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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128 Items found Print
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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
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101 More Hymn Stories
by Kenneth Osbeck
from Kregel Publications
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$19.99
30 Days to Understanding the Bible
by Max Anders
Reprint from Thomas Nelson Publishers
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$19.99
Arrow Pointing to Heaven
by James Bryan Smith
Revised from B&H Books
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$6.00 (1 in stock)
Ascent of Mount Carmel
by St. John of the Cross
from Dover Publications
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$10.16
Be Thou My Vision
by Jonathan Gibson
from Crossway Books
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$32.99
Behold, Jesus is Coming!
International Inductive Study Series
by Kay Arthur and David Arthur
from Harvest House
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$5.00 (1 in stock)
Beside Still Waters (updated language)
by C.H. Spurgeon, edited by Roy H. Clarke
from Thomas Nelson Publishers
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Bible Jesus Read
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$16.99 $9.00 (1 in stock)
Bible Study
by Kathleen Buswell Nielson
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$11.00
Big Beliefs!
by David R. Helm, ed.
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$14.99
Bless the Lord, O My Soul - Coloring Devotional OSI
by Christian Art Publishers (Compilation)
from Christian Art Publishers
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$12.74
Book of Psalms
by Timothy R. Botts
from Tyndale House
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Business of Heaven
by C.S. Lewis
Reissue from HarperOne
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$18.99
Celebrating the Sabbath
by Bruce Ray
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$6.99
Christ Formed in You
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$15.95
Complete Works of E. M. Bounds on Prayer
by E. M. Bounds
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CrossTalk
by Michael R. Emlet
from New Growth Press
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$12.00 $7.50 (1 in stock)
Dawning of Indestructible Joy: Daily Readings for Advent
by John Piper
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$9.99
Deeper Places
by Matthew Jacoby
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$14.99
Desiring God
by John Piper
Revised from Crossway Books
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$29.99
Diary of an Old Soul
by George MacDonald
from Augsburg Fortress
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Disappointment with God
by Philip Yancey
25th Anniversary Edition from Zondervan
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Discipline of Grace
by Jerry Bridges
from NavPress
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Discipline of Grace
by Jerry Bridges
from NavPress
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$14.99
Dug Down Deep
by Joshua Harris
from Multnomah Books
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Eat This Book
by Eugene Peterson
from William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
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$9.00 (1 in stock)
Enemy Within
by Kris Lundgaard
from P&R Publishing
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$9.99
Every Moment Holy Prayer Journal
by Douglas McKelvey
from Rabbit Room Press
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$24.99
Every Moment Holy Volume 1
by Douglas Kaine McKelvey, illustrated by Ned Bustard
from Rabbit Room Press
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Every Moment Holy Volume 1 (Pocketsize Edition)
by Douglas McKelvey, Illustrated by Ned Bustard
Pocket from Rabbit Room Press
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$28.99
Every Moment Holy Volume 2
by Douglas McKelvey, Illustrated by Ned Bustard
from Rabbit Room Press
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$34.99
Every Moment Holy Volume 2 (Pocketsize Edition)
by Douglas McKelvey, Illustrated by Ned Bustard
Pocket Edition from Rabbit Room Press
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$24.99
Every Moment Holy Volume 3
by Douglas McKelvey and Pete Peterson (editors), Art Direction by Ned Bustard
from Rabbit Room Press
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$34.99
Every Moment Holy Volume 3 (Pocketsize Edition)
by Douglas McKelvey and Pete Peterson (editors), Art Direction by Ned Bustard
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$24.99
Everyday Battles
by Bob Schultz
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Existence and Attributes of God
by Stephen Charnock
from Baker Books
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in Theology Proper: The Study of God (Location: XTH-GOD)
$75.00 (1 in stock)
Experiencing God
by Henry T. Blackaby & Claude V. King
Revised & Expanded from Broadman & Holman
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Experiencing God (Student Edition)
by Claude V. King, Henry T. Blackaby
Revised from Lifeway Christian Resources
for 7th-12th grade
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$9.00 (3 in stock)
Experiencing the Trinity
by Darrell W. Johnson
from Regent College
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in Theology Proper: The Study of God (Location: XTH-GOD)
$10.00
Extravagant Grace
by Barbara Duguid
from P&R Publishing
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Family Worship Book
by Terry L. Johnson
from Christian Focus Publications
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$19.50 $12.00 (1 in stock)
Galatians for You
by Timothy Keller
from Good Book Company
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$12.00 (1 in stock)
Galatians for You
by Timothy Keller
from Good Book Company
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Get Your Story Straight
by Kristen Hatton
1st edition from New Growth Press
for 8th-12th grade
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$22.99
God's Great Story
by Jon Nielson
from Crossway Books
for 7th-12th grade
in Growing Up Christian (Location: XCL-GROW)
$22.99
God's Wisdom for Navigating Life
by Timothy J. Keller & Kathy Keller
from Viking Press
for 9th-Adult
in Devotionals (Location: XCL-DEV)
$23.00
Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh Volume 1
by Klaas Schilder
from Inheritance Publications
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in Devotionals (Location: XCL-DEV)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Growing In Christ
by J. I. Packer
from Crossway Books
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Growing in Godliness
by Lindsay Carlson
from Crossway Books
for 7th-12th grade
in Growing Up Christian (Location: XCL-GROW)
$14.99
Heart of Prayer
by Jerram Barrs
from P&R Publishing
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in Spiritual Disciplines (Location: XCL-SPDI)
Hero of Heroes
by Iain Duguid
from P&R Publishing
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in Spiritual Disciplines (Location: XCL-SPDI)
$9.99
Hole in Our Holiness
by Kevin DeYoung
1st edition from Crossway Books
for 11th-Adult
in Spiritual Disciplines (Location: XCL-SPDI)
$14.99
Holiness
by J. C. Ryle
from Canon Press
for 11th-Adult
in Spiritual Disciplines (Location: XCL-SPDI)
$22.95
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)
Hunger for God
by John Piper
from Crossway Books
for 10th-Adult
in Spiritual Disciplines (Location: XCL-SPDI)
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 I Never Knew
by Philip Yancey
1st edition from Zondervan
for 10th-Adult
in Clearance: Christian Books (Location: XCLE)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
John Ploughman's Talk
by Charles Haddon Spurgeon
from Wipf and Stock Publishers
Christian Living for 10th-Adult
in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC)
$15.00
Jonathan Edwards' Resolutions
by Jonathan Edwards
from P&R Publishing
for 9th-Adult
in 18th Century Literature (Location: LIT5-18)
$4.24
Ken Ham Daily
by Ken Ham
from Master Books
for 8th-Adult
in Devotionals (Location: XCL-DEV)
$23.99
Knowing God
by J. I. Packer
from InterVarsity Press
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in Spiritual Disciplines (Location: XCL-SPDI)
$22.99
Lessons from the Upper Room - Lecture Series on DVD
by Sinclair B. Ferguson
from Ligonier Ministries
for 9th-Adult
in Jesus Christ (Location: XTH-JES)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer
by C. S. Lewis
Reissue from HarperCollins
for 10th-Adult
in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20)
$15.99
Love Your God With All Your Mind
by J. P. Moreland
from NavPress
for 10th-adult
in Christians & Thought (Location: XWV-THO)
$15.99 $8.00 (2 in stock)
Making Sense of Your Dollars
by Ian Hodge
from Chalcedon / Ross House Books
for 11th-Adult
in Money Management (Location: SS-MM)
$7.00
Mark of the Christian
by Francis A. Schaeffer
2nd edition from InterVarsity Press
for 10th-Adult
in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC)
$13.99
Memorize His Word
V2.1 from Memorize His Word
for 4th-Adult
in Devotionals (Location: XCL-DEV)
Mission Accomplished
by Scott James
from New Growth Press
for All ages
in Easter & Lent (Location: HOLIDAY)
Morning and Evening
by Charles H. Spurgeon & Alistair Begg
2nd edition from Crossway Books
Devotional Material for 9th-Adult
in Devotionals (Location: XCL-DEV)
$24.00
Morning and Evening
by Charles H. Spurgeon & Alistair Begg
2025 Reprint from Crossway Books
Devotional Material for 9th-Adult
in Devotionals (Location: XCL-DEV)
$29.99
My Utmost For His Highest
by Oswald Chambers
from Our Daily Bread Publishing
Christian Devotional for 9th-Adult
in Devotionals (Location: XCL-DEV)
$6.99
New City Catechism Devotional
from Crossway Books
for 9th-Adult
in Devotionals (Location: XCL-DEV)
$10.00 (1 in stock)
New Morning Mercies
by Paul David Tripp
2nd edition from Crossway Books
for 11th-Adult
in Devotionals (Location: XCL-DEV)
$24.99
New Morning Mercies (old)
by Paul David Tripp
1st edition from Crossway Books
for 11th-Adult
in Devotionals (Location: XCL-DEV)
New Morning Mercies for Teens
by Paul David Tripp
from Crossway Books
for 7th-12th grade
in Devotionals (Location: XCL-DEV)
$19.99
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
by Jonathan Gibson
from Crossway Books
for 6th-Adult
in Devotionals (Location: XCL-DEV)
$29.99
O Sacred Head, Now Wounded
by Jonathan Gibson
from Crossway Books
for 6th-Adult
in Devotionals (Location: XCL-DEV)
$26.40
O Worship the King
by Joni Eareckson Tada, John MacArthur, Robert & Bobbie Wolgemuth
from Crossway Books
for 9th-Adult
in Devotionals (Location: XCL-DEV)
$8.00 (2 in stock)
Operation World
by Jason Mandryk, Patrick & Robin Johnstone
7th edition from IVP Academic Press
for 9th-Adult
in Spiritual Disciplines (Location: XCL-SPDI)
$21.00 (1 in stock)
Operation World
by Jason Mandryk, Patrick & Robyn Johnstone
7th edition from InterVarsity Press
for 9th-Adult
in Spiritual Disciplines (Location: XCL-SPDI)
$25.00
Pilgrim's Progress - Study Guide
by Maureen L. Bradley
from P&R Publishing
for 9th-Adult
in British Literature Curriculum (Location: LITCUR-BRI)
$14.99
Place of Quiet Rest
by Nancy Leigh DeMoss
for 11th-Adult
in Devotionals (Location: XCL-DEV)
$10.00 (1 in stock)
Pleasures of God
by John Piper
from Multnomah Books
for 11th-Adult
in Theology Proper: The Study of God (Location: XTH-GOD)
$7.00 (1 in stock)
Pleasures of God
by John Piper
Revised from Crossway Books
for 11th-Adult
in Spiritual Disciplines (Location: XCL-SPDI)
$29.99
Practical View of Christianity
by William Wilberforce
from Hendrickson Publishers
Religion/Philosophy for 11th-Adult
in Hendrickson Christian Classics (Location: XCL-DEV)
$12.95 $6.00 (2 in stock)
Practice of the Presence of God
by Brother Lawrence
from Living Book Press
for 11th-Adult
in Spiritual Disciplines (Location: XCL-SPDI)
$4.99
Practice of the Presence of God with Spiritual Maxims
by Brother Lawrence
from Baker Books
for 11th-Adult
in Spiritual Disciplines (Location: XCL-SPDI)
$6.99
Practice of the Presence of God with Spiritual Maxims
by Brother Lawrence
from Hendrickson Publishers
for 11th-Adult
in Hendrickson Christian Classics (Location: XCL-DEV)
Prayer
by Timothy J. Keller
from Dutton Adult
for 11th-Adult
in Spiritual Disciplines (Location: XCL-SPDI)
$20.00
Prayer
Puritan Paperbacks #9
by John Bunyan
from Banner of Truth Trust
in Puritan Writings (Location: XCH-PUR)
Praying through the 100 Gateway Cities of the 10/40 Window
2nd edition from YWAM Publishing
for 4th-Adult
in Spiritual Disciplines (Location: XCL-SPDI)
$9.99 $4.50 (2 in stock)
Psalms of David
by James S. Freemantle, illustrator
from HarperCollins
for All ages
in Devotionals (Location: XCL-DEV)
$32.50
Pursuit of God
by A. W. Tozer
from Moody Press
for 9th-Adult
in Spiritual Disciplines (Location: XCL-SPDI)
$4.99
Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment
Christian Heritage Series
by Jeremiah Burroughs, introduction by Nancy Wilson
from Canon Press
for 10th-Adult
in Puritan Writings (Location: XCH-PUR)
$15.95
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