A Disciple’s Journal is a guide for witnessing to Jesus Christ in the world and following his teachings through acts of compassion, justice, worship, and devotion under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

The book is organized to help you maintain balance between the works of piety (loving God through acts of worship and devotion) and the works of mercy (loving your neighbor as yourself through acts of justice and compassion).

The journal follows the liturgical calendar and contains orders for daily morning and evening prayer, space to record weekly acts of discipleship, a daily lectionary based on the Revised Common lectionary, excerpts from the works of John and Charles Wesley, and articles on discipleship in the Wesleyan tradition.

Orders for Daily Prayer in the Morning and Night

Several pages contain simple orders for daily prayer in the morning and at night. They are adapted from the Book of Common Prayer, the prayer book used by John and Charles Wesley and the early Methodists. The collects for each day of the week are ancient prayers of the Church. Praying these simple orders of daily prayer with the collects is a way of joining your prayers with Christians around the world and throughout history.

Scripture lessons for each day of the week are found listed.

There are two pages for each week:

• The left hand page is a guide for daily Bible reading. Two Scripture passages are assigned to each day of the week. The bottom half of the page is divided into four quadrants that correspond to The General Rule of Discipleship. Record what you have done to witness to Jesus Christ in the world and to follow his teachings through acts of compassion, justice, worship, and devotion under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

• The right hand page contains portions of hymns by Charles Wesley and, unless otherwise indicated, consecutive excerpts from Sermon 17, “Circumcision of the Heart,” by John Wesley. You will also find a prayer for each week based upon the Sunday lessons. These prayers were written for use in the Church by members of the Consultation on Common Texts. They are used with permission.

The Daily Lectionary

...Because the RCL is intended for use in worship, it necessarily neglects significant portions of the Bible. The daily lectionary included with A Disciple’s Journal fills this gap.

The daily lectionary found in A Disciple’s Journal was developed by the Consultation on Common Texts. It is used with permission.

...The readings from Thursday to Saturday will prepare you for hearing the word proclaimed in worship on Sunday. The readings for Monday through Wednesday help you reflect upon the Word proclaimed in Sunday worship.

The Psalms

Two Psalms are appointed for most weeks. The first Psalm is to be read with the lessons appointed for Thursday through Saturday. This is the Psalm that is also read or sung in worship on Sunday. The second Psalm is to be read with the lessons Monday through Wednesday.

We recommend that you read the Psalm each day to prepare your heart and mind before you read the Scripture lessons. Reading the same Psalm for several days is like steeping yourself in God’s Word. Allow that Word to permeate your soul. Listen for what God is saying to you, the Church, and the world.

The Hymn

A Charles Wesley hymn is selected for each week. Hymns are an important resource for faith formation and theological reflection in the Wesleyan tradition. Like the Psalm, it is recommended that the hymn for the week be either said or sung each day. Take time to reflect upon the words and allow them to sink into your soul, heart, and mind. Let them become part of you. Memorize them along with the Psalm.

A Cycle of Intercessions

To help broaden your daily prayer, “A Cycle of Intercessions” is provided. In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus instructs us to pray, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven.” “A Cycle of Intercessions” is a help that encourages us to pray for the world each day.

A Blessing for the Reader

I pray that A Disciple’s Journal will be a blessing to you and your small group. If you are not in a small group for mutual accountability and support for growing in holiness of heart and life, I pray that you will find or form one. More informaton about Covenant Discipleship groups can be found on online. 

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excerpt from: A Disciple's Journal 2014

A Disciple's Journal 2014 is a guide for daily prayer, Bible reading, and discipleship for Christians in the Wesleyan tradition who want to grow in holiness of heart and life.