Philipp Jakob Spener was a great Lutheran pietist. He followed on the heels of Luther’s Reformation and fully believed in the education of the Christian. It is important to be taught the way of Christ. People can be trained to respond to the gospel.

Wilhoit’s book, Spiritual Formation as If the Church Mattered, gives a synopsis of Spener’s philosophy. He thoroughly believed in the priesthood of all believers… and training them for that goal.

1. It is the duty of every Christian to study the Word of the Lord. When we spend time in the study of Scriptures we can order our lives by its priorities and minister the word of truth to people around us.

2. We have the responsibility to teach others. We start with our own house. We exhort and correct. We pray over those we have in our lives. We are concerned for their salvation. We are to speak the word of truth and influence people as much as possible to walk in paths of righteousness.

3. Stewardship of life. We offer up ALL we are and have to the service of the Lord. Our prayers, our thanksgiving, our good works, our alms ALL belong to the Lord.

To “live dead” isn’t about just getting rid of things. It is putting on the equipment that will help us walk in new life.