The Common Rule

The Common Rule is a very accessible book by Justin Earley. It is exploring his own experience in developing a Rule of Life, and explores some of the challenges he faced in seeking to do so. You’ll have heard me talk about it at DTP this week, and the homework is to explore the website: www.thecommonrule.org

There is a section on Sabbath, which dovetails nicely with what we’ve been looking at in our last session. If you’re pressed for time, just do that, and look at other sections as we go through the term. It may or may not be helpful. There is not expectation that you’ll put all or any of it into practise. Some of it you may disagree with. But if something in there is helpful, feel free to use it!

I’ll be recommending various resources throughout the term - not with an expectation that you’ll read them all, but rather in the hope that one or two of them might work… Hope this one does.

Questions 360-368

360. How does God enable you to live in his forgiveness?

Through faith, repentance, and Baptism, I am made a member of Christ, a child of God, and an heir of the kingdom of heaven. Washed of sin and united to Christ, I am “justified,” being declared righteous by God, and I am given the grace to live continually in repentance and faith.

(Psalm 130:4; John 15:26–16:1; Acts 22:16; Romans 5:12–21; Titus 3:3–8)

361. Does God’s forgiveness excuse you from personal obedience?

No. God has reconciled me to himself and freed me from bondage to sin in order to conform me to the image of his Son. As I live each day in gratitude for God’s forgiveness, I seek to turn from sin and follow Christ in loving obedience.

( John 14:15–24; Romans 6:1–14; 2 Co rin thi ans 5:14–15; 1 John 3:4–10)

362. Are you still affected by your sin, despite God’s forgiveness?

Yes. My sinful actions can harm my relationship with God, do lasting damage to others, and leave me conflicted within myself. I live in constant need of Christ’s healing grace.

(2 Samuel 12:1–23; Psalm 32:1–5; Matthew 15:18–20; Romans 7:15–25; 1 Corinthians 10:1– 13; 1 Thessalonians 4:1–8)

363. How does Jesus heal you?

Through the gift of the Holy Spirit, as I continue in repentance and faith, Jesus mends my disordered soul from the effects of sin in my mind, will, and desires.

(2 Chronicles 7:12–14; Psalms 25:4–11; 41:4; 103:1–5; 2 Corinthians 3:17–18)

364. What is this healing called?

This healing is called “sanctification,” which means to be made whole and holy. By the work of the Holy Spirit, my mind, will, and desires are increasingly transformed and conformed to the character of Jesus Christ.

(Proverbs 2; John 17:15–17; Romans 12:1–2; 1 Corinthians 6:9–11; Ephesians 2:1–10; 3:14–21)

365. How does the Church assist in your sanctification?

The Church’s joyful worship, faithful teaching, grace-filled sacraments, Gospel-shaped calendar, compassionate ministry, loving discipline, and caring fellowship all assist my growth in Christ and are channels of God’s abundant care for my soul.

(Ephesians 4:1–16; Philippians 3:12–21)

366. How does the Lord’s Supper assist in your sanctification?

In the Lord’s Supper or Holy Eucharist, I hear the Law read, receive God’s good news of forgiveness, recall my baptismal promises, have my faith renewed, and receive the grace of the Body and Blood of Christ to continue following him in love and obedience.

(John 6:53–58; 1 Corinthians 10:15–16)

367. For what does sanctification prepare you?

Sanctification enables me to serve and bear witness to Christ in this life, and prepares me for the glory of God in the world to come. There I will be completely freed from sin and conformed to the likeness of my Lord, whom I will see face-to-face.

(Matthew 5:16; 1 Corinthians 13:9–13; 2 Corinthians 3:17–18; 1 John 3:1–3)

368. What marks a life of sanctification?

God calls me to a life marked by gratitude and joy. In gratitude for God’s grace in Jesus, I die daily to the desires of my fallen nature. In the joy of knowing that I will become like Jesus, I live each day in service to him.

(Luke 9:23–26; Romans 5:1–5; 2 Corinthians 4:5–18; 1 Thessalonians 1:6–10; Titus 2:11–14)

A Prayer for Increase in the Love of God

O God, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as surpass our understanding: Pour into our hearts such love towards you, that we, loving you in all things and above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Introducing the Spiritual Disciplines

Don Whitney is speaking at a conference about Jonathan Edwards (1703-58). Edwards was a pastor-theologian who pastored his Church through a season of revival, and who left us a legacy of theological and philosophical works that people are still writing PhDs on! Some scholars think he was the greatest theologian the English speaking world has ever produced. He was a great friend of people like George Whitfield and David Brainerd. Much of his theology is focussed on incredibly practical issues of Christian experience and discipleship. You don’t need to know anything about Edwards to appreciate this talk. If you wanted to get an overview of his life and some lessons learnt from it, there is another talk on youtube that might be helpful: Biography of Jonathan Edwards (audio only).

The focus of this talk is Edward’s own thinking on and experience of the Spiritual Disciplines, and his encounter with God as a result. Enjoy!

Discussion Questions for Invitation week:

Do you think Whitney is too optimistic about the kind of progress we could make in our pursuit of godliness?

How can we avoid making the same mistakes the Pharisees made in our practise of the Spiritual Disciplines?

Do you have any experience that resonates with Edwards’ sense of encounter with God? Do you think it is fair to put this quality of relationship with God down to his pracitse of the Spiritual Disciplines?

Is there anything in Edwards practise that you think you could learn from? … imitate? …make your own in some way? Or do you think this is a way of life that is no longer possible in the 21st Century? What do you make of Whitney’s dealing with the question of whether this is realistic or not?

What in this talk inspired and encouraged you? …what intimidated you? …what left you feel like giving up?

What surprised you in this talk?

What is your own experience of Spiritual Disciplines? What would you like it to be? What help and support would you need to pursue that?

Should we baptize infants?

It’s hard to find good discussions about baptism on Youtube! This is one of the better ones I’ve found, but the ‘problem’ with it is that these guys are working so hard at modelling unity in the Gospel that I’m not sure they really get to the heart of the issue… but I guess there is a limit to what you can do in less than 10 minutes!

NB: For some reason, the video starts part way in, so you’ll need to scroll back to the beginning.

…and if you want a helpful restatement of the ‘We should baptize infants’ arguments, this is great: