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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81 Items found Print
Active Filters: 11th grade (Ages 16-17), In-Stock Books & Materials
101 Hymn Stories
by Kenneth Osbeck
from Kregel Publications
for 6th-12th grade
in History of Hymns (Location: XCH-HYMN)
$16.99
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)
$15.00 (1 in stock)
101 More Hymn Stories
by Kenneth Osbeck
from Kregel Publications
for 6th-12th grade
in History of Hymns (Location: XCH-HYMN)
$18.99
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
Arrow Pointing to Heaven
by James Bryan Smith
Revised from B&H Books
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in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$14.99
Ascent of Mount Carmel
by St. John of the Cross
from Dover Publications
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in Medieval Literature (Location: LIT2-MED)
$11.95
Be Thou My Vision
by Jonathan Gibson
from Crossway Books
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in Family Worship (Location: BIB-FAWO)
$26.39
Behold, Jesus is Coming!
International Inductive Study Series
by Kay Arthur and David Arthur
from Harvest House
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in Bible Reading & Study (Location: XBI-STUDY)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Bible Jesus Read
by Philip Yancey
from Zondervan
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$16.99
Bible Study
by Kathleen Buswell Nielson
from P&R Publishing
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$11.00
Big Beliefs!
by David R. Helm, ed.
from P&R Publishing
for All ages
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$14.99
Bless the Lord, O My Soul - Coloring Devotional
by Christian Art Publishers (Compilation)
from Christian Art Publishers
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$14.99
Business of Heaven
by C.S. Lewis
Reissue from HarperOne
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in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20)
$17.99
C.S. Lewis Readings for Meditation and Reflection
by C. S. Lewis
from HarperOne
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in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20)
$7.50 (1 in stock)
Celebrating the Sabbath
by Bruce Ray
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$6.99
Dawning of Indestructible Joy: Daily Readings for Advent
by John Piper
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Deeper Places
by Matthew Jacoby
from Baker Books
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$14.99
Desiring God
by John Piper
10th edition from Multnomah Books
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$8.00 (2 in stock)
Desiring God
by John Piper
2nd edition from Multnomah Books
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in Knowing & Loving God (Location: XCL-KNOW)
$17.99
Developing a Heart For God
by Ron Auch
Rev ed. from New Leaf Press
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$21.99
Discipline of Grace
by Jerry Bridges
from NavPress
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$4.50 (1 in stock)
Discipline of Grace
by Jerry Bridges
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Discovering Doctrine: A Personal Bible Study Grades 7-12
by Sonya Shafer
from Simply Charlotte Mason
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$9.50 (1 in stock)
Enemy Within
by Kris Lundgaard
from P&R Publishing
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$9.99
Every Moment Holy Prayer Journal
from Rabbit Room Press
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in Family Worship (Location: BIB-FAWO)
$24.99
Every Moment Holy Volume 1
by Douglas McKelvey, Illustrated by Ned Bustard
pocket from Rabbit Room Press
for 6th-Adult
in Family Worship (Location: BIB-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: BIB-FAWO)
$34.99
Every Moment Holy Volume 2
by Douglas McKelvey, Illustrated by Ned Bustard
Pocket Edition from Rabbit Room Press
for 6th-Adult
in Family Worship (Location: BIB-FAWO)
$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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in Family Worship (Location: BIB-FAWO)
$34.99
Family Worship Book
by Terry L. Johnson
from Christian Focus Publications
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$19.50
God is the Gospel
by John Piper
from Crossway Books
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in The Gospel (Location: XTH-GOS)
$12.50
Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh Volume 1
by Klaas Schilder
from Inheritance Publications
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$6.00 (1 in stock)
Harmony of the Gospels
by Loraine Boettner
from P&R Publishing
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$5.00 (1 in stock)
Hero of Heroes
by Iain Duguid
from P&R Publishing
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$9.99
Holiness
by J. C. Ryle
from Canon Press
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$22.95
How to Grow in Christ
by Jack Kinneer
from P&R Publishing
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$6.80
How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth
by Douglas Stuart, Gordon D. Fee
3rd edition from Zondervan
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John Ploughman's Talk
by Charles Haddon Spurgeon
from Wipf and Stock Publishers
Christian Living for 10th-Adult
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$15.00
Jonathan Edwards' Resolutions
by Jonathan Edwards
from P&R Publishing
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$4.99
Knowing God
by J. I. Packer
2nd edition from InterVarsity Press
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$20.00
Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer
by C. S. Lewis
Reissue from HarperCollins
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$13.99
Living by the Book
by Howard Hendricks, William Hendricks
Revised from Moody Press
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$9.50 (1 in stock)
Making Sense of Your Dollars
by Ian Hodge
from Chalcedon / Ross House Books
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$7.00
Mark of the Christian
by Francis A. Schaeffer
2nd edition from InterVarsity Press
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$10.00
Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes
by Brandon J. O'Brien, E. Randolph Richards
from InterVarsity Press
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$15.99
Mission Accomplished
by Scott James
from New Growth Press
for All ages
in Easter & Lent (Location: HOLIDAY)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Morning and Evening
by Charles H. Spurgeon & Alistair Begg
2nd edition from Crossway Books
Devotional Material for 9th-Adult
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$29.99
My Utmost For His Highest
by Oswald Chambers
from Barbour Publishing
Christian Devotional for 9th-Adult
in Devotionals (Location: XCL-DEV)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
New Morning Mercies
by Paul David Tripp
1st edition from Crossway Books
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$11.00 (1 in stock)
O Come, All Ye Faithful
by Bobbie Wolgemuth, Joni Eareckson Tada, Robert & Bobbie Wolgemuth
First Edition from Crossway Books
for Preschool-Adult
in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY)
$12.00 (1 in stock)
O Sacred Head, Now Wounded
by Jonathan Gibson
from Crossway Books
for 6th-Adult
in Family Worship (Location: BIB-FAWO)
$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 Biblica Publishing
for 9th-Adult
in Prayer (Location: XCL-PRAY)
$15.00 (3 in stock)
Operation World
by Jason Mandryk, Patrick & Robin Johnstone
7th edition from InterVarsity Press
for 9th-Adult
in Prayer (Location: XCL-PRAY)
$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)
$9.99
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)
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 with Spiritual Maxims
by Brother Lawrence
from Baker Books
for 11th-Adult
in Spiritual Disciplines (Location: XCL-SPDI)
$5.99
Prayer
by Timothy J. Keller
from Dutton Adult
for 11th-Adult
in Prayer (Location: XCL-PRAY)
$18.00
Prayer of the Lord
by R.C. Sproul
from Reformation Trust Publishing
for 9th-Adult
in Prayer (Location: XCL-PRAY)
$9.00 (1 in stock)
Praying through the 100 Gateway Cities of the 10/40 Window
from YWAM Publishing
for 4th-Adult
in Prayer (Location: XCL-PRAY)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Praying through the 100 Gateway Cities of the 10/40 Window
2nd edition from YWAM Publishing
for 4th-Adult
in Prayer (Location: XCL-PRAY)
$9.99 $4.50 (1 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 Knowing & Loving God (Location: XCL-KNOW)
$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
Reflections for Ragamuffins
by Brennan Manning
from HarperCollins
for 9th-Adult
in Devotionals (Location: XCL-DEV)
$6.50 (1 in stock)
Secret Key to Heaven
by Thomas Brooks
from Banner of Truth Trust
in Puritan Writings (Location: XCH-PUR)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Short Method of Prayer
by Madame Guyon
from Hendrickson Publishers
for 11th-Adult
in Hendrickson Christian Classics (Location: XCL-DEV)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Spirit and the Church
Puritan Paperbacks #30
by John Owen
Abridged from Banner of Truth Trust
for 11th-Adult
in Puritan Writings (Location: XCH-PUR)
$9.00
Taking the Old Testament Challenge
by Judson Poling
from Zondervan
for 9th-Adult
in Bible Reading & Study (Location: XBI-STUDY)
$12.99
Tithing and Dominion
by Edward A. Powell & R. J. Rushdoony
from Chalcedon / Ross House Books
for 11th-Adult
in Biblical Law (Location: XTH-LAW)
$8.00 $4.00 (6 in stock)
Twin Pillars of the Christian Life
by Dr. Wayne Mack & Joshua Mack
from Grace & Truth Books
Formal Poetry for 10th-Adult
in Clearance: Christian Books (Location: XCLE)
$5.00 (2 in stock)
Valley of Vision
by Arthur G. Bennett
from Banner of Truth Trust
for 9th-Adult
in Puritan Writings (Location: XCH-PUR)
$30.00
What the Old Testament Authors Really Cared About
from Kregel Publications
for 6th-Adult
in Bible Reading & Study (Location: XBI-STUDY)
$49.99
When Morning Gilds the Skies
by Joni Eareckson Tada, John MacArthur, Robert & Bobbie Wolgemuth
from Crossway Books
for 10th-Adult
in History of Hymns (Location: XCH-HYMN)
$11.00 (1 in stock)
Winter Fire
by Ryan Whitaker Smith, excerpts from G.K. Chesterton
from Moody Press
for 9th-Adult
in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY)
$24.99
With Christ in the School of Prayer
by Andrew Murray
from Hendrickson Publishers
for 10th-Adult
in Hendrickson Christian Classics (Location: XCL-DEV)
$7.00 (1 in stock)
Woman After God's Own Heart
by Elizabeth George
1St Edition from Harvest House
for 10th-adult
in Biblical Womanhood (Location: XFA-WOM)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Woman After God's Own Heart
by Elizabeth George
Deluxe from Harvest House
for 10th-adult
in Biblical Womanhood (Location: XFA-WOM)
$4.00 (1 in stock)