LSUSF Lecture 4

• *Busyness is one of the chief obstacles that ministry leaders must overcome if we
• want to develop a deep life in God.*

• IMPACT:
• 1. When pastors and ministry leaders get caught up in the busyness of life and ministry, more times than not, it is their personal time with God that usually is neglected.
• 2. “There is a connection betweenour speed and the health of our spirit,” and, “Hurry is the great enemy of the life ofthe spirit.”
• 3. When we are busy, it makes us feel important. And we like feeling important, so westay busy. --- feeds vanity ----
• 4. Many are uncomfortable with not actively doing something. It stirs up feelings ofanxiety and restlessness. The one sure way to avoid that anxiety is to stay busy.
• 5. For many of us, the opposite of being busy is often seen as laziness or idleness, andwe do not want to be lazy.

• 1. Your new pattern needs to be DOABLE
• 2. Your new pattern needs to be SUSTAINABLE.
• 3. Your new pattern needs to be PROFITABLE.
• 4. Your new pattern needs to be FLEXIBLE.
• 5. Your new pattern needs to be PERSONAL.
• 6. Recognize the SEASON IN LIFE your are in.
• 7. Your new pattern should be ROOTED IN COMMUNITY.

Disciplines of Abstinence: Solitude, Silence, Fasting, Frugality, Chastity, Secrecy,and Sacrifice.

• Disciplines of Engagement: Study, Journaling, Service, Fellowship, Submission,Worship, Celebration, Prayer, and Confession.
• _________________________________
• Solitude
• Silence
• Fasting
• Frugality
• Chastity
• Secrecy
• Sacrifice

• Study
• Journaling
• Service
• Fellowship
• Submission
• Worship
• Celebration
• Prayer
• Confession

1. The faulty belief that these activities are for the “Super Christian

2. Our cultural commitment to instant gratification

3. “Spiritual disciplines are a way of achieving ‘extra credit’ from God”

4. “Spiritual disciplines are legalistic”

1 Manipulating God

2 Activities & Duty vs. Relationship & Desire

3 The means become the end: “My growth and development is evidenced by mypractices of the disciplines.”

4 Being legalistic and judgmental in our practice and attitudes toward others

5 Becoming the “Expert”—in fact, we are always beginners

6 Misplaced focus in the process

1 The Holiness Tradition: The Virtuous Life

2 The Charismatic Tradition: The Spirit-Empowered Life

3 The Social Justice Tradition: The Compassionate Life

4 The Evangelical Tradition: The Word-Centered Life

5 The Incarnational Tradition: The Sacramental Life

6 The Contemplative Tradition: The Prayer-Filled Life

• Keep a few things in mind:
• 1 Each of these traditions/streams is rooted in the life and ministry of Jesus.

2 If we are looking for a well-rounded and balanced spirituality, we want to see aspects ofeach of these traditions being evidenced in our lives and ministries.

3 We are all naturally drawn to one or more of these streams due to temperament,experience or upbringing.

4 Conversely, our apprehension or fear of other traditions is often rooted in the fact that ithas been outside of our history and experience, and we have probably been warned about“those people” in those traditions.