Spiritual Training Disciplines

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The American church is facing a discipleship crisis. It’s become clear that our current approaches to church growth—marked by entertainment, high production, sporadic attendance, casual small groups, and volunteer roles on Sunday mornings—are not cultivating a deep formation of Christ within those who profess faith (Galatians 4:19). 

A routine of worship services and sermons alone is falling short of fostering the spiritual maturity needed for profound wholeness and healing in people’s lives. Nor has this model created the transparent, trusted communities where people feel fully known, seen, and loved—a community that embraces them as they are, propelling them toward greater healing and transformation. 

Meanwhile, the devil has a strategy. He works relentlessly to keep us fractured, hollow, isolated, and spiritually drained—burdened by hidden sins, resentment, despair, and unresolved brokenness (Eph. 6:11; 1 Pet. 5:8-9; 2 Cor. 2:11).

The path forward is clear: we must return to the spiritual practices Jesus Himself modeled—practices that granted Him constant access to the Source of Life, God the Father, through the Holy Spirit. Jesus engaged in fasting, prayer, silence, solitude, scripture reading and memorization, giving, serving, fellowship, and public worship.

The New Testament authors urge us to “be alert,” “put on,” “be sober,” “be watchful,” and “stay awake.” They call us to have a plan for spiritual growth and victorious living, standing firm against the devil, the world, and the flesh. The enemy has a strategy for our downfall; we need a strategy to stand tall in our growth in Christ.

What follows is a one-year training plan connecting us to the source of God’s glory and grace, the wellspring of life and transformation. Commit to it, and I guarantee your life will grow in wholeness, healing, and hope in Christ!

Remember: we’re not simply trying to be godly people; we’re training to be godly people (1 Tim. 4:7-8).

Training requires effort. God’s grace is opposed to earning—not effort (Willard). This journey is about shedding old habits and putting on Jesus’ way of life, and that takes intentional work. But thanks be to God—the Holy Spirit empowers us with both the desire and the strength to do this! (Phil. 2:12-13)