Discipleship: Hearing the voice of God and doing what He says.

In order to become a DISCIPLE of Christ, we must adopt the DISCIPLINES of Christ.

Discipline = a practice of Jesus

Luke 3:21-22 NLT – “… Jesus himself was baptized. As he was praying, the heavens opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit, in bodily form, descended on him like a dove. And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.”

Luke 4:1-2 NLT – Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River. He was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where he was tempted by the devil for forty days…

Luke 5:16 NLT – But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.

Luke 6:12-13 NLT – One day soon afterward Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night. 13 At daybreak he called together all of his disciples and chose twelve of them to be apostles.

You cannot hear the voice of God while living at a pace that drowns him out.

We achieve inner peace when our schedule is aligned with our values.

Most of us are too busy to follow Jesus and mirror his way of life.

You cannot hear the voice of God while moving at a pace that drowns him out

Here’s how many of us in the western church function when it comes to hearing the voice of God.

  1. Scripture
  2. Everything else
  3. Stuff
  4. Stuff
  5. Stuff
  6. Stuff
  7. Stuff
  8. Sabbath (rest)
  9. Solitude
  10. Stillness

Here’s what we see modeled by Jesus

  1. Solitude
  2. Sabbath (rest)
  3. Stillness
  4. Scripture

Slow Down (put the phone down)

Be Still (seriously, put the phone down)

5 activities, 2 minutes a day, for 21 straight days…

  1. 3 Gratitude’s (two minutes)
    1. Write down 3 NEW things each day that you’re grateful for.
  2. Journaling (two minutes)
    1. Write and reflect how you feel, what you want to accomplish…
    2. Specifically, journal about 1 positive experience you’ve had in the last 24 hours
  3. Exercise (two minutes)
    1. Work out for just 2 minutes straight. You’ll find that you’re able to do more, but just start with this. Do Air squats. Push ups. Jumping jacks. Whatever.
    2. This teaches your brain that your behavior matters
  4. Meditation (two minutes)
    1. Sit quietly, sit still, put down your phone, turn off ALL attention-grabbing devices, and sit for two straight minutes.
    2. Take two minutes of discipline to fight against our cultural ADHD
  5. Random Acts of Kindness (two minutes)
  1. GRATITUDE – Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6
  2. JOURNALING … “Search for the Lord, and for his strength; continually seek him.” 1 Chronicles 16:11(pursue God, talk to him, pray, let him know what’s going on)
  3. EXERCISE – So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. 27 I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should.” 1 Corinthians 9:267-27
  4. MEDITATION – They delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.” Psalm 1:2-3
  5. RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS – But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. Galatians 5:13
  1. Slow Down (put the phone down)
  2. Be Still (seriously, put the phone down)
  3. Honor the Sabbath (day of rest)
  4. Schedule Solitude (put it on the cal)

The pace of your life will determine your posture before God. 

Matthew 11:28-30 NLT – Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

5.  Slow Down (put the phone down)
6. Be Still (seriously, put the phone down)
7. Honor the Sabbath (day of rest)
8. Schedule Solitude (put it on the cal)