the Kingdom

January - PrayerJanuary - Prayer

Growing With God 2013Growing With God 2013

So they say…So they say… ““It is the way we feel God’s heartbeat.” It is the way we feel God’s heartbeat.” AnonAnon ““I have so much business I cannot get on I have so much business I cannot get on

without spending three hours daily in prayer.” without spending three hours daily in prayer.” Martin Luther, 16Martin Luther, 16thth Century Century

““Prayer is to religion what original research is to Prayer is to religion what original research is to science.” science.” PT Forsythe, 19PT Forsythe, 19thth Century Century

““We’re into microwaving; God, on the other We’re into microwaving; God, on the other hand, is usually into marinating.” hand, is usually into marinating.” Peter Wagner, Peter Wagner, 1980s1980s

““Answers to prayer are wonderful, but they are Answers to prayer are wonderful, but they are secondary to the main function of prayer, which secondary to the main function of prayer, which is a growing, perpetual communion with God.” is a growing, perpetual communion with God.” Richard Foster, 1978Richard Foster, 1978

The interactive conversation with God about The interactive conversation with God about what we are doing together.what we are doing together. www.renovare.uswww.renovare.us

““This is how you should pray:This is how you should pray:Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy

name. name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth

as it is in heaven. as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive

those who trespass against us. those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us

from evil. from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the

glory for ever and ever. Amen.” glory for ever and ever. Amen.” JesusJesus

So they say… continuedSo they say… continued

What is prayer?What is prayer?

It flows out of a relationship with GodIt flows out of a relationship with God It takes us into his presenceIt takes us into his presence It changes usIt changes us It changes historyIt changes history Posture of the body is less important than Posture of the body is less important than

posture of the heartposture of the heart

Obstacles to prayerObstacles to prayer

““We live in a ‘closed universe’”We live in a ‘closed universe’” ““Fate has determined the future”Fate has determined the future” ““I don’t feel like it”I don’t feel like it” ““I don’t know how to”I don’t know how to” ““I don’t really care about the things I should pray I don’t really care about the things I should pray

about.”about.” ““It doesn’t come easily”It doesn’t come easily” ““I’m in a rush”I’m in a rush” ““It all seems so complicated”It all seems so complicated”

Types of prayerTypes of prayer Breath prayerBreath prayer

A simple intimate prayer, in rhythm with breathingA simple intimate prayer, in rhythm with breathing Contemplative prayerContemplative prayer A A

state of receptive openness to Godstate of receptive openness to God Conversational prayerConversational prayer A A

dialog with God about a particular subjectdialog with God about a particular subject Intercessory prayerIntercessory prayer

Presenting the needs of the world to GodPresenting the needs of the world to God Fixed-hour prayerFixed-hour prayer

A regular, consistent pattern of attending to GodA regular, consistent pattern of attending to God Liturgical prayerLiturgical prayer A A

memorized or written prayer providing structurememorized or written prayer providing structure