Spiritual Formation Reading List
The following books are recommended to provide a firmer background concerning spiritual formation and to assist you in growing closer to our God. Some of them may appear to be more related to ministry or ministers. Don’t let that put you off; we are all ministers and these books provide good guidance for all of us. Anyone with a serious interest in spiritual formation must have and read Scripture. While all of Scripture is beneficial, specific sections of Scripture are provided at the end of this list to provide a beginning point for study.

New Seeds of Contemplation , Merton, T. (1961). Provides perhaps Merton’s most complete review of Contemplation. Focusing on the idea that the Christian’s life is intended to be lived in association with God, Merton challenges his readers to let their faith guide them into the presence of God. He deals with our false selves, our tendencies to look our for Number 1, and see things a bit too logically. It is clear that Merton sees contemplation as that way of living that recognizes that God is all around us and that we are called to live in His presence all the time.

A Long Obedience in the Same Direction, Peterson, Eugene, 2000, Intervarsity Press, Downers Grove, IL. The Christian life is not a once-for-all event in which we understand perfectly, trust God implicitly, and everything’s fine from that moment on. Rather life happens, and discipleship lasts our entire lives. Peterson reminds us that our God is faithful and patient and that our response to Him is to characterized by our own faithfulness and endurance.

Contemplative Prayer, Merton, Thomas, 1969, Doubleday, New York. Thomas Merton is one of the modern leaders in the area of contemplation and the spiritual development of Christians. His early writings are clearly placed within a Catholic monk’s world, but his later writings tend to lose many of those trappings. This book develops Merton’s understanding of a Christian’s movement from living a life simply labeled as Christian to one that experiences the very presence of God.

Eat This Book, Peterson, Eugene, 2006, Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, MI. Peterson argues for “spiritual” reading of Scriptures. This is one that doesn’t just read the Bible through in a year, as good as that may be. Rather, he argues that “…in order to read the Scriptures adequately and accurately, it is necessary at the same time to live them….It means letting Another have a say in everything we are saying and doing.”

Life on the Vine, Kenneson, Philip, 1999, Intervarsity Press, Downers Grove, IL. Using the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians, this book is much more than another list and definition of the fruit. Rather, after discussing the fruit, the author leads the reader to ask “so what?” What does the fruit of the Spirit look like in my life, in how I treat others, in how I develop my relationships, in what I look for in life.

Living God’s Love, An Invitation to Christian Spirituality, Hollaway, Gary, and Lavender, Earl, 2004, Leafwood, Abilene, TX. Designed for classes or small groups, this book serves as an interactive introduction to the spiritual disciplines. Each chapter explores an aspect of our lives as people who are made to be the image of our God. The reflection and group questions are effective in bringing the chapters’ points home, and the suggested readings provide an excellent reading list for continued study.

Mere Christianity, Lewis, C.S., 1980, Simon and Schuster/Touchstone, New York. A classic overview of our faith by an insightful and honest. Is replete with observations similar to this one: “Do not waste time bothering with whether you “love” your neighbor; act as if you did.”

Merton’s Palace of Nowhere, Finley, James, 2003, Ave Maria Press, Notre Dame, IN. One of two good synopses of Merton’s writings in this list. Finley’s writing style is considerably easier to read than Merton’s, and he pulls together concepts of spirituality in a cohesive way with an easily readable style.

No Longer I, Being Transformed into the Image of Christ, Hall, Larry E., 1998, ACU Press, Abilene, TX. A call to let God transform us into the image of His Son.

Pilgrim Heart, Tippens, Darryl, 2006, Leafwood, Abilene, TX. Tippens describes his understanding of the Christian life and his experience in growth and understanding of relationship and grace.

Righteousness from the Inside Out, Cope, Mike, 2003, Leafwood, Abilene, TX. A call to Christian renewal and spirituality from the inside. Cope challenges us to renew our understanding that we are in this world but not of it; that our hearts and seen by our God; and it is our behavior and motivations that reveal the state of our hearts.

Celebration of Discipline, Foster, Richard. A modern classic on spiritual development. Foster reviews the classic Christian disciplines that have been practiced through the history of the church. Included are prayer, fasting, solitude, simplicity, confession, and worship, among others. The book provides a definition of the discipline, the place it fills in the Christian’s life, and the results of habituating the discipline in our lives.

Freedom of Simplicity, Foster, Richard. A call to lives of simplicity. Foster argues that simplicity, not scarcity, is the proper and most effective way to live for followers of our God. He argues that a life of simplicity results in more peaceful and rewarding relationships and lives.

The Spirit of the Disciplines, Willard, Dallas, 1991, HarperCollins, New York. Willard seeks to trace, generally, the development and disappearance of Christian disciplines in the Western world. He seeks to show that the disciplines can provide an excellent framework for our daily lives, lives that are lived in imitation of our Savior. Willard wants to bring the disciplines out of the church and monastery and into daily life.

Treasure in Clay Jars, Barrett, Lois, 2004, Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, MI. A follow-up to the Missional Church (1998), this book reviews several churches in the United States that the authors believe reflect the missional calling in the world. None of the churches are perfect, but each has committed itself to some aspect of becoming missional in their community life and worship.

Thomas Merton’s Paradise Journey, Shannon. The second synopsis of Thomas Merton’s writings in this list. Shannon is easier to read than Merton and his summary offers a chapter to each of Merton’s books. While there is some overlap between chapters, this book does not provide as integrated synopsis as does Merton’s Palace of Nowhere. Still, it is an easy read and does provide additional insight into the concepts of spiritual formation published by Merton.

What’s So Amazing About Grace, Yancy, Philip, 1997, Zondervan, Grand Rapids, MI. An excellent treatise on our obligations to our fellow man based on the grace we have received from our God.

Scripture Texts

Deuteronomy 7.7 – 9; 9.1 – 6. In these portions of Scripture, we are reminded that it is our God who has made us and who has graciously allowed us to be His people.

Psalm 1, 4, 5, 6, 12, 18, 19, 23, 25, 27, 32, 37, 41, 42, 46, 48, and 73. A selection of psalms primarily from the First Book of psalms. The Psalms are a great resource for reflection, for reminding, for rehearsing the presence, power, and person of our God.

Amos. Read the whole book, but for our purposes, pay attention to the reasons for God’s displeasure with the various nations, including His People.

Micah. Read the whole book if possible, but at least the sixth chapter. Here you will find the secret of what God expects of you.

Matthew 5.1 – 7.27. The Sermon on the Mount provides insight and clarification of God’s expectations for people who claim to follow Him. Jesus invites us to move our eyes from purely physical behaviors to the underlying basis of a life with God.

Matthew 25.31 – 46. The Judgment Scene provides a short lesson on what God expects. We are not called to accomplish grand things for God, but rather to become people who see others who need help, who are often pushed to the side of society, but who nevertheless have been made by God. Are we Christians enough to be associate with these people and to simply respond to their needs because of who they and we are?

Luke 4.16 – 20. Here Jesus tells us what He considered His mission. Included certainly is His death to set the world right with God, but also there are less grand events included. Primarily, His mission included helping people in the here and now rather than saving Himself for the final triumphant attack on evil. If His mission included caring for others this way, what must we be interested in?

John 3.16-17. Most of us know verse 16 by heart but many of us couldn’t quote verse 17. The former tells us God loves us, but the latter reinforces this love by saying God did not come to condemn us. Our God is not looking for reasons to banish us from Himself, but rather His love compels Him to serve us. What about us?

1 Corinthians 13. Love is the epitome of the Christian life. When you have a chance, read verses 4 – 8a, replacing “love” and “it” with your name. Does this reading then reflect you? Do you feel a bit embarrassed when doing this exercise? Why?

Galatians 5.13 – 26. In this chapter Paul lists the Fruit of the Spirit, urging us to live lives of love. He reminds us that the entire Law can be summed up in one command: Love your neighbor as yourself.

Ephesians 4.1 – 5.20. Life in community is a given for Christians. If our lives are those of love, how do we then live in community with one another?

1 Timothy 3.1 – 5.8; and Titus 2.1 – 3.11. Paul here elaborates on both the characteristics of the leaders of God’s people, but also on Timothy’s expected behavior. However, all of them are profitable for all followers of our God to emulate.

Hebrews 10.19 – 27. We have been given a direct entre to our God, established and proven by our Savior’s faithfulness, death, and resurrection. We do well to hold to that profession in the face of turmoil, loss, and misfortune. Our relationship with our God should result in a re-shaping of our lives to one of encouragement and steadfastness for others, and away from self-centeredness and sin.