With a mindset of building Christian character, I sought to deeply study Jonathan Edwards' 70 resolutions in 2017. When I set that course, I categorized them according to the fruits of the spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). I admittedly did that before truly grasping the content that would unfold over the next two years. Having learned much in the process, I'm using the insights and reflections to help guide the year that's ahead.

Biblical Virtue and Discipline

...make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. - 2 Peter 1:5-9 NIV

During the first year of study, I was introduced to the Mark Buchanan book, Hidden in Plain Sight: The Secret of More. In that book, Buchanan presents the Petrine virtues, which are found in 2 Peter 1:5-9. As Peter explains, disciples are to not only 1.) have these qualities, but 2.) increase in them (v. 8). In other words, we are to both possess them and grow in our proficiency. Why does he make this assertion? For our answer to that, look to verses 8 and 9. First, we must have and grow in these disciplines to keep ourselves fruitful in knowing Jesus. It's a way to build our Christian character. And that’s good. Secondly, if we stagnate or refuse them, it is essentially turning a blind eye toward God. That’s, uh… not good.

The Path Forward

As I read through Buchanan’s book, and studied the Scripture, it quickly became clear that these very virtues - or disciplines - are a better categorization of Edwards’ resolutions. While I will not be going back to do so, I do think it is important to understand discipline from a Biblical perspective as well as explore why Peter landed on these disciplines. So this is what will encompass our 2020 edition of the Year of Listening Up (#YLU2020). First, we will explore Biblical virtue and discipline. And next, because Peter calls faith a foundational element for which we add these seven virtues, we’ll study the topic of faith. Finally, we will dig into the Petrine Disciplines, namely; virtue/goodness, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness/perseverance, godliness, brotherly affection/kindness, and love.

Keep of Listening Up!

As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. - 2 Peter 2:4-5 NIV