Key practices--including keeping Sabbath and extending hospitality--can give shape and direction to a faith community's spirituality. Explore the historical roots and contemporary relevance of these practices. Discern how they can enhance your congregation's spiritual formation.

To learn more, click on Approaches to Christian Practices. Then, check out the basic and in-depth resources listed below!

SPIRITUALITY : Practices 

Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth (Book)
Richard J. Foster, Author.  San Francisco, CA: HarperSanFrancisco, 1998.
Asserting that sound practices are important for spiritual growth, Richard Foster introduces the reader to the Inward, Outward, and Corporate spiritual Disciplines, all of which lead to the "doxology of celebration."

Christianity for the Rest of Us (Book)
Diana Butler Bass, Author.  San Francisco, CA: HarperSanFrancisco, 2006.
Diana Butler Bass discusses her study of Christian communities that are open and creative while honoring ancient traditions, engaging in faithful practices, and fostering spiritual maturity and wisdom.

From Nomads to Pilgrims: Stories from Practicing Congregations (Book)
Diana Butler Bass, Joseph Stewart-Sicking, Editors.  Herndon, VA: Alban Institute, 2006.
From Nomads to Pilgrims offers portraits of congregations that have discovered vitality through embracing spiritual practices, engaging ancient traditions, offering compelling stories, and fostering virtue.

Growing in the Life of Faith: Education and Christian Practices (Second Edition) (Book)
Craig Dykstra, Author.  Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2005.
Craig Dykstra has written this second edition of Growing in the Life of Faith to provide foundational perspectives for developing Christian education and for understanding the role of practices in fostering faithful communities.

The Practicing Congregation: Imagining a New Old Church (Book)
Diana Butler Bass, Author.  Herndon, VA: Alban Institute, 2004.
Looking at individual congregations as examples, The Practicing Congregation describes a growing trend in which mainline congregations are transforming into places of vital, intentional practices of faith.

Practicing Our Faith (Web Resource)
Valparaiso Project on the Education and Formation of People of Faith
The "Practicing Our Faith" Web site explores twelve practices, rooted in Christian tradition, that help people to thoughtfully and intentionally live their faith.

Practicing Our Faith: A Way of Life for a Searching People (Book)
Dorothy C. Bass, Editor.  San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, 1997.
Practicing Our Faith explores twelve central Christian practices—shared activities addressing fundamental human needs that, woven together, form a faithful way of life, a life that matters.

Soul Feast: An Invitation to the Christian Spiritual Life (Book)
Marjorie J Thompson, Author.  Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 1995.
True to its title, Soul Feast invites the reader to sample the rich and varied disciplines of Christian spiritual practice.

Spiritual Disciplines Handbook: Practices That Transform Us (Book)
Adele Ahlberg Calhoun, Author.  Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2005.
In this comprehensive volume, Adele Ahlberg Calhoun defines and explains a host of theological disciplines—from worship to discernment to contemplation. Scriptural allusions and spiritual fruits for each discipline are also explored.

Way to Live: Christian Practices for Teens (Book)
Dorothy C. Bass, Don Richter, Editors.  Nashville, TN: Upper Room Books, 2002.
Way to Live: Christian Practices for Teens empowers teens to understand their impact and the difference they make through everyday choices at school, with family, and at play.

An Altar in the World: A Geography of Faith (Book)
Barbara Brown Taylor, Author.  New York, NY: HarperCollins, 2009.
Barbara Brown Taylor demonstrates that we can know God more fully and be more fully human by intentionally engaging in the "everyday activities, accidents, and encounters" of our lives.

Amish Grace: How Forgiveness Transcended Tragedy (Book)
Donald B. Kraybill, Steven N. Nolt, David L. Weaver-Zercher, Authors.  San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, 2007.
One of the most astonishing Christian stories in recent years centered on the Amish response to the October 2006 school shootings in Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania. The authors explain how Amish practices inform their capacity for forgiveness.

And You Welcomed Me: A Sourcebook on Hospitality in Early Christianity (Book)
Amy G. Ogden, Editor.  Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 2001.
Amy Ogden shows that hospitality was deeply embedded within early Christianity. With interest in "spiritual practices" on the rise, this book should satisfy those seeking an historical context for spiritual disciplines.

Becoming a Holy and Healing Church (Web Resource)
This resource discusses Graham Standish's workshop on healing prayer as a spiritual practice and on implementing a healing prayer ministry in your church. A list of annotated resources is featured as well.

Befriending the Stranger (Book)
Jean Vanier, Author.  Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2005.
L'Arche founder Jean Vanier offers his reflections on hospitality, hope, incarnation, vocation, and related topics to those seeking a theological foundation for their work as caregivers, Christian disciples, and providers of hospitality.

Companions in Christ: A Small-Group Experience in Spiritual Formation (Book)
Marjorie J Thompson, Stephen Bryant, Janice Grana, Authors.  Nashville, TN: Upper Room Books, 2001.
Helping individuals grow through the Christian community experience, this 28-week study includes daily individual scripture study and meditation coupled with weekly group reflection, exercises, and accountability.

Creative Spirituality: The Way Of The Artist (Book)
Robert Wuthnow, Author.  Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 2001.
Robert Wuthnow argues that artists are the spiritual vanguard of our time. In this book he offers insights into the connections between spirituality and creativity through the stories of 100 artists' lives, gleaned from in-depth interviews.

Discerning God’s Will Together: A Spiritual Practice for the Church (Book)
Danny E. Morris, Charles M. Olsen, Authors.  Herndon, VA: Alban Institute, 1997.
Recognizing the limits of parliamentary procedures, reasoned discourse, and majority rule in group decision-making, Danny Morris and Charles Olsen offer a full but concise guide to the alternative process of spiritual discernment.

Food for Life: The Spirituality and Ethics of Eating (Book)
L. Shannon Jung, Author.  Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2004.
Food for Life presents a cornucopia of ideas about food and how they relate to God and God’s created. Put another way: the book explores how one creation of God uses or misuses (celebrates or abuses) another creation of God.

Forgiveness, Reconciliation, and Moral Courage: Motives and Designs for Ministry in a Troubled World (Book)
Robert L. Browning, Roy A. Reed, Authors.  Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2004.
Robert Browning and Roy Reed explore forgiveness, reconciliation, and such moral concepts as compassion, integrity, justice, and mercy from various perspectives. They challenge the churches to model and teach forgiveness and reconciliation.

Grounded in God: Listening Hearts Discernment for Group Deliberations (Book)
Suzanne G. Farnham, Stephanie A. Hull, R. Taylor McLean, Authors.  Harrisburg, PA: Morehouse Publishing, 1999.
Grounded in God provides instruction on the benefits of—and skills needed for—using discernment in group decision making.

Honoring the Body: Meditations on a Christian Practice (Book)
Stephanie Paulsell, Author.  San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, 2002.
Honoring the Body: Meditations on a Christian Practice offers the wisdom of "distinctively Christian practice" to those who seek an introduction to thinking about the body in ways that aren't dualistic.

In the Midst of Chaos: Caring for Children as a Spiritual Practice (Book)
Bonnie J. Miller-McLemore, Author.  San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, 2006.
This book offers a personal and illuminating look at how parents can sustain—for themselves and their children—a life of faith in the midst of the turbulent, often overwhelming, and unscripted world of family life.

Keeping the Sabbath Wholly (Book)
Marva J. Dawn, Author.  Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1989.
In Marva Dawn’s experience, keeping Sabbath includes ceasing, resting, embracing, and feasting. Advocating for both personal and corporate Sabbath, this book draws on Jewish interpretation and custom to explore many facets of Sabbath.

Listening to God: Spiritual Formation in Congregations (Book)
John Ackerman, Author.  Herndon, VA: Alban Institute, 2001.
Premised on the idea that knowing about God is not the same as knowing God, Listening to God asserts that churches need to discern God’s call to them by listening to God more and relying less on “expert” opinion.

Making Room: Recovering Hospitality as a Christian Tradition (Book)
Christine D. Pohl, Author.  Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1999.
Making Room presents the rich history of hospitality in the Judeo-Christian tradition. The author encourages readers to think of hospitality as a “way of living our lives and of sharing ourselves.”

Practicing Discernment with Youth: A Transformative Youth Ministry Approach (Book)
David White, Author.  Cleveland, OH: Pilgrim Press, 2005.
David White asserts that youth group leaders must draw youth back to the deeper calling of the Christian life. He explains the importance of discernment in that process and describes ways to implement discernment with youth.

Practicing Theology: Beliefs and Practices in Christian Life (Book)
Miroslav Volf, Dorothy C. Bass, Editors.  Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2002.
A rich sequel to Practicing our Faith, Practicing Theology is a collection of essays by systematic theologians, using Christian life experiences and practices to uncover theological themes.

Protestant Spiritual Exercises: Theology, History and Practice (Book)
Joseph D. Driskill, Author.  Harrisburg, PA: Morehouse Publishing, 1999.
Joseph Driskill, a seminary professor of spirituality and a Disciples of Christ minister, addresses a noticeable gap in the current literature on spirituality by exploring the theology, history, and practice of Protestant spirituality.

Receiving the Day: Christian Practices for Opening the Gift of Time (Book)
Dorothy C. Bass, Author.  San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, 2000.
In Receiving the Day Dorothy Bass explores our dysfunctional relationships with time and offers Christian attitudes and practices to enable her readers to reclaim time as a gift from God.

Sabbath Keeping: Finding Freedom in the Rhythms of Rest (Book)
Lynne M. Baab, Author.  Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2005.
Sabbath Keeping explores the concepts of time, rest, and Sabbath in fine detail, especially focusing on how they are gifts. This book will be valuable for anyone seeking ways of becoming quiet before God.

Sabbath Time: Understanding and Practice for Contemporary Christians (Book)
Tilden Edwards, Author.  Nashville, TN: Upper Room Books, 1992.
Presenting a vision for balancing the demands of ministry with the need for rest and re-creation, Sabbath Time will be useful for a faith community seeking to explore Sabbath and support one another in keeping Sabbath.

Sabbath: Finding Rest, Renewal, And Delight in Our Busy Lives (Book)
Wayne Muller, Author.  New York, NY: Bantam, 1999.
Perhaps one of the most difficult practices for the modern American believer is keeping the Sabbath. Muller advocates for the commandment to observe the Sabbath as a pivotal aspect of life.

A Song to Sing, A Life to Live: Reflections on Music as Spiritual Practice (Book)
Don E. Saliers, Emily Saliers, Authors.  San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, 2005.
Exploring music’s effect on the human condition and its use to praise God, this conversation between father (a music professor/organist) and daughter (Indigo Girl singer/song writer) offers an understanding of music’s power and many purposes.

The Soul of Tomorrow’s Church: Weaving Spiritual Practices in Ministry (Book)
Kent I. Groff, Author.  Nashville, TN: Upper Room Books, 2000.
Does your church feel like just one meeting after another? Author Kent Ira Groff asserts that the Spirit is still working through opportunities to focus on the essential functions of community and spiritual practices.

Soul Shaper: Exploring Spirituality and Contemplative Practices in Youth Ministry (Book)
Tony Jones, Author.  Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 2003.
Postmodern spirituality has recently sparked renewed interest in ancient forms of spirituality and their expression. In the context of youth ministry, Soul Shaper introduces a variety of spiritual disciplines and practices.

Spiritual Awakening: A Guide to Spiritual Life in Congregations (Book)
John Ackerman, Author.  Herndon, VA: Alban Institute, 1994.
Spiritual Awakening guides church leaders in helping congregants see God at work and hear God in their daily lives.

Tell It Like It Is: Reclaiming the Practice of Testimony (Book)
Lillian Daniel, Author.  Herndon, VA: Alban Institute, 2005.
Lillian Daniel, a United Church of Christ pastor, promotes an unlikely means of mainline church renewal: the recovery of giving and receiving testimonies. She shows convincingly that this practice renewed her church.

Tending to the Holy: The Practice of the Presence of God in Ministry (Book)
Bruce G. Epperly, Katherine Gould Epperly, Authors.  Herndon, VA: Alban Institute, 2009.
Through real-life stories from the authors' experiences, Tending to the Holy demonstrates how pastoral life can be made whole by practicing spiritual disciplines in the commonplace aspects of ministry.

Why Forgive? (Book)
Johann Christoph Arnold, Author.  Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 2005.
Forgiveness is a much easier concept to discuss in abstract than to live in the reality of our broken world. Johann Christoph Arnold offers a discussion of many different aspects of forgiveness, all rooted in the real-life stories of people.