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003 Spiritual Disciplines Introduction

April 13, 2022 Tim Episode 3
Join the Resistance Podcast
003 Spiritual Disciplines Introduction
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Join the Resistance Podcast
003 Spiritual Disciplines Introduction
Apr 13, 2022 Episode 3
Tim

Join The Resistance Podcast

Episode 003 - Spiritual Disciplines Series - Introduction


Welcome to the JTRP where we help Christians overcome sexual brokenness and pornography through growing in their relationship with God.  Buckle up for this encouraging and insightful episode with your hosts, Tim Russell and Jack Adkins. Are you ready to join the resistance?


  • We are starting a new series called Spiritual Disciplines
    • What are Spiritual Disciplines?
      • The Reformers talked about means of grace. 
        • Table Talk - https://tabletalkmagazine.com/article/2020/06/what-is-a-means-of-grace/ 
        • “Our growth in the grace of Christ will be commensurate with our use of the means God has appointed. Theologians refer to these as “means of grace” (media gratia). The means of grace are God’s appointed instruments by which the Holy Spirit enables believers to receive Christ and the benefits of redemption… God assigned the Word, sacraments, and prayer to be the foremost means by which He communicates Christ and His benefits to believers.”
        • “We find a helpful historical definition of the means of grace in the Westminster Shorter Catechism, where we read: “The outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicates to us the benefits of redemption, are his ordinances, especially the word, sacraments, and prayer; all which are made effectual to the elect for salvation” (WSC 88).”
      • David Mathis wrote a book called Habits of Grace
        • Here he focuses on the behaviors or habits that if instilled within us and infused with faith that Christ will meet us in the doing of the habits, the grace of God grows in our life.  
        • We need this grace. If we are going to make progress in the battle against lust and sexual brokenness, we need to grow in grace. We need to grow in our obedience to God and his word.  
        • We are going to use Mathis’s book, Habits of Grace as a guide for this series. We will not be following it point by point but more using it as an outline for what topics to cover and discuss.  There may be certain episodes that lean more heavily on the book than others.  
        • We encourage you to purchase a copy of the book for your own use and study as we go through this series.  Link can be found in the show notes.  
    • Objection - The Bible says that we’re saved by grace and not by works. That means that God gives us all the grace we will ever need at our salvation. Isn't this talk about means of grace or habits of grace unbiblical? 
      • No, We are told to grow in grace. Many of pauls prayers are that we would grow in our 
      • 2 Peter 3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. (ESV)
    • Why do my habits matter? After all, I can’t lose my salvation. Once saved, always saved, right? So what’s the big deal? Since we are not saved by works, we should worry about works. Jesus is just happy that I chose him, right? 
      • Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges Preface quote and discussion:

A farmer plows his field, sows the seed, and fertilizes and cultivates—all the while knowing that in the final analysis he is utterly dependent on forces outside of himself. He knows he cannot cause the seed to germinate, nor can he produce the rain and sunshine for growing and harvesting the crop. For a successful harvest, he is dependent on these things from God.

Yet the farmer knows that unless he diligently pursues his responsibilities to plow, plant, fertilize, and

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Show Notes

Join The Resistance Podcast

Episode 003 - Spiritual Disciplines Series - Introduction


Welcome to the JTRP where we help Christians overcome sexual brokenness and pornography through growing in their relationship with God.  Buckle up for this encouraging and insightful episode with your hosts, Tim Russell and Jack Adkins. Are you ready to join the resistance?


  • We are starting a new series called Spiritual Disciplines
    • What are Spiritual Disciplines?
      • The Reformers talked about means of grace. 
        • Table Talk - https://tabletalkmagazine.com/article/2020/06/what-is-a-means-of-grace/ 
        • “Our growth in the grace of Christ will be commensurate with our use of the means God has appointed. Theologians refer to these as “means of grace” (media gratia). The means of grace are God’s appointed instruments by which the Holy Spirit enables believers to receive Christ and the benefits of redemption… God assigned the Word, sacraments, and prayer to be the foremost means by which He communicates Christ and His benefits to believers.”
        • “We find a helpful historical definition of the means of grace in the Westminster Shorter Catechism, where we read: “The outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicates to us the benefits of redemption, are his ordinances, especially the word, sacraments, and prayer; all which are made effectual to the elect for salvation” (WSC 88).”
      • David Mathis wrote a book called Habits of Grace
        • Here he focuses on the behaviors or habits that if instilled within us and infused with faith that Christ will meet us in the doing of the habits, the grace of God grows in our life.  
        • We need this grace. If we are going to make progress in the battle against lust and sexual brokenness, we need to grow in grace. We need to grow in our obedience to God and his word.  
        • We are going to use Mathis’s book, Habits of Grace as a guide for this series. We will not be following it point by point but more using it as an outline for what topics to cover and discuss.  There may be certain episodes that lean more heavily on the book than others.  
        • We encourage you to purchase a copy of the book for your own use and study as we go through this series.  Link can be found in the show notes.  
    • Objection - The Bible says that we’re saved by grace and not by works. That means that God gives us all the grace we will ever need at our salvation. Isn't this talk about means of grace or habits of grace unbiblical? 
      • No, We are told to grow in grace. Many of pauls prayers are that we would grow in our 
      • 2 Peter 3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. (ESV)
    • Why do my habits matter? After all, I can’t lose my salvation. Once saved, always saved, right? So what’s the big deal? Since we are not saved by works, we should worry about works. Jesus is just happy that I chose him, right? 
      • Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges Preface quote and discussion:

A farmer plows his field, sows the seed, and fertilizes and cultivates—all the while knowing that in the final analysis he is utterly dependent on forces outside of himself. He knows he cannot cause the seed to germinate, nor can he produce the rain and sunshine for growing and harvesting the crop. For a successful harvest, he is dependent on these things from God.

Yet the farmer knows that unless he diligently pursues his responsibilities to plow, plant, fertilize, and