After reading a work by William Perkins, “A Garden of Spiritual Flowers” on Sabbath exercises and noting the “Threefold Alphabet of Rules concerning Christian practice,” my students (and a couple of our online students), as one group during our class time, created their own alphabet for the Christian life. Their names accompanied their contributions. After reviewing the completed document, each student then highlighted the rule that was most difficult for them. The students were encouraged to pray for one another. Names and highlights have been removed for this post.

A

Awake and spend time with the Lord

Acknowledgment of the Lord’s provision

Abhorring sin

B

Begins each day with prayer, seeking the help of God 

Bold in sharing the gospel of Christ

Boasting in the strength of the Lord 

Balance intentional solitude with constructive community

Be honest and open with God (Avery Robitaille)

C

Care for one another 

Courageous faith in God 

Confessing sin to God and one another

D

Diligent in pursuit of holiness

Doer of the Word, not a hearer only

E

Ernest for the word of God

F

Fellowship with the Saints

G

Godliness in our interactions 

Gospel proclaimers

H

Holds tightly to the promises of God, acknowledging them in faith to God

Humility before the Lord

I

Intelligent in your faith, knowing the reasons why you believe

Integrate faith into every area of life

J 

Joined in union with Christ

K

Keeps the Word of God on their mind

L

Led by the Spirit: continuing to be sensitive to the Spirit’s voice

Love one another boldly and fully

M

Maturity in the Spirit

Mortification of Sin

Meditation on the Scriptures

N

Note-taking during sermons

O

Opening of our hearts

P

Pursuing righteousness

Praise the Lord

Praying in the Spirit: Asking the Spirit to lead you in prayer and to know the heart and will of God

Perseverance in hardship 

Patience in daily duties and future hopes

Passionate longing for God’s personhood

Q 

Quiet time, setting aside time for the quieting of the soul

R

Rest your mind creating space for the work of the spirit 

Reflect on the good works God has done in your life

S

Soul praying, praying for your soul and others’

Submissive to the will of God

T

Thankfulness for God as He is, rather than what He has given

Trusting God during hardship

U

Unwavering

Uses faithfully the means of grace provided by God for sanctification

V

Vivid and vivacious prayer and meditation

Victory over sin

Valiant by the strength of God’s might

W 

Watchfulness to guard our hearts

X

Xerothermic (hot) or cold is better than being lukewarm

Y

Yearning for the Lord’s attributes in our life

Yoke of Christ (Taking on the yoke of Christ instead of our own)

Z

Zealous for the Lord