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by: Richard J. Foster
Binding: Hardcover
EAN: 9780340363324
ISBN: 0340363320
Label: Hodder & Stoughton Religious
Manufacturer: Hodder & Stoughton Religious
Number Of Pages: 272
Publication Date: October 01, 1984
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton Religious
Sales Rank: 1593959
Studio: Hodder & Stoughton Religious
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Editorial Review:
Product Description:
In the twenty years since its publication, Celebration of Discipline has helped over a million seekers discover a richer spiritual life infused with joy, peace, and a deeper understanding of God. Hailed by many as the best modern work 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 contributes 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. Foster provides a wealth of examples demonstrating how these Disciplines can become part of our daily activities -- and how they can help us shed our superficial habits and 'bring the abundance of God into our lives.' The discussion of celebration, often the most neglected of the Disciplines, shows its critical importance -- for it stands at the heart of the way to Christ. Celebration of Discipline will help motivate Christians everywhere to embark on a journey of prayer and spiritual growth.
Amazon.com Review:
When Richard Foster began writing Celebration of Discipline more than 20 years ago, an older writer gave him a bit of advice: 'Be sure that every chapter forces the reader into the next chapter.' Foster took the advice to heart; as a result, his book presents one of the most compelling and readable visions of Christian spirituality published in the past few decades. After beginning with a simple observation--'Superficiality is the curse of our age.... The desperate need today is not for a greater number of intelligent people, or gifted people, but for deep people'--Foster's book moves to explain the disciplines people must cultivate in order to achieve spiritual depth. In succinct, urgent, and sometimes humorous chapters, Foster defines a broad range of classic spiritual disciplines in terms that are lucid without being too limiting and offers advice that's practical without being overly prescriptive. For instance, after describing meditation as a combination of 'intense intimacy and awful reverence,' he settles into such down-to-earth topics as how to choose a place and a posture in which to meditate.
Perhaps most interesting and useful is Foster's chapter on the controversial Christian discipline of submission. According to Foster, submission does not demand self-hatred or loss of identity. Instead, it simply means growing secure in the conviction that 'our happiness is not dependent on getting what we want' but on the fulfillment that naturally flows from love of one's neighbors. Such wise and encouraging suggestions have helped many readers to discard the idea that discipline is an onerous duty and to move toward a liberating and simpler idea of discipline--whose defining character, as Foster never forgets, is joy. --Michael Joseph Gross
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Useful But Lacks Theological Framework
Celebration of Discipline is a primer on the subject of spiritual disciplines which Foster describes generally as those practices that are historically central to Christianity.
Foster seems to understand that intimacy with God is the main objective when considering the spiritual disciplines. He accurately states that "we have only one thing to do, namely, to experience a life of relationship and intimacy with God." Foster also recognizes that human willpower is insufficient to secure ... Read More
Rating:  - Celebration of Discipline
This is a excellet book for people of faith. It helps review various stages of belief and faithful living.
Rating: - The place to start for spiritual disciplines
Foster lays the foundation for cultivating a life marked by the spiritual disciplines. He touches on the major aspects of all the basic disciplines--prayer, fasting, journaling, silence, meditation, etc. While he doesn't give a thorough treatment of each one (as this was not his goal), he shows readers the path to developing these vital spiritual habits of the heart. Highly recommended for all looking to deepen their relationship with Christ.
Rating:  - Classic Overview
A classic overview of spiritual disciplines, Foster's book offers an understanding of Christian growth through prayer and discipline. A good book for beginners.
Rating: - Beginning of a more in-depth spiritual journey
This book is divided into 3 parts. Part 1 dwells on the inward disciplines, covering meditation, prayer, fasting and study. Inward disciplines are about practices by and on one-self leading to inward transformation. Part 2 is about the outward disciplines, covering simplicity, solitude, submission and service. Outward disciplines are about practices reflecting the outward life-style and interaction with the people around. Inward disciplines and transformations reinforce and enhance your outward disciplines ... Read More
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