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Celebration of DisciplineWhile our church building was closed and gatherings were not permitted because of the COVID-19 crisis, Pastor Ryan Emmons made a series of short video sermons based on the classic book Celebration of Discipline, by Richard Foster.

Spiritual disciplines are ways that we can maintain a connection with God at all times, but especially so in a time when we were unable to worship, learn, and serve with other people.

Here is the description of the book from the Renovare website:

Hailed by many as the best modern book on Christian spirituality, Celebration of Discipline explores the “classic Disciplines,” or central spiritual practices, of the Christian faith. Along the way, Foster shows that it is only by and through these practices that the true path to spiritual growth can be found. Dividing the Disciplines into three movements of the Spirit, Foster shows how each of these areas contribute to a balanced spiritual life. The inward Disciplines of meditation, prayer, fasting, and study, offer avenues of personal examination and change. The outward Disciplines of simplicity, solitude, submission, and service, help prepare us to make the world a better place. The corporate Disciplines of confession, worship, guidance, and celebration, bring us nearer to one another and to God.

Pastor Ryan’s videos were on:

  1. Introduction to Spiritual Disciplines
  2. Inward Disciplines:
    1. Meditation
    2. Prayer
    3. Fasting
    4. Study
  3. Outward Disciplines:
    1. Simplicity
    2. Solitude
    3. Submission
    4. Service
  4. Corporate Disciplines:
    1. Confession
    2. Worship
    3. Guidance
    4. Celebration

Other recommended resources:

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Iceberg

March 15, 2020 – Pastor Ryan Emmons
Series: Emotionally Healthy Spirituality (based on the book/study by Peter Scazzero)

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 ; Job 1:13-2:10

傳 道 書 3:1-8 ;  約 伯 記 1:13-2:10

1. Job’s Story in All of Us

2. Path to New Beginnings:

  1. Pay Attention
  2. Wait in the Confusing In-Between
  3. Embrace the Gift of Limits
  4. Climb the Ladder of Humility
  5. Let the Old Birth the New

 

 

 

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Iceberg

March 8, 2020 – Pastor Ryan Emmons
Series: Emotionally Healthy Spirituality (based on the book/study by Peter Scazzero)

Hebrews 12:7-11 ; James 1:2-5

希 伯 來 書 12:7-11 ; 雅 各 書 1:2-5

The Wall:

The Other Side:

  1. A greater level of brokenness
  2. A greater appreciation for Holy Unknowing (Mystery)
  3. A deeper ability to wait for God
  4. A greater detachment

 

 

 

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Iceberg

March 1, 2020 – Pastor Ryan Emmons
Series: Emotionally Healthy Spirituality (based on the book/study by Peter Scazzero)

Genesis 37-50 ; Matthew 10:37-39

創 世 記 37-50 ; 馬 太 福 音 10:37-39

The Joseph Model:

1. Joseph had a profound sense of the bigness of God

2. Joseph admitted honestly the sadness and losses
of his family

3. Joseph rewrote his life script according to Scripture

4. Joseph partnered with God to be a blessing

 

 

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Iceberg

February 23, 2020 – Pastor Ryan Emmons
Based on the book/study by Peter Scazzero

Jeremiah 31:3-4 ; Luke 4:1-13

耶 利 米 書 31:3-4 ; 路 加 福 音 4:1-13

Road to a False Self:

  1. I am what I do
  2. I am what I have
  3. I am what others think

Road to an Authentic Self:

  1. Pay attention in silence and solitude
  2. Find trusted companions
  3. Move out of your comfort zone
  4. Pray for courage

 

 

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Iceberg

February 16, 2020 – Pastor Ryan Emmons
Based on the book/study by Peter Scazzero

Hebrews 5:11-6:1 ; Revelation 3:1-3

希 伯 來 書 5:11-6:1 ; 啟 示 錄 3:1-3

Symptoms of Emotionally Unhealthy Spirituality:

1. Using God to run from God
2. Ignoring anger, sadness, and fear
3. Dying to the wrong things
4. Denying the impact of the past on the present
5. Dividing life into “secular” and “sacred” components
6. Doing for God instead of being with God
7. Spiritualizing away conflict
8. Covering over brokenness, weakness, and failure
9. Living without limits
10. Judging other people’s spiritual journey

 

 

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Emotionally Healthy Spirituality cover

From February 16 to April 5, Pastor Ryan preached a sermon series based on Peter Scazzero’s book “Emotionally Healthy Spirituality”. (The series was interrupted by the COVID lockdown, so was never finished.)

Topics included:

  1. The Problem of Emotionally Unhealthy Spirituality
  2. Know Yourself that You May Know God
  3. Going Back in Order to Go Forward
  4. Journey Through the Wall (letting go of power and control)
  5. Enlarge Your Soul Through Grief
  6. Discover the Rhythms of the Daily Office and Sabbath
  7. Grow into an Emotionally Mature Adult
  8. Develop a “Rule of Life”

From the book jacket:

Peter Scazzero learned the hard way: you can’t be spiritually mature while remaining emotionally immature. Though Scazzero was an experienced pastor of a growing church, his life and faith remained emotionally unhealthy. Like so many in the church, he routinely:

  • avoided healthy conflict in the name of keeping the peace
  • ignored and suppressed emotions
  • used work for God as an excuse to run from God
  • lived without limits

In this bestselling book, Scazzero outlines the top ten symptoms of emotionally unhealthy spirituality. He then unpacks core biblical principles to guide you into an experience of lasting, beneath-the-surface transformation in your relationship with Christ.

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Misrepresenting - malcolm-lightbody-9_vTvPP1E30-unsplash

February 9, 2020   ~ Pastor Ryan Emmons

Psalm 112 ; Matthew 5:17-20

詩 篇 112 ; 馬 太 福 音 5:17-20

“How joyful are those who fear the Lord and delight in
obeying his   commands.”                      Psalm 112:1 (NLT)
“  你 们 要 赞 美 耶 和 华 ！ 敬 畏 耶 和 华 ， 甚 喜 爱 他 命 令 的 ，
这 人 便 为 有 福 ！ ”                              ~ 詩 篇 112:1 (CUVS)

 

Photo by Malcolm Lightbody on Unsplash

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Worthy - giorgio-trovato-_XTY6lD8jgM-unsplash

February 2, 2020   ~ Pastor Ryan Emmons

1 Corinthians 1:18-31 ; Psalm 15:1-5

歌 林 多 前 書 1:18-31 ; 詩 篇 15

“Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy,
and he freed us   from sin.”        ~ 1 Corinthians 1:30b (NLT)
“ 神 又 使 他 成 为 我 们 的 智 慧 、 公 义 、 圣 洁 、 救 赎 。 ”
~ 歌 林 多 前 書 1:30b (CUVS)

Photo by Giorgio Travato on Unsplash