New free resources teach ‘A Simple Way to Pray’

For Immediate Release

Contact: Vicki Biggs
Director, Integrated Communications
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
www.lcms.org
314-996-1236
314-556-3829 (cell)

New free resources teach ‘A Simple Way to Pray’

ST. LOUIS, May 1, 2013—The blessings of prayer are infinite; the way to pray is simple. Two new resources, a free two-part Bible study and a video, from The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) provide an introduction to Martin Luther’s “A Simple Way to Pray,” which offers instruction on how to pray.

“For Luther … the right way to begin to answer the questions, ‘What is prayer/’ and ‘How shall we pray?’ is with our Lord’s own command and promise,” wrote the Bible study author, the Rev. Dr. John Sias, pastor of Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, Colstrip, Mont.

Luther wrote “A Simple Way to Pray” to explain his approach to prayer in 1535 after his barber and friend, Peter Beskendorf, asked for some practical guidance on how to pray. In the essay, Luther explains the ITCP method, which features four steps: instruction, thanksgiving, confession and prayer.

“Because there are so many unbiblical things said and written about prayer, I encourage everyone to read ‘A Simple Way to Pray,’” said the Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison, president of the LCMS. “Luther’s little book on prayer will revolutionize your prayer life.”

Harrison translated “A Simple Way to Pray” from German to English before it became available through Concordia Publishing House, the church’s publisher.

To download the Bible study, go to www.lcms.org/resources/simplewaytopray.

To view the video, featuring Harrison’s explanation of the text, visit www.lcms.org/video/simplewaytopray.

About The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) is a biblical, confessional, witness-oriented Christian denomination with 2.3 million members in 6,200 congregations. Through acts of witness and mercy, the church carries out its mission worldwide to make known the love of Jesus Christ. Learn more at www.lcms.org.

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