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Five Habits of DiscipleshipHome > Growing > 5 Habits (Modified: Monday November 10, 2008 at 05:00)Five Habits of Discipleship at Saint Peter Lutheran ChurchSaint Peter Lutheran Church's stated mission is to make disciples of all nations. We understand that in order to make disciples, one first has to be a disciple. And so we have chosen to encourage discipleship among Saint Peter participants by focusing on "Five Habits of Discipleship." We trust that as we practice these habits they will become part of our lives, and help in our efforts to be faithful to God's claim on our lives. What follows is a description of each of these habits. Our hope is that these descriptions might help readers to better understand what it is we are trying to accomplish, and to develop a picture of how it might look in their lives. The Five Habits of Discipleship at Saint Peter are: Daily Prayer and Bible StudyThere is a woman who once worked as a medical professional. She studied her discipline in college, earning a Bachelor's degree. She worked in the field for twelve years. She was active in continuing education, always looking for ways to sharpen her abilities. She became accredited by her professional society. She was at the top of her game, and respected by her peers. Then she took fourteen years off to stay at home full-time while her children were growing. She is thinking about going back to work now, but is frightened. The field has changed: technology has exploded in the past fourteen years. She has changed: her daily focus has been on diapers, schools, public television for kids, and youth sports. She remembers how spending time with peers was so helpful: talking about the latest developments, reviewing cases they had addressed, consulting with one another when they faced particular challenges. Not having had that for some time, she now finds herself afraid to do what she once did quite naturally, and quite well. The same is true for our faith. We are called by our baptism to be Christ's representatives in this world. We have been entrusted with the ministry Jesus first commissioned his disciples to accomplish. Our task (in Jesus' last words to the disciples and in Saint Peter Lutheran Church's mission statement) is to make disciples of the entire world. That is a daunting task. It isn't easy to encourage family and friends and co-workers to become disciples of Jesus, much less imagine how to be supportive of that throughout the world. It may not be as technical as working in a medical professional, but like any trained healer, making disciples of others demands that we first be disciples, and that takes a daily focus, in order to be able to do what we are called to do. That is why a disciple of Jesus Christ is one who has a daily discipline of studying God's Word, and spending time with God in prayer. Our Lutheran tradition is rooted in a strong and central belief in the power of God's Word. Bible study - whether personal or in a group setting - can be a transforming experience. (Martin Luther used to take no credit for the Reformation, he claimed that while he went about his business the word reformed Germany.) We can't be the Christians God needs us to be, apart from spending daily time with God's Word. Likewise with the discipline of prayer. As we spend intentional time each day in prayer, lifting up our fears and joys, our triumphs and defeats, we find that our spirit is strengthened, and our relationship with God is deepened. We become more able to hear the still small voice of God that speaks to us. At Saint Peter, our central interest is in being disciples of Jesus Christ, and making disciples of Jesus Christ. Daily prayer and Bible study are essential elements in fulfilling this hope.Weekly WorshipA new pastor in a mid-sized town wanted to get to know the people of his community a bit better, so he established the habit of eating at the local diner once a week to visit with the regulars who gathered there. One day, about a year or so after he arrived in town, he began talking with a man. The pastor introduced himself, and mentioned that he was the new pastor over at First Church. The man responded: "I know that. I'm a member of your congregation." The pastor was a bit taken back, and said: "You are? I don't believe I've ever seen you at worship." The man's response: "I said I was a member, not a fanatic." We may live in a day when weekly worship is interpreted as a sign of fanaticism, but in all truth, weekly worship (or worship even more often than that) has been the standard for most of Christianity's history. In the early days of the church, St. Luke tells us, the faithful gathered each day for worship, study and fellowship: "Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people." [Acts 2:46-47] In the early days of our Lutheran movement, Martin Luther and his colleagues would gather daily for Holy Communion. In the Large Catechism, Luther wrote: "The Lord's Supper is given as a daily food and sustenance so that our faith may refresh and strengthen itself and not weaken in the struggle, but grow continually stronger." [Book of Concord, Large Catechism, 5:24] Luther was even bold enough to suggest that anyone who didn't desire to receive the sacrament as often as it was offered might not truly be a Christian! [5:42, same as above] A disciple of Jesus Christ is one who makes regular worship with God's people a central component in the rhythm of life. It is in worship that we hear the words of absolution as if coming from God's own voice. It is in worship that Christ meets us in word and meal. It is in worship that the promises of our baptism are reaffirmed. It is in worship that we join together with our brothers and sisters in faith, and offer ourselves to God - that we might become instruments of love and grace and renewal for others. The place of worship in faith communities has received much attention lately. Churches across our nation are asking how to create worship services that will attract and inspire and enlighten. In our tradition, we approach worship from a different perspective. Rather than ask what the worshipper can get from a service, we prefer to ask what the worshipper can give to make the service complete. The primary reason to worship is to join our hearts and voices in thanks and praise to the God who has done so much for us. Sure, there will be times when we are inspired and enlightened - but worship is not primarily about what we get from showing up, it is about what we give to God, as a sign of our intent to give the whole of our lives. To that end, Saint Peter's worship is not fully what it can be, unless each and every one of us is there. At Saint Peter, we invite you to join us in developing habits of discipleship in your life. Will you make the commitment to weekly worship with God's people?Generous Financial Support of MinistryJesus teaches that it is harder for a wealthy person to enter the kingdom of God than it is for a camel to go through the eye of a needle (St. Luke 18:18-30). This following story provides a glimpse as to why that is true. The chair of the Stewardship Committee made a personal visit to one of the wealthier families in the congregation, hoping to receive a pledge of financial support. Very carefully, the entire program was laid out: "These are our ministry goals for the coming year. This is the level of support we received last year. This is how much we'll need in the next twelve months. Can we count on you for a major gift?" The wealthy member looked the Stewardship Committee chair in the eye and said: "Did you know my mother is terminally ill, and in a rest home?" Sheepishly, the answer was: "Well, no I didn't." "Did you known that my brother just declared bankruptcy, and can hardly afford to take care of his family?" Again: "No, sir, I didn't." "Did you know that my daughter is teaching school in an impoverished inner-city neighborhood?" Now almost ready to die, and looking for a way to slink out of the room: "No, I had no idea." "Well then, if I haven't given a dime to any of them, what makes you think I'd give my money to the church?" The key question for wealthy Christians (and by world-standards, that includes every participant at Saint Peter) is this: "Is wealth our servant or our master?" Healthy and faithful Christians make use of wealth to accomplish great things for the sake of the Gospel. But wealth has a seductive power. Often without even realizing it, people become enslaved to their wealth - spending far more time on accumulating it and protecting it than on anything else. The call to generosity, ultimately, is a call to obey the first commandment. We are to fear, love, and trust in God above all things (according to Martin Luther's Small Catechism). When wealth has become our master, it has displaced God at the center of our lives. And so disciples of Jesus develop habits of generosity, to guard against that possibility. Disciples of Jesus tithe (give 10% of income) to Christian ministry, supporting the local congregation and other Christian mission efforts throughout the world. Beyond that, disciples of Jesus are generous with other organizations that seek to meet the needs of their communities. It is by sacrificial generosity - generosity that makes a difference in what luxuries we can afford ourselves - that we seek to put wealth in its place: refusing to allow it to become our master, and insisting that it be servant to our goals and values. Above all, disciples of Jesus offer support in a spirit of joy and gratitude. Generosity is not a burden than is imposed upon the Christian. It is the opportunity to say "thank you" to God, who has already provided so much. In that, there is great joy and a deep sense of meaning. At Saint Peter, we invite you to join us in developing habits of discipleship in your life. Will you live and give sacrificially as a disciple of our Lord?Monthly Community ServiceA Christian will never have a strong future, if he or she doesn't have a purpose outside of himself or herself. Many of us grew up in settings where faith was not discussed openly. In the modest, Midwest, small-town culture where some of us grew up, religion was a private matter (one of those two "avoid-at-all-costs" conversation topics). Very few people talked about their faith, and those who did were viewed with no small amount of concern. Yet even a cursory reading of Scripture discounts that notion. Jesus is very clear that the life of his followers is to be a life of witness. What's more, that witness is to be offered with more than words: our actions are to serve as a "light to the world" of the faith that is within us. In the great judgment parable of Matthew 25, Jesus teaches that those who give food to the hungry and drink to the thirsty and welcome to the stranger and clothing to the naked and visits to the sick and imprisoned are the ones who are living out the life to which he has called them. The Christian becomes involved in loving service to the community, believing that in serving the needy ones among us, we are serving Jesus himself. It is one concrete way for us to show our gratitude to God. But service to our brothers and sisters in need goes beyond thanking God. It also helps to shape us into the people God wants us to be. We live in a world that is driven by consumerism. We are barraged on a daily basis with messages seeking to convince us that the quality of our life is directly proportional to what we are able to do for ourselves. "Purchase this commodity. Take this vacation. Support this politician. Participate in this experience. Live in this community..." We are immersed in political, economic, and social systems that are sharply focused on what the individual has to gain from it all. This message runs directly counter to the message of Scripture. Jesus teaches, and models, that the best life - the life that God wants for us - is marked by the desire to give of ourselves to our brothers and sisters in need. True life is not found in collecting possessions and experiences. True life is found in sacrificing ourselves, so others might be blessed. As Martin Luther often said: "The forgiveness we receive from Christ frees us to live as servants of others." A disciple of Jesus Christ is one who understands that servanthood is a central component of a faithful life. One cannot be a disciple of Jesus without seeking to love and serve others as he did. At Saint Peter, we promote a minimum goal of one act of community service each month. Some of us help at a food distribution center. Others work with disadvantaged children. Others reach out to abused women. Others support work done by Lutheran Family Services, or Rainbow Trail Lutheran Camp, or Selian Lutheran hospital - or one of the many other Christian organizations seeking to serve people in need. We invite you to join us in developing habits of discipleship in your life. Will you enter into at least one act of community service each month during the coming year?Faith Nurture in a Small Group or Faith PartnershipA fifty-something professional shares this story: "When I was younger, in my thirties, I had a friend who worked out with me twice every week. We'd lift weights, or run, or play racquetball each Tuesday and Thursday at 6:30 a.m. It was the time in my life when I was in my best physical shape - and that was due, in part, to having an exercise partner. I knew that if I ever failed to show up at 6:30 a.m., my partner would be there waiting for me. So I rarely missed. These days, I work out on my own. But so often, other things take precedence. I fall behind at work, or have a family commitment, and I promise myself that I'll get some exercise the next day but I rarely do." Many of us have had similar experiences. Joining a group or a club can help to provide the discipline we need to be regular at something which is important to us. The same is true for our faith. As believers describe seasons in their lives when their faith grew significantly, they often ascribe that to time spent with friends in Bible study, or in a fellowship group, or in serving the community with other believers. Others speak of having a spiritual guide, or a one-on-one partnership with another who wants to grow spiritually. As is true in many areas of our lives, having a commitment to grow with others often provides the discipline that we need to grow ourselves. At Saint Peter, there are a variety of different ways for people to join small groups or form faith partnerships. Some join ChristCare groups - intentional small groups that meet weekly (or twice-monthly) for worship, study, caregiving and service. Others join a ministry team that meets regularly, and through which they are encouraged to grow. Others teach a class (Sunday school, catechism, or adult studies...) and find that the discipline of having to teach others helps to build a stronger spiritual foundation. Yet others seek out a spiritual mentor or a partner with whom they can pray, talk, and study. There are a variety of ways to do this, but the main point is: we are more likely to grow if we have a commitment to grow with others. Joining a small group or having a faith partnership with someone else also provides another benefit: when we study and learn with others, we are less likely to be drawn into false belief, or to develop faith habits that are less than helpful. The perspective of another can often challenge us and encourage us and provide us with the guidance we need to grow into God's truth, and develop a faith that is healthy. The gathered community (whether two or two hundred) becomes a resource that the Holy Spirit uses to shape us and mold us into the people God needs us to be. We encourage all participants at Saint Peter to belong to a small group, or to meet regularly with a faith partner. In this way, we encourage one another to grow in Christ.AcknowledgementsSaint Peter's "Five Habits of Discipleship" are grounded in the work of Richard J. Foster, especially as articulated in his book "Celebration of Discipline; The Path to Spiritual Growth" -- and in the work of Pastor Michael W. Foss, especially as articulated in his book "Power Surge; Six Marks of Discipleship for a Changing Church." We highly recommend these two books to anyone who is interested in developing habits of discipleship in their lives. 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