It was almost the definition of irony. Last week, as I arrived to lead this lesson for our Tuesday morning Bible study on the 5 Practices, there was a man waiting in the church office who needed a ride to St. Cloud in order to catch a bus to North Dakota.

There was no way I could take him and be back in time to start the Bible study, and at that moment, I understood why the priest walked right past the man on the side of the road in the Good Samaritan story. Fortunately, I appreciated the irony right away -- there was no way I could ignore a man who needed help in order to lead a study about service! So off I went, and the Bible study started without me, and when I got back, things had gotten along just fine in my absence.

Serving others. Doing something for someone else without any expectation of something equal in return. Why would we do that? What is your motivation for serving others in that way? Rev. Schnase believes there are a variety of motives, from a sense of duty and obligation to the good feeling we get from helping others. All of those motives are purified by the Holy Spirit and put to God's purposes.

My quote from this chapter was that Godly service happens in the place where "your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet".

Where do you find joy in serving? What deep hunger of the world is God leading you to meet?

Here's a fun thing -- just by reading this post, you are probably doing the faith practice that it describes! How's that for cool?

Intentional faith development means having a purpose and a plan to help your faith grow. The author of 5 Practices believes that your plan must include other people -- he goes so far as to quote John Wesley in saying, "Christianity is essentially a social religion...to turn it into a solitary one is to destroy it." In other words, if we want to stay connected to Christ, we must find ways to stay connected to each other.

Why do you think community is critical in the spiritual life?

What are the means through which your faith has grown deeper throughout your life, and what are your plans to keep it growing?

What's the point of worship?

Several years ago, there was a book by the author Marva Dawn entitled "A Royal Waste of Time -- The Splendor of Worshiping God and Being Church for the World". The author had heard people questioning worship as a waste of time; her response was to say, "Maybe, but I'm 'wasting time' together with the King of the Universe, and that makes it a 'royal' waste of time!"

I am completely with Dr. Schnase's main idea in this chapter, that worship expresses our love for God. People in love sometimes do 'waste' a lot of time together, and the secret is that time really isn't wasted at all. It's time for the relationship to grow and deepen.

And don't forget the adjective -- PASSIONATE worship. I said yesterday that passion to me involves connecting the head and the heart.

What about worship touches your soul and engages your passion the most?

What struck you as you read through Chapter 1 about Radical Hospitality?

Was it the idea of being receptive to God's grace?

Was it the idea of being 'struck' by God's grace?

Was it the idea of making room for God in your life?

Most of us know what hospitality means when we are welcoming guests to our home or our business. It's about showing the guest that they are important, and that you are happy they are there.

How do you show God that he is important, and that you are happy he is with you?

Hi folks, and thanks for joining this online spiritual growth discussion about our Lent study book -- Five Practices of Fruitful Living!

My plan is to read and discuss a chapter every week, starting this week with both the Introduction and Chapter 1.

If you are the kind of reader who usually skips the introduction, I'd invite you to read this one. For one thing, it answers the question, "Why FRUITFUL Living?" John 15:8 says, "My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples". Galatians 5:22 says, "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control."

Who doesn't want more love, joy, peace, and so on in their life? This book, and these 5 practices, are a way to get there.

5 Practices for Fruitful Living is not light reading. There is some meat on these pages, and I acknowledge there are easier books out there. I hope you find the time you spend is worth it!!

I'll write more about chapter one throughout the week. For now, I'll start with a question -- what practices have already been part of your personal spiritual growth? For me, it's absolutely about worship, daily devotions, and all the service projects I've been part of over the years

How about for you?

During Lent, I will be posting comments and inviting discussion on the book "Five Practices of Fruitful Living" by Robert Schnase. With a chapter each week, we will engage in spiritual growth through radical hospitality, passionate worship, intentional faith development, risk-taking mission and service, and extravagant generosity. Books will be available at church, with a recommended donation of $12 each, or you can order your own copy online.