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Celebration of Discipline Paperback – 1 January 2009
by Richard Foster (Author)
4.7 out of 5 stars 3,669 ratings
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Arguably the most established contemporary spiritual classic by our most profound living religious writer. This timeless classic has helped well over a million people discover a richer spiritual life infused with joy, peace and a deeper understanding of God.
The book explores the 'classic disciplines' of Christian faith: the inward disciplines of meditation, prayer, fasting, and study; the outward disciplines of simplicity, solitude, submission and service and the corporate disciplines of confession, worship, guidance and celebration.
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Like a child exploring the attic of an old house on a rainy day, discovering a trunk full of treasure and then calling all his brothers and sisters to share the find, Richard Foster has 'found' the spiritual disciplines that the modern world stored away and forgot ... the instruments of joy, the way into mature Christian spirituality and abundant life. - Eugene Peterson
This is a book I'd love to have written ... exciting, stimulating and joyful. - Joyce Huggett
The best modern book on Christian spirituality. - Ronald Sider
Review
Like a child exploring the attic of an old house on a rainy day, discovering a trunk full of treasure and then calling all his brothers and sisters to share the find, Richard Foster has 'found' the spiritual disciplines that the modern world stored away and forgot ... the instruments of joy, the way into mature Christian spirituality and abundant life. - Eugene Peterson
This is a book I'd love to have written ... exciting, stimulating and joyful. - Joyce Huggett
The best modern book on Christian spirituality. - Ronald Sider
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Product details
Publisher : Hodder Faith; 1st edition (1 January 2009)
Language : English
Paperback : 304 pages
4.7 out of 5 stars 3,669 ratings
Top reviews from Australia
Martin I'Anson
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant and challengingReviewed in Australia 🇦🇺 on 26 February 2021
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An absolute classic! Must read for every Jesus follower and a call to live beyond merely church attendance and embrace a transformed life.
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Steve Lenon
5.0 out of 5 stars A great book. By giving Biblical principles that help us ...Reviewed in Australia 🇦🇺 on 11 February 2015
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A great book. By giving Biblical principles that help us along the path of discipleship and spiritual growth, it goes a long way to correcting the dangerous error that 'cheap grace' carries with it's singular focus on the atonement.
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Ian Acheson
5.0 out of 5 stars Compulsory reading for every believer and such an enjoyable readReviewed in Australia 🇦🇺 on 14 July 2018
This really is the definitive piece of work on spiritual disciplines. Foster shares his thoughts on 13 of them split into 3 categories:
1. The Inward Disciplines
2. The Outward Disciplines
3. The Corporate Disciples
Each chapter is powerful and Foster opened my eyes to some that I hadn't really thought much about, eg, Celebration and Guidance (both best experienced in community!) As one expects with all Foster works, it is well researched with references to an assortment of other works from long in the past to more current ones. The references in themselves are compelling and I already can see myself seeking out a bunch of them.
Each discipline comes with a section titled "For Study" which gives a 7-day list of Biblical passages to review and meditate upon to help embed the discipline.
In this often superficial distracted and busy world many Christians ask the question why does one need to add to our daily activities such activities. It's a valid question and fortunately, Foster and the Afterword by James Catford (Head of Renovare UK) provide tremendous answers. Foster: "God has given us the Disciplines of the spiritual life as a means of receiving his grace. The Disciplines allow us to place ourselves before God so that he can transform us." and "This is the way it is with the Spiritual Disciplines - they are a way of sowing to the Spirit." Catford then adds: "It's the remarkable discovery that by stepping into the classic disciplines of the Christian faith we can, entirely by the grace of God, take the first step to be changed into his likeness." and "If Christianity is about anything it's about the work of God to change us from the inside out."
This really should be compulsory reading when one first choices to give their life to Jesus and I would encourage everyone seeking to go deeper with the Lord to spend some time both reading this book and then practicing the disciplines.
Very very highly recommended.
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Gabriel Meirelles
5.0 out of 5 stars Very good!Reviewed in Brazil 🇧🇷 on 23 January 2018
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I learned so much reading this book. It shows a complete material about the spiritual disciplines and I enjoyed the whole book!
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Nadine
5.0 out of 5 stars Book arrived well.Reviewed in Japan 🇯🇵 on 15 August 2017
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Came in expected time. New product.
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Jennie Pollock
5.0 out of 5 stars Not just a hopeful titleReviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 21 February 2015
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I love books I have to read with a pencil in my hand. Well, that's not 100% true: some books I have to read with a pencil in my hand because they are so poorly written or poorly edited that I have to make corrections as I go. I don't love that. I love books that are so rich, so refreshing, so exciting that I have to highlight parts, make notes and write 'Yes!!' in the margins as I go.
Celebration of Discipline is one of those books - the marked-up-in-a-good-way books.
I deliberately took my time reading it (or tried to), rather than rushing through, but there is still so much goodness in there that I'm thinking of picking it back up and starting again almost immediately.
In a way, it shouldn't be so exciting. The twelve disciplines he covers he calls the classical disciplines - classic both because they are ancient and "because they are central to experiential Christianity."
"Superficiality," he begins, causing me to reach for my pencil, "is the curse of our age. ... The classical Disciplines of the spiritual life call us to move beyond surface living into the depths."
If that doesn't resonate with you, click away now; there's nothing for you here. If, however, that makes your heart and soul yearn for that deeper experience of God, of life itself, stop reading this review and just buy the book.
What comes through most strongly in Foster's writing is not a sense of dutiful worthiness but one of joy: deep, refreshing, life-giving joy. The author's celebration of discipline is not just a hopeful title but a very clear reality.
Highly recommended.
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Clomas
5.0 out of 5 stars A spiritual classicReviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 16 June 2016
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I bought this hardback edition as a replacement for my yellowing paperback edition purchased in 1983. Well into the second half of my life, I know now which are the books that I will return to again and again and this is one of them. Richard Foster's writing is clear, uncomplicated, thought provoking and challenging - and always conveys the kindness and love of God. It is a spiritual classic.
11 people found this helpfulReport
Cjbevan
5.0 out of 5 stars The essential handbook of christian devotional technique. The classic title, unmatched in scope and description.Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 22 May 2015
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It is the only book that i know if that goes in useful way over the practicalities of fasting, silence, simplicity, community, and indeed all spiritual disciplines, putting them all into context with each other and with the walk with God. No other book covers it all so accessibly and usefully. I have referred to it since the 80's and never superseded it or found it obsolete or superfluous. its presence on my book shelf is a constant admonition to my lifestyle. I have lost count of the amount of copies i have bought and given on. It is the only book I know like it.
6 people found this helpfulReport
===
Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth
Richard J. Foster
4.18
36,687 ratings1,242 reviews
Hailed by many as the best modern book on Christian spirituality, Celebration of Discipline has helped more than one million seekers discover a richer spiritual life infused with joy, peace, and a deeper understanding of God. 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 contribute to a more 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.' He offers crucial new insights on simplicity, demonstrating how the biblical view of simplicity, properly understood and applied, brings joy and balance to our inward and outward lives and 'sets us free to enjoy the provision of God as a gift that can be shared with others.' 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.
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Nonfiction
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Theology
Spirituality
Christian Living
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227 pages, Hardcover
First published July 1, 1978
Original title
Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth
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227 pages, Hardcover
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October 1, 1998 by HarperSanFrancisco
ISBN
9780060628390 (ISBN10: 0060628391)
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English
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Richard J. Foster
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Richard 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.
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Michael
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April 13, 2013
For years I had followed traditional Christian writings and practices, growing ever more disenchanted with the hollowness of the experience. In my private readings I'd immersed myself in wider and deeper worlds, searching, searching.
In 1984 I was doing some training in Estes Park and went to hear Amy Grant at the YMCA of the Rockies. I wanted to hear her do Angels Watching Over Me in person, and that done, I browsed the bookstore before heading back to my cabin.
This book, recently published at the time, grabbed me so aggressively I nearly fell on the floor. It was the missing link I'd been searching for, the connection between Christian thought and spiritual practice. I stayed up all night reading it, and to this day consider it one of the most important books in my life. It set my life loose, on a journey of discovery that continues to this day.
This is soul-rocking stuff, for those who are ready for it.
Little did I realize at the time it would speak to others with the same power: Richard Foster's ideas have gone on to become a movement. My spirituality doesn't lend itself to industrial-strength support systems so I haven't done much to keep up with all he's doing. But from what I can tell the heart of his message has remained the same, and he has stayed true to the quiet voice that knocked me on the floor those many years ago.
If you wonder how you can find the deeper layers of the teachings of the revolutionary Jesus, you could do worse than to spend some time with Foster.
mystery
political-philosophy
spirituality
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Bill
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June 11, 2016
I have mixed feelings about Celebration of Discipline. On one hand, I struggled with Foster’s subjective terminology and mystic approach. At times I found myself wondering exactly what he meant, and in turn wondering whether I would agree with him if I discovered exactly what he meant. Part of this is a difference theological emphasis, but I suspect it also comes down to a difference in personality. Some people like objective descriptions of neat and tidy concepts (like me), whereas others prefer more subjective, open ended, provocative discussion (like Richard Foster, perhaps). This was particularly evident when Foster turned to practical descriptions of spiritual Disciplines that went beyond what is clear from Scripture. I've come to prefer the term “means of grace” to refer to these kinds of practices, which keeps the focus on God’s part, rather than Spiritual Disciplines, which puts the focus on my part. For these reasons, I can’t whole-heartedly get on board with Foster’s vision of the Christian life.
Nonetheless, I am drawn to his very experiential way of following Jesus. I long for deeper meditation on Scripture, deeper times of prayer. I loved the chapter on study. I do appreciate silence as a way of connecting with God; I do seek to live a simple life. I would like to be more open to communal expressions of faith; I would like to express more unaffected joy. And so I was encouraged and motivated by this book. I won’t be adopting the life of an evangelical mystic anytime soon, but there’s plenty I can learn from Richard Foster.
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Laura
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December 31, 2008
Everybody thinks of changing humanity and nobody thinks of changing himself.
Leo Tolstoy
I first read this book in 1996 and loved it. I re-read it in 2005 and got even more out of it the second time. The book is inspiring and is a good reminder of the way I can have a more Christ-centered life through discipline.
Foster deals first with the inward disciplines: meditation, prayer, fasting, study. Then, he moves on to the outward disciplines: simplicity, solitude, submission, and service. The corporate disciplines: confession, worship, guidance, and celebration (these last two didn't resonate with me as much, but were still worthwhile).
What I love the most about the book is his reminder that the pursuit of a Christ-centered life is all about change and bringing ourselves closer to God. To pray is to change. To confess is to change. To worship is to change.
The idea is that daily scripture study and prayer is not to check off a to-do list, but actually change my life and who I am. The disciplines themselves are worthless without change.
I like the idea of incorporating meditation into my prayer time and allowing for more silence. I like the idea of emptying myself through meditation and then allowing myself to be filled with God's love. To let myself be open to God's will.
The chapter on simplicity was very interesting and just what I needed to hear. (Foster has an entire book dedicated to the subject of simplicity that I recommend, Freedom of Simplicity - if you're interested in a book that doesn't have a Christian point of view I recommend Voluntary Simplicity by Duane Elgin). Foster does a good job of inspiring change and encouraging you to start where you are at now.
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Brian Ming
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May 16, 2018
I just finished this gem. Although it's taken me some time to get through (due to such a busy schedule), I was disciplined enough to stick with it...See what I did there by celebrating my discipline. In all seriousness, I am very glad I read this book. In particular the sections on worship, on meditation, and especially on the celebration of joy are fabulous.
I highly recommend this book for anyone who is seeking to go deeper with God. Surprisingly, even though our culture seems emphatic about the need for the spontaneous and passionate expression of our love affection towards God, there is beauty to be found in the discipline of regiment. It goes far beyond that; our God is a God of order and structure.
Let me make this personal: In my relationship with God, I have tended to love him like a much loved relative I see often. What I mean by that is I am delighted to go a few days or weeks without much interaction in the relationship. My daily Bible can be erratic as well my prayer time. Then I end up feeling bad and, upon taking a visit to see my relative (as I continue with the analogy), I tell them, "I'm sorry It's been a few days (or weeks) since we've really spent quality time..."
Thus goes my journey. But, in this book, I see the benefit of setting up systems of disciplined interaction. Oh, and by the way, let me throw in that one of the reasons I am distant from God is that, sometimes when I come to him, he says nothing--or it just seems dry and stale. What I learned from this book is, that is normal and, even in those time, He appreciated my perseverance to "press through" and remain disciplined!
Not only really enjoyed the book, but learned a great deal of life-changing principles I will treasure moving forward in my relationship with God.
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Cori
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December 22, 2019
I listened to this book on Audible to and from work every day. While the first few chapters actually taught me a lot, I struggled to to maintain focus through the second half of the book.
A couple reasons for this:
1) I think I should have read a physical copy of this book. I KNOW I struggle to maintain focus listening to audio books if they aren't fast-paced and engaging. So the fact I thought I'd maintain focus on this was an error on my part.
2) The second half of the book really didn't teach me things I didn't already know. It felt a little elementary, but at the same time, they were great reminders on prayer, studying, joy, and a handful of other disciplines.
The first few chapters taught me so much. Meditation and fasting are two disciplines I don't do often, or at all, in my relationship with Jesus. And while I was listening to these chapters, I realize it's because I'm intimidated by them, thinking I don't know enough to do them well. Since reading this, I've tried meditating. And you know what? It's awesome! I literally started by setting a timer for 5-10 minutes and just sat in front of the Christmas tree thinking about all the things I have to be thankful for. I'm the kind of person who can't keep their brain on one track and end up thinking about the hole in my sock. But the book's explanation of breaking it down into small chunks and working up was simple but effective.
I'd rate this book a G.
devotionals
faith
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Ron
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June 7, 2011
Classic twentieth-century guide to a deeper inner life and joy. As the title implies, discipline is not negative but positive. Foster explores twelve approaches to inner, outer and corporate discipline.
Gets better with every reading. In fact, I didn't get half of what Foster had to offer my first time through.
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religion-philosophy
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Johnny
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July 10, 2014
Although influenced by Dallas Willard (prior to his publication of The Spirit of the Disciplines), Richard J. Foster uses a different taxonomy in Celebration of Discipline than Willard uses in his book (Disciplines of Abstinence (solitude, silence, fasting, frugality, chastity, secrecy, sacrifice) and Disciplines of Engagement (study, worship, celebration, service, prayer, fellowship, confession, submission) (p. 158)). Foster’s division of spiritual disciplines is a trinity of Inward Individual (meditation, prayer, fasting, study), Outward Individual (simplicity, solitude, submission, service), and Corporate (confession, worship, guidance, celebration). Even a quick perusal of the lists should indicate that there are overlapping terms for maturing in discipleship.
A lot of people from the Protestant tradition are immediately dissuaded from the idea of spiritual disciplines because they are so focused on the idea of grace. Grace, of course, is both the beginning and the sustaining of spiritual growth, but growth is growth toward something. Foster points out that the motivation toward establishing spiritual discipline is simply a “longing for God” (p. 2) and that, as with meditation, we learn to benefit from these disciplines by doing these disciplines (p. 26). The book quickly establishes that we cannot overcome sin and become closer to God by willpower alone (p. 5), but a means of receiving grace (p. 7).
Fortunately, this is a very practical introduction to these disciplines that recognizes that one doesn’t simply become an expert practitioner or spiritual giant overnight. Rather, Foster quotes the contemplative monk, Thomas Merton, as stating that we are all “beginners” all of our lives (p. 2). Although my summary of this volume may seem somewhat superficial, Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth is the kind of book that requires several readings and plenty of contemplation in order to get the most out of it. In fact, I rarely use a study guide when I’m digesting a devotional book, but I greatly benefited from the published study guide for this one.
Here are some of the ideas which were useful for me. In discussing meditation, Foster notes that the purpose of Eastern meditation is detachment from the world while Christian meditation is not merely trying to empty the evil, but fill ourselves with the good (p. 21). The book urges using both our memory and our imagination to meditate upon Scripture until it literally becomes God’s living word specifically to us (p. 29). As in his work on prayer, Foster quotes Martin Luther as stating that he is “so busy” that he must spend hours in prayer each day (p. 34). “Prayer is like any other work; we may not feel like working, but once we have been at it for a bit, we begin to feel like working.” (p. 45)
“Fasting is feasting,” says Foster (p. 55) to introduce the idea that fasting sets one free from the tyranny of desire. He cautions readers about jumping right into a long fast, suggesting several practical ideas for moving gradually into the experience. He also emphasizes four steps in study: 1) repetition (p. 64), 2) concentration (p. 65), 3) comprehension (p. 66), and 4) reflection (p. 66). I was impressed with his warning under study that, “All too many people rush to the application process and bypass the interpretation stage.” (p. 69)
Upon reaching the outward disciplines of the individual, Foster warns that the discipline of simplicity is not simply ascetism (p. 84). Three keys to simplicity are: 1) treat all as a gift from God, 2) ask all to be cared for by God, and 3) make all available to others (p. 88). Practical activities with regard to simplicity are: 1) buy for usefulness, not status (p. 90), 2) reject anything which has a tendency to become addictive in you (p. 90), 3) habitually give things away (p. 91), 4) be skeptical of advertising (p. 92), 5) enjoy things without owning them (p. 93), 6) get close to the earth (p. 93), 7) avoid instant gratification (p. 93), 8) use simple, honest speech (p. 93), 9) reject anything that requires oppression of others (p. 94), and 10) shun anything that doesn’t help you put the Kingdom of God first (p. 95).
Foster quotes an old proverb on silence: “All those who open their mouths, close their eyes!” (p. 98). Silence is difficult, but silence indicates trust (p. 100). He also indicates that there is something of a paradox with regard to silence, “If we are silent when we should speak, we are not living in the Discipline of silence. If we speak when we should be silent, we again miss the mark.” (p. 99)
Perhaps the most surprising discussion is to find the Discipline of solitude listed among the Outward Individual disciplines. The essence of the idea is that we have to experience solitude in order to prepare ourselves to be with people. Thomas Merton is quoted with regard to solitude as indicating that it helps him love his brothers (p. 108). Again, Foster is very practical, offering insight on celebrating “little solitudes” on pages 105-6.
With submission, Foster is quite frank about bad teaching on submission which leads to self-hatred (p. 110). The purpose of the Discipline of submission is to liberate us from the tyranny of our own wills (pp. 111, 113) not to psychologically flagellate ourselves. On pages 122-3, he lists seven acts of submission: 1) to God, 2) to Scripture, 3) to family, 4) to neighbors and those around us, 5) to the believing community, 6) to the broken and despised, and 7) to the world. Noting that some people think submission means to put yourself and family at harmful risk, Foster cautions that, “Revolutionary subordination commands us to live in submission to human authority until it becomes destructive.” (p. 124)
I particularly needed to see Foster’s discussion of “true service” as not being about “results” or being a means of manipulation (pp. 128-9). He urges hiddenness (p. 130) and for believers not to feel contempt for small things (p. 136). But perhaps the most revolutionary teaching for me in this volume was on the ministry of forgiveness. Foster cites Jesus command to forgive (John 20:23) and points out how we miss opportunity to assure and bless our brothers and sisters by not practicing the act of verbal, specific forgiveness (p. 148).
I didn’t really gain much from the discussion of worship, but liked the phrasing which suggested that worship forms are the “wineskin” or vessels for us to receive the presence of God (p. 159). I also liked the phrase about meeting God in the kitchen in order to meet God at church (p. 162). Perhaps, the most helpful ideas were that worship begins by stilling creaturely activity (p. 166) and continues as praise brings emotion into worship (p. 168).
The discussion on corporate guidance (not the same as in corporate organization) was interesting in that Foster observed how decisions in the early church were regularly agreed upon by using other spiritual disciplines: prayer, worship, fasting, etc. (p. 177). He cited a practice called “sounding the call” in which one church has a regular time at the end of a service in which people share what they believe God wants them to do and members of the church volunteer to come up and pray, share, counsel them (p. 181). The last discussion was on celebration. His conclusion was that joy is the end result of building the disciplines (p. 193). Celebration, then, frees us of an inflated view of our self-importance and of our tendency toward a judgmental spirit (pp. 196-7).
I don’t know what I was expecting when I ordered this book, but it probably wasn’t this. Celebration of Discipline is honest, practical, and humble. I think I was expecting something else. It isn’t the most brilliant theological work that I’ve read in recent days, but it is a devotional/theological work that I will use over and over again as I try to let God work through me.
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Bill
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August 9, 2010
So, in establishing my "goodreads" library, I thought it was wise to begin with a book that has served to inform, as well as transform my character. What better place to start than with Foster's classic. Certainly, a must read for any believer, but especially important for those of us who call ourselves "leaders" in the church. This book establishes the starting point for true leadership...learning to place ourselves in God's presence where he can begin to do the work of transformation in us. Foster's list of twelve disciplines, I've learned, is certainly not exhaustive, but they are an excellent place to start in the process of becoming firmly rooted in the Spirit's ability to transform us into the character of Christ.
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Stefan Gligan
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September 17, 2022
Meditatia, rugaciunea, postul, studiul, simplitatea, solitudinea, supunerea, slujirea, marturisirea, inchinarea, calauzirea si celebrarea; poate parea ca pentru noi, mirenii, o seama din cele de mai sus sunt exagerate, neaplicabile, greoaie, dar luand pas cu pas disciplinele insemnate de Foster, am descoperit un ghid cat se poate de practic pentru a lumina putin drumul ce duce la apropierea de Dumnezeul nevazut.
Fiecare capitol se incheie cu sugestii de aprofundare si propuneri de texte din Scriptura, asupra carora cititorul este indemnat sa cugete in decursul unei saptamani, ceea ce s-a dovedit a fi un bun mod de integrare a informatiei.
"Adevarata evlavie nu ii indeparteaza pe oameni de lume, ci ii ajuta sa traiasca mai bine in ea, indemnandu-i sa-si dea toata silinta ca sa o indrepte."
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Sydney Farney
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April 20, 2023
This book is so powerful. It beautifully describes, goes into detail, gives examples for, and connects all of the spiritual rhythms in a way that makes them seem realistic, attainable, and necessary for the day to day life. This is a book I will likely come back to yearly, taking something different from it each time. It has opened my eyes to the ways I can rest in the Spirit and live my day to day life! I’m excited for the ways I’ve been able to apply this to my life and will continue to do so.
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