Bible Study | Devotions | Prayer Groups | Meditation

Spiritual disciplines bring us closer to God and can transform our lives. Below you will find several resources to help you develop some of the most common spiritual disciplines. These resources are recommended by our pastors and many of them are used by our staff in their spiritual journeys.

Bible Translations to Consider

The Bible was originally written in Hebrew and Greek. Our English Bibles are translations of these ancient languages. Translation is an art form, and always carries the biases of the translators. And that’s why there are so many different translations of the Bible. Here are the three translations we use most often at Prince of Peace:

New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) – the version most widely read in mainline Protestant denominations like the Lutheran Church. Excellent for academic study.
New Living Translation (NLT) – a very readable translation focusing on modern English.
The Message (MSG) – a translation done by a single scholar, Eugene Peterson. The Message is a less literal translation and seeks to express the meaning of the original author into modern thought. Excellent for first-time Bible readers or those who struggle to make sense of the Bible.

All three translations, and many others, can be viewed for free at Biblegateway.com or on the YouVersion app. Pick a few Bible passages and read each in all three translations. See which translation speaks most clearly to you.

Books

Falling Upward by Richard Rohr – A deep dive into our spiritual journey through the two halves of life.
What Is the Bible? By Rob Bell – A fascinating exploration of how these ancient words still speak fresh wisdom and hope into life. A guide to helping us rethink what we think about the Bible.
Making Sense of Scripture by David Lose – Lutheran theologian, Dr. David Lose, helps us to understand what the Bible is, and what it isn’t. Highly accessible and helpful to those who are tempted to dismiss the Bible.
Making Sense of the Cross by David Lose – An excellent exploration of how the Church has interpreted what God was doing in the cross of Christ.
Surprised by Hope by N.T. Wright – Reclaiming the biblical meaning of heaven and resurrection. A “heavy” but worthwhile read.
In Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster – A classic exploring the many spiritual practices of the Church throughout history.
Creating a Life with God by Daniel Wolpert – An excellent introduction to developing a spiritual life with God.
Eat this Book by Eugene Peterson – A helpful guide to reading the Bible and applying it to daily life.

Websites to Explore

Pastor’s Blog – The pastoral staff at Prince of Peace writes a weekly blog with short topical posts: Pastor Paul’s Blog
Thriving Rhythms – Pastor Paul Gauche’s blog with short daily devotionals
Biblegateway.com – allows you to access dozens of bible translations online
EntertheBible.org – an excellent resource from Luther Seminary, providing helpful information on every book of the Bible.
ODB.org – the Our Daily Bread devotion, a longtime favorite of many. They also have a great app to download!
Luthersem.edu/godpause/– God Pause is a devotional written by students and faculty at Luther Seminary
Cac.org/sign-up/– Sign up for Fr. Richard Rohr’s Daily Meditations.
TheParentCue.org – The reThink Group, Inc. offers an array of parenting age-specific resources including blog posts, podcasts, app, and an online store full of family resources.

Apps to Download

Headspace – An excellent introduction to meditation. While mostly non-religious, the primary instructor comes out of the Buddhist tradition. Some free and some paid resources.
Calm – Another helpful meditation resource.
Pray as You Go – A beautifully done audio resource to help listeners pray through scripture.
Centering Prayer (from Contemplative Outreach) – a helpful guide to growing in the practice of Centering Prayer

Spiritual Practices to Try

30 Day Challenge (.pdf) – a list of spiritual practices that will help you live the Good Life and experience a deeper relationship with God. Commit to practicing two things on this list each day for the next 30 days. You may choose the same two things every day, or mix it up and try several different practices over the course of the month.
Community – faith is a “team sport”, not just an individual journey. Healthy faith community sharpens us and blesses us in so many ways. Consider taking part in one of our community life events or joining a small group.
Daily Devotions – each week Prince of Peace produces a Daily Readings resource with questions for reflection. A great way to lean into the themes of weekly worship and grow in faith.
The Daily Examen – an ancient prayer practice that helps disciples to grow in gratitude and more clearly see the presence of God in daily life.
The Welcoming Prayer – if you are struggling with strong or difficult feelings, the power of the Welcoming Prayer offers a structured way to embrace and accept these feelings so you can release them and move on. For an additional resource, check out this Welcoming Prayer video meditation.
Psalm 23 Meditation – a guided meditation to use in a quiet space when you have no responsibilities.

Spiritual Direction

“We are all spiritually hungry. We all need someone to walk with us. To journey with us. To give us courage, to give us incentive, to give us inspiration. And that’s what a spiritual director is. That’s what we do.” Re. Dr. Carol Vaccariello

A Spiritual Director is a companion who walks with you on your spiritual journey; serves as a witness to the voice and discernment of God’s guidance in your life; offers compassionate listening as you explore questions, concerns, and feelings; is helpful during life transitions, spiritual crisis, or if you are desiring to grow deeper in your faith.

Spiritual direction is often offered as a one-to-one or group experience in private sessions with spiritual mentors who have most likely completed extensive formation for the ministry and service of spiritual direction.

Recommended Spiritual Directors in the area:

Cathy Nordheim: Email
Terry Shaughnessy: 651-328-7675
Barbara Brodsho: Email
Victoria Danielson: 651-262-7042
Bussho Lahn: Email | 612-871-5631

Racial Justice Resources

Are you looking for ways to learn more about racial justice? The Prince of Peace leadership recommends these resources to help you learn about and fight racism with grace, gentleness and persistence. Let’s put our faith into action as we listen, learn and actively engage in anti-racism. Racial Justice Resources

Don’t know where to begin?

Spiritual formation can seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. Like every great journey it begins by taking a single step. Pick one of the three below and commit to 10 minutes each morning:

Read a chapter a day from the Gospel of John or a Psalm. Ask yourself, “What does this mean for me and my life?”
Use the Daily Reading Plan provided by Prince of Peace. Really reflect on the questions.
Download the YouVersion app and choose a devotional plan to follow.

And whatever you do, don’t forget – spiritual formation isn’t about “doing it right.” It’s about focusing our attention in the right direction: on God’s love for us that’s been revealed in Jesus.

CONTACT
Julie Klein
Executive Assistant
email
952-898-9308.

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