What is the most important spiritual discipline?

[GeorgeJ]

Humility..........and I should know because I'm the worlds greatest "humble" man.....

 

[FireDragon76]

I would agree. You should only neglect going to church for serious reasons.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

I would agree. You should only neglect going to church for serious reasons.

When a German-born citizen with legal nationality all his life lives in Germany,
does he go to Germany to be a German citizen, or is he a German citizen every day he is in Germany ?
Being a German citizen already,
does he go someplace specific to be a German citizen ?

 

[Tree of Life]

When a German-born citizen with legal nationality all his life lives in Germany,
does he go to Germany to be a German citizen, or is he a German citizen every day he is in Germany ?
Being a German citizen already,
does he go someplace specific to be a German citizen ?

When we live in that heavenly country the weekly church service will no longer be necessary. Good point.

 

[FireDragon76]

When a German-born citizen with legal nationality all his life lives in Germany,
does he go to Germany to be a German citizen, or is he a German citizen every day he is in Germany ?
Being a German citizen already,
does he go someplace specific to be a German citizen ?

A good German citizen participates in their society constructively. The Church is a divine society that has institutions of its own, one of them is meeting together for "breaking of the bread and the prayers".

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

When we live in that heavenly country the weekly church service will no longer be necessary. Good point.

.... good! ..... keep reading .... (Scripture) ....
See
what Jesus told the disciples
about when they became born again,
then thereafter no matter where they travelled for the Gospel's Sake,
they remained born again, ekklesia set apart by YHWH ... and He told them "You are already in the Kingdom, start living like it." ....
and with many other words He directed them so...

i.e. they did not "go to ekklesia"....

everywhere they went , they/we/ekklesia were and are ekklesia.

 

[Tree of Life]

.... good! ..... keep reading .... (Scripture) ....
See
what Jesus told the disciples
about when they became born again,
then thereafter no matter where they travelled for the Gospel's Sake,
they remained born again, ekklesia set apart by YHWH ... and He told them "You are already in the Kingdom, start living like it." ....
and with many other words He directed them so...

i.e. they did not "go to ekklesia"....

everywhere they went , they/we/ekklesia were and are ekklesia.

Paul went to ekklesia (1 Corinthians 14:19).

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

Paul went to ekklesia (1 Corinthians 14:19).

Paul was ekklesia,
as were the others born again , called out of the world, separated unto YHWH by YHWH'S DOING.
Wherever they went,
wherever they met,
they were always ekklesia,
each one and all,
unless one lost their salvation. (obviously then they were no longer God's child).

 

[GingerBeer]

I've never understood obedience to be a spiritual discipline.

What do you list as spiritual disciplines?

One web page suggests these thing as spiritual disciplines but does not claim the list to be exhaustive.

• prayer,
• bible reading,
• other spiritual reading,
• study,
• journaling,
• fasting,
• silence,
• solitude,
• humility,
• secrecy,
• hospitality,
• fellowship,
• retreats,
• sabbath days,
• worship,
• singing,
• meditation,
• simplicity,
• tithes,
• offerings,
• service,
• volunteering,
• spiritual direction,
• celebration,
• confession,
• church calendar,
• pilgrimages

 

[friend of]

Easy

Mark 12:28-31

 

[GeorgeJ]

What do you list as spiritual disciplines?

Whatever trips your fancy, it appears....since there is no "official" list.

Of course, opinions will vary....

 

[Tree of Life]

What do you list as spiritual disciplines?

One web page suggests these thing as spiritual disciplines but does not claim the list to be exhaustive.

• prayer,
• bible reading,
• other spiritual reading,
• study,
• journaling,
• fasting,
• silence,
• solitude,
• humility,
• secrecy,
• hospitality,
• fellowship,
• retreats,
• sabbath days,
• worship,
• singing,
• meditation,
• simplicity,
• tithes,
• offerings,
• service,
• volunteering,
• spiritual direction,
• celebration,
• confession,
• church calendar,
• pilgrimages

Yeah this looks like a good list. Except I would exclude virtues from the list like "humility". Humility is a virtue of character, not a spiritual discipline. Just like "strength" is a virtue of physique while "weight lifting" is a physical discipline that builds strength.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

Whatever trips your fancy, it appears....since there is no "official" list.

Of course, opinions will vary....

Jesus' opinion was unique.
Even His Own Disciples were astonished and delighted !

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

Whatever trips your fancy, it appears....since there is no "official" list.

Of course, opinions will vary....

....and then, of course,

most spiritual disciplines on earth are from the devil....
for most people on earth....

so, ...... seek YHWH'S KINGDOM always, and keep seeking His Kingdom, always ..... (before dying/sleeping)

 

[PropheticTimes]

Disciplines of Personal Development (Inward)

• Prayer – communicating with God (Matt. 6:9)
• Meditation – focusing on God and his will (Phil. 4:8)
• Fasting – a reminder of the source of all nourishment (Luke 5:35)
• Study – careful attention the the reality that God reveals to us, especially through Holy Scripture (Luke 2:46)

Of these personal disciplines (I know there are 8 more, 4 outward and 4 corporate), I would say prayer is what will effect every other discipline in that, in that we need an active prayer life where we commune with the Father so we are able to better hear and understand His voice and His guidance.

 

[the old scribe]

This may sound like I'm asking "which is the most important leg on a stool?" or "which is the most important wheel on a car?" And this may be the case.

But I actually do think that there is one discipline that takes primacy over all the rest. There is one discipline that if it's missing from your life will negatively affect all the other disciplines and negatively affect your growth in Christ. I'll name it in the spoiler below, but before you look at my answer I'd like to hear your answer and your rationale.

Spoiler: My Answer

Weekly Church attendance.

- grateful to all those posting here for their civility -

Your Op has received some excellent replies.

You have made some appropriate distinctions between fruit and discipline.

There has been another exchange over the place of obedience – as there are in many places on this forum. Is not obedience actually an issue over sanctification as to when and how?

However, you have some undisclosed assumptions about discipline.
It is presumed by spiritual disciple the context is for Christians and not unbelievers?
Your undisclosed assumptions leave responders flailing to find your category for spiritual disciple.

At what point does the believer engage in spiritual discipline?

Does the Christian engage in spiritual disciple through salvation?

Does the Christian engage in spiritual disciple through baptism?

Does the Christian engage in spiritual disciple through fellowship with a congregation?

Does the Christian engage in spiritual disciple through service and giving?

Does the Christian engage in spiritual disciple through the daily worship?

Does the Christian engage in spiritual disciple through constantly being in prayer?

Does the Christian engage in spiritual disciple through following the Lord Jesus.

Does the Christian engage in spiritual disciple through picking up ones cross and following the Lord Jesus?

Does the Christian engage in spiritual disciple through self sacrifice?

Does the Christian engage in spiritual disciple through obedience?

Does the Christian engage in spiritual disciple through Bible study?

Does the Christian engage in spiritual disciple once there is spiritual fruit?

Does the Christian engage in spiritual disciple through evangelism?

And . . . which of these could one leave out of their Christian life?

 

[ByTheSpirit]

Prayer is certainly important. But how do we know how to pray without the help of God's word?

So those people who do not have God's Word can't pray? That makes no sense at all. It is actually the other way around. You need prayer to understand God's word

 

[Tree of Life]

So those people who do not have God's Word can't pray? That makes no sense at all. It is actually the other way around. You need prayer to understand God's word

Who doesn't have God's word?

If someone prays to God without the guidance of God's word then their prayers will be greatly hindered.

 

[PropheticTimes]

Who doesn't have God's word?

If someone prays to God without the guidance of God's word then their prayers will be greatly hindered.

Not every believer is able to own a Bible. Someone in a jungle in the Amazon who was saved by a missionary, but has no Bible, are their prayers hindered due to the lack of a translation of God's Word in their own language? Or does the Spirit move within their hearts, helping them pray, delivered to the Father through our great High Priest, Jesus Christ?

 

[Wordkeeper]

Who doesn't have God's word?

If someone prays to God without the guidance of God's word then their prayers will be greatly hindered.

I'm sorry to say this, but I'm saying it with love and concern, but you are actually demonstrating that you don't have God's words.

Prolly because you aren't obedient to the simplest commands.