Spiritual Disciplines of Early Adventists

270 Pages·2016·1.45 MB·English

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
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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.
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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
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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.

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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
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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
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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
Verse Comparison ...........................................................................................162
Topical Study ..................................................................................................165
Memorize a Bible Text....................................................................................168
Clarification of Beliefs ....................................................................................171
Report on Experiments with Bible Study ................................................................172
Experiment Evaluation Tool ...........................................................................174
Ellen White and Prayer ............................................................................................175
A Formal Introduction to Ellen White ............................................................175
Her Impact .......................................................................................................177
Her Prescriptions .............................................................................................178
Experiments in Prayer .............................................................................................182
Pray the Scriptures ..........................................................................................184
Focus on God’s Presence ................................................................................187
Pray on Another’s Behalf ................................................................................188
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Picture Christ on the Cross ..............................................................................190
Pray Your Heart ..............................................................................................191
Report on Experiments with Prayer ........................................................................193
Experiment Evaluation Tool ...........................................................................195
Joseph Bates and Healthful Living ..........................................................................196
Experiments in Healthful Living .............................................................................201
Fasting .............................................................................................................202
Give Up Refined Sugar ...................................................................................204
Rest ..................................................................................................................206
Take a Walk ....................................................................................................208
Get Enough Water ...........................................................................................209
Report on Experiments with Healthful Living ........................................................210
Experiment Evaluation Tool ...........................................................................212
James White on Stewardship ...................................................................................212
Experiments in Stewardship ....................................................................................217
Donate Five Items ...........................................................................................219
Return to God First .........................................................................................220
Volunteer at a Homeless Shelter .....................................................................221
Host a Birthday Party ......................................................................................223
Use Your Talent ..............................................................................................224
Report on Experiments with Stewardship .......................................................225
Experiment Evaluation Tool ...........................................................................226
John N. Andrews on Worship .................................................................................227
An Introduction to John Nevin Andrews ........................................................227
Experiments in Worship ..........................................................................................230
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Prepare for Worship ........................................................................................232
Welcome the Sabbath ......................................................................................234
Take a Hike .....................................................................................................236
Research the Sabbath ......................................................................................237
Worship Through Service ...............................................................................238
Report on Experiments with Worship .....................................................................240
Experiment Evaluation Tool ...........................................................................241
Invitation to a Continued Journey ...................................................................242
SECTION 8 THE RESOURCE BOOK AT WORK ......................................................245
SECTION 9 REFLECTIONS .........................................................................................247
WORKS CITED ..............................................................................................................250

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