What do you think?
Rate this book
Richard J. Foster's Study Guide for "Celebration of Discipline"
Delve more deeply into the enduring spiritual guidebook. Richard J. Foster presents a series of brief, incisive essays that expand the discussion begun in Celebration of Discipline, which has sold more than two million copies and has been named one of the top ten books of the twentieth century by Christianity Today . These essays focus and clarify key issues, and encourage a fuller understanding and practice of the spiritual disciplines. Each essay is followed by Scripture passages to enhance our appreciation of the disciplines and study questions to facilitate careful reading of the original text and stimulate thought and discussion. Foster also provides an annotated bibliography of readings that suggest directions for further study.
79 pages, Paperback
First published February 16, 1983
129 people are currently reading
117 people want to read
About the author
Richard J. Foster
92 books530 followersRichard J. Foster is the author of several bestselling books, including Celebration of Discipline, Streams of Living Water, and Prayer, which was Christianity Today's Book of the Year and the winner of the Gold Medallion Award from the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association. He is the founder of Renovaré, an intrachurch movement committed to the renewal of the Church in all her multifaceted expressions, and the editor of The Renovaré Spiritual Formation Bible.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 10, 2014
Richard J. Foster’s Study Guide for Celebration of Discipline has some value on its own, but is, of course, best used with Celebration of Discipline. Unlike many study guides, it is not repetitive. Each discipline is approached in a supplementary manner or with another angle to help the reader think through matters that might have been neglected in the initial reading of the main volume. However, the study guide has fresh perspective, new exercises to build upon, and questions to ensure that one does not neglect the main points of Celebration of Discipline.
One introductory illustration that wasn’t in the original book was the metaphor of every believer having, “…a part to play in the drama of holiness. To be sure, it is only a bit part in a huge pageant, but it is an essential one.” (p. 6) On pages 20-22, Foster uses a passage from the Gospel of John to illustrate a way to meditate upon Scripture such that one uses imagination to see, hear, feel (sensually), feel (emotionally), and open oneself to a specific message.
Another helpful addition to the main book was the discussion on submission. He warns that the Discipline of submission can lead to distortions. One of these is the “Doormat,” the individual who, rather than submitting, allows himself/herself to become a victim, a thing instead of a person. Another of these is the “Pleaser,” the individual who, rather than submitting out of concern for the other person(s), will do anything to avoid confrontation. The next one is the “Dependent,” the individual who cannot and will not make a decision—using “submission” as an excuse for passivity. Finally, Foster considers the “Manipulator,” the individual who seems to submit but uses social jujitsu in order to actually manipulate others and get her/his own way (p. 49).
Another important discussion which was not fully realized in the original book had to do with the Discipline of service. Many people think that service is always saying, “Yes” to every need. Foster’s thesis is, “Love is a reasoned concern for the well-being of all.” (p. 53) As such, “Love” means that there are going to be times when one must decline. He suggests prayerful seeking of discernment followed by obedience. The danger is that once we have been burned by others, we will find it far too easy to say, “No.” (p. 53) This is so refreshing to have a spiritual leader recognizing the downside of certain practices rather than merely propounding the ideal as though it can always be flawlessly implemented.
In the worship practice, the study guide added the idea of the tripudium (an ancient church tradition that combines the movement of march and dance in a three-steps forward, one step back accompaniment to hymn singing (p. 64). With such ideas, the author continues his emphasis on doing rather than simply speaking. This is one of the possible activities in the study guide which could be useful.
Finally, I was particularly moved by a quotation from Brother Lawrence that I don’t remember from the main book: “Lord, I am yours, dryness does not matter nor affect me!” (p. 73) I am quite thankful that Foster chose to pen this companion guide to the main work. Since it is dependent, to a large degree, on the main work, I didn’t rate it as highly as the main work.
One introductory illustration that wasn’t in the original book was the metaphor of every believer having, “…a part to play in the drama of holiness. To be sure, it is only a bit part in a huge pageant, but it is an essential one.” (p. 6) On pages 20-22, Foster uses a passage from the Gospel of John to illustrate a way to meditate upon Scripture such that one uses imagination to see, hear, feel (sensually), feel (emotionally), and open oneself to a specific message.
Another helpful addition to the main book was the discussion on submission. He warns that the Discipline of submission can lead to distortions. One of these is the “Doormat,” the individual who, rather than submitting, allows himself/herself to become a victim, a thing instead of a person. Another of these is the “Pleaser,” the individual who, rather than submitting out of concern for the other person(s), will do anything to avoid confrontation. The next one is the “Dependent,” the individual who cannot and will not make a decision—using “submission” as an excuse for passivity. Finally, Foster considers the “Manipulator,” the individual who seems to submit but uses social jujitsu in order to actually manipulate others and get her/his own way (p. 49).
Another important discussion which was not fully realized in the original book had to do with the Discipline of service. Many people think that service is always saying, “Yes” to every need. Foster’s thesis is, “Love is a reasoned concern for the well-being of all.” (p. 53) As such, “Love” means that there are going to be times when one must decline. He suggests prayerful seeking of discernment followed by obedience. The danger is that once we have been burned by others, we will find it far too easy to say, “No.” (p. 53) This is so refreshing to have a spiritual leader recognizing the downside of certain practices rather than merely propounding the ideal as though it can always be flawlessly implemented.
In the worship practice, the study guide added the idea of the tripudium (an ancient church tradition that combines the movement of march and dance in a three-steps forward, one step back accompaniment to hymn singing (p. 64). With such ideas, the author continues his emphasis on doing rather than simply speaking. This is one of the possible activities in the study guide which could be useful.
Finally, I was particularly moved by a quotation from Brother Lawrence that I don’t remember from the main book: “Lord, I am yours, dryness does not matter nor affect me!” (p. 73) I am quite thankful that Foster chose to pen this companion guide to the main work. Since it is dependent, to a large degree, on the main work, I didn’t rate it as highly as the main work.
Read
March 23, 2021This study guide was helpful as my friend and I read through Celebration of Discipline. We didn't use every question every week, but the questions and additional reading were a great jumping off point for our discussions. Found it as a free PDF online.
November 4, 2015
An insightful and reflective study that helps one to examine and reflect on their walk and pursuance of God. I also consider it to be a primer. I first read this book shortly after I became a Christian. Every time I reread it I still discover new insights on how I can love others and embrace God more passionately. Foster engages and challenges the reader with the explanations and incorporations of the Inward, Outward, and Corporate Disciplines. It's multifaceted approach to the Christian walk is relevant to most any age or station in life. The last one I purchased included a Study Guide which was a welcome addition to the book.
December 1, 2012
A great addition to the book. Nice summaries of each discipline, along with a few extra insights. Also provides a list of scriptures related to each discipline, and a list of recommended reading related to each discipline.
September 18, 2008
Great to go along with the book as a study!
August 13, 2010
An excellent book that I will read again and again.
April 24, 2017
while not as good as Celebration itself, this handy guide made leading discussion on the book and processing it for myself much easier.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews