Why?
The abundant life of God is freely available to us. These practices/habits are receptacles for the living water that Jesus offers us. The practices are a means to an end, rather than an end in themselves. We don’t earn favour or spiritual points by being more disciplined. We experience more of the life of God as we position ourselves to participate in His life.
What?
BBC’s Leadership Team identified 7 core spiritual practices, with a few special mentions which sit under the umbrella of the 7 practices.
Language
Holy Habits title. We are deliberately using the language of spiritual ‘practices’ and ‘habits’, rather than ‘disciplines’.
Resources preachers are using to support the series
Two main sources: Celebration of Discipline (Richard Foster) and Practicing the Way (John Mark Comer).
NB. Richard Foster and John Mark Comer’s resources identify some identical and some different/additional spiritual practices. While we think all the practices they suggest are good and important, we are going with the seven that we think are central. Please do make special mention of other practices we’ve not included eg. including confession as part of prayer.
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Celebration of Discipline
Richard Foster’s organisation, Renovare, offers free resources and community for a deeper, more transformative life with God. You can use the search function on the website to search key terms to locate relevant articles and resources.
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Practicing the Way
John Mark Comer’s non-profit organisation offers resources as a pathway to apprenticeship to Jesus. You need to create a login to access, free of charge, resources for the spiritual practices. There are multiple podcasts and videos that offer material relating to some of our practices.
7 Practices
Below you will find the 7 practices/habits that we are going to cover and some resources which will help you explore them.
Scripture
Celebration of Discipline Chapters 2 & 5
Practicing the Way ‘Scripture’ core concepts on Practicing the Way website
Celebration of Discipline Chapter 3 & 10
How to Pray (Pete Greig) & first session of the Prayer Course - CLICK HERE
Practicing the Way ‘Prayer’ core concepts Practicing the Way website
Prayer | Confession
Worship | Fasting & Feasting
Celebration of Discipline Chapters 4 & 11
Renovare Article on Fasting - CLICK HERE
Practicing the Way ‘Fasting’ core concepts Practicing the Way website
Retreat | Sabbath, Pilgrimage & Solitude
Celebration of Discipline Chapter 7
Practicing the Way ‘Sabbath’ core concepts Practicing the Way website
See also Emotionally Healthy Discipleship by Pete Scazerro
Community | Hospitality & Spiritual Friendship
Celebration of Discipline – no specific chapter but there may be relevant parts in Part III, the Corporate Disciplines.
Practicing the Way ‘Community’ core concepts on Practicing the Way website.
Generosity | Financial, Material and Service (Time & Skills)
Witness
Practising the Way material due to be published online in Feb 2026 (during our series).
Bridgetown Church Sermon - CLICK HERE
Bridgetown Church community guide on the practice of witness (see below).