“Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” (1 Tim. 4:7-8 TNIV)
Over these 12 weeks you’ll have the opportunity to practice a comprehensive set of spiritual disciplines. The program is built around three types of disciplines and different time intervals. Some disciplines will be practiced daily, some once a week, some once a month, and some only once during the 12 weeks. The three types of disciplines include private inward, private outward, and corporate. Private inward disciplines are those we practice in private or by ourselves and which have an inward focus. Private outward disciplines are those we practice in private or by ourselves and which have an outward focus. Finally, corporate disciplines are those we practice with other Christians. During the 1st 4 weeks you choose private inward disciplines to practice on daily, weekly, and monthly intervals. During the 2nd 4 weeks you choose private outward disciplines to practice on daily, weekly, and monthly intervals. During the last 4 weeks you choose corporate disciplines to practice on daily, weekly, monthly, and quarterly intervals. The program begins on Ash Wednesday. Easter Sunday is just past halfway. By Easter you’ve had 7 weeks of training and have 5 more to go.
For centuries, Christians have used the period before Easter as a training time. That’s what Lent is about. It is a season of intense spiritual training in order to prepare for the Easter celebration. For forty days (not include Sundays) Christians would engage in spiritual disciplines like fasting to strengthen themselves spiritually. The period began with what is called Ash Wednesday. Of course, you can do spiritual training at any time of the year. But for centuries this season of Lent has been a prime training time.
1st 4 weeks
Focus on private inward practices (those we practice in private with an inward focus). Inward practices include: Meditation, Prayer, Fasting, Study, Solitude, Silence, Chastity, and Contemplative Prayer.
Week 1 (2/6/08) – begin a daily private inward practice (e.g., read Scripture 10 min. daily (study)).
Week 2 (2/13/08) – choose to just maintain your daily private inward practice, or add a second daily private inward practice (e.g., pray 10 min. daily (prayer)).
Week 3 (2/20/08) – to your daily practice(s) add a weekly private inward practice (e.g., fast each Friday (fast)).
Week 4 (2/27/08) – to all the above add a monthly private inward practice (e.g., spend 10 minutes in prayerful silence on the last Sunday of each month (silence))
2nd 4 weeks
Begin an additional focus on private outward practices (those we practice in private but which have an outward focus). Outward practices include: Simplicity, Frugality, Submission, Service, Sacrifice, and Secrecy.
Week 5 (3/5/08) – to the above add a daily private outward practice (e.g., each day let someone have their way instead of demanding yours (submission)).
Week 6 (3/12/08) – choose to just maintain all practices this week or add a second daily private outward practice (each day say something encouraging to one person (service)).
Week 7 (3/19/08) – to the above add a weekly private outward practice (e.g., once a week say “no” to a purchase you want to make but don’t really need (frugality)). EASTER (Mar. 23)
Week 8 (3/26/08) to the above add a monthly private outward practice (e.g., once a month be part of a significant act of service to someone(s) less fortunate than you (service)).
3rd 4 weeks
Begin an additional focus on corporate practices (those we practice with other Christians). Corporate practices include: Worship, Guidance, Celebration, Fellowship, and Confession.
Week 9 (4/2/08) – to the above add a daily corporate practice (e.g., tell one person each day one thing you are thankful for (celebration)).
Week 10 (4/9/08) – choose to just maintain all practices this week or add a weekly corporate discipline (e.g., once a week meet with a trusted spiritual friend to confess sin and pray for one another (confession)).
Week 11 (4/16/08) – to the above add a monthly corporate practice (e.g., once a month organize a social activity for some friends and include a newcomer (fellowship)).
Week 12 (4/23/08) – to the above add a new quarterly practice that comes from any of the three categories above.
