NEW THIS SUMMER
Friends and Daggers (Summer edition)
“Praying the Psalms with Jesus”
When you first begin praying your way through the Psalms, you might feel as if you’re a spiritual pilgrim traveling through a strange yet sacred land. Start traveling and it doesn’t take long to realize that this prayerbook (and hymnal) given to the Church by God Himself is different literary territory than the rest of the Scriptures.
Each Psalm is filled with new sights with stunning and striking images, different sounding words and phrases, and picture promises of Messiah. In the prayers and hymns, emotions are given full voice. Sighs, laments, rants, rage against enemies, doubts, questions, thanksgiving, praise and “hallelujahs” all live together in a sacred tension.
Traveling this road alone can be disorienting. What we need on this journey through the Psalms is a spiritual guide, a native of the land, ONE who has the spiritual accent of the territory. We need ONE who has lived and walked and prayed the Psalms before us and FOR us. We need ONE who now desires to pray them with us. That ONE is our Brother, the Lord Jesus, our Great High Priest.
And so, we pray the Psalms with Jesus.
The Best Way to Learn to Pray the Psalms is …
The best way to learn to pray the Psalms is not to “study” them but to actually pray them. Yes, some “study” will be involved and I (with the help of the Holy Spirit, the Real Teacher) will do my best to share some insights, aids and keys to praying the Psalms. However, the vast majority of the time will be spent by you …
- reading and hearing the Psalms
- praying (saying, singing, sighing) the Psalms
- memorizing and meditating on the Psalms.
As we travel the Psalms, we are in good hands! The Lord Jesus will teach us! The Scriptures remind us …
- Jesus is “for us” (Romans 8:31-ff)
- He is “with us” (Matthew 28:18-20)
- He “lives in us” (Galatians 2:20-21)
Offered During the Summer
During the Summer months, I’ll be producing and providing a number of digital resources, guided videos and aids to help you learn how to “Pray the Psalms with Jesus”. My hope is to provide you enough digital content to get YOU going (a couple of times a week).
The end goal is not for me to talk about the Psalms, but for you to pray the Psalms with Jesus. Once we get it going, we can evaluate, adjust, add and supplement other videos and resources as needed.
Here’s what I would like to offer …
- Overview Videos that will provide insight, aids and keys to praying the Psalms (couple of times per week)
- Scheduled Videos focusing on selected Psalms
- Audio Recordings of me reading certain Psalms (I will use the World English Bible (WEB) because it is in the public domain)
- “OnePagers” that provide videos, reviews, guides and worksheets to lay a foundation for praying the Psalms
- Sunday Vlogcasts and Daily Scripture Reading Plans that highlight the appointed Scripture readings for each day of the Church Year
- Live ZOOM Workshops (as requested and needed) that summarize the teachings of the week and offer opportunities for you to ask specific questions about the Psalms (the live workshops will be recorded for those who cannot attend in person)
- Access to the “eXPlain it” digital online portal… (the virtual home of the “Praying the Psalms with Jesus” series)
- A private FaceBook Group for community, comments, sharing and discussion
- For those in the Metro Detroit area, in-person opportunities to study the Psalms in community
If you have already signed up for the “Friends and Daggers” videos, you are automatically enrolled in the new series. You don’t have to do anything.
If you haven’t yet signed up, you can do so by going to …
After you subscribe, you’ll receive new content delivered directly to your inbox as it is created.
Information About Summer In-Person Gatherings
Starting Wednesday, June 23rd, we would like to meet twice a month for a community gathering (“ekklesia”) and study of the Psalms. Weather permitting, these gatherings would be hosted outside. If the weather doesn’t cooperate, we’ll provide a ZOOM backup option.
Dates are as follows …
- Wednesday, June 23rd at 6:30 pm
- Wednesday, July 7th at 6:30 pm
- Wednesday, July 21st at 6:30 pm
- Wednesday, August 4th at 6:30 pm
- Wednesday, August 18th at 6:30 pm
If you would like to attend the community gathering in Troy, MI, please let us know so we can prepare. You can contact me at paul@paulwarndt.com.
Much joy and peace to us in Him,
Paul