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The Ladder of Divine AscentOrthodox Online Study Class entitled The Ladder to Spiritual Heights- One Step at a Time, based on The Ladder of Divine Ascent- St. John Climacus and Ascending the Heights- A Laymen's Guide by John Mack. The class was broadcasted from November 2009 to May 2009. Classes last from 20 to 25 minutes. Archived classes are below.
Step 22 & 23: Humbling Ourselves: Vainglory & PrideThis episode is having technical difficulty. We will try to solve these quickly. Steps 22 and 23: Humbling Ourselves: Vainglory & Pride Vainglory seeks recognition and adulation from other human beings; Pride refuses to acknowledge the truth of one's relationship with God. Pride twists our world view to a point where both other people and God come to be seen as unimportant and, irrelevant. Watch Now>>> Click {rddl}studyguidestep22-23.doc{/rddl} to get the study guide that accompanies it! Step 25 & 26: Discerning God’s Will for our Lives & Learning How to be StillThis episode is having technical difficulty. We will try to solve these quickly. Step 25: Discerning God’s Will for our Lives Among beginners, discernment is real self-knowledge. Discernment is recognized to be a solid understanding of the will of God in all times, places and things. Step 26: Learning How to be Still When we first embrace spiritual life, we are unaware of how little peace there is in our souls, let alone whether they are peaceful. Watch Now>>> Click {rddl}studyguidestep25-26.doc{/rddl} to get the study guide that accompanies it! Step 24: Developing HumilityStep 24: Developing Humility Humility is a grace in the soul. “I am gentle and meek of heart” (Matt. 11:29) Watch Now>>> Click {rddl}studyguidestep24.doc{/rddl} to get the study guide that accompanies it! Steps 19, 20 and 21: Prayer and Facing Our Fears: CowardiceThis episode is having technical difficulty. We will try to solve these quickly.Steps 19 & 20: Prayer Saint John points out that; that which can awake us to prayer can also signal the demons to act upon us. This can be the little voice which keeps us in bed rather than leaping to attend prayer service. Step 21: Facing Our Fears: Cowardice In spite of what they say 90% of the chronic patients who see today’s physicians have one common symptom. It’s not the heart, the cough or hyperacidity. The first symptom is fear. Watch Now>>> Click {rddl}studyguide19_20_21.doc{/rddl} to get the study guide that accompanies it! Step 18: Getting SeriousStep 18: Getting Serious Insensitivity is a deadened feeling in body and spirit… Lack of awareness is negligence that has become habit. Watch Now>>> Click {rddl}StudyGuide18.doc{/rddl} to get the study guide that accompanies it! Steps 16 and 17: Ascending the HeightsThis eposide is having techinial difficults. We will try to solve these quickly. Steps 16 and 17: Ascending the Heights 1) Do not lay up for yourself, treasures on earth…But lay up for yourself treasures in Heaven…For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matt 6:19-21) Watch Now>>> Click {rddl}StudyGuide16-17.doc{/rddl} to get the study guide that accompanies it! Step 15: Keeping Ourselves PureStep 15: Keeping Ourselves Pure Join Natalie and Shawn as they learn how to keep themselves pure. Watch Now>>> Click {rddl}StudyGuideStep15.doc{/rddl} to get the study guide that accompanies it! Study Class 1: Created and Rational BeingsOf all created and rational beings, endowed with the dignity of free will, some are friends of God, some are His servants, some are useless servants, some are entirely estranged, and there are some who for all their weakness, take their stand against Him. Watch Now>>> Click {rddl}Studyguidestep1.doc{/rddl} to get the study guide that accompanies it! Study Class 2: Holding All Things With Open HandsLet us not be confused to think that there is a magic button to push to inherit eternal life. It is not attained by a single action but by dedicating one’s whole person to God. Watch Now>>> Click {rddl}Studyguidestep2.doc{/rddl} to get the study guide that accompanies it! Study Class 3: Living in Exile“Exile is a separation from everything, in order that one may hold on totally to God… An exile is a fugitive, running from all relationships with his own relatives and with strangers.” The definition that involves the term voluntary is key. Adam and Eve were in exile but this was not their choice. Watch Now>>> Click {rddl}studyguidestep3.doc{/rddl} to get the study guide that accompanies it! Study Class 4: Practicing ObedienceTo admire the labors of the saints is good; to emulate them wins salvation; but to wish suddenly to imitate their life in every point is unreasonable and impossible. Watch Now>>> Click {rddl}studyguidestep4.doc{/rddl} to get the study guide that accompanies it! |
