Spiritual Disciplines Handbook: Practices That Transform Us, rev. ed.
Digital Logos Edition
Overview
Maybe you long for a more intimate prayer life or deeper insight from God’s Word but just don’t know how to get there. Or maybe you want to learn about new spiritual disciplines like visio divina, unplugging or attentiveness.
In Spiritual Disciplines Handbook Adele Calhoun gives us directions for our continuing journey toward intimacy with Christ. While the word discipline may make us want to run and hide, the author shows how desires and discipline work together to lead us to the transformation we’re longing for—the transformation only Christ can bring. Instead of just giving information about spiritual disciplines, this handbook is full of practical, accessible guidance that helps you actually practice them.
With over 80,000 copies in print, this well-loved catalog of seventy-five disciplines has been revised throughout and expanded to include thirteen new disciplines along with a new preface by the author.
Mothers, fathers, plumbers, nurses, students—we’re all on a journey. And spiritual disciplines are for all of us who desire to know Christ deeply and be like him. Here is direction for our desire, leading us to the ultimate destination: more of Christ himself.
- Provides directions for our continuing journey toward intimacy with Christ
- Includes practical, accessible guidance that helps you actually practice the disciplines
- Revised throughout and expanded to include thirteen new discipline
- Part I: Worship
- Part II: Open Myself to God
- Part III: Relinquish the False Self
- Part IV: Share My Life with Others
- Part V: Hear God’s Word
- Part VI: Incarnate the Love of Christ
- Part VII: Pray
Top Highlights
“Many of his deepest interactions with people get at two things: (1) the true nature of people’s desires and (2) a spiritual practice that helps them make space for God in their lives (in the verses below, the spiritual discipline is in quotation marks).” (Page 18)
“Jesus doesn’t grant requests like a genie in a bottle. He works with people, allowing their desires to draw him into the core conversations of life. For Jesus, requests for water, healing, rest, vindication, approval, status and so on all engage soul hungers. Misguided, self-destructive, true or addictive desperations and desires opened doors to relationship.” (Page 18)
“Wanting to work with and watch Jesus is where transformation begins. Willpower and discipline alone can never fix your soul. Striving, pushing and trying harder will not recover your life. Unforced rhythms of grace depend on something more than self-mastery and self-effort. The simple truth is that wanting to keep company with Jesus has a staying power that ‘shoulds’ and ‘oughts’ seldom have. Jesus wants us to recognize that hidden in our desperations and desires is an appetite for the Lord and Giver of life. In fact, he says, ‘You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat’ (Matthew 5:6 The Message).” (Pages 17–18)
“‘Your desire for God and your capacity to connect with God as a human soul is the essence of who you are.’” (Page 27)
“The Father, Son and Holy Spirit moved together in a rhythm of self-giving love. Worship is a response to God’s invitation to join the dance.” (Page 27)
We are living at a time when the Prostestant church is rediscovering the truth that transformation in Christ occurs through the disciplines of formation. Finally, Adele Calhoun has pulled all of these together into one volume, complete with clear definitions and practices of a variety of ways that God uses to grow our lives. No longer do you have to root through scattered pieces of paper, nor a chapter here and there to get the big picture of the tried and true disciplines. This is one resource you will want to have at your fingertips.
—Greg Ogden, executive pastor of discipleship, Christ Church of Oak Brook, and author of Discipleship Essentials and Transforming Discipleship
I love this book! Adele has provided a treasure trove of spiritual disciplines that will nourish your soul, striking a delicate balance between accessibility and depth that comes from her own faithful practice. Read it, engage the disciplines and allow God to transform you in the deepest levels of your being.
—Ruth Haley Barton, cofounder, The Transforming Center, and author of Sacred Rhythms and Life Together in Christ
I have long profited from Adele Ahlberg Calhoun’s gifts in the field of spiritual development, and I am delighted that she has compiled her experience with spiritual disciplines into book form. I highly recommend it and I look forward to using it as a resource at our church.
—Dr. Timothy Keller, Redeemer Presbyterian Church, NYC
- Title: Spiritual Disciplines Handbook: Practices That Transform Us
- Author: Adele Ahlberg Calhoun
- Edition: Revised and expanded
- Publisher: IVP
- Print Publication Date: 2015
- Logos Release Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subject: Spiritual life › Christianity
- ISBNs: 9780830899111, 0830899111
- Resource ID: LLS:9780830899111
- Resource Type: text.monograph.handbook
- Metadata Last Updated: 2024-03-06T20:41:54Z