Reflection Questions for October 23

1. What does Foster identify as the two leading hindrances to Fasting in our culture (pp. 47–48)? Can you identify others?

2. How does Foster distinguish between Christian Fasting, on the one hand, and the hunger strike and health fasting, on the other (pp. 48–49)?

3. What does the Biblical record say about fasting? How do the fasting practices of Biblical characters and later Christian leaders commend this spiritual practice to us today (pp. 49–54)?

4. What has your experience been with fasting? Would you consider undertaking one of the fasts suggested by Foster (pp. 56–61)? Would you consider fasting in another area in your life, such as from electronic media?

5. How does Foster distinguish between Meditation and Study? What does Foster see as special about study that distinguishes it from the other spiritual disciplines (pp. 62–64)?

6. Foster outlines intrinsic and extrinsic rules for study (pp. 67–68). List these and reflect upon how you have used them in your discipline of study.

7. What has been your experience with what Foster calls “non-verbal” study (pp. 64, 73–76)?

8. Perhaps making use of Foster’s suggestions on pp. 71–72, write a plan for pursuing further “study of books” after the conclusion of this class.