Two ways to live training: The Better Conversation (After)

I found this video (you'll have to either excuse or enjoy the Australian accents!) which nicely sums up "The Two Ways to Live" portion of our reading. It takes a few minutes to watch, but it seems well worth the time. The "Before" video gave an example of someone who wasn't really prepared to answer his friend about Christianity. You may want to see that one too if you enjoy this one.

Recap of Chapter One from March 3

Our first meeting went very well! Thanks to all who attended-- some new faces and some regulars. We hope to continue to knit our hearts together through the course of this study and we are looking forward to seeing the Wednesday night crew next week!

We began the study by asking the question "What does the word discipline mean to you?" The answers we came up with were:
necessary
using time wisely
prioritizing
not taking shortcuts
learning
training (as in children)
leads to obedience

We decided that some of the world's thoughts on discipline included negative things like punishment (and not the positive element of training)
restrictions and being opposed to freedom
boring and narrow minded

Page 12 of the book says

"Maybe discipline seems like a hard word to you now--one full of challenge and perhaps of duty. But be prepared to discover that discipline is your lifeline, something that you learn to embrace and thank God for as you grow in him." 1

Then we went on to talk about how a locomotive engine is never free unless it is bound to its' tracks. Just imagine if it tried to derail! We too are most free when we are on the disciplined tracks that God has laid out for us. At that time we also talked about how discipline is the opposite of instant gratification.

Moving along we talked about the meaning of the word train and how it is a laborious, strenuous, "excersizing" type word. Not something we sit back and think about, but must constantly DO. Furthermore, it reaps eternal rewards, where other things that we labor after in this life do not.

We ended the study with an assignment: Contemplate what things are holding you back in your walk with God and what makes you hang on to them?

1 Barbara Hughes, Disciplines of a Godly Woman (Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books, 2001), p. 12.

Facebook Page

Hi everyone,
We've started a Facebook page for the study as well!
I'm not the best with technology so I don't know if this will work or not, but I'm going to try to link it: Disciplines Study on Facebook . I made it a closed group, so I don't know if that makes a difference! Anyway, if I haven't added you to the group, please leave a comment or let me know in person and we'll fix that right away!
Thanks! I am looking forward to tomorrow!!!
~Sharon~

Book on Google Reader

Just a heads up to anyone who would like to take a sneak-peak at the Disciplines of a Godly Woman book by Barbara Hughes. Google Reader has included what looks like up to Chapter 3 of the book on this site. If you don't have a copy of the book, here is your chance to get a taste of what is in store for us over the next few weeks.

The Newest Ladies' Bible Study to Begin

Mark your calendars for Thursday, March 3 to kick off the newest ladies' Bible study at Sioux Falls United Reformed Church (meeting in the Heartland Community Church basement). We will be studying the book Disciplines of a Godly Woman by Barbara Hughes. We are planning to meet at 7:00pm for 15 minutes of fellowship, and begin the study promptly at 7:15pm (this is 15 minutes earlier than the previous study). It will go until 8:30pm.

This study will meet every week, alternating between Thursdays and Wednesdays. Calendars of specific dates will be forthcoming. The book has some very "meaty" reading material, so we are planning to spend at least two weeks on the discussion questions in each chapter. Each lesson can stand alone, so missing a week or two will not leave you behind if you cannot commit to every session.

Looking forward to learning and growing together in Christ!