Lesson 1: Foundations of Christian Spirituality Lesson 2: SBNR, Nones & Six Paths of Spirituality Lesson 3: Types & Expressions of Prayer

What are the five types of Christian prayer?

Adoration, Petition, Intercession, Thanksgiving, and Praise.

What is Adoration?

Acknowledging that we are creatures in the presence of our Creator and glorifying the God who made us.

What is Petition?

Asking, imploring, pleading, or crying out to God for our needs.

What does Petition show about our relationship with God?

Our dependence on God for our needs.

What is the first movement of Petition?

Asking forgiveness for our sins.

What two attitudes characterize Petition?

Humility and repentance.

What does Matthew 7:7 teach about Petition?

Ask → receive; seek → find; knock → the door will be opened.

What is Intercession?

Prayer made on behalf of the needs of others, including our enemies.

What is Thanksgiving?

Thanking God for the gifts we receive, including our joys and sorrows.

What is Praise?

A joyful prayer that recognizes that God is God and exults Him.

What part of Scripture is especially associated with Praise?

The Psalms.

What are the three expressions of Christian prayer?

Vocal, Meditative, and Contemplative.

What is the easiest way to distinguish the three expressions?

Vocal = lips; Meditative = mind; Contemplative = heart.

Can one prayer involve all three expressions?

Yes. A prayer can be vocal, meditative, and contemplative at the same time.

What is Vocal prayer?

Prayer expressed aloud through spoken or sung prayer.

What bodily gestures can accompany Vocal prayer?

Sign of the Cross, genuflection, kneeling, bowing, and dancing.

What is Meditative prayer?

Using the mind to understand the why and how of Christian life and to ponder God's will.

What question guides Meditative prayer?

"What does God ask of me?"

What four things does Meditation engage?

Thought, imagination, emotion, and desire.

What are the goals of Meditative prayer?

To deepen faith in Christ, convert our hearts toward God, and strengthen us to do God's will.

What can be used to help with Meditation?

Scripture, icons, spiritual writings, and creation/nature.

What is Contemplative prayer?

Silent listening to God and silent love.

What do we do during Contemplative prayer?

Rest attentively before Christ and listen to God's Word.

Who was St. Benedict?

The founder of Western Monasticism.

What form of Scripture prayer is associated with St. Benedict?

Lectio Divina.

What is Lectio Divina?

A sacred/divine way of reading and praying Scripture.

What are the four steps of Lectio Divina?

Lectio, Meditatio, Oratio, and Contemplatio.

What does Lectio mean?

Reading.

What does Meditatio mean?

Meditation.

What does Oratio mean?

Praying.

What does Contemplatio mean?

Contemplation.

Petition vs. Intercession?

Petition = praying for MY/OUR needs.

Intercession = praying for OTHER people's needs.

Adoration vs. Praise?

Adoration = glorifying God as our Creator.

Praise = joyfully recognizing that God is God.

Types of prayer vs. expressions of prayer?

Types = WHAT you're praying — Adoration, Petition, Intercession, Thanksgiving, Praise.

Expressions = HOW you're praying — Vocal, Meditative, Contemplative.

Meditative vs. Contemplative prayer?

Meditative = MIND → thinking/pondering God's will.

Contemplative = HEART → silently listening and resting with God.

: What is spirituality?

: A person's search, engagement, and relationship with the sacred, divine, or transcendent (God).

: Why is spirituality difficult to define?

: It is complicated, personal, and depends on who you ask.

: What is religion?

: An organized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices.

: What is theology?

: The study/talk of God and God's relationship to the world.

: What is the easiest way to distinguish spirituality, religion, and theology?

: Spirituality = relationship; Religion = structure; Theology = study.

: What does religio mean?

: Obligation/rule; to tie something back.

: What do Theos and Logia mean?

: Theos = God; Logia = talk/study of.

: What does Ruah mean?

: Wind, breath, and spirit.

: What language does Ruah come from?

: Hebrew.

: What can Ruah represent in Scripture?

: God's Spirit, life/breath, wind, and prophetic spirit.

: What happens to Ruah at death?

: The breath/spirit departs.

Christian Spirituality & Jesus

: Where does Christian spirituality come from?

: Jesus.

: What is Christian spirituality?

: The search/knowledge of God through Jesus Christ.

: What does Matthew 6:21 say about treasure and heart?

: "Where your treasure is, there also will your heart be."

: What is the connection between treasure and spirituality?

: What a person treasures shapes their heart, values, worldview, and how they live.

: What does Jesus teach through the hypocrites in Matthew 6:5-8?

: Prayer should be genuine, not performative.

: What does the Persistent Widow teach?

: Persistence in prayer.

: What does the Pharisee and Tax Collector teach?

: Humility.

: What are the three major prayer themes from Jesus' teachings?

: Genuine prayer, persistence, and humility.

: Why is the Lord's Prayer foundational to Christian spirituality?

: Christ taught it.

: Why can there be many Christian spiritualities?

: Spirituality is personal, and people may treasure and relate to God differently.

: What is dualism?

: Separation of the body from the soul/spirit.

: How does an unhealthy dualistic view see body vs. spirit?

: Body/world = evil; Spirit/God = good.

: What does healthy spirituality teach about body and spirit?

: Both body and spirit have value.

: What is monasticism?

: Living apart from the world to focus on prayer, fasting, and good works.

: What is an eremitical monk?

: A monk who lives alone.

: What is a cenobitic monk?

: A monk who lives in community.

: What does monachos mean?

: Solitary person.

: Where and when did Christian monasticism begin?

: Around 270 AD in Egypt/North Africa with the Desert Fathers.

: What three names are associated with early monasticism in the slides?

: Abba Antony, St. Augustine, and Benedict of Nursia.

: What is asceticism?

: Severe self-discipline, abstinence, and denial to become closer to God.

: What does askeo mean?

: To train.

: What are examples of asceticism?

: Fasting, celibacy, poverty, and giving up comforts.

: What is a familiar Christian example of asceticism?

: Fasting during Lent.

: What can unhealthy/extreme asceticism lead to?

: Dualism—the belief that the body is bad and spirit is good.

: What is contemplation?

: Focused time to ponder God and speak with God.

: What is the key idea of Psalm 46:10 for contemplation?

: "Be still and know that I am God."

: What does Christian contemplation focus the mind on?

: God.

: What is active contemplation?

: Prayer/contemplation combined with action and service in the world.

: Who is associated with active contemplation?

: St. Ignatius and the Jesuits.

: What is the easiest way to remember active contemplation?

: Pray + serve.

: What is discernment?

: Distinguishing what brings us closer to God from what brings us farther from God.

: What does discernere mean?

: To separate/distinguish.

: Who is especially associated with discernment?

: St. Ignatius.

: What question summarizes discernment?

: "Which choice brings me closer to God?"

: What is mysticism?

: Growing closer to God by contemplating the mystery of God and seeking to experience God.

: What does mysticism seek that makes it different from simply studying God?

: To experience God.

: What is described as the pinnacle of mystical prayer?

: Ecstasy/resting in God's presence.

: What two Western mystics are named in the slides?

: St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross.

: What concept is associated with St. John of the Cross?

: The Dark Night of the Soul.

: What is secular spirituality?

: Personal values/spirituality without organized religion.

: What are examples of secular spirituality from the slides?

: Meditation, yoga, mindfulness, and nature.

: What is the slides' main concern about secular spiritual practices?

: Many have roots in specific religious traditions, so their meanings and origins should be understood.