In a society always seeking the new and novel, Christians can become more grounded and mature through a retrieval of our common tradition. Alex Sosler sets forth the "transcendentals" of truth, goodness, and beauty--along with community--to help readers follow the way of Jesus. Weaving together church history, theology, and devotional practice, Sosler offers a holistic introduction to spiritual formation, encompassing biblical truth, the pursuit of the good life, the contemplation of God, and communal belonging. Each section includes a biblical and historical precedent for the tradition and highlights an exemplar from church history: Augustine on truth, Dorothy Day on goodness, Teresa of Ávila on beauty, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer on church commitment and community. This accessible book provides avenues for a broader and deeper spirituality that can shape the complexity of our souls. It is ideal for undergraduate students and as a formation primer for church adult education classes, classical schools, and homeschooling communities.

Every Christian wants to grow into the person God made him to be. Every Christian has a healthier, more spiritually mature version of herself in mind. Every Christian looks upon the future's horizon and imagines a relationship with God ever-increasing in vibrancy and strength. But how does a Christian get there? How does a sapling with good intentions actually become an oak of righteousness? You might think the answer is "regularly read the Bible, pray often, and share the gospel consistently." And those practices are certainly part of it. But in this book, Mason King expands your thinking beyond basic spiritual practices (which typically emphasize what you must do) into a more holistic picture of what a full and flourishing life with God can look like when it is cultivated well (focusing instead on who you might become). In these pages, learn how you can become a vibrant, healthy Christian by regularly offering to God three main dimensions of your life—your attention, your emotions, and your limits—for when you are disciplined in cultivating these environments at the root, you will grow into the right kind of tree.

Evan Howard, a noted authority on Christian spirituality, provides a holistic, accessible, and informed introduction to Christian spiritual formation written from a broadly evangelical perspective. Howard joins Scripture with themes of community, spirit, formation, and mission in a single integrative guide. The book includes helpful features such as figures, charts, chapter overviews, and formation-focused questions. Its evangelical-ecumenical and global perspectives will appeal to a wide audience. Resources for professors and students are available through Baker Academic's Textbook eSources.

How do we help women at every stage of life and spiritual maturity grow to know God, be changed by him, and develop and use their talents and gifts? In too many of our Christian contexts, leadership training and ministry opportunities for women are inadequate or totally absent. This short guide puts foundational principles and practical plans—grounded in biblical truth—at your fingertips so, whether you’re in a leadership role at your church or hoping to impact a few friends or neighbors, you will discover insights, wisdom, and impactful “how-to’s” to lead women. Within A Short Guide to Women’s Ministry, you will find: how to choose, train, and keep volunteers how to train theologically grounded teachers how to plan the women’s ministry calendar how to equip women to read their Bibles well how to equip women to grow in their relationship with God and with one another

We are made for community. Deep within the heart of people is a longing to both know others and be known by them, and groups ministry has the opportunity to meet these needs in every church. Groups are an art, not a science. There's no one-size-fits-all formula for designing transformational groups that God uses to mold people into the image of Christ together. There are dozens of variables and unknowns in the work of groups, but we believe the following is true: There is no lasting transformation in a person without another person or persons. The less relational your church is, the less transformational your church will be. The people in your group are a partial inheritance from the Lord right now. Groups exist for community with God and one another. So goes groups, so goes the church. So goes the church, so goes groups. Groups, at their core, embody the call to love one another found sixty times throughout the New Testament. This book is for people who love the possibilities of groups. And for those who want to.

This book is a multichapter introduction to spiritual formation within the Christian tradition. Corneliu C. Simuț discusses spiritual formation from the views of several Christian thinkers, with a chapter devoted to each thinker. The concluding chapter notes common themes shared by each thinker. The author presents some key Patristic, Medieval, Early Modern, Modern, and Contemporary theologians in a way that is characterized by brevity, concision, and clarity. Thus, this small book is a useful introduction to spiritual formation from a Christian perspective. It would be helpful for a college student or young adult who seeks to be educated on the subject. The conciseness of the book is a benefit. Yet the book raises interesting questions for further pursuit. A very succinct – but comprehensive – historical presentation of sanctification through the lens of spiritual formation, a concept which has been revived in the past two decades, especially in Evangelical circles, this text is useful for a college course in spiritual formation or religion.

Inspired by John Mark Comer’s New York Times bestseller Practicing the Way, this official companion to the Practicing the Way Course is an eight-session introduction to following Jesus in the modern era. The Practicing the Way Course, available free online, is designed to lay a foundation for lifelong apprenticeship to Jesus. This full-color companion guide helps you practice, reflect, and dialogue with your community as you walk through the Course together to experience real, lasting transformation. Inside, you’ll find resources like: Helpful tips to get the most out of each session of the Course Supplemental resources to dive deeper after each session Real-life exercises to help put each session into practice Additional prayers and liturgies

This transformational model (Matt 22:37-39) is focused on Community Relational Soul Care that has been lived out through generations of relational soul caregivers since 1910. This book will bring spiritual vitality full circle for today to heal hurting people. Scripture reveals Jesus Christ is the Helper, Advocate, and Counselor, to help His children gain wisdom for spiritual vitality. Dr. Larsen observed hurting people did not get fully healed after counseling. They fell back into old ways of living because they did not know their identity, had a relationship with Jesus Christ, experienced God, and were nurtured by His people. Relational soul caregivers mentor careseekers in and out of community (Matt 18:20) to restore God’s children in spiritual wisdom for the fulfillment of His plan. Relational soul caregivers are mentors who study God’s Word and have a relationship with Him. Some mentors have professional degrees, but they all share a collective focus on Jesus Christ, love one another, and help nurture others to spiritual vitality. Using this biblical model with acrostics RELATE (relational soul caregivers that nurture others spiritually, mentally, and emotionally) and RESTORE (restoring God’s children through the basic study of His Word in the Epistles 1, 2, 3, John), reveal examples of God’s people helping each other to spiritual vitality. Healing emerges in relationships with God, others, and God-centered self in Community Relational Soul Care.

Theological Interpretation of Scripture often begins and ends in the academy even though it is intended to find its bearing in the heart of the church. This volume seeks to bridge that gap by showing how the exegetical methods of TIS are themselves spiritually formative and naturally intersect into the life of the church.

Drawing upon the perspectives of Christian education, biblical studies, worship, ethics, the arts, the role of women, the role of minorities, sexuality, and vocation, this book provides a multifaceted picture of the meaning of spirituality. Becoming Christian is an accessible text that introduces readers to the important issues involved in being a Christian.