Spiritual Disciplines

Salvation is a free gift from God. All Christians agree on this—it's the core of the Gospel, and represents the nature of mankind's relationship to the Creator of all things. We cannot achieve our own salvation, and must rely on God's mercy.

That does not mean God requires nothing of us. Once He claims us we follow, and following means turning our back on sin to embrace righteousness, love, and faith. This is also a gift; even those indwelt by the Holy Spirit can find no strength to do good on our own, but are empowered to seek God's face by Jesus Christ, the Maker of all good things.

Among the things He empowers us to accomplish are the spiritual disciplines: habits that lead to pure thinking, pure living, and selflessness in our relationships with God and other people. These include prayer, Bible reading, tithe and offering, meditation and contemplation, fasting, and caring for the needy.

While there is a high level of personal decision and commitment needed to accomplish these things, none of them are possible completely removed from accountability and community. Christ's body is a Church, not a bunch of disconnected individuals. If we expect to be successful in our pursuit of the spiritual disciplines, we must submit to whichever local assembly we belong.

Paul said,

"Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law" (Galatians 5:19-23).

The world will know the Church by its love. This isn't limited to how we treat each other and those outside the Body (though those are certainly included); it also refers to our love of Christ and His Law. If we love Him, we'll do what He asks, just as Paul indicates in the passage above. This kind of attitude and behaviour doesn't develop overnight, it requires a lifetime of struggle and work.

When we say "work" in this context, we aren't talking about the work of Christ that saves. We're talking about the work on our part to follow and serve Him, to show our gratitude and the reality of our salvation. The spiritual disciplines are integral to this work. Below, we offer a variety of books intended to help you turn every moment to good account, to forsake the desires of the flesh, and to live as Christ commands.

Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he is a husband and father, teaches adult Sunday school in his Presbyterian congregation, and likes weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews here.

 

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101 Hymn Stories
by Kenneth Osbeck
from Kregel Publications
for 6th-12th grade
in History of Hymns (Location: XCH-HYMN)
101 Hymn Stories
by Kenneth Osbeck
40th Anniversary from Kregel Publications
for 6th-12th grade
in History of Hymns (Location: XCH-HYMN)
$18.99
101 Hymn Stories - audio book on CD
by Kenneth Osbeck, read by Wayne Shepherd
from Oasis Audio
for 6th-12th grade
in Audio Books & Dramas (Location: CD-AUDIO)
101 More Hymn Stories
by Kenneth Osbeck
from Kregel Publications
for 6th-12th grade
in History of Hymns (Location: XCH-HYMN)
$19.99
25 Basic Bible Studies
by Francis A. Schaeffer, foreword by Udo W. Middelmann
from Crossway Books
for Adult
in Bible Reading & Study (Location: XBI-STUDY)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
30 Days to Understanding the Bible
by Max Anders
Reprint from Thomas Nelson Publishers
for 7th-Adult
in Bible Reading & Study (Location: XBI-STUDY)
$19.99
After God's Heart
by Myrna Alexander
from Discovery House Publishers
for Adult
in Bible Reading & Study (Location: XBI-STUDY)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
All Things For Good
Puritan Paperbacks #17
by Thomas Watson
from Banner of Truth Trust
in Puritan Writings (Location: XCH-PUR)
American Indian Prayer Guide
by Danette Maloof, Dean Cozzens
from Sonlight Curriculum, Ltd.
for 4th-7th grade
in Native American History (Location: HISA-19NAT)
$4.50 (3 in stock)
Arrow Pointing to Heaven
by James Bryan Smith
Revised from B&H Books
for 10th-Adult
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Ascent of Mount Carmel
by St. John of the Cross
from Dover Publications
for 10th-Adult
in Medieval Literature (Location: LIT2-MED)
$10.16
Authentic Faith
by Gary Thomas
from Zondervan
for Adult
in Clearance: Christian Books (Location: XCLE)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Awed to Heaven, Rooted in Earth
by Walter Brueggemann
from Fortress Press
for Adult
in Prayer (Location: XCL-PRAY)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Barber Who Wanted to Pray
by R. C. Sproul
from Crossway Books
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$15.29 $7.20 (1 in stock)
Bartholomew's Passage
by Arnold Ytreeide
from Kregel Publications
for 4th-6th grade
in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY)
$16.14
Be Still My Soul
by Elisabeth Elliot
from Revell Publishing
for 10th-Adult
in Spiritual Disciplines (Location: XCL-SPDI)
Be Thou My Vision
by Jonathan Gibson
from Crossway Books
for 6th-Adult
in Devotionals (Location: XCL-DEV)
$32.99
Behold, Jesus is Coming!
International Inductive Study Series
by Kay Arthur and David Arthur
from Harvest House
for 10th-Adult
in Bible Reading & Study (Location: XBI-STUDY)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Beside Still Waters (updated language)
by C.H. Spurgeon, edited by Roy H. Clarke
from Thomas Nelson Publishers
for 8th-Adult
in Devotionals (Location: XCL-DEV)
Bible Jesus Read
by Philip Yancey
from Zondervan
for 10th-Adult
in Bible Surveys (Location: XBI-SURV)
$16.99 $9.00 (1 in stock)
Bible Recap
by Tara-Leigh Cobble
from Bethany House
for Adult
in Bible Reading & Study (Location: XBI-STUDY)
Bible Recap Kids' Devotional
by Tara-Leigh Cobble
from Bethany House
for 3rd-6th grade
in Devotions for Kids (Location: BIBR-DEV)
Bible Study
by Kathleen Buswell Nielson
from P&R Publishing
for 9th-Adult
in Bible Reading & Study (Location: XBI-STUDY)
$11.00
Biblical View of Self-Esteem, Self-Love, Self-Image
by Jay Adams
from Harvest House
in Christian Counseling (Location: XCL-COU)
$6.00 (2 in stock)
Big Beliefs!
by David R. Helm, ed.
from P&R Publishing
for All ages
in Family Worship (Location: BIBR-FAWO)
$14.99
Bless the Lord, O My Soul - Coloring Devotional
by Christian Art Publishers (Compilation)
from Christian Art Publishers
for 7th-Adult
in Adult Coloring Books (Location: COL-ADULT)
$12.74
Book of Proverbs Book III
by Kevin Swanson
from Generations with Vision
for 4th-10th grade
in Bible Studies for Families (Location: XBI-FAM)
Book of Psalms
by Timothy R. Botts
from Tyndale House
for 6th-Adult
in Devotionals (Location: XCL-DEV)
Business of Heaven
by C.S. Lewis
Reissue from HarperOne
for 10th-Adult
in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20)
$16.14
Celebrating the Sabbath
by Bruce Ray
from P&R Publishing
for 11th-Adult
in Worship & Sabbath (Location: XWO-SABB)
$6.99
Celebration of Discipline - 25th Anniversary
by Richard J. Foster
25th Anniversary from HarperCollins
for Adult
in Spiritual Disciplines (Location: XCL-SPDI)
$7.00 (1 in stock)
Celebration of Discipline - 2nd Edition
by Richard J. Foster
Revised & Updated from Harper & Row
for Adult
in Spiritual Disciplines (Location: XCL-SPDI)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Celebration of Discipline - 3rd Edition
by Richard J. Foster
3rd Edition from HarperCollins
for Adult
in Spiritual Disciplines (Location: XCL-SPDI)
$7.00 (1 in stock)
Celtic Book of Days
by Ray Simpson
from Anamchara Books
for Adult
in Devotionals (Location: XCL-DEV)
Christian in Complete Armour
by William Gurnall, with an introduction by J. C. Ryle
from Banner of Truth Trust
for Adult
in Puritan Writings (Location: XCH-PUR)
$48.00
Christian in Complete Armour - 3 Volume Set
by William Gurnall
from Banner of Truth Trust
for Adult
in Puritan Writings (Location: XCH-PUR)
Christian in Complete Armour Volume 1
by William Gurnall
Abridged from Banner of Truth Trust
in Puritan Writings (Location: XCH-PUR)
Christian in Complete Armour Volume 2
by William Gurnall
Abridged from Banner of Truth Trust
in Puritan Writings (Location: XCH-PUR)
Christian in Complete Armour Volume 3
by William Gurnall
Abridged from Banner of Truth Trust
in Puritan Writings (Location: XCH-PUR)
Christian Leader's Guide to Leading with Love
by Alexander Strauch
from Lewis and Roth Publishers
for Adult
in Church Ministry & Service (Location: XWO-MIN)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Christian Modesty and the Public Undressing of America - CD
by Jeff Pollard
from Vision Forum
for Adult
in Clearance: Christian Books (Location: XCLE)
$5.00
Christian's Secret of a Happy Life
by Hannah Whitall Smith
from Moody Press
in Devotionals (Location: XCL-DEV)
Classic Prayers for Children
by Laurie Latour, editor
from Future Christian Homemakers
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Prayer (Location: XCL-PRAY)
$6.00 (2 in stock)
Cloud of Witness
by Edith Mary Gell
Print on Demand Facsimile from Unknown Publisher
for Adult
in Devotionals (Location: XCL-DEV)
$10.00 (1 in stock)
Come Back, Barbara
by C. John Miller & Barbara Miller Juliani
2nd edition from P&R Publishing
in Parenting Teens (Location: XFA-PAR)
$11.99
Come Let Us Adore Him
by Paul David Tripp
from Crossway Books
for Adult
in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY)
$16.99
Comforting Hearts, Teaching Minds
by Starr Meade
from P&R Publishing
for Adult
in Family Worship (Location: BIBR-FAWO)
$15.99
Communion With God
Puritan Paperbacks #19
by John Owen, abridged and made easy to read by R.J.K. Law
Retypeset 2022 from Banner of Truth Trust
for Adult
in Puritan Writings (Location: XCH-PUR)
$9.00
Complete Works of E. M. Bounds on Prayer
by E. M. Bounds
from Baker Books
for 10th-Adult
in Prayer (Location: XCL-PRAY)
Complete Works of E.M. Bounds on Prayer
by E. M. Bounds
from Baker Books
for Adult
in Prayer (Location: XCL-PRAY)
Daily Readings - The Early Church Fathers
by Nick R. Needham
from Christian Heritage
in Devotionals (Location: XCL-DEV)
Dawning of Indestructible Joy: Daily Readings for Advent
by John Piper
from Crossway Books
for 9th-Adult
in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY)
$8.49
Deeper Places
by Matthew Jacoby
from Baker Books
for 9th-Adult
in Bible Reading & Study (Location: XBI-STUDY)
$14.99
Desiring God
by John Piper
Revised from Crossway Books
for 11th-Adult
in Knowing & Loving God (Location: XCL-KNOW)
$29.99
Diary of an Old Soul
by George MacDonald
from Augsburg Fortress
for 9th-Adult
in Devotionals (Location: XCL-DEV)
Discipline
by Elisabeth Elliot
from Revell Publishing
in Spiritual Disciplines (Location: XCL-SPDI)
$14.99
Discipline
by Elisabeth Elliot
from Revell Publishing
in Spiritual Disciplines (Location: XCL-SPDI)
Discipline of Grace
by Jerry Bridges
from NavPress
for 10th-Adult
in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC)
$4.50 (2 in stock)
Discipline of Grace
by Jerry Bridges
from NavPress
for 10th-Adult
in Spiritual Disciplines (Location: XCL-SPDI)
$14.99
Discovering Hope in the Psalms
by Pam Farrel, Jean E. Jones, Karla Dornacher
from Harvest House
for Adult
in Bible Reading & Study (Location: XBI-STUDY)
$6.40 (1 in stock)
E.M. Bounds on Prayer
by E. M. Bounds
from Hendrickson Publishers
for Adult
in Hendrickson Christian Classics (Location: XCL-DEV)
Eat This Book
by Eugene Peterson
from William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
for 10th-Adult
in Bible Reading & Study (Location: XBI-STUDY)
$9.00 (1 in stock)
Edges of His Ways
by Amy Carmichael
from Christian Literature Crusade
for Adult
in Devotionals (Location: XCL-DEV)
Enemy Within
by Kris Lundgaard
from P&R Publishing
for 9th-Adult
in Repentance & Avoiding Sin (Location: XCL-REP)
$9.99
Every Moment Holy Prayer Journal
by Douglas McKelvey
from Rabbit Room Press
for 6th-Adult
in Family Worship (Location: BIBR-FAWO)
$24.99
Every Moment Holy Volume 1
by Douglas Kaine McKelvey, illustrated by Ned Bustard
from Rabbit Room Press
for 6th-Adult
in Family Worship (Location: BIBR-FAWO)
$35.00 $24.50 (1 in stock)
Every Moment Holy Volume 1 (Pocketsize Edition)
by Douglas McKelvey, Illustrated by Ned Bustard
Pocket from Rabbit Room Press
for 6th-Adult
in Family Worship (Location: BIBR-FAWO)
$24.99
Every Moment Holy Volume 2
by Douglas McKelvey, Illustrated by Ned Bustard
from Rabbit Room Press
for 6th-Adult
in Family Worship (Location: BIBR-FAWO)
$34.99
Every Moment Holy Volume 2 (Pocketsize Edition)
by Douglas McKelvey, Illustrated by Ned Bustard
Pocket Edition from Rabbit Room Press
for 6th-Adult
in Family Worship (Location: BIBR-FAWO)
$24.99
Every Moment Holy Volume 3
by Douglas McKelvey and Pete Peterson (editors), Art Direction by Ned Bustard
from Rabbit Room Press
for 6th-Adult
in Family Worship (Location: BIBR-FAWO)
$34.99
Every Moment Holy Volume 3 (Pocketsize Edition)
by Douglas McKelvey and Pete Peterson (editors), Art Direction by Ned Bustard
from Rabbit Room Press
for 6th-Adult
in Family Worship (Location: BIBR-FAWO)
$24.99
Everyday Battles
by Bob Schultz
from Boulder Creek Books
for 10th-Adult
in Raising Sons (Location: XFA-SON)
ExeGeses: The Ready Research Bible
by Herb Jahn (exegete)
from World Bible Publishers
for Adult
in Bible Reading & Study (Location: XBI-STUDY)
$45.00 (1 in stock)
Experiencing the Depths of Jesus Christ
Library of Spiritual Classics Volume 2
by Jeanne Guyon
from Seedsowers
for Adult
in Devotionals (Location: XCL-DEV)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Family Worship Book
by Terry L. Johnson
from Christian Focus Publications
for 11th-Adult
in Family Worship (Location: BIBR-FAWO)
$19.50 $12.00 (1 in stock)
Fidelity
by Doug Wilson
from Canon Press
for Adult
in Clearance: Christian Books (Location: XCLE)
$7.00
Fidelity
by Doug Wilson
Revised from Canon Press
for Adult
in Biblical Manhood (Location: XFA-MEN)
$15.00
Fount of Heaven
by Robert Elmer, editor
from Lexham Press
for Adult
in Church History (Location: XCH-HIS)
$24.99
Free Grace and Dying Love
by Susannah Spurgeon, Charles Ray
from Banner of Truth Trust
for Adult
in Puritan Writings (Location: XCH-PUR)
$11.00
Get Your Story Straight
by Kristen Hatton
1st edition from New Growth Press
for 8th-12th grade
in Growing Up Christian (Location: XCL-GROW)
Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh Volume 1
by Klaas Schilder
from Inheritance Publications
for 9th-Adult
in Devotionals (Location: XCL-DEV)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Gospel Worship
by Jeremiah Burroughs
from Soli Deo Gloria
for Adult
in Puritan Writings (Location: XCH-PUR)
$35.00 (1 in stock)
Growing In Christ
by J. I. Packer
from Crossway Books
for 11th-Adult
in Knowing & Loving God (Location: XCL-KNOW)
Heart Aflame
by John Calvin
from P&R Publishing
in Devotionals (Location: XCL-DEV)
$19.99
Heart of Prayer
by Jerram Barrs
from P&R Publishing
for 9th-Adult
in Prayer (Location: XCL-PRAY)
Heart of the Matter
by Nancy B. Winter
from New Growth Press
for Adult
in Devotionals (Location: XCL-DEV)
Hero of Heroes
by Iain Duguid
from P&R Publishing
for 10th-Adult
in Knowing & Loving God (Location: XCL-KNOW)
$9.99
Holiness
by Joel R. Beeke
from Banner of Truth Trust
for Adult
in Pursuing Holiness (Location: XCL-HOLY)
$2.50
Holiness
by J. C. Ryle
from Canon Press
for 11th-Adult
in Pursuing Holiness (Location: XCL-HOLY)
$22.95
Holiness
by J. C. Ryle
from Banner of Truth Trust
for Adult
in Pursuing Holiness (Location: XCL-HOLY)
$30.00
How I Know God Answers Prayer
by Rosalind Goforth
Revised from Evangel Publishing House
for Adult
in Prayer (Location: XCL-PRAY)
$5.99
How Readest Thou?
by J. C. Ryle
from Charles Nolan Publishers
for 10th-Adult
in Bible Reading & Study (Location: XBI-STUDY)
How to Grow in Christ
by Jack Kinneer
from P&R Publishing
for 9th-Adult
in Bible Reading & Study (Location: XBI-STUDY)
How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth
by Douglas Stuart, Gordon D. Fee
3rd edition from Zondervan
for 10th-Adult
in Bible Reading & Study (Location: XBI-STUDY)
$16.99 $8.50 (2 in stock)
How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth
by Douglas Stuart, Gordon D. Fee
3rd edition from Zondervan
for 10th-Adult
in Bible Reading & Study (Location: XBI-STUDY)
Humility
by C. J. Mahaney
from Multnomah Books
for Adult
in Spiritual Disciplines (Location: XCL-SPDI)
$12.99 $4.00 (1 in stock)
Humility
by Andrew Murray
Revised from Bridge-Logos
for Adult
in Spiritual Disciplines (Location: XCL-SPDI)
Hunger for God
by John Piper
from Crossway Books
for 10th-Adult
in Prayer (Location: XCL-PRAY)
Invitation to the Psalms
by Rolf A. Jacobson and Karl N. Jacobson
from Baker Academics
for 10th-Adult
in Bible Reading & Study (Location: XBI-STUDY)
$23.00
Jesus Calling
by Sarah Young
from Thomas Nelson Publishers
for Adult
in Devotionals (Location: XCL-DEV)
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