Discipleship Books - Page 12

Sacred Companions: The Gift of Spiritual Friendship & Direction

David G. Benner

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An ECPA 2003 Gold Medallion Finalist!A Formatio book. We need companions on our spiritual journey.The modern world has taught us to value autonomy and individualism. Our churches often see spirituality as personal and private. But we cannot go long in our Christian pilgrimage before realizing that isolation leads to spiritual barrenness. We soon discover that our souls long for accompaniment, intimacy and spiritual friendship. As a result, many Christians today are rediscovering the ancient practice of spiritual direction.In this inviting guide, David G. Benner introduces readers to the riches of spiritual friendship and direction, explaining what they are and how they are practiced. Spiritual direction moves beyond mere moral lifestyle accountability and goes deeper than popular notions of mentoring or discipling. Through prayerful, guided attunement to God's activity, sacred companions provide care for the soul.If we are to experience significant spiritual formation and growth, our souls must be nurtured through spiritual companions. Benner, well-accustomed to God's work through relationships, models the kind of traveling companion who can move us toward deeper intimacy with God.

Defending Your Faith: An Introduction to Apologetics

R. C. Sproul

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Review of Defending your Faith, by RC Sproul 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

A must for the students who are learning apologetics and those who are aquainted with the suject. RC Sproul submits the subject in a format that is scholerly and readable at the same time. A must read for any who desire to understand what they believe and be able to defend it before those who would oppose it.

One of Christianity's finest scholars - but alas, classical apologetics is a lost cause. 3 out of 5 stars.
0 of 10 people found this review helpful.

I have often enjoyed reading RC Sproul's writing. He is intelligent, thorough, and knowledgeable while conveying a sense of engaging warmth. The subject matter he is dealing with however, is a lost cause. The classical arguments to defend the Christian faith all do have holes in them, and Sproul, though he is a brilliant man, has not succeeded in plugging them. This comes down to the simple reality that a truly faulty argument can never be made "not-faulty" no matter how brilliant the scholar is who attempts to make it so. So it is with the various arguments within classical apologetics. For the sake of being concise, I will deal with Sproul's presentation of the cosmological argument. It's presentation is common enough that I assume the reader's general familiarity with it. In defending the argument, he challenges the argument that matter/energy can be eternal. He maintains that even though matter/energy is conserved and constently changing, it the core of it - whatever pulsating stuff matter/energy ultimately is, it cannot be eternal. There is simply no reason we have to accept this as true. The big bang is not regarded by astrophysicists and cosmologists as the "creation" of matter and energy. It is understood as an event in the distant past when all the matter and energy that is within our universe was contained within a singularity which exploded. There is no evidence and no reason to believe that logically prior to the big bang it wasn't also in existence. Indeed, many viable cosmological models presume it was. So matter/energy not only can be eternal, but there is a good scientific reason to believe it is - this is known in science as the law of conservation of matter/energy. (Matter/energy can neither be created or destroyed). A corresponding problem with his argument is the claim that God simply always was and needs no explanation. Why? Because God has "aseity". That's a property which means one doesn't need to have been created. Rather than shedding light on the issue this merely lends a false sense of credibility to the cosmological argument by enhancing an already unecessarily pseudo-sophisticated vocabulary.
I do credit Sproul with not trying to make the cases that evidentialists attempt to make. I also respect that he sees the bankrupcy of fideism and presuppositionalism. Unfortunately, classical apologetics also remain insufficient, as all efforts at Christian apologetics do. The problem is that Christianity contains beliefs that (figuratively speaking) "want" to exist in a realm beyond questionability, as mythology and theism both do. Unfortunately, unlike mythology and theism, Christianity makes assertions that can be challenged and tested according to logic, history, and other disciplines. In the end, Christian truth cannot stand because it's not true.

Editorial Review:

In this primer of apologetic thought, Dr. Sproul affirms four logical principles that are necessary for all real discussion and teaches you how to defend your faith in a faithless world. Using the writings of church fathers and philosophers throughout the ages, he uncovers the common ideologies that work against faith.

Desiring God's Will: Aligning Our Hearts With The Heart Of God

David G. Benner

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About the Book

A Formatio book.

We overhear Jesus' prayer in the garden of Gethsemane--"not my will, but thine be done"--but have trouble honestly making it our own. (from the Introduction)

Most people think of God's will as something to be found or as the receiving of guidance from God when making decisions. We assume that if we just knew what God wanted, we'd do it. Too often, however, the problem is not that we don't know what God desires for our lives, but rather that we just don't want to do what we already know he wants. Sometimes, though, we try to live the Christian life out of sheer self-determination and grit, only to discover that our will is not sufficient to sustain us.

How might our wills be changed so that we become both willing and able to do what God asks of us?

In Desiring God's Will psychologist and spiritual director David G. Benner explores the transformation of the will in Christian spirituality. He examines why our desires are disordered and how our human volition can be brought into alignment with God's intentions so that we willingly choose that which God wants for us. In so doing, Benner shows us that cultivating discernment and being attuned to God's desires is the path to true life, spiritual health and freedom.

God wants to change our choosing, not just our choices. By aligning our hearts with God's, we will find liberation from the kingdom of self and instead experience the joy of the kingdom of God.

Power Surge: 6 Marks of Discipleship for a Changing Church

Michael W. Foss

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Drawn from his own experience, Michael W. Foss presents a strong case for transforming congregations from a membership model to a discipleship model of church affiliation. Beginning with a careful analysis of recent patterns in church membership/demographics that argue for this paradigm shift, subsequent chapters detail the unique leadership and organizational needs of a discipleship model, explore the building and maintaining of fundamental trust—in God and in God's people—as the cornerstone of the model, and provide practical help for assessing the present and developing strategies for moving into the future.

Addressed to professional and non-professional church leaders interested in transforming their churches into centers for discipleship and mission, it proposes a grace-centered rather than legalistic model of discipleship, builds a bridge through transferable principles between congregational mission mindedness and the individual Christian's life of faith, and offers practical helps so congregations can make the transition between membership and discipleship paradigms.

Finding God in Unexpected Places

Philip Yancey

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An Atlanta slum. A pod of whales off the coast of Alaska. The prisons of Peru and Chile. The plays of Shakespeare. A health club in Chicago. For those with eyes to see, traces of God can be found in the most unexpected places. Yet many Christians have not only missed seeing God, they’ve overlooked opportunities to make him visible to those most in need of hope.

In this enlightening book author Philip Yancey serves as an insightful tour guide for those willing to look beyond the obvious, pointing out glimpses of the eternal where few might think to look. Whether finding God among the newspaper headlines, within the church, or on the job, Yancey delves deeply into the commonplace and surfaces with rich spiritual insight.

Finding God in Unexpected Places takes readers from Ground Zero to the Horn of Africa, and each stop along the way reveals footprints of God, touches of his truth and grace that prompt readers to search deeper within their own lives for glimpses of transcendence.

So, You Want To Be Like Christ?: Eight Essentials to Get You There

Charles R. Swindoll

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Inspired by the acts of sacrifice and discipline exemplified by the D-Day generation as well as the current generation of young American soldiers, many Christians today are looking for an obedient, disciplined approach to faith. This user-friendly study guides readers toward a greater understanding of eight spiritual disciplines of the Christian faith-prayer, humility, self-control, sacrifice, submission, solitude, silence, and hope. Each chapter defines and discusses the concept, then provides interactive assignments and suggestions for further study, as well as content summaries and outlines that aid in retention. Activities can be revisited again and again for a new outlook or just for a periodic refresher. Perfect for individual or group or family study, So, You Want to be Like Christ? is just right for anyone desiring to delve deeper into the fundamental elements of Christian life, and essential for all who hunger for authentic faith experiences. It is destined to be a classic text on the practice of Christianity.

A Perfect Love: Understanding John Wesley's A Plain Account of Christian Perfection

Diana L. Hynson, Steven W. Manskar, Marjorie Hewitt Suchocki

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A Perfect Love is the full text of Wesley's book. What makes this version unique is that the author has edited Wesley's text and updated his language for the contemporary reader. Christian perfection is the doctrine that distinguishes Methodism from other Christian denominations. People who read and study this book will come away with a greater appreciation for this important doctrine. It will change their lives. It may even change their church.

A Perfect Love includes in-text definitions and notes that explain names and terms that may be unfamiliar to the reader. It also includes hymns by Charles Wesley that describe the work of grace in human lives that leads to perfection in love. In addition, Diana Hynson has written a study guide that may be used for individual or small group studies.

Briefly, the term Christian perfection, as Wesley used and understood it, may be translated as "Christian maturity." It is the process of "growing up" in the love of God and neighbor. It is "holiness of heart and life." It is "having the same mind in you that was in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 2:5). Christian perfection is the goal of salvation; it is the outcome of a life lived with and for God in Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit. Modern-Language Adaptation and Notes by Steven W. Manskar; Study Guide by Diana L. Hynson. (2003)

Spiritual Mentoring: A Guide for Seeking and Giving Direction

Randy D. Reese, Keith R. Anderson

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Iron sharpens iron, and one person sharpens . . . another. (Proverbs 27:17)As we seek God together we come to know him more deeply. That's the idea behind Spiritual Mentoring. Spiritual mentoring is as ages-old practice that Keith Anderson and Randy Reese introduce in a way that fits life as we know it today.Spiritual mentoring is not only for pastors or saints. Mentors are ordinary Christians who are willing to enter into a faith relationship with another person who wants to grow. Likewise, those who are mentored are not seminary candidates but simply followers of Jesus who long for guidance in their spiritual journey.In this book Anderson and Reese show you how to mentor and be mentored as they introduce, chapter by chapter, the work of a different classical spiritual writer, including

• Augustine
• Aelred of Rievaulx
• John of the Cross
• Julian of Norwich
• Ignatius of Loyola
• Teresa of Avila
• Madame Jeanne Guyon

These writers offer timeless insights from centuries past, while Anderson and Reese help you put their teaching into practice today to grow closer to Jesus in the company of another believer. If you want to learn how to help younger Christians grow while stretching your own faith, or if you want to tap into the experience of a Christian friend who is farther along the road of faith, this is the book that will get you started.

Spiritual Formation as if the Church Mattered: Growing in Christ through Community

James C., Wilhoit

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Church does matter 5 out of 5 stars.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful.

Spiritual formation has become a catchphrase in churches and is gathering as much attention as churches that are `emerging.' Unfortunately, different people understands spiritual formation differently. To some, it is the practice of spiritual disciplines, to others the introduction of ancient spiritual practices, while in yet other churches, it is adding candles to the church service. James C. Wilhoit is the Scripture Press Professor of Christian Formation and Ministry at Wheaton College. He explains that "Christian spiritual formation refers to the intentional communal process of growing in our relationship with God and becoming conformed to Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit" (2008, 23).

The key words of note are Christian, intentional, communal, process, Christ-likeness, and the Holy Spirit. Wilhoit proposes a `curriculum for Christlikeness' which have the following dimensions (1) receiving, (2) remembering, (3) responding, and (4) relating. Each dimension has a few `community practices' to achieve it. This curriculum is for community spiritual formation. Receiving is to be open to the grace of God and involve `worship, confession, sacraments, and prayer' as community practices. Remembering means `tranformational teaching' leading to knowing that we are part of God's community. The community practices are `teaching, preaching, evangelism, meditation, spiritual guidance, and small groups'. Responding is in service and involves `discernment, honouring relational commitment, setting aside prejudices, ministries of compassion.' Relating is living in a faith community and involves `hospitality, handling conflict well, honouring relationships, Sabbath observance, (and) attending to pace of life.'

The community practices are similar to that of the Christian practices as suggested by Dysktra, Dorothy Bass and Diana Bass (Bass 1997; Bass 2004; Dykstra 2005). Wilhoit recognises that we are all being spiritually formed all the time and that formation through the work of the Holy Spirit occurs before conversion (2008, 27). He builds upon and interacts with Dallas Willard's work on spiritual formation (1988;1998; 2002). However he did not interact with Willard's psychosocial transformation of the soul as spiritual formation (2002,38-39).

Instead, he uses the concept of the `imitation of Christ' as the means and ends of spiritual formation (Meye 1994). Also, he did not expand on how different this is from discipleship. Growing in Christlikeness through community implied that community is the matrix in which spiritual formation takes place. However, aside from naming the community practices, Wilhoit did not explain how the community become the means of spiritual growth. Are the community practices the only means of spiritual formation? Are there any weightage to the community practices? Are any practices more important than others? Who is to practice these community practices? Does it involve only the pastors, leaders or everyone? It must be recognised that it is unrealistic to expect all the members of the church to practice all the community practices.

Community practices are also spiritual disciplines practiced by individuals (Foster 1989; Whitney 1991; Tan and Gregg 1997). Whitney has shared on some ways how some of these disciplines can be used for both individual and the church (1996). However both Wilhoit and Whitney has not indicated whether there is a critical level of participation of members of a community before that community becomes a context for spiritual formation. What is this critical level? The weakness of this model based on community practices is the danger of legalism. The Pharisees in the bible epitome legalism in spiritual practices. Though theologian Roy Zuck has written in length on the role of the Holy Spirit and educator Parker Palmer of the importance of the teacher, the danger is real as the community practices become the end rather than the means (Zuck 1984; Palmer 1998). It may become another `church activity.'

It will have been useful if Wilhoit has explained how his community spiritual formation model can be sustained. Baptist Jeff Woods concludes from his meta-analysis of recent congregational studies done in the United States that there are five factors of influence in a congregation that is spiritually vital. They are (1) a willingness to change, (2) right theological thinking, (3) appropriate organisational metaphors, (4) clarity of purpose, and (4) missional leadership (2003). Wilhoit in his survey of the bible discovered that there are three families of images or metaphor for spiritual formation; nurture, journey and resurrection (2008, 24-25). These organisational metaphors are appropriate as church does matter in spiritual formation. Spiritual formation is not about a lone wanderer but a people journeying together.

Editorial Review:

The yearning and restlessness of our souls drive us toward God. This hunger and homesickness is the beginning of spiritual formation, according to James C. Wilhoit. In Spiritual Formation as if the Church Mattered, Wilhoit takes a unique approach to the topic. Whereas most books focus on the individual's spiritual transformation, this one intentionally concentrates on how the local church itself is the seedbed of spiritual growth and how the process is a community effort. This book's short chapters, sidebar material, and concluding prayers fit well with readers' busy lives without sacrificing quality and depth of content.

Stop Dating the Church!: Fall in Love with the Family of God (Lifechange Books)

Joshua Harris

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Putting in their hour or two on the weekend, many Christians take the rest of the week off, neglecting the church and her needs. It’s not a serious relationship. Some shop around, looking for a church that suits their lifestyle. It’s dating, with no assurances, no obligations. Bestselling author Joshua Harris calls Christians to stop playing the field and commit, just as Christ is committed to us, His bride. In his new book, Harris explores the ramifications of Ephesians 5:25–32, which proclaims the intensity and the breadth of Jesus Christ’s love for His church. God has designed us to build our lives around a local church; we cannot be indifferent or uninvolved. Rather, we must be in love with and committed to God’s plan and purpose through the church. Are you dating the church, or are you committed?

Are You Dating the Church?

We are a generation of consumers, independent and critical. We attend church, but we don't want to settle down and truly invest ourselves. We're not into commitment — we only want to date the church.

Is this what God wants for us?

Stop Dating the Church reminds us that faith was never meant to be a solo pursuit. The church is the place God grows us, encourages us, and uses us best. Loving Jesus Christ involves a passionate commitment to His church — around the world and down the street.

We can't be apathetic. It's time to fall in love with the family of God.

Story Behind the Book

Like all my books, this one is very closely tied to my own journey. I’ve been a church-dater. And I’ve learned just how good it is to get serious about the church. I want to see my generation get a hold of God’s purpose and plan for the local church, too. The same month this book is released I’ll become the senior pastor of my church. This awesome responsibility is being passed on to me by my mentor, C. J. Mahaney, a pastor who has faithfully served for over 26 years. So this book is marking a very important transition in my life. The church isn’t some other generation’s responsibility—it isn’t somebody else’s business. I have to take responsibility. I have to be passionate and committed to it. Through the pages of this book, I’m calling my generation to do the same.