Sacramental Life: Spiritual Formation Through the Book of Common Prayer
What happens when old meets new? As David deSilva has experienced the ancient wisdom of the Book of Common Prayer, he's been formed spiritually in deep and lasting ways. In these pages, he offers you a brand new way to use the Book of Common Prayer, that you too might experience new growth, new intimacy with God and a new lens through which to view the world. Focusing on the four sacramental rites of baptism, Eucharist, marriage and burial, deSilva explores each one in depth through the prayers, liturgies and Scripture readings of the Book of Common Prayer, and then adds his own devotional exercises that help you immediately apply what you've reflected on. As you read and contemplate the material, you may notice old habits, wrong beliefs and negative patterns being replaced with new desires and perspectives that help you draw ever closer to God. In this innovative and engaging resource David deSilva invites you in to a new way of being spiritually formed through an old book that has shaped thousands of disciples through the years. "I hope that, as you read and pray through this guide," he writes, "you will discover afresh the ways in which the rites contained in the Book of Common Prayer facilitate a genuine encounter with God, and a transforming experience of grace."
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Sacramental Life: Spiritual Formation Through the Book of Common Prayer
What happens when old meets new? As David deSilva has experienced the ancient wisdom of the Book of Common Prayer, he's been formed spiritually in deep and lasting ways. In these pages, he offers you a brand new way to use the Book of Common Prayer, that you too might experience new growth, new intimacy with God and a new lens through which to view the world. Focusing on the four sacramental rites of baptism, Eucharist, marriage and burial, deSilva explores each one in depth through the prayers, liturgies and Scripture readings of the Book of Common Prayer, and then adds his own devotional exercises that help you immediately apply what you've reflected on. As you read and contemplate the material, you may notice old habits, wrong beliefs and negative patterns being replaced with new desires and perspectives that help you draw ever closer to God. In this innovative and engaging resource David deSilva invites you in to a new way of being spiritually formed through an old book that has shaped thousands of disciples through the years. "I hope that, as you read and pray through this guide," he writes, "you will discover afresh the ways in which the rites contained in the Book of Common Prayer facilitate a genuine encounter with God, and a transforming experience of grace."
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Sacramental Life: Spiritual Formation Through the Book of Common Prayer
What happens when old meets new? As David deSilva has experienced the ancient wisdom of the Book of Common Prayer, he's been formed spiritually in deep and lasting ways. In these pages, he offers you a brand new way to use the Book of Common Prayer, that you too might experience new growth, new intimacy with God and a new lens through which to view the world. Focusing on the four sacramental rites of baptism, Eucharist, marriage and burial, deSilva explores each one in depth through the prayers, liturgies and Scripture readings of the Book of Common Prayer, and then adds his own devotional exercises that help you immediately apply what you've reflected on. As you read and contemplate the material, you may notice old habits, wrong beliefs and negative patterns being replaced with new desires and perspectives that help you draw ever closer to God. In this innovative and engaging resource David deSilva invites you in to a new way of being spiritually formed through an old book that has shaped thousands of disciples through the years. "I hope that, as you read and pray through this guide," he writes, "you will discover afresh the ways in which the rites contained in the Book of Common Prayer facilitate a genuine encounter with God, and a transforming experience of grace."
David A. deSilva (PhD, Emory University) is Trustees' Distinguished Professor of New Testament and Greek at Ashland Theological Seminary in Ashland, Ohio. He is the author of over twenty-five books, including An Introduction to the New Testament and Day of Atonement: A Novel of the Maccabean Revolt. He is also an ordained elder in the Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments Introduction Part One: Baptism: Walking in Newness of Life 1. Christian Life as Baptismal Life 2. The Forgiveness of Sins 3. New Birth, New Life 4. Union with Christ 5. A New Exodus 6. We Renounce All That Is Not from God 7. We Reach Out for All That Is from God 8. We Journey Together Toward Christlikeness 9. We Promise to Live Out Our Baptism in 'Real Life' 10. A Sevenfold Prayer for the Baptismal Life Part Two: Holy Eucharist: Nourishment for the New Life 11. Encountering Jesus in the Eucharist 12. Remembering 13. The Host Who Is the Feast 14. A Family Meal 15. An Appetizer 16. Self-Examination and Confession 17. The Confession of Sin 18. Solidarity in Sin, Solidarity in Forgiveness 19. Prayer and Intercession 20. The Collects of the Day 21. Prayers of the People 22. The Lord's Prayer 23. Adoration 24. Idolatry, Then and Now 25. What Gift Shall We Bring? 26. Through the Open Door 27. Shaped by the Story of God's Self-Giving 28. The Nicene Creed 29. The Great Thanksgiving 30. Send Us Out Part Three: Christian Marriage 31. Marriage Made in Heaven 32. Made to Reflect God's Love for His People 33. Made Within Community, Made for Mission 34. Bringing the "New Person" to the Marriage 35. Bringing God to the Marriage Part Four: The Gate of Eternal Life 36. Facing Death As a People of Hope 37. In the Shelter of the Most High 38. Growing Through Grief 39. Reminders of Our Mortality 40. Some Dead Ends 41. Smashing Down the Wall 42. Living Like You'll Live Forever 43. Affirmation Worth Seeking 44. Freed for Costly Discipleship 45. Dying As Those Who Go Forth to Live Appendix A: The Apostles? Creed Appendix B: The Nicene Creed Notes
"David deSilva's Sacramental Life takes readers on a spiritual journey through the sacraments of life and new life in Christ. Grounded in careful theology and Scripture, the book is richly devotional and full of wise spiritual counsel and direction. In addition to being of great benefit to more mature Christians (especially Episcopalians and Anglicans), the book could be well used with new or inquiring church members who wish to understand and grow in their faith and devotion."
William H. Willimon
"David deSilva has given us a wonderful guide to spiritual development and sustenance in this book. I love the way he ties in our individual spiritual reflection with the cadences of the Book of Common Prayer and the church's liturgical life. Here is a book that moves from the gathered congregation to the individual believer and back again in a way that is not only helpful, engaging, but also faithful." — William H. Willimon, coauthor of Resident Aliens and Bishop of The United Methodist Church
Dr. Ben Witherington III
"[Sacramental Life is] written with pastoral sensitivity, and with the aim to enrich our prayer and devotional life. I heartily commend this book. It will bless your soul and energize your spiritual practices through the aid of one of the richest of all sources--the Book of Common Prayer." — Dr. Ben Witherington III, professor of New Testament, Asbury Theological Seminary
Richard J. Foster
"Sacramental Life takes the Anglican Book of Common Prayer as its focal point. From this vantage point it invites us on a journey into the various and varied aspects of human experience, giving guidance and counsel for our formation into Christlikeness along the way. For all, and especially those with a liturgical interest, it offers expert guidance and wise counsel." — Richard J. Foster, founder of Renovaré and author of Celebration of Discipline and Streams of Living Water
