As we begin our “liturgy” of spiritual disciplines--a regular and intentional walking through of the nine Practices of Jesus throughout the year--it’s helpful to reflect on the wisdom of M. Robert Mulholland, an esteemed Asbury Theological Seminary professor known for his work on spiritual formation and discipleship.
I’m very excited for this portion of our journey together in 2025. Starting next Sunday, March 16th we once again embark on the spiritual disciplines we call “Practices of the Way.” These Practices are habits based on the lifestyle of Jesus that create time and space for us to access the presence and power of God and be transformed by the power of the Spirit.
In our final week of the Sermon on the Mount series (Matthew 7:13-27), Jesus reminds us that, as free-willed beings, we each face choices every day. The Narrow Road: At first, following God’s laws might feel constraining, but we come to see that this path is the road to true freedom.
In Week 8 of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 7: 1-12) Jesus begins this part of his teaching concerning our relationships with others. Here’s what he says:
Do not judge. Instead, whenever we feel like judging someone else, use it as an opportunity to reflect on your own shortcomings. (Matthew 7: 1-5)
In Week 7 of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus makes it clear that there is an eternal difference between Earthly Wealth and Heavenly Wealth. In order to make space for Heavenly Wealth we must give up the over-pursuit of Earthly Wealth. They cannot co-exist.
In Week 6 of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches us how to pray through what we now know as The Lord’s Prayer. Within it, we find four key themes: Entering God’s Kingdom – When we love God and love others, as commanded in the Greatest Commandment, we step into the reality of God’s kingdom.
In Week 5 of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus addresses the issue of hypocrisy that can sometimes arise within the Church. He provides three examples: drawing attention to one’s giving to the needy, praying in a way that seeks the admiration of others, and fasting in a manner that invites public recognition.
In Week 4 of the Sermon on the Mount, we review three more case studies of Jesus explaining the Torah and the Prophets in terms of oaths, justice, and enemies. In the morality that persists in God’s Kingdom, Jesus speaks to your core desires and the motivation behind how you treat others.
In this section of the Sermon on the Mount (Week 3: Honoring Others) Jesus provides us three case studies of applying the Torah to its fundamental meaning defined by God. The first one is Murder which is equivalent to not treating someone as the image of God when someone’s existence is, in itself, the image of God that deserves respect.
Jesus came to rescue us from the world that we’ve created out of selfishness and contempt for others. Jesus came to deliver us into communities of love and respect through righteousness, defined as doing right by God and others.