Embracing Spiritual Disciplines: A Journey of Transformation

When most people hear the word “discipline,” it often brings to mind rigid rules, punishment, or a sense of joyless obligation. But the invitation here is to see spiritual disciplines not as religious performance or a way to earn God’s favor, but as a beautiful means of learning to walk steadily with God over the long haul. In a culture obsessed with instant results—instant coffee, instant messaging, instant everything—spiritual growth stands in stark contrast. It is not about quick fixes or dramatic moments, but about a long obedience in the same direction, showing up day after day, year after year, and allowing God to shape us through steady, faithful habits.

Discipleship, at its core, is this long obedience. It’s about training ourselves in godliness, as Paul writes to Timothy, not for the sake of earning God’s love, but because our hope is anchored in the living God who has already saved us through Christ. Just as athletes don’t show up on race day hoping for the best but train consistently, so too are we called to train ourselves spiritually. The Greek word Paul uses for “train” carries the idea of vigorous, focused effort—an intentional pursuit of becoming more like Christ in our character, attitudes, and actions over the long haul.

Spiritual disciplines are not the end in themselves; they are means of grace, practices that position us in the path of God’s transforming presence. Like Zacchaeus climbing the sycamore tree to see Jesus, we intentionally place ourselves where we can encounter Christ and be changed by Him. The difference between empty religious ritual and life-giving discipline is the heart’s intention and the direction over time. Are we seeking to encounter God and be transformed, or are we just going through the motions?

This journey requires both personal and corporate disciplines—private devotion and communal worship, individual study and shared service. Neither alone is sufficient for the long journey of faith. The invitation is to commit to this path, not with a spirit of perfectionism, but with a willingness to let God meet us in the steady rhythms of grace. The path is not always easy, but it is absolutely worth it, holding promise for both this life and the life to come.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Spiritual disciplines are not about earning God’s favor or checking religious boxes, but about positioning ourselves to encounter God’s transforming grace. Like Zacchaeus, we intentionally place ourselves in the path of Jesus, trusting that He is the one who brings true change. The disciplines are means, not ends, and their value lies in how they open us to God’s presence over time. [24:55]
• 2. The heart of discipleship is a “long obedience in the same direction.” Spiritual growth is rarely the result of dramatic moments, but of steady, faithful habits practiced over years. Good habits, even when difficult or uninspiring, always result in progress, shaping us into Christlikeness through the ordinary routines of life. [09:08]
• 3. The difference between life-giving discipline and empty religious ritual is found in the heart’s intention and the direction over time. It’s possible to perform all the right actions and yet miss the heart of God. The key question to ask is: Am I seeking to encounter God and be transformed by Him, or am I just going through the motions? [28:33]
• 4. Both personal and corporate disciplines are essential for a long journey with God. Private devotion—prayer, study, solitude—keeps us connected to God individually, while communal practices—worship, fellowship, service—root us in the life of the church. Neglecting either leads to imbalance and stunted growth; we need both to be formed into the likeness of Christ. [32:20]
• 5. The call is not to perfection, but to direction. God is patient and gracious, always inviting us to return and continue the journey, even when we stumble. The invitation is to commit to one or two areas of growth, trusting that God meets us in our steady, imperfect rhythms and brings about transformation for both this life and the life to come. [33:01]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:34] - Rethinking Discipline: Not Rules, But Relationship
• [01:36] - “A Long Obedience”: Discipleship in an Instant Society
• [03:27] - Instant Culture vs. Steady Growth
• [05:20] - The Challenge and Power of Good Habits
• [07:13] - From Obligation to Passion: The Piano Story
• [09:08] - Good Habits and Spiritual Progress
• [10:25] - Prayer for Realignment and Grace
• [13:02] - 1 Timothy 4: Training for Godliness
• [16:10] - Lessons from Coaching Track and Field
• [18:41] - The Meaning of “Train” in Scripture
• [20:27] - Spiritual Disciplines as Means of Grace
• [21:45] - Zacchaeus: Positioning Ourselves for Encounter
• [26:09] - What is Godliness?
• [27:23] - Pharisees: The Danger of Empty Ritual
• [28:33] - Heart Check: Am I Being Transformed?
• [31:03] - Personal and Corporate Disciplines
• [33:01] - Practical Next Steps and Invitation
• [34:55] - GPS Seminar: Discovering Gifts and Passions
• [38:32] - The Invitation to a Long Obedience

Bible Reading

1 Timothy 4:6-10 (ESV) — 6 If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed.
7 Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness;
8 for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
9 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance.
10 For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.

Luke 19:1-10 (ESV) — 1 He entered Jericho and was passing through.
2 And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich.
3 And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature.
4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way.
5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.”
6 So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully.
7 And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.”
8 And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.”
9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham.
10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Observation Questions

1. In 1 Timothy 4:7-8, what does Paul say is the difference between bodily training and training for godliness?
2. According to the story of Zacchaeus in Luke 19, what specific action did Zacchaeus take to put himself in the path of Jesus?
3. The sermon described spiritual disciplines as “means of grace” rather than ways to earn God’s favor. What does this phrase mean in the context of the sermon? [20:27]
4. What question did the pastor suggest we ask ourselves to check if our spiritual practices are life-giving or just empty rituals? [28:33]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why does Paul emphasize that godliness “holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come”? What does this suggest about the long-term impact of spiritual disciplines?
2. The sermon compared spiritual training to athletes who train consistently, not just on race day. What does this analogy reveal about the nature of spiritual growth? [17:24]
3. In the story of Zacchaeus, transformation happened after he encountered Jesus. How does this illustrate the difference between positioning ourselves for God’s grace and trying to change ourselves by our own effort? [24:55]
4. The pastor said the difference between life-giving discipline and empty ritual is the heart’s intention and direction over time. How can someone discern where their heart is in their spiritual practices? [28:33]

Application Questions

1. The sermon challenged us to see spiritual disciplines not as religious checklists, but as ways to put ourselves in the path of God’s grace. Which spiritual discipline (prayer, Bible reading, worship, service, etc.) do you find most life-giving right now, and which feels more like a chore? Why? [20:27]
2. Zacchaeus climbed a tree to see Jesus, intentionally putting himself in a place to encounter Christ. What is one practical way you could “climb your own tree” this week—intentionally making space to meet with God? [24:55]
3. The pastor said, “Good habits always result in progress, even when we don’t feel like doing them.” Can you share a time when a spiritual habit felt dry or difficult, but you saw growth or change over time? [09:08]
4. The sermon emphasized the need for both personal and corporate disciplines. Are you more drawn to private devotion or to communal practices? What is one step you could take to grow in the area that is less natural for you? [32:20]
5. The difference between empty ritual and life-giving discipline is the heart’s intention. What helps you keep your heart engaged and open to God, rather than just “going through the motions”? [28:33]
6. The pastor said, “It’s not about perfection, but direction.” Where do you sense God inviting you to take a small step of growth—not to be perfect, but to move forward? [33:01]
7. If you were to commit to one area of spiritual growth for the next month, what would it be? How can the group support you in this commitment? [34:16]