The Path Less Traveled is a teaching series of Society Church where we will be learning about how to live a life of worship for God.
Spiritual Growth Practice- The Centering Practices of Worship
Earl Creaps in his book “The Off-Road Disciplines” says “An experience is a spiritual discipline if it has the potential to form God’s heart in me, and if it functions as one because I embrace it as such.”
Richard Foster “The Disciplines are best exercised in the midst of our normal daily activities. If they are to have any transforming effect, the effect must be found in the ordinary junctures of human life.”
In other words, our practice of the disciplines tends to be undisciplined.
The Holy Spirit brings Spiritual Formation-
Abiding always precedes Abounding
John 15:4-5- “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.”
The Holy Spirit brings Spiritual Empowerment-
Acts 1:8- “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere–in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Empowered by God- What power source do you rely upon? Some rely upon their personality, good looks, and charisma. Others rely upon their intelligence, perseverance or good work ethic. None of these are bad, but what is driving you, motivating, and inspiring you in your work & life? I believe that we as empowered followers of Christ should have the upper hand in our work as we discover how God wants to empower us as a community to impact a city within and without the body of Christ.
Abounding in the work you are doing- 1 Corinthians 15:58- Therefore, my beloved brothers & sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
Colossians 3:17- And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
The Holy Spirit brings New Spiritual Identity:
A form of Spiritual Formation. This piece of the Centering Practices of Worship is one of the most important. Identity in Christ always precedes moral implications of faith in ones life.
Ephesians 1:13- “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit”
A Seal represents: Ownership (The author of the message would seal the letter), Identification (Signet Ring used to impress upon the hot wax of the seal), Authentication (The message can be trusted because of its author)
