In this sermon, Pastor Devin Calhoun explores the concept of spiritual practices or disciplines as intentional shaping forces in our lives. He introduces nine classical practices: Sabbath, prayer, solitude, fasting, scripture, community, generosity, service, and witness. Calhoun emphasizes that these practices are not measures of spiritual maturity or ways to earn God's grace, but rather means for the Holy Spirit to transform us to be more like Jesus.
The pastor then focuses on three practices - Sabbath, prayer, and solitude - as ways to counteract the unintentional shaping forces of hurry, noise, and crowds in our modern world. He explains how Sabbath provides rest and worship, prayer offers intimacy with God and relief from anxiety, and solitude allows for undistracted time with God. Throughout the sermon, Calhoun uses personal anecdotes and Biblical references to illustrate his points, such as Jesus' example of prayer in Gethsemane (Mark 14).
Calhoun concludes by encouraging the congregation to implement at least one of these practices in their daily or weekly lives, not to prove their spirituality, but to grow closer to Jesus. He stresses that the goal of these practices is transformation and spiritual maturity, as described in Galatians 5:22, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control."
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