Comparison of Spiritual Disciplines,
12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous,
and the Oxford Group Principles
This is a comparison of some of the most popular ways people use specific behaviors or attitudes that they normally would not use, for the sake of their spiritual development. The books available at Amazon.com are linked to their site for your convenience!
| Spirit of the Disciplines | Celebration of Discipline | Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life | Alcoholics Anonymous & 12 Steps & 12 Traditions | Oxford Group |
| Dallas Willard |
Richard Foster | Donald Whitney | Bill W. | Sam Shoemaker |
| Solitude | Solitude | Solitude | Steps 4, 10 | |
| Silence | (incl in Solitude) | Silence | ||
| Fasting | Fasting | Fasting | ||
| Frugality | Simplicity | |||
| Chastity | ||||
| Secrecy | ||||
| Sacrifice | ||||
| Study | Study | Bible Intake | ||
| Worship | Worship | Worship | Step 11 | |
| Celebration | Celebration | |||
| Service | Service | Serving | Steps 8, 9, 12 | Restitution |
| Prayer | Prayer | Prayer | Step 7, 11 | |
| Fellowship | (meetings) | Work with other sufferers | ||
| Confession | Confession | Step 5 | Confession | |
| Submission | Submission | Steps 3, 6, 9 | Dependence on God | |
| Meditation | Step 11 | |||
| Guidance | (Sponsorship) | Work with other sufferers | ||
| Journaling | (Journaling) | |||
| Learning | ||||
| Evangelism | Step 12 | |||
| Stewardship | ||||
| Step 4 | Moral Inventory | |||
| Steps 1, 2 | Deflation of pride |
This is not a list of all the Christian Disciplines that one can name. There is Discipling, Humility, Honesty and more. Remember that the purpose of any of these is to get more the eyes, the viewpoint, the mind and the heart of God, by experiencing what He experienced. Taking our eyes off ourselves, and looking at things from a new point of view.
Some of you are familiar with disciplines from other religions, as Christianity is not the only one to see their value. If you want to see how they compare, and that will help me to make that a higher priority project.
Which of these are you called to do? Which of these have you neglected? Which have helped you to grow? Which have you avoided?