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Taste and See: Connecting With God Through Spiritual Practices
Enrich and embody your faith in everyday life.
About this Course
Taste and See: Connecting With God Through Spiritual Practices was designed to rekindle spiritual life through practices that engage all of you - body, senses, heart, and mind.
What you’ll learn:
In the breakneck rush of today’s complex and screen-centered world, it’s easy for our daily walk of faith to become routine, one-dimensional, or nearly non-existent. Taste and See: Connecting With God Through Spiritual Practices offers a refreshing chance to rekindle that spiritual life. Through spiritual practices that engage all of you—body, senses, heart, and mind—this course invites you to draw closer to God in rich new ways.
Taste and See encourages you to experiment with practical approaches to faith, grounding you in God’s love and helping you discover a rhythm that fits your life. It’s more than just a list of spiritual practices; it’s an opportunity to concretely deepen and embody your relationship with God. From visual meditation to labyrinth prayer to Sabbath, you’ll dive into practices rooted in Scripture, theology, and tradition that can turn everyday moments into sacred encounters. If you are looking for new ways to grow in faith, this course offers a solid foundation for a spiritually connected life.
Modules
Welcome
Get oriented to the course, meet your instructor, download the interactive handbook, and more.
Meeting God in Spiritual Practices
In this module, you will:
- Understand how love motivates us to spend time with God.
- Learn how God works through spiritual practices to transform us.
- Discover what spiritual practices are and what they are not.
- Consider your own view of God and how you think God sees you.
- Reflect on how you experience God based on how God made you.
Spiritual Practices for the Ears
In this module, you will:
- Learn how God communicates with us through scripture.
- Understand the key elements of scripture meditation.
- Try Dwelling in the Word for yourself, a variation on scripture meditation.
- Share your experience of the practice in community.
Spiritual Practices for the Eyes
In this module, you will:
- Learn how God communicates with us through visual mediums like art and nature.
- Understand the key elements of visual meditation.
- Try visual meditation for yourself by illustrating important moments in your spiritual journey.
- Share your experience of the practice in community.
Spiritual Practices for the Mouth
In this module, you will:
- Discover how we communicate with God through our speech.
- Understand the key elements of intercessory prayer.
- Try intercessory prayer for yourself by learning to listen to God first.
- Share your experience of the practice in community.
Spiritual Practices for the Body
In this module, you will:
- See how the combination of movement and prayer can open our entire selves to God.
- Understand the key elements of labyrinth prayer and breath prayer.
- Try labyrinth prayer and breath prayer for yourself.
- Share your experience of the practice in community.
Spiritual Practices for the Mind
In this module, you will:
- Learn what it means to seek God in ways that go beyond understanding.
- Become more open to the mystery and wonder of God.
- Understand the key elements of silent prayer and noticing prayer.
- Try silent prayer for yourself.
- Share your experience of the practice in community.
Spiritual Practices for the Heart
In this module, you will:
- Learn about God’s invitation to rest.
- See how resting is an act of trust.
- Understand the key elements of Sabbath.
- Try Sabbath for yourself.
- Share your experience of the practice in community.
Moving Forward with Spiritual Practices
In this module, you will:
- Integrate spiritual practices into your life by developing a personal rhythm.
- Receive tools to help you along the journey.
- Explore the importance of spiritual community and take steps to find yours.
Completing the Course
Find out your next steps as you complete the course. You'll also be encouraged to submit feedback about your course.
One-time purchase
$55
With Faith+Lead Membership
$0*
Get a free public display license to use for group study.
$0*
*by joining Faith+Lead Membership for just $19.95 per month
- Modules:
10 Modules
- Format:
Self-Paced, On-Demand
- Access:
Lifetime Access
Get to Know Your Instructors
Tessa Pinkstaff
Spiritual Practices Facilitator
Tessa Pinkstaff is the founder of Practices for Life, a ministry that invites people to explore Christian spiritual practices as a way to experience God’s presence. She currently leads the weekly Dwelling in the Word online gathering and serves as a project consultant for Luther Seminary’s Faith+Lead. Tessa is the co-author of Leading Faithful Innovation: Following God into a Hopeful Future (Fortress Press, 2023). She has a Master of Arts in Ministry from Bethel Seminary and is in the process of becoming certified as a spiritual director.
Ready to Enroll?
Enroll in this on-demand course today or unlock free access to this and all Faith+Lead’s on-demand courses, plus more with a Faith+Lead Membership.
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$55
One-time purchase
- Access to this on-demand course
- Access the leaders guide for group study
- Access the course workbook for individual study
- A private, supportive online community
- Public display license for all on-demand courses and workshop recordings
- Access to 40+ on-demand courses
- Access every live and recorded workshop
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Access this on-demand course
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*by joining Faith+Lead Membership for just $19.99 per month
- Access to this on-demand course
- Access to all 40+ on-demand courses
- Public display license for all on-demand courses and workshop recordings
- Access all leaders guides for group study
- Access all course workbooks for individual study
- A private, supportive online community
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What to Expect with a Faith+Lead Academy Course
You’ll get a transformative learning experience that combines trustworthy theological teaching with spiritual practices, interactive elements, and a supportive online community.
Know
Expand your theological toolkit with fresh insights for today’s ministry landscape. Connect timeless wisdom with practical frameworks for navigating change.
Be
Do
Practice skills to lead confidently in your ministry context. Take actionable steps to invite your community into God’s unfolding story.
Every Academy course is designed to
Help your growth in one of these core areas:
Develop a Christ-centered identity, grounded in theology, scripture, and spiritual practice, that empowers community members to live as disciples of Jesus Christ in everyday life.
Tell the story of Jesus and invite neighbors into Jesus’ way of life and love through words and actions they can recognize.
Listen deeply, name God’s presence in the midst of everyday life, and form life-giving relationships across all dimensions of diversity—both within and beyond the church.
Through mutual relationships with the neighbors among whom you’re hosted, join in acts of compassion, justice, and reconciliation as a witness to the ministry of Jesus—especially in places of suffering and despair.
Harness skills of agile leadership, stewardship, fundraising, entrepreneurism, and management to be nimble enough to respond to a changing cultural landscape.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I expect when I take an Academy course?
Academy courses consist of 6-10 lessons or modules, each walking you through the “know, be, do” learning framework. You’ll learn some new information with instructor videos and other resources (know). You’ll engage in a spiritual practice that will help you develop your faith around the topic (be). Then, you’ll be asked to apply what you’ve learned through activities completed online or in the “real world” (do).
How long will it take me to complete a course?
Each module is designed to take 15-45 minutes. Some learners complete the course in as little as one day. Some do a module a day or even a module a week. We suggest allowing some time between modules to process what you are learning, but not so much time that you lose momentum.
What resources are available if I’m a group leader?
Each course includes a flexible leader’s guide with multiple pathways for group facilitation. You’ll find thought-provoking discussion questions and practical activities that connect faith with daily life, designed to work with whatever preparation time you have available. These resources equip you to foster meaningful discipleship experiences that meet your community where they are.
What do I need to know about the free private online social group?
The private online group allows you to connect with others. Because our courses don’t have a required start or stop date, you will encounter others in different places in the course and even in different courses altogether. This is by design. Feel free to interact as much or as little as you like.
What should I do if I have questions or problems with my registration?
Reach out via email to faithlead@luthersem.edu with your question and we’ll get back to you with a response within two business days.
What if I have a suggestion or request for a course topic?
The best way to connect with us is to complete this form with your suggestion. We always want to hear your feedback. You may also include it in the comments section of the course evaluation.
Don’t see your question addressed?
Email us at faithlead@luthersem.edu for more information. We’ll be delighted to connect!