Spiritual disciplines within the church - Donald S. Whitney

'You're worth it.' 'You deserve a break today.' 'Do something nice for yourself.' Commonly heard phrases in this
society are committed to self-gratification and individual rights. Doing things for other people is a waste of precious
time, and asking for help isweak. So how do we build the church described in the Scriptures? In this day and age,
how can we be a genuine community based on self-sacrifice and mutual commitment?

In Spiritual Disciplines
Within the Church, seminary professor, author, and former pastor Don Whitney shows us how to build a sense of community
and be active participants instead of passive attendees. Whitney looks at such frequently asked questions as: Why can't
I get by on my own? Why should I go to church? Why should I give of myself to the church? Why do I need to worship in church?
Couldn't I just worship in nature? Why does it matter whether I become a member of the church?

Committed love must
mark the local expression of the body of Christ. By putting spiritual disciplines into practice in the church, congregations
can return to the depth of community present in the New Testament church, where they 'devoted themselves to the apostles'
teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.'