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Beliefs: Spiritual Growth
Prayer and Read Scripture Daily
Prayer and quiet time are special ways to share our thoughts with God. Prayers come in all shapes and sizes. They can be spontaneous and original.
But how do we start to pray? How do we spend quality time with the Lord?
Spending Time Alone With God . . . One of the more challenging habit to develop in our busy and hectic lives.
What is the example that Jesus himself set for us?
In Luke 18:1-8, Jesus gives a parable about persistence in prayer.
" Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. He said, ‘In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, “Grant me justice against my opponent.” For a while he refused; but later he said to himself, “Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.” ’ And the Lord said, ‘Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?’"
What does Jesus want us to learn about praying? Does it matter the right “form” or “words”? What do you think is the most important aspect to prayer?
“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ”
(II Peter 3:18).
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds so that you may discern what is the will of God – what is good and acceptable and perfect" (Romans 12:2).
Nine ideas to help you grow spiritually:
1. Display symbols of faith in your home at a level everyone can see (e.g., pictures of Jesus, crosses, Bible quotes, etc.
2. Purchase Christian CDs and videos to provide contemporary interpretations of Bible stories and concepts.
3. Choose age-appropriate Bibles and devotion books to ground your family faith discussions in a Bible story or verse.
4. Learn Bible verses that promote healthy behavior, such as “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sigh, O Lord,” and post them on the refrigerator.
5. Attend classes at church to grow in knowledge and faith with others.
6. Join an Adult Bible Study
7. Buy a Christian book such as What’s So Amazing About Grace or The Purpose Driven Life.
8. Get a Family Devotional from church and/or Northwest Bookstore and use it after dinner.
9. Place a candle on your dinner table and light it as you begin to eat. Use John 8:12, “Jesus said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”
Beliefs About...
Outside Links
The Bible Gateway
This online Bible offers many versions, languages, all easy to look up and free to copy and paste into any application.
Book of Faith
An initiative to deepen and broaden engagement with the Bible for all ages, all cultures, and to draw on our heritage of faithful ways to let the Word engage us.
Daily Discipleship
An online lectionary Bible study. Each session is available to be downloaded and copied for participants. This Bible study is designed for small or large groups as well as for personal devotions.
Lutheran Beliefs
ELCA
Minneapolis Synod
Online Parallel Bible
Online Concordance