foundations of ministry exam 2

Identify four of Foster’s spiritual disciplines you feel most convicted about practicing and

explain why.

Fasting

Submission

Prayer

Solitude

What are some of the symptoms of what Ortberg calls “hurry sickness” that you see in

your own life and how are you dealing with them?

 Superficially

- multitasking

- inability to eave

- clutter

- sunset fatigue

12 spiritual disciplines listed by Foster, in their 3 categories (inward, outward,

corporate)

Inward: meditation, prayer, fasting, and study

Outward: simplicity, solitude, submission, service

Corporate: confession, worship, guidance, and celebration

Distorted thinking question

• 5 obstacles to celebration according to Foster

• Too puritanical (Holy=unhappy)

• Bitterness, hurt, anger

• Guilt

• Suffering

• Busy-ness

3 “lights” of God’s guidance according to Willard in Hearing God

• Circumstances

• Impressions of the Spirit

• Passages from the Bible

4 obstacles to confession according to Foster

• “Worm theology” (wallowing in guilt)

• Denial that what we’ve done is bad

• Fear of judgement by others

• Stigma of weakness in self-reliant culture

5 ways Ortberg says we enter the life of servanthood

• The ministry of the mundane

• Ministry of being interrupted (availability)

• Embracing our weakness/ limitations

• Ministry of holding your tongue

• Ministry of bearing with difficult people

Distortions

3 inner attitudes regarding wealth Foster says we must embrace

• What we have is a gift

• God will care for it (and us)

• We need to make it available to others

• 4 steps Luther followed when he studied Scripture

• Instruction, thanksgiving, confession, and prayer

 4 steps of Lectio Divina

• Read, meditate, pray, and contemplate