We are Interested in Your Corporate & Personal Spiritual Exercises, by Pr. Rossow

During the coming school year our parish (Bethany – Naperville, Illinois) will be focusing on spiritual exercises that support Biblical piety. We are developing a list of spiritual exercises and would appreciate our readers help in filling out that list. Here is a list of what we have so far. Please use the comment section to add any of your own spiritual exercises that are not on the list. Your general comments on Lutheran/Biblical piety and spiritual exercises are also welcome.

The list will be a part of a  booklet being  published that  will be made available by Church and Ministry Publishers, an on demand publisher that is about to go online.

The Divine Service and the Daily Offices

  • Exercise #1 – Singing the hymns, psalms, and canticles (spiritual songs)  and speaking the responses
  • Exercise #2 – Increase  attendance at the Lord’s Supper
  • Exercise #3 – Before the service read the “As We Gather,” the Collect and the readings  to better  understand the theme of the day
  • Exercise #4 – Fixing eyes on the celebrant during the Words of Our Lord/Words of Institution (the verba)
  • Exercise #5 – Make a conscious effort to listen actively to the sermon;  then meditate on the words of the hymns, prayers and the liturgy in light of the preaching.
  • Exercise #6 – Make the sign of the cross
  • Exercise #7 – Bowing at the Gloria Patri at the beginning of Matins and Vespers
  • Exercise #8 – Read the Sacristan Rubric for a greater appreciation of the Lord’s Supper (this is a document that we use at Bethany to train the sacristans)
  • Exercise #9 – Read Lutheran Worship: History and Practice, (by Fred Precht) to better understand Lutheran liturgical practices and customs

Personal and Daily Devotion

  • Exercise #10 – Prayer for blessing of the meal
  • Exercise #11 – Return thanks after the meal
  • Exercise #12 – Treasury of Daily Prayer
  • Exercise #13 – Lutheran Service Book Daily Prayer
  • Exercise #14 – Family Collects  
  • Exercise #15 – Using the “Sing the Faith” catechism songs for family devotion
  • Exercise #16 – Play the “Sing the Faith” CD in your car
  • Exercise #17 – Keep a prayer log or journal
  • Exercise #18 – Luther’s Morning and Evening Prayer routines
  • Exercise #19 – Praying for those in need from the weekly church list
  • Exercise #20 – Fasting
  • Exercise #21 – Make use of private confession and absolution with a pastor
  • Exercise #22 – Personal, Family or Group Retreat for Prayer and Study of Scripture.

 

Growing in the Knowledge of Christ

  • Exercise #22 – Purchase the new ESV Study Bible and pick one book of the Bible and read the text and the notes.

  • Exercise #23 – Praying a Psalm a week

  • Exercise #24 – Read the Book of Psalms through in a year (one psalm every other day)

  • Exercise #25 – Read the books of Exodus, John and Romans in a year.

  • Exercise #26 – Read the book of Hebrews Four Times a Year to Increase Sacramental Piety

  • Exercise #27 – Read through the Augsburg Confession and its Apology in a year

  • Exercise #28 – Read through the Small and Large Catechism in a year.

  • Exercise #29 – Join a Sunday or weekday corporate Bible class

  • Exercise #30 – Join the Lutheran Confessions reading group.

  • Exercise #31 – Read through the whole Bible in a year

  • Exercise #32 – Read the Book of Concord in a year.

Parish Programs

  • Exercise #33 – Usher
  • Exercise #34 – Sing in the Choir
  • Exercise #35 – Teach Sunday School
  • Exercise #36 – Serve on a Board of Committee
  • (This list will vary from parish to parish)

Loving the Brotherhood and Honoring All

  •  (This list will vary from parish to parish. It includes opportunities to care for fellow mambers and service to those in need in the community.)

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