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The Spiritual Discipline of Listening Prayer

CLASS SESSION #17 – THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2020
Presenter: Dr. Wilfred Graves Jr.

Prayer is one of the most important Christian activities. Prayer is personal communication and communion with God in worship. To pray is to engage in a conversation with the Living God. Because prayer is a mode of communication, it must involve our listening to God. In fact, the listening aspect of prayer is probably more important than the verbal aspect. In this session of “Healthy Habits of the Christian Life,” we will focus on the spiritual discipline of listening prayer.

Continue reading “The Spiritual Discipline of Listening Prayer”

A General Introduction to Prayer, Part 2

SUPPLEMENTAL POST – TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2020
Presenter: Dr. Wilfred Graves Jr.

In last week’s session of “Healthy Habits of the Christian Life” we began a discussion on the topic of prayer. We learned that prayer is personal communication with God in worship. The purpose of prayer is vital fellowship with the Creator. If you have not yet watched the introductory videos or completed the homework sheet from Thursday, September 3, 2020, please review these items now.
Continue reading “A General Introduction to Prayer, Part 2”

A General Introduction to Prayer, Part 1

CLASS SESSION #16 – THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2020
Presenter: Dr. Wilfred Graves Jr.

In this post we will explore the topic of prayer. Prayer is personal communication with God in worship. Its primary purpose is to cause you to enter into vital fellowship with the Father, to grow in Christ, and to become a Holy Spirit-empowered saint of God. Because prayer is personal, we do not seek impersonal experiences; we pursue relationship with our heavenly Father. When we dialog with the Lord in prayer, we should not forget that we are communicating with someone who deeply loves us.Continue reading “A General Introduction to Prayer, Part 1”

Practicing the Presence of God

CLASS SESSION #15 – THURSDAY, AUGUST 27, 2020
Presenter: Dr. Oscar Owens

In this post we will explore the spiritual discipline of practicing the presence of God. Jesus said in Matthew 28:20 that he would always be with his followers. The Holy Spirit, who is the Spirit of Christ, now permanently lives within believers (see John 14:16-17). Practicing the presence of God involves learning how to cultivate an awareness of the Holy Spirit in the Christian life. Continue reading “Practicing the Presence of God”

The Spiritual Discipline of Praise

CLASS SESSION #14 – THURSDAY, JULY 9, 2020
Presenter: Dr. Kenneth Hammonds

In this post we will explore the spiritual discipline of praise. Praise is a form of worship. It is a verbal acknowledgment of the worth of God. Through praise we declare God’s goodness, greatness, majesty, and power. The interjection hallelujah is a command and an invitation for God’s people to praise him with reverence and joy.Continue reading “The Spiritual Discipline of Praise”

The Spiritual Disciplines of Service and Secrecy

CLASS SESSION #13 – THURSDAY, JULY 2, 2020
Presenter: Dr. Wilfred Graves Jr.

In this post we will explore the spiritual disciplines of service and secrecy. Service is the voluntary giving of time, talent, and resources. Secrecy is doing good deeds and acts of kindness with no mention to others. Both disciplines help us to shift attention away from our personal concerns to the needs and concerns of others.Continue reading “The Spiritual Disciplines of Service and Secrecy”

The Spiritual Discipline of Surrender

CLASS SESSION #12 – THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2020
Presenter: Dr. Wilfred Graves Jr.

In this post we will explore the spiritual discipline of surrender. To surrender is to give up control. When we surrender to God, we abandon ourselves to his loving control over all things. To surrender to God is to recognize that we belong to him. It is to accept the Lordship of Jesus Christ over our lives. It is to say “Yes!” to him. Surrender is the only path to spiritual victory and fulfillment in life.Continue reading “The Spiritual Discipline of Surrender”

The Spiritual Discipline of Lectio Divina (Godly Reading)

CLASS SESSION #11 – THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2020
Presenter: Dr. Oscar Owens

In previous sessions of this series, Dr. Oscar Owens presented two ways of interacting with Scripture. On April 30, 2020 (session 4), he introduced the class to the beauty of Scripture meditation. On May 28, 2020 (session 8), he stressed the wonderful benefit of praying Scripture. In this post we will explore a powerful spiritual discipline that combines these two practices. This spiritual discipline is called Lectio Divina (Godly Reading). Continue reading “The Spiritual Discipline of Lectio Divina (Godly Reading)”

The Spiritual Discipline of Intercessory Prayer

CLASS SESSION #10 – THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2020
Presenter: Dr. Kenneth Hammonds

In this post we explore the spiritual discipline of intercessory prayer. Intercessory prayer is a loving practice that focuses us on the needs of other people and allows us to partner with God to accomplish his divine will on earth. Continue reading “The Spiritual Discipline of Intercessory Prayer”