Spiritual Disciplines: What Are They?

We all admire and appreciate the fruit of careful, rigorous training, whether in artisans, athletes, chefs, craftsmen, neurosurgeons, or preachers. We recognize, at least partially, the sacrificial dedication required to produce the behavior we appreciate. What happens when we apply our best sacrificial dedication—our most studied discipline—to spiritual growth? What does such training entail? What are its fruits? This first session, in a series of four, is an introduction to the spiritual disciplines.