#disciples

If there is no element of asceticism in our lives, if we give free rein to the desires of the flesh (taking care of course to keep within the limits of what seems permissible to the world), we shall find it hard to train for the service of Christ. When the flesh is satisfied it is hard to pray with cheerfulness or to devote oneself to a life of service which calls for much self-renunciation. ↗

— Dietrich Bonhoeffer

#christ #christianity #discipleship #discipline #fasting

Jesus-shaped spirituality hears Jesus say "believe and repent," but the call that resonates most closely in the heart of a disciple is "follow me." The command to follow requires that we take a daily journey in the company of other students. It demands that we be lifelong learners and that we commit to constant growth in spiritual maturity. Discipleship is a call to me, but it is a journey of "we. ↗

— Michael Spencer

#internet-monk #jesus #spirituality #spiritual-growth

I do not politicize Christianity nor my discipleship as Jesus did not politicize either His divinity nor his humanity. ↗

— R. Alan Woods

#discipleship #humanity-humans #politicization #r-alan-woods #r-alan-woods

Don't get me wrong, I like NASCAR and shopping at Nordstrom's, but discipleship is intrinsic as a lifestyle." ~R. Alan Woods [2013] ↗

— R. Alan Woods

#lifestyle #r-alan-woods #spirituality #r-alan-woods

Jesus said his disciples would be known for their love, not for their placards of protest and angry letters to the editor. ↗

— Brian Zahnd

#christianity #discipleship #jesus #love #forgiveness

God in His sovereign goodness often uses the painful and at times debilitating injury of a spear thrower to make us readier for His service. ... One thing you discover about spear throwers is that though it’s not necessary for them to be good, it’s essential for them to appear good. ↗

— Erwin W. Lutzer

#hypocrisy #submission #forgiveness

Nonsense! I have merely come to terms with the fact that I am perfect, and I have decided life must go on, and I must learn to live with myself... ↗

— C.N. Faust

#fantasy #faust #gay #horror #humor

The call of God is a call according to the nature of God; where we go in obedience to that call depends entirely on the providential circumstances which God engineers, and is not of any moment. The danger is to fit the call of God into the idea of our own discernment and say, “God called me there.” If we say so and stick to it, then it is good-bye to the development of the life of God in us. ↗

— Oswald Chambers

#sovereignty-of-god #life

Spiritual maturity is not reached by the passing of the years, but by obedience to the will of God. Some people mature into an understanding of God’s will more quickly than others because they obey more readily; they more readily sacrifice the life of nature to the will of God. ↗

— Oswald Chambers

#maturity #obedience #life

It never cost a disciple anything to follow Jesus; to talk about cost when you are in love with anyone is an insult. ↗

— Oswald Chambers

#discipleship #love