73%
Confidence
Belief overview
Means of grace and spiritual discipline
Grace is nurtured by prayer, Word, communion, sacraments, and Christian practice.
3
Supportive
0
Contrary
0
Neutral
What it is: Christian life is sustained by spiritual and community practices through which God strengthens the disciple.
How the tradition understands it: Prayer, Bible reading, worship, fasting, Lord's Supper, church communion, and service are ordinary means of spiritual growth.
Basis and context: The Nazarene tradition receives this vocabulary from Wesleyan spirituality.
Debates and variations: The weight of each practice can vary, but spiritual discipline remains strongly valued.
Documentary evidence
Supportive
Acts 2:42
Perseverance in teaching, fellowship, and prayer.
Reference: Acts 2:42.
Content: The community perseveres in apostolic teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayers.
Use in debate: Sustains means of grace and community life.
John Wesley, The Means of Grace
Classic Wesleyan sermon on spiritual disciplines.
Reference: John Wesley, sermon The Means of Grace.
Content: Explains practices by which Christians dispose themselves to God's action.
Use in debate: Important for Nazarene spiritual discipline.
Manual of the Church of the Nazarene
Normative document on faith, government, discipline, and denominational practice.
Reference: Manual of the Church of the Nazarene.
Content: Brings together Articles of Faith, norms of government, and orientations on life and practice of the church.
Use in debate: One of the most important institutional sources for doctrine and discipline.