The first two Sundays of this month my morning sermons deal a neglected subject in our heritage: fasting. Which, of course, could beg the question in the minds of some: why? With that in mind, I offer the following for your prayerful consideration. This portion of our 90-day season of prayer as a church family is an attempt to:

(1) speak where the Bible speaks,

(2) explore a Biblical subject that has been neglected in our heritage,

(3) avail ourselves of a tool the prophets, Jesus, the apostles, and the early church utilized to sharpen their faith,

(4) reconnect with our Restoration roots by living out a “we’re into this Book and whatever this Book puts into us we put out” lifestyle,

(5) imitate key personalities in Scripture, as well as the early church, as they journeyed in faith with God,

(6) challenge us to go where Scripture exemplifies, and not limit ourselves to merely doing only whatever we have believe has “always been done”,

(7) assist every Christian in their quest for the growth of self-control, gratefulness, and generosity in their life,

(8) call us to the fact that discipline is near the heart of what it means to be a disciple,

(9) open ourselves up more completely to God’s transformation of our body, soul, and spirit,

(10) be people belonging wholly to God, declaring his ownership of us in every way.