February 13, 2024 — Soul Friendship as a Spiritual Discipline

“The Mutual Conversation and Consolation of Our Brothers and Sisters in Christ” – the fifth means of grace as written by Martin Luther in the Smalcald Articles.

Soul Friendship is “Engaging fellow disciples of Jesus in prayerful conversation or other spiritual practices.”  What is described as prayerful conversation is what Martin Luther stated as one of the means of Grace in the Smalcald Articles (listed above).

Why is mutual conversation and consolation so important for the believer?  It is so important because we need to be in community as the body of Christ. That is why Paul called it the body of Christ. The body is made up of many parts, and each part must work in concert with the others, if the body is to function to the ability that it should and can. As such, the body of Christ is made up of all kinds of people being that there is no one who is denied into the body of Christ.

Therefore, there are all kinds of people who need to be in conversation with one another – because we are all different from one another. We are not all feet – and we are not all elbows. So, if we are to understand one another, we need to talk to one another, pray for one another, and pray and worship with one another. And as Martin Luther states, this is one of the “Means of Grace” – or one of the ways that G-d’s Grace is disseminated within the body of Christ. When we talk with one another, when we pray with one another, when we worship with one another, the Holy Spirit is present because Jesus promised to be where two or three are gathered together.

My friends, we need to always be in conversation with one another, as the body of Christ, so we can work as a community to be the hands and the feet of Christ.

Pastor Dave

February 12, 2024 — Prayer as a Spiritual Discipline

Prayer is one of those disciplines that everyone needs to work on – not just in Lent, but every day, all of the time. Prayer is the most important way we communicate with G-d – without it our relationship with G-d can be like two people talking on tin cans attached by a string.

There are different kinds of prayer, but I will focus on just four.

Prayers of Praise (Praising God for the blessings we have)

Prayer of Petition (asking for what we need, including forgiveness)

Prayer of Intercession (asking for what others need)

Prayer of Thanksgiving (for what God has given and done)

Prayers of Praise are prayers we pray when we want to recognize the sovereignty of G-d, recognizing G-d’s power and dominion. Beginning a prayer with words like “Lord G-d, you are good in your Greatness and Great in your goodness…”

The prayer of Petition is asking G-d for the things that we need today. We might petition G-d for healing, for guidance, for peace or for forgiveness. It is important that we not demand things from G-d but place them before G-d with a contrite heart.

The prayer of Intercession is one that is important in our own lives, and in the life of the church. One of the most important prayers we can pray is for others – because prayers for others are some of the most powerful prayers we can offer. If you read the Lord’s Prayer closely, you realize that the prayer is not personal, it is communal. “Give us this day…” and “Forgive us our sins…..” are about living in community. When we offer prayers for others, we are admitting that others in our lives matter to us as much as they matter to G-d.

The prayer of Thanksgiving is important as well, for it gives us the opportunity to say to G-d “Thanks” – thank you for everything, everyone, every breath we take – nothing we have does not have G-d’s DNA on it.

To have a successful prayer life, you must carve out time every day for your prayers. Establish a routine and stick to it. Make praying a priority every day. You will feel more connected to Christ if you make prayer a daily habit.

Pastor Dave