Paul W. Arndt

The Receptive Life

Learning How to Make Use of the Person and Work of Jesus

The Receptive Life is a distinctly Lutheran devotional resource that will help you learn how to make use of the person and work of Jesus Christ so that you can ...

fight against the "unholy trinity" - the devil, the world, and the sinful flesh
defend yourself with all of the promises of Jesus
and receive all of the gifts that only the Triune God can give

It is a daily and intentional spiritual formation process that is rooted in the Scriptures and is framed by the chief parts of Martin Luther's Small and Large Catechism.

The Receptive Life

Introduction and Overview

... the Gospel compels us to avail ourselves (make use) of Christ in justification; it teaches that through Him we have access to God by faith; it teaches that we ought to set Him as Mediator and Propitiator against God's wrath; it teaches that by faith in Christ the remission of sins and reconciliation are received, and the terrors of sin and of death overcome.
(Apology, Art III, [170-171], Concordia Triglotta)

PDF Resources
While traveling, you'll need some maps, tools, and field guides. You'll also need some skills and daily exercises. These resources will help you make use of the person and work of Jesus as you walk your way through the 13 stations of The Receptive Life prayer cycle.
Online Community
I have created a private community on a platform called, Circle. It does require you to sign up, create an account with an email and password, and establish a profile etc. Once a member, you can respond to posts that I've written, create your own post, interact with other members.

To join, go to ... my invitation link.
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Email Sign Up
When you sign up for the The Receptive Life newsletter you'll receive ...
- video updates, resources, and materials to help you implement the daily and weekly practices
- access to the private Receptive Life community platform
- links to ZOOM conversations with other Lutheran pastors and teachers
- updates on The Receptive Life book project
You can sign up here.

The Receptive Life Prayer Cycle

The Receptive Life Prayer Cycle is an intentional and structured process that I’ve developed to help you consistently get to all of the places where the Triune God has promised to do His work.

it is rooted in the three themes of Psalm 119 (prayer, meditation, and soul struggle)
it is framed by the chief parts of Luther's Small Catechism
it is a tactile tool that will help you repeat and return to all of the places where the Triune God has promised to give to us His gifts

Think of it as a map, a compass and a spiritual guide through the territory. When sin, death and the Devil disorientate, The Receptive Life Prayer Cycle helps us get our bearings. Like a compass, it reorients and directs you to the following landmarks:

Station 1: The Sign of the Cross and the Trinitarian Invocation
Station 2: Evening and Morning Prayer
Station 3: Confession
Station 4: The Reading, Study and Meditation of the Scriptures
Station 5: Morning and Evening Commendation
Station 6: Blessing and Doxology
Station 7: Ten Commandments (Monday)
Station 8: The Creed (Tuesday)
Station 9: The Lord’s Prayer (Wednesday)
Station 10: Sacrament of Baptism (Thursday)
Station 11: Office of the Keys (Friday)
Station 12: Sacrament of the Altar (Saturday)
Station 13: Vocation (Sunday)

The Receptive Life: Daily Practice

https://vimeo.com/800129359/d4621a53d8; Introduction and Overview; 13:55 https://vimeo.com/800131674/7196e814ef; The Backstory; 14:36 https://vimeo.com/800132327/a2cf2d67d2; The Daily Practice; 8:23 https://vimeo.com/800132560/828ba7ceee; Station 1: The Sign of the Cross and the Trinitarian Invocation; 15:59 https://vimeo.com/800133540/4bc214c9f9; Station 1: Making Use of the Cross and the Name; 11:41 https://vimeo.com/800133763/679f6bfae5; Station 1: The Cross as Sacrifice for Sin; 13:10 https://vimeo.com/800133291/2abb838130; Station 1: The Cross as Victory; 9:10 https://vimeo.com/800132902/58d5f32db9; Station 1: The Cross as the Way of the Christian; 14:10 https://vimeo.com/800134130/40db24095e; Station 2: Evening and Morning Prayer; 16:08 https://vimeo.com/800134455/a54ff41498; Station 2: A Sacred Rhythm; 14:44 https://vimeo.com/800134787/81f3e8c513; Station 2: A Sacred Gratitude; 16:02 https://vimeo.com/800135206/f054703c81; Station 2: Rest in Peace; 11:08 https://vimeo.com/800135466/67ff6281d6; Station 2: Ask and Wait in Expectation; 10:10 https://vimeo.com/800135698/9ac88c53cf; Station 3: Confession - Repent, Receive, Rejoice (repeat); 16:59 https://vimeo.com/800136147/4ef37af83c; Station 3: Spiritual Diagnosis; 13:33 https://vimeo.com/800136424/7c0711d3f8; Station 3: The Ten Commandments; 12:23 https://vimeo.com/800136684/71b028e510; Station 3: To Whom Shall We Go?; 10:51 https://vimeo.com/800136925/f031b5ed27; Station 3: A Way of Life; 10:08 https://vimeo.com/800140631/b8224fee34; Station 4: The Word of God; 13:46 https://vimeo.com/800143195/9a8692a9ad; Station 4: Psalm 119 and Oratio, Meditatio, Tentatio; 10:46 https://vimeo.com/800143043/419b8039cb; Station 4: Psalm 119 and Oratio (Prayer); 7:03 https://vimeo.com/800142897/92820884fb; Station 4: Psalm 119 and Meditatio (Meditation); 6:01 https://vimeo.com/800142733/4172071abd; Station 4: Psalm 119 and Tentatio (the Troubles of Life); 7:43 https://vimeo.com/800142483/3f49cc390f; Station 4: The 5 Uses of the Scripture; 9:35 https://vimeo.com/800142271/8334015be2; Station 5: The Evening and Morning Commendation; 11:26 https://vimeo.com/800141931/047160abcf; Station 5: The Commendation and the Creed; 12:02 https://vimeo.com/800141711/8c73ec8b16; Station 5: The Commendation and Vocation; 10:47 https://vimeo.com/800141510/a5dcc2031f; Station 5: The Commendation and the Lord's Prayer; 10:03 https://vimeo.com/800141316/c1fe7a8005; The Doxology and the Blessing; 9:37 https://vimeo.com/801319022/cd8ad5310b; The Receptive Life Conversations (Ash Wednesday Introduction); 1:20:51 https://vimeo.com/803719928/45b4fced62; The Receptive Life Conversations (Station 1); 1:40:45 https://vimeo.com/806949958/c121dc954a; The Receptive Life Conversations (Station 2); 1:30:48 https://vimeo.com/809124582/f6d100696a; The Receptive Life Conversations (Station 3); 1:44;48 https://vimeo.com/810673337/e75d38ee9f; Station 4: The Receptive Life Conversations (Station 4); 1:48:32 https://vimeo.com/813621558/da1c3361ae; The Receptive Life Conversations (Stations 5 and 6); 1:47:59

The devil is called the master of a thousand arts. But what shall we call God’s Word, which drives away and brings to naught this master of a thousand arts with all his arts and power? It must indeed be the master of more than a hundred thousand arts.
(Martin Luther, Large Catechism)

A Detailed Map of the Territory

The heart of the prayer cycle is Psalm 119 (one giant song, 176 verses, about the Word of God and the God of the Word). Psalm 119 (and the prayer cycle) pulses with these three themes:

oratio: prayer,
meditatio: meditation on the Scriptures,
tentatio: the promise of grace in the midst of soul-struggle.

Here’s a link to Martin Luther’s Preface to the Wittenberg Edition of his German Writings (here). In these words he speaks of Psalm 119 and the spiritual themes of oratio, meditatio, tentatio.

“Lord God, you have made us for yourself, and our hearts are
restless until they find their rest in you.”
— St.Augustine, Confessions, Book 1

The Receptive Life: Weekly Practice

https://vimeo.com/800140979/552a13c818; The Weekly Practice Overview; 14:11 https://vimeo.com/802278850/9e9e158125; Station 7: The Ten Commandments (Introduction); 18:30 https://vimeo.com/802284016/3c4df1a581; Station 7: The 1st Commandment (Part 1); 12:11 https://vimeo.com/802283767/3e05085053; Station 7: The 1st Commandment (Part 2); 10:42 https://vimeo.com/802283570/f3656015ae; Station 7: The 2nd Commandment; 9:06 https://vimeo.com/802283257/ccb81ccffd; Station 7: The 3rd Commandment; 12:32 https://vimeo.com/802283075/3ec54d2bcb; Station 7: The 4th Commandment; 8:34 https://vimeo.com/802282534/d4285beea7; Station 7: The 5th Commandment; 17:54 https://vimeo.com/802282839/23de581b32; Station 7: The 6th Commandment; 10:27 https://vimeo.com/802282272/1a77bffd4b; Station 7: The 7th Commandment; 10:46 https://vimeo.com/802282097/b6ec61fcf9; Station 7: The 8th Commandment; 9:49 https://vimeo.com/802281882/9f66814625; Station 7: The 9th, 10th, and Close of the Commandments; 11:16 https://vimeo.com/802281654/b1612b0303; Station 8: The Creed - Everyone One Has a God; 12:28 https://vimeo.com/802281455/b2ac87f9f9; Station 8: Idol Hunting; 10:16 https://vimeo.com/802281147/845c3068af; Station 8: Article 1 - God the Father; 13:53 https://vimeo.com/802280904/ffc56d48d4; Station 8: Article 2 - God the Son; 10:37 https://vimeo.com/802280718/b96cc26a87; Station 8: Article 2 - God the Holy Spirit; 8:44 https://vimeo.com/802280489/eef5262af1; Station 9: The Lord's Prayer - Introduction; 12:02 https://vimeo.com/802280262/9b29730376; Station 9: Our Father and Amen; 9:59 https://vimeo.com/802279908/ab8531630d; Station 9: Hallowed Be Thy Name; 9:18 https://vimeo.com/802280096/0ff0d30e09; Station 9: Thy Kingdom Come; 7:54 https://vimeo.com/802279754/49c0b37e9d; Station 9: Thy Will Be Done; 7:21 https://vimeo.com/802279560/a131ff1932; Station 9: Daily Bread; 8:37 https://vimeo.com/802279354/dc6748137e; Station 9: Forgive Us Our Trespasses; 9:55 https://vimeo.com/802279218/c4a1fa21b2; Station 9: Temptation and Evil One; 5:19 https://vimeo.com/816615452/b0379f0f42; Station 10: The Forgiveness of Sins; 11:41 https://vimeo.com/816616020/ba954a34e1; Station 10: One God, Three Persons, One Salvation Plan; 13:31 https://vimeo.com/816616972/40ac9e1b82; Station 10: Salvation Acquired. Salvation Applied; 10:02 https://vimeo.com/816617510/4ac28d2621; Station 10: What Are the Sacraments; 10:23 https://vimeo.com/816618042/81096d0fd1; Station 10: What is Baptism?; 9:51 https://vimeo.com/816618545/fafb345e1d; Station 10: Re-membering Your Baptism; 7:13 https://vimeo.com/816618879/16aacb5676; Station 11: The Office of the Keys; 13:16 https://vimeo.com/816619509/c320a954d3; Station 12: The Sacrament of the Altar; 11:53 https://vimeo.com/816620083/e72b507ed4; Station 13: Christian Vocation; 11:20 https://vimeo.com/819191371/b70369089b; The Receptive Life Conversations (Station 7 - Part 1); 1:22:34 https://vimeo.com/820943827/4425848808; The Receptive Life Conversations (Station 7 - Part 2); 1:41:01 https://vimeo.com/823408446/c6f6d43424; The Receptive Life Conversations (Station 8); 1:49:02 https://vimeo.com/825551201/d92f9155c7; The Receptive Life Conversations (Station 9); 1:41:54 https://vimeo.com/827736828/1ad2a63a4e; The Receptive Life Conversations (Stations 10, 11, 12); 1:51:20 https://vimeo.com/829510554/535069fbca; The Receptive Life Conversations (Station 13); 1:33:33

Using The Receptive Life to Form African Lutherans To Be Teachers of the Faith

In the video below, you'll see how Lutherans In Africa and the Lutheran School of Theology use the catechism as the foundational tool to form African Lutherans to be "soul doctors" and teachers of the faith.

The PDF of Martin Luther’s Preface to the Small and Large Catechisms that is referenced in the video

can be found here.

Forming Soul Doctors

The Medicine for Sin is the Gospel

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