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Spiritual Disciplines of Early Adventists Heather Ripley Crews George Fox University, Hcrews04@Georgefox.Edu Digital Commons @ George Fox University Doctor of Ministry Theses and Dissertations 2-1-2016 Spiritual Disciplines of Early Adventists Heather Ripley Crews George Fox University, [email protected] This research is a product of the Doctor of Ministry (DMin) program at George Fox University. Find out more about the program. Recommended Citation Crews, Heather Ripley, "Spiritual Disciplines of Early Adventists" (2016). Doctor of Ministry. Paper 139. http://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/dmin/139 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses and Dissertations at Digital Commons @ George Fox University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Doctor of Ministry by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ George Fox University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. GEORGE FOX UNIVERSITY SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES OF EARLY ADVENTISTS A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF GEORGE FOX EVANGELICAL SEMINARY IN CANDIDACY FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF MINISTRY LEADERSHIP AND SPIRITUAL FORMATION BY HEATHER RIPLEY CREWS PORTLAND, OREGON FEBRUARY 2016 Copyright © 2016 by Heather Ripley Crews All rights reserved. ii ABSTRACT The purpose of this dissertation is to explore the Biblical spirituality of the early Adventist Church in order to apply the spiritual principles learned to the contemporary church. Though it is God who changes people, the early Adventists employed specific spiritual practices to place themselves in His presence. Research revealed five main spiritual disciplines that shaped the Advent leaders and by extension the church. The first is Bible study: placing the Holy Scriptures as the foundation for all beliefs. The second is prayer: communication and communion with God. The third is healthful living: treating the body well so God’s work can be accomplished. The fourth is stewardship: recognizing God as the source of wealth and using it to further His kingdom. And the fifth is worship: dedicating the Sabbath to God from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday. These practices are best viewed through the lives of the church leaders. The church leaders presented are William Miller and his method of Bible study; Ellen White and her methods and prescriptions for prayer; Joseph Bates and his quiet example of healthful living; James White and his financial choices to grow a worldwide movement; and John Nevin Andrews and his passionate belief in a need for worship of the holy. The book included at the end of the dissertation is provided as a tool for the study and employment of spiritual disciplines in the Adventist church. The goal in creating this artifact is to make Biblical spirituality accessible to today’s Adventist. This book provides a platform for discussion and study on Biblical spirituality by combining the Biblical basis for five spiritual disciplines along with an example of an Adventist pioneer iii who exhibited that discipline in their life. The book also presents practical examples of how to get to know God better through the practice of each discipline and a form to record and evaluate the experiment. iv CONTENTS ABSTRACT ....................................................................................................................... iii LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS ...............................................................................................x LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................. xi SECTION 1 PRESENTATION OF THE PROBLEM .......................................................1 The Problem in Real Life ............................................................................................1 Evaluation ....................................................................................................................5 SECTION 2 OTHER PROPOSED SOLUTIONS ..............................................................8 SECTION 3 HISTORY OF SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES IN ADVENTISM ..................20 Adventist Beginnings and Beyond ............................................................................27 Methods of Teaching Spiritual Disciplines ...............................................................46 Family Worship .................................................................................................46 Sabbath School ..................................................................................................49 Social Meetings .................................................................................................51 Publications .......................................................................................................53 Camp Meetings .................................................................................................56 Preaching ...........................................................................................................59 Conclusions .......................................................................................................61 Specific Disciplines ...................................................................................................63 Bible Study ........................................................................................................63 Prayer ................................................................................................................69 Healthful Living ................................................................................................71 v Stewardship .......................................................................................................77 Worship .............................................................................................................79 Historical Disciplines Not Currently Practiced .................................................81 Conclusions .......................................................................................................85 SECTION 4 BIBLICAL BASIS FOR SPIRITUAL FORMATION ................................87 Biblical Basis of Spiritual Formation ........................................................................88 Biblical Basis of Spiritual Disciplines .......................................................................91 Bible Study ........................................................................................................93 Prayer .................................................................................................................96 Healthful Living ................................................................................................98 Stewardship .....................................................................................................100 Worship ...........................................................................................................103 SECTION 5 EARLY ADVENTIST LEADERS ............................................................107 An Historical Snapshot ............................................................................................107 Selected Leaders ......................................................................................................112 SECTION 6 CURRENT ADVENTIST SPIRITUAL PRACTICES..............................117 Current Instructions in Spiritual Disciplines ...........................................................118 Sabbath School ................................................................................................120 Family and Personal Worship .........................................................................123 Small Group Meetings ....................................................................................125 Publications .....................................................................................................127 Television and Radio Broadcasts ....................................................................128 Internet Sources ...............................................................................................130 Currently Practiced Spiritual Disciplines ................................................................131 Bible Study ......................................................................................................132 vi Prayer ..............................................................................................................134 Service .............................................................................................................137 Healthful Living ..............................................................................................139 Stewardship .....................................................................................................142 Worship ...........................................................................................................143 Conclusions .............................................................................................................144 SECTION 7 THE RESOURCE BOOK ..........................................................................145 My Experience in Biblical Spirituality ....................................................................145 William Miller and Bible Study ..............................................................................149 Experiments in Bible Study .....................................................................................155 Key Word Study ..............................................................................................157
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