The Opening

Overview

Creedal Statement

Pray then like this:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

Key Elements

• Key Passage - Preview
• Scripture Memory - And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. Hebrews 11:6
• Catechism - Q: What is the foundation of the Christian life? A: Faith.

Introduction

Hold on to the pattern of sound teaching you have heard from me, with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

The Person of Christ is to me the surest as well as the most sacred of all facts; as certain as my own personal existence; yea, even more so: for Christ lives in me, and he is the only valuable part of my existence. I am nothing without my Saviour; I am all with him, and would not exchange him for the whole world. To give up faith in Christ is to give up faith in humanity; to believe in him is to believe in the redemption and final glorification of men; and this faith is the best inspiration to a holy and useful life for the good of our race and the glory of God.

This book is about how to commune with God and grow in your faith. As disciples of Christ, God is inviting each of us to enjoy vibrant, dynamic, and abundant fellowship with him. Although a relationship with God is only possible based on what God does for us (in Christ through the gospel), cultivating our relationship with him is a practice that we do continually with God (in habit through spiritual discipline). Like all relationships, we form patterns and habits as we interact with others. These patterns will either enrich or injure the bonds of that relationship. A relationship is itself an invitation to continually strengthen these bonds that unite two parties together. This is no less true with our walk with God. As the Christian life is God’s invitation to an ongoing life with him, spiritual disciplines are our response to this sincere and open invitation to practice his presence on a daily basis.

The truth is, God wants a relationship with his people. Those who place their faith in Christ enter into a covenant with God and God’s people. While God establishes the terms of this covenant relationship, we can cultivate our relationship with God through faith practices. This book is an attempt to summarize a core set of spiritual disciplines—devotional habits—that help us nurture our relationship with God. This ongoing relationship with God is an “open invitation.” That is, it is open for any who come to believe in the gospel and commit their lives to God’s ways. In this way, this book serves as a bridge from kerygma (gospel) to didache (teaching). In the series as a whole, The Open Invitation serves as a conduit for how we can internalize the truth of God (The Story Behind it All) to our daily lives (The Best Possible Life).

Spiritual practices have been a part of the history of Christianity from its inception. This history is your heritage as a Christian. Practiced by the Jews in the Old Testament and continued by Christians throughout church history, spiritual disciplines have been a major part of how we are formed in the faith. None better exemplifies these habits than our Master, Jesus Christ. In fact, Jesus summarizes what the internal life of a Christian looks like in Matthew 6:9-14, popularly known as The Lord’s Prayer. Throughout the history of the church, Christians have memorized, studied, and applied this prayer to their life not only as a means to learn how to pray but also as a framework to understand the interior life with God. The Lord’s Prayer provides a general picture of what the interior life of a Christian looks like as we seek to commune with God.

Therefore, throughout the course of this study, we will explore twelve (12) key stories that exemplify various facets of the Christian life. Each of these stories, taken from an episode in the life of Jesus, will highlight one important spiritual practice (i.e., how Christians commune with God). As you progress through the stories you will notice how each of the practices relate to each other. In God’s design, there is an overlap that exists between various spiritual practices. For instance, Jesus’ practice of fasting is connected to his practice of the Scripture. The exercise of silence is modeled in the context of seclusion. Jesus’ example of service occurs in the context of table fellowship and community.

This overlap is significant. It means that spiritual practices are strengthened and nurtured by each other. Just as it is unwise to limit oneself to a few vitamins and nutrients, it is also foolish to restrict oneself to one or two spiritual disciplines. Such an unbalanced diet will undoubtedly lead to a condition of spiritual malnourishment. The whole spread of disciplines is God’s well-balanced feast for his people. Therefore, while each story will seek to focus on a key spiritual practice, we cannot ignore how the whole package of spiritual disciplines works together. Moreover, as this study is meant to be introductory and catechetical, it does not presume to say everything about each discipline. This is for the rest of our lifetime to explore. However, it does seek to present a compelling narrative of each practice lived out and taught by our Master.

The twelve biblical narratives in this study establish believers in essentials of Christian formation. The first biblical text explores the youthful years of Jesus and investigates how he serves as a paradigmatic model for Christian formation, spiritual growth, and faith maturity (Luke 2:21-52). In the next story, Jesus extended hospitality to his cadre of disciples on the shoreside of the Sea of Galilee, establishing them as a community of faith and mission (John 21:1-25). In the context of a busy season of ministry, Jesus planned and practiced solitude through spiritual retreat (Mark 6:30-56). Meeting a sinful woman at a well in Samaria, Jesus taught about the importance of devotion and worship in Christian practice (John 4:1-42). During one of Jesus’ final meals with his disciples, he modeled a kingdom lifestyle of humble service by washing his disciples’ feet (John 13:1-38). Just before Jesus’ betrayal, he expressed faithfulness, fidelity, and spiritual fortitude through the vital practice of prayer (Mark 14:32-42). Through a conversation with his disciples, a mountaintop transfiguration, and an exorcism, Jesus underscored the role of mystery in the faith through the discipline of silence. Jesus enjoined a rich young man (and all disciples) to express their faith through simple living and sacrificial stewardship (Matthew 19:16-30). A guest at a Pharisee’s home, Jesus received a desperate and penitent woman who teaches us about the nature and importance of confession (Luke 7:36-50). Jesus launched his ministry of proclamation and miracle by emphasizing the power and priority of God’s word (Luke 4:14-44). In a display of self-control and self-discipline, Jesus confronted Satan and overcame temptation during his time of fasting in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11). Addressing accusations from Jewish legal experts, Jesus upheld principles and practices of Sabbath and rest (Matthew 11:25-12:21).

It is important to note that the prospective blessing of spiritual discipline is also its potential hazard. Spiritual disciplines are embodiments: things that people can actually do, practice, perform. The benefit of such embodiments is that we have a core set of concrete practices—practices which we can try and try again—that can aid us in our spiritual journey. The danger, of course, is that people might think spiritual disciplines comprise the totality of our spiritual life. Let us be clear: Spiritual disciplines do not make anyone a Christian any more than merely brushing paint on a canvas makes someone an artist. However, for someone who is an artist, their regular practice of brush strokes helps them mature as an artist. For Christians, though faith in Christ is the only way we can become a Christian, spiritual disciplines are means by which we can mature in our faith.

God may or may not be making you into an artist. But, if you are a genuine Christian, you can be sure that he is thoroughly invested in making you into a mature disciple of Christ. When you pause to consider it, this is really a spectacular experience. Rather than immediately transporting each believer to heavenly bliss at the moment they profess faith in Christ, God instead invites us to a journey where each step, each experience, each act of devotion is galvanized by God’s grace to form us into Christlikeness. These spiritual practices blanketed by God’s grace are God’s means by which He can move us more Godward.

As you embark on this journey together with other believers, you will discover the need to practice spiritual disciplines both individually and in community. Why is the community so important? First, God offers you the church community as a vital context for spiritual formation because, in the context of this body, you have a unique network of support. In the church, Christians who have interpreted the Bible for years can help you learn to interpret, memorize, and study the Word. Seasoned believers who have practiced solitude, silence, and seclusion can help you cut your teeth on these vital spiritual practices in our noisy and clamorous culture. Disciples who have conquered temptation through prayer and fasting can train you as apprentices in the spiritual battle. In the church, God has deposited a storehouse of resources for your spiritual formation.

However, there is a second reason to locate your spiritual growth in the context of the church community. God’s vision for the spiritual maturity in the Christian life is a fully-formed people who operate in deep unity and mutual edification. The church is not simply the means of spiritual formation, it is God’s goal. Our own formation as disciples of Christ contributes to God’s larger vision for a mature community of faith that will represent God’s presence in his world. Therefore, the voyage ahead is one that should not (and cannot) be journeyed alone. As you explore the deep wells of communion with God, may the life of Jesus awaken you to a passionate pursuit of tried and true practices that Jesus himself commends. Jesus is inviting us into a life with God that he himself modeled. Energized by the Spirit of God, may we accept his open invitation and begin to exercise our faith in practicing the presence of God.

Book Overview: Surveying the Landscape

Discipleship is a process of establishing believers in the essentials of the Christian faith. In this section, explore the core content, consider the key idea, and articulate particular areas of interest in this study.

Core Content

An outline of Christian teaching is like a map for the journey of faith. Survey the twelve scriptural passages and associated themes that will set the itinerary for your upcoming study.

Key Idea

Faithful disciples plant firm roots in the soil of biblical principles. Review the main idea of this study. Discuss how the individual narratives and corresponding themes relate to this overarching theme.

Key Idea: Disciples of Christ are as strong in faith as they are established in the essentials of Christian belief.

Personal Interest

The essentials of the Christian faith are extremely relevant to our lives. Pick one or two biblical passages or study themes that capture your attention. Briefly discuss with your community what most interests you about these narratives and topics.

Faith Foundation: Exploring the Terrain

God calls his people to move beyond a superficial understanding of Christian essentials. Use the discussion questions and key quote to ponder with others how the subject area of study is of great importance in the Christian faith.

Discussion Questions

Disciples progress in the faith in the context of committed Christian community. Discuss the following questions with other believers as a means to orient your community to the subject of this study.

Significant Quote

Christians learn from believers who live in different generations and cultures. Read the following quote and discuss with others what it suggests about the importance of Christian witness.

A Church which is a mere boneless body, like a jelly-fish, a colourless, bloodless, creedless Pantheon, in which every one is right and nobody is wrong who is in earnest, and in which it does not matter a jot what is preached and taught, so long as the preachers are sincere, — such a Church is an unpractical absurdity, and the baseless fabric of a dream. The Church which abandons all limits, and will not proclaim to mankind what it believes, or would have its members believe, may do very well for Cloudland or Utopia ; but it will never do for a world where there are tears and crosses, troubles and sorrows, sickness and death.

Record any initial observations or community insights below.

Learning Plan: Charting the Course

Formative biblical interpretation fosters Christian growth as the faith community purposefully engages the scriptural text. Review the session framework and use the planning calendar to coordinate your learning for this upcoming study journey.

Session Framework

The Scriptures bear authority over every area of our lives. To deeply understand any particular passage, disciples must engage the text at various levels. In the Narrative Journey series, a common study framework is applied to each core session. This common framework helps disciples engage each biblical passage in exegetical, theological, personal, ministry, and missional ways. This dynamic hermeneutical approach (a spiraling process through five movements that serves to deepen your understanding as you engage the text multiple times) helps believers and churches faithfully engage the Scriptures for life transformation.

Review the five movements of this interpretive framework and discuss how this hermeneutical approach helps individuals and communities engage the biblical text in a way that reforms our thinking and changes our lives.

Planning Calendar

Wisdom calls believers and the community to approach an ordered process of faith development with diligence and preparation. Use the following calendar to plan out dates and teachers for the various sessions in this study.

Core Project: Synthesizing the Faith

Genuine disciples integrate the truth of God’s word into their personal and community life. In this section, you will preview the capstone project, view an example confessional statement, and imagine how God might want to change your life through this study.

Project Preview

Coming soon.

Example ____

As we journey toward Christian maturity, we should learn from other disciples. As we study the Scriptures together, the community of Christ followers helps each of us hone our thinking around what is true. As you prepare to write your own mission manifesto (and share it with other believers), review the following statement as an example of this capstone project.

Coming soon.

Imaginative Storytelling

Believers in Jesus look forward to the future with hope and anticipation. As you consider the overarching topic of this study, think about how God wants to mature you in the faith. Specifically, imagine how your life would be different as God grows you into a mature Christian.

If I could know the truth about life, these are some things I would want to understand…

If I could grow in my understanding of the truth, this is how my life would look…

Faith Practice: Following the Way

Discipleship involves a lifetime of following Jesus in a context of Christian community. Familiarize yourself with the growth outcomes of this study, identify an area of focus, and pray for God’s transformative work in the course of the upcoming weeks.

Growth Outcomes

Setting growth goals helps to refine our Christian walk. As you look ahead to the upcoming study, read through the following outcomes to clarify ways in which God would have you grow in your faith.

As a result of this study, disciples, families, and churches will …

• establish a mature Christian understanding of the essentials of the Christian faith
• cultivate a deepening commitment to biblical truth
• demonstrate clarity and capability in articulating Christian truth
• participate in teaching basic Christian truths to others

Focused Area

Growth in the Christian life often happens one step at a time. Identify one of the above outcomes in which you want to grow. Name this specific outcome to your community, asking them to support you in prayer.

Community Prayer

We depend upon God’s power to grow each step in our Christian journeys. Pray that God would help each person in your community mature in the identified growth areas. Feel free to use the space below to write out a personal prayer or record requests from other members that you can keep in prayer throughout the course of this study.