Spiritual Practices
Opening ourselves to God, to be formed by the Spirit, more and more into the image of the Son
“Sometimes I consider myself there as a stone before a carver, whereof he is to make a statute; presenting myself thus before God, I desire Him to form His perfect image in my soul, and make me entirely like Himself.”
- Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God
“I cannot transform myself, or anyone else for that matter. What I can do is create the conditions in which spiritual transformation can take place, by developing and maintaining a rhythm of spiritual practices that keep me open and available to God.”
- Ruth Haley Barton, Sacred Rhythms
Examen
The Deeply Formed Life by Rich Villodas (Chapter 5: Interior Examination, Chapter 6: Interior Examination)
Sacred Rhythms by Ruth Haley Barton (Chapter 6: Self Examination, Chapter 7: Discernment)
Books
Sermons
Examen
(Psalm 139)
Resources
Fasting
Fasting by Scot McKnight
Fasting: Spiritual Freedom Beyond Our Appetites by Lynne Baab
Books
Sermons
When You Fast
(Matthew 6:16-18)
Prayer / Daily Office
Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God by Timothy Keller
A Praying Life: Connecting with God in a Distracting World by Paul Miller
Sacred Rhythms by Ruth Haley Barton (Chapter 4: Prayer)
Books
Sermons
Daily Office
(Psalm 4-5)
Praying Together
(Acts 4:23-31)
When You Pray
(Matthew 6:5-15)
Devoted to Prayer
(Acts 1:12-26)
Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day by Peter Scazzero
Resources
Rule of Life
Crafting a Rule of Life by Stephen Macchia
The Deeply Formed Life by Rich Villodas (Chapter 1: Contemplative Rhythms)
Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by Peter Scazzero (Chapter 8: A Rule of Life)
Sacred Rhythms by Ruth Haley Barton (Chapter 9: A Rule of Life)
Books
Sabbath
Sabbath by Dan Allender
The Sabbath by Abraham Heschel
Sabbath as Resistance: Saying No to the Culture of Now by Walter Brueggemann
Sabbath Keeping: Finding Freedom in the Rhythms of Rest by Lynne Baab
Books
Sermons
Sabbath
(Psalm 92)
Resources
Scripture
The Deeply Formed Life by Rich Villodas (Chapter 2: Contemplative Rhythms)
Eat This Book: A Conversation in the Art of Spiritual Reading by Eugene Peterson
Opening to God: Lectio Divina and Life as Prayer by David Benner (Chapter 3: Lectio Divina)
Sacred Rhythms by Ruth Haley Barton (Chapter 3: Scripture)
Books
Sermons
Scripture
(Psalm 119)
Silence & Solitude
Invitation to Retreat by Ruth Haley Barton
Invitation to Solitude and Silence by Ruth Haley Barton
Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer (Chapter 3: The Day Alone)
Sacred Rhythms by Ruth Haley Barton (Chapter 2: Solitude)
The Way of the Heart by Henri Nouwen (Chapter 1: Solitude, Chapter 2: Silence)
Books
Sermons
Silence & Solitude
(Psalm 46)
Resources
Worship
Transforming Worship: Planning and Leading Sunday Services as if Spiritual Formation Mattered by Rory Noland
Books
Sermons
Worship
(Psalm 66)
Worshiping Together
(Hebrews 10:19-25)
“It is only when we slow down our lives that we can catch up to God.”
- NT Wright
“Hurry is the great enemy of spiritual life in our day.”
- Dallas Willard