THE BEAUTIFUL DISCIPLINES
Helping young people to develop their spiritual roots
By Martin Saunders. Monarch Books. 222 pages. £12.99
ISBN 978 0 857 210 555
Martin Saunders’s aim in this book is to help youth leaders teach young people to develop a ‘deep-rooted and lasting faith’ by practising ten spiritual disciplines.
The disciplines that the book considers are prayer, Bible study, meditation, fasting, simplicity, solitude, submission, service, worship and celebration. After explaining each, Saunders provides an outline of how the discipline could be taught to a youth group. The outlines include activities, discussion questions, photocopiable resources and ways to adapt the material depending on the make-up of the group.
In the introduction, Saunders makes some astute observations about discipleship and why the faith of many young people appears brittle. Other useful reflections about teenagers and youth leaders are scattered throughout the book. His desire to see young people grow in their relationship with God is evident and some of his practical ideas are innovative.
However, I had major areas of concern with the way that the Bible was used (or not used). For example, with regard to prayer, Saunders states, without reference to the Bible, that prayer is not about using words and talking to God, but instead is ‘a heart to heart connection with God’. He therefore advocates that creating artwork can be as much about prayer as actually using words to speak to God.
I also question whether the Bible actually encourages the use of each of the ten disciplines. Is solitude (in isolation from reading the Bible and prayer) ‘clearly practised and advocated in Scripture’ as claimed? At the very least I would argue that Scripture does not give the same weight of importance to each of the ten disciplines described.
These concerns mean that, for all the helpful ideas and observations found in the book, I would not recommend it to those seeking to disciple young people.
Jonathan Shulver,
Bush Hill Park Community Church & Development Director for Contagious Bible Ministries
