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Spiritual Formation Reading List

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Reminder...

"…no devotional book, past or present, can do anything decisive, if you are not already longing for a deeper spiritual life and prepared to receive it."

James M. Houston


On Spiritual Formation…the process of being conformed to the image of Christ for the sake of others (M. Robert Mulholland definition)

  • Ruth Haley Barton, Sacred Rhythms: Arranging Our Lives for Spiritual Transformation, IVP 2006
  • Larry Crabb, The Safest Place on Earth, (Word Publishing, 1999) – retitled Becoming a True Spiritual Community, 2007
  • Brent Curtis & John Eldredge, The Sacred Romance: Drawing Closer to the Heart of God, Thomas Nelson, 1997
  • Leighton Ford, The Attentive Life: Discerning God’s Presence in All Things, IVP, 2008.
  • Ken Gire, Seeing What is Sacred: Becoming More Spiritually Sensitive to Everyday Moments of Life, Thomas Nelson, 2006.
  • Jeff Imbach, The River Within: Loving God, Living Passionately, NavPress, 1998.
  • Brennan Manning, Abba’s Child: The Cry of the Heart for Intimate Belonging, NavPress, 1994
  • Alister McGrath, The Journey: A Pilgrim in the Lands of the Spirit, Doubleday, 2001
  • M. Robert Mulholland, An Invitation to a Journey: A Road Map for Spiritual Formation, IVP, 1993.
  • Henri Nouwen, Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming, Doubleday, 1992.
  • John Ortberg, The Life You Have Always Wanted: Spiritual Disciplines for Ordinary People, Zondervan, 2002.
  • Eugene Peterson, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction: Discipleship in an Instant Society, IVP 1980.
  • Dallas Willard, The Great Omission: Reclaiming Jesus Essential Teachings on Discipleship, HarperSanFrancisco, 2006.
  • Philip Yancey, Disappointment with God, Zondervan, 1997.

On the Spiritual Disciplines (in particular)

  • Ruth Haley Barton, Invitation to Silence and Solitude: Experiencing God’s Transforming Presence, IVP, 2004.
  • Richard Foster, Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth, Harper, 1978.
  • Adele Calhoun, Spiritual Disciplines Handbook:Practices that Transform Us, IVP, 2005.
  • Henri Nouwen, The Way of the Heart: The Spirituality of the Desert Fathers and Mothers, HarperOne, 1991.
  • Dallas Willard, The Spirit of the Disciplines, HarperSan Francisco, 1991.

On Prayer

  • C.S. Lewis, Letters to Malcolm, Chiefly on Prayer, Harvest, 1983.
  • Richard Foster, Prayer: Finding the Heart’s True Home, HarperSanFrancisco, 1992.
  • Emilie Griffin, Clinging: The Experience of Prayer.
  • David Hansen, Long Wandering Prayer: An Invitation to Walk with God, IVP, 2001.
  • James Houston, The Transforming Friendship, (re-released entitled The Prayer: Deepening Your Friendship with God, Victor, 2007).
  • Philip Yancey, Prayer: Does it make any Difference? Zondervan, 2006.
  • Eugene Peterson, Answering God: The Psalms as Tools for Prayer, HarperCollins, 1989.

Spiritual Narratives

  • Frederick Buechner, The Sacred Journey: A Memoir of Early Days (1982), Now & Then: A Memoir of Vocation (1983), Telling Secrets: A Memoir (1991) HarperCollins.
  • Sheldon Vanauken, A Severe Mercy, HarperOne, 1987.
  • Madeleine L’Engle, Circle of Quiet (1972), The Irrational Season (1977), Harper, SanFrancisco.
  • Augustine, Confessions of St. Augustine, 4th century, (esp. books 1-9)

Selected Classics

  • Augustine, Confessions of St. Augustine, 4th century, (esp. books 1-9).
  • Aelrid of Riveaulx, Spiritual Friendship, 12th century.
  • Teresa of Avila, The Interior Castle, 16th century.
  • John of the Cross, Dark Night of the Soul, 16th century.
  • Thomas A Kempis, The Imitation of Christ.
  • John Bunyan, Pilgrim’s Progress, 17th century.
  • Thomas R. Kelly, A Testament of Devotion, 20th century.
  • C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity – Book IV “Beyond Personality or First Steps in the Doctrine of the Trinity” 20th century.
  • A.W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy, 20th century.
  • Renovare’s Devotional Classics and related books, Harper San Francisco

Spiritual Formation & Pastoral Work

  • Eugene Peterson, Working the Angles: The Shape of Pastoral Integrity, Eerdmans, 1987, Under The Unpredictable Plant: An Exploration in Vocational Holiness, Eerdmans, 1992.

Spiritual Theology

  • Eugene Peterson (Eerdmans – 4 of 5 volume series on spiritual theology)
    • Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places: a conversation in spiritual theology (2005)
    • Eat This Book: a conversation in the art of spiritual reading (2006)
    • The Jesus Way: a conversation on the ways that Jesus is the way (2007)
    • Tell it Slant: a conversation on the language of Jesus in his stories and prayers (2008)
  • Debra Rienstra, So Much More: An Invitation to Christian Spirituality, Jossey Bass, 2005.

History of Christian Spirituality

  • Gerald L. Sittser, Water from a Deep Well: Christian Spirituality from Early Martyrs to Modern Missionaries, IVP, 2007

Miscellaneous

  • George MacDonald, Diary of an Old Soul
  • Edna Hong, The Gayety of Grace
  • Kathleen Norris, The Quotidian Mysteries: Laundry, Liturgy, and “Women’s Work, Paulist Press, 1998
  • Jean Vanier, From Brokenness to Community, Paulist Press, 1992.
  • Mindy Caliguire, Discovering Soul Care, IVP Connect, 2007