 |
| Payne Theological Seminary |
This is especially for my current Spiritual Formation students.
This is the biblography I use in my seminary teachings.
I have highlighted in bold italics books that I think are especially relevant to the 6 weeks of prayer, listening to God, and spiritual formation and transformation.
CAUTION: You'll learn more by actually engaging in a life of prayer and experiencing spiritual formation than you will by reading books on the subject. Yet there are some books that help us interpret and understand what's been going on after we've just spent six weeks of praying.
BIBLIOGRAPHY – SPIRITUAL FORMATION
Arnold, Eberhard. Inner Land
Blackaby, Henry T., and King, Claude V. Experiencing God. An excellent, clearly written text that is especially good for church study.
Boyd, Greg. Satan and the Problem of Evil: Constructing a Trinitarian Warfare Theodicy
(IVP: 2001). An excellent study on the
Boyd. Present Perfect: Finding God In the Now. (Zondervan: 2010) This is an excellent, clearly written little book that contains some deep spiritual insights that are not found in other spirituality texts. Greg’s meditation on “death” is worth the price of the book.
Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection. The Practice of the Presence of God (Garden City: Image, 1977). A spiritual classic by a 17th-century monk that is still relevant today, and is especially good at knowing God in the everyday, mundane tasks of life.
Buechner, Frederick. Godric (New York: Harper and Row, 1980). A beautiful novel, spiritually deep and uplifting. The character of Godric reminds me of Thomas Merton.
Campolo, Tony, and Darling, Mary Albert. The God of Intimacy and Action: Reconnecting Ancient Spiritual Practices, Evangelism, and Justice. Nicely puts together the spiritual disciplines and social activism.
Collins, Kenneth J. Exploring Christian Spirituality: An Ecumenical Reader (Baker Book House: 2000). An excellent one-volume text.
Cone, James. The Cross and the Lynching Tree. Reading this book broke my heart, hopefully enough and in the right place.
Cone, James. The Cross and the Lynching Tree. Reading this book broke my heart, hopefully enough and in the right place.
Costen, Melva Wilson. African American Christian Worship.
Dawn, Marva. Unfettered Hope: A Call to Faithful Living In An Affluent Society (Presbyterian Publishing Corporation: 2003). This is a deep, profound study allowing us to see our materialistic world and our spiritual place in it through God’s eyes.
Deere, Jack. Surprised By the Voice of God: How God Speaks Today ThroughProphecies, Dreams, and Visions (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996). A very good, clearly written biblical and historical presentation of how one hears God speaking to them.
Dillard, Annie. Pilgrim At Tinker Creek (Harper and Row). This makes my personal top ten ever-read list. A beautiful meditation of the creation, especially its microscopic aspects.
Fee, Gordon. God’s Empowering Presence (Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson, 1994). This massive text is, arguably, the definitive statement of the apostle Paul’s spirituality. A detailed study of every Pauline reference to the Holy Spirit.
Fee. The First Epistle to the Corinthians (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1987). Superb, meditative, scholarly commentary on what it means to be pneumatikos (“spiritual”).
Felder, Cain Hope. Stony the Road We Trod: African American Biblical Interpretation. (Augsburg
Foster, Richard. A Celebration of Discipline (San Francisco
Foster. Prayer: Finding the Heart’s True Home (Harper and Row: 1992). Examines several different types of prayer that are both biblically and historically Christian.
Foster. Life With God: Reading the Bible forSpiritual Transformation. (HarperOne: 2010)
Foster, and Gayle Beebe. Longing for God: Seven Paths of Spiritual Devotion. (Intervarsity Press: 2009)
Foster. Prayer: Finding the Heart's True Home.
Foster. Sanctuary of the Soul: Journey Into Meditative Prayer. This was Leadership Journal's 2011 Book of the Year.
Foster. Sanctuary of the Soul: Journey Into Meditative Prayer. This was Leadership Journal's 2011 Book of the Year.
Foster, and Griffin Readings
Foster. Streams of Living Water: Celebrating the Great Traditions of Christian Faith (Harper and Row: 1998). On the following traditions: contemplative, holiness, charismatic, social justice, evangelical, and incarnational.
Green, Joel. Body, Soul, and Human Life: The Nature of Humanity In the Bible. Green is, to my knowledge, the only New Testament scholar directly addressing and integrating current research in neuroscience and its relevance for biblical studies and spiritual formation. This is an excellent text!
Gutierrez, Gustavo. We Drink From Our Own Wells: The Spiritual Journey of a People (Maryknoll: Orbis, 1988). Excellent, especially in its emphasis on corporate spirituality.
Holmes, Urban T. Spirituality for Ministry. Still one of the best books on this subject.
Houston, James. The Transforming Power ofPrayer: Deepening Your Friendship with God. This is an excellent slow-read on the act of praying, and the place of spiritual formation and transformation in that act.
Jones, Cheslyn, et. al., eds. The Study of Spirituality (New York: Oxford, 1986). A very good one-volume source on the history of Christian spirituality.
Kelleman, Robert, and Edwards, Karole A. Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction. (Baker: 2007)
Kelly, Thomas. A Testament Of Devotion (New York: Harper and Brothers, 1941). This brilliant, provocative little text makes my top ten ever-read books on Christian spirituality. A modern classic.
Kraft, Charles. Christianity With Power: Your Worldview and Understanding of the Supernatural (Ann Arbor, Mi.: Servant, 1989). A brilliant study in paradigm theology by an anthropologist and missiologist at Fuller Theological Seminary.
Ladd, George. The Gospel of the Kingdom: Scriptural Studies in the Kingdom of God kingdom of God
Leech, Kenneth. Experiencing God: Theology As Spirituality (San Francisco: Harper and Row, 1985). An excellent historical study, from biblical times to the present, of the experience of God.
Leech. Soul Friend: The Practice of Christian Spirituality (New York: Harper and Row, 1980). The best book available on spiritual direction.
Leech. True Prayer: An Invitation to Christian Spirituality (San Francisco: Harper and Row, 1980).
Lovelace, Richard. Dynamics of Spiritual Life: An Evangelical Theology of Renewal (Downers Grove: Intervarsity Press, 1979).
Lovelace. Renewal As a Way of Life: A Guidebook for Spiritual Growth (Downers Grove: Intervarsity Press, 1985).
Manning, Brennan. The Ragamuffin Gospel. A beautiful, very thoughtful meditation on the grace of God.
Manning, Abba’s Child. This book spoke deeply to me about my need for experiential knowledge of the love of God.
Manning, The Importance of Being Foolish: How to Think Like Jesus. Very good as it gets at the real Jesus.
May, Gerald. Addiction and Grace (San Francisco: Harper and Row, 1991). An excellent, clearly written book with an especially helpful section on addiction to control.
May. Care of Mind, Care of Spirit: A Psychiatrist Explores Spiritual Direction (New York: Harper and Row, 1992). A very good text on the nature of spiritual direction.
May. Will and Spirit: A Contemplative Psychology (Harper and Row: 1987). An excellent text.
McKnight, Scot. Fasting: The Ancient Practices. An excellent introduction to biblical fasting. McKnight's breakdown of the pattern of biblical fasting is very helpful.
McKnight, Scot. Fasting: The Ancient Practices. An excellent introduction to biblical fasting. McKnight's breakdown of the pattern of biblical fasting is very helpful.
McManus, Erwin. The Barbarian Way
McLaren, Brian. The Secret Message of Jesus: Uncovering the Truth that Could Change Everything (Thomas Nelson: 2007). I loved this book about the kingdom of God
Merton, Thomas. The Inner Experience: Notes On Contemplation (Harper: 2003). This is Merton’s final book. Few write about contemplation as well as he does.
Merton. New Seeds of Contemplation (New York: New Directions, 1961). Merton at his best.
Merton. No Man Is an Island (New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1983). Contains the classic chapter, “Being and Doing.”
Merton. Seeds (Shambala: 2002). A killer collection of Merton quotes. A tremendous introduction to the depth, wisdom, and discernment of Thomas Merton. Prophetic. These are the kind of thoughts that emerge from a Jesus-follower who marinates in a life of actual praying.
Merton. The Sign of Jonas (New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1981). One of Merton’s journals, containing many spiritual gems,
Miller, J. Keith. A Hunger for Healing: The Twelve Steps as a Classic Model for Christian Spiritual Growth (New York: Harper and Row, 1991).
Miller. Hope In the Fast Lane: A New Look at Faith in a Compulsive World (New York: Harper and Row, 1987). An excellent text on overcoming sin in one’s life. Especially good on identifying the deep source of stress and overcoming stress.
Miller. The Secret Life of the Soul (Nashville: Broadman and Holman, 1997). About the vulnerability needed for the transformation of the soul.
Muse, J. Stephen, ed. Beside Still Waters: Resources for Shepherds in the Marketplace (Smyth and Helwys: 2000). An excellent text that uses Psalm 23 to speak to Christian leaders regarding spiritual issues. Very good on our need to care for ourselves physically.
Mulholland, Robert. Shaped By the Word: The Power of Scripture in Spiritual Formation (Nashville: Upper Room Press, 1985). An excellent book on how the Bible interprets us.
Nelson, Alan. Broken In the Right Place
Nouwen, Henri. A Cry for Mercy: Prayers From the Genesee (Garden City, New York: Image, 1981). A beautiful book of prayers expressing our heart’s fears, struggles, and longings.
Nouwen. Behold the Beauty of the Lord: Praying with Icons (Notre Dame: Ave Maria Press, 1987).
Nouwen. Gracias! A Latin American Journal (San Francisco: Harper and Row, 1983). One of Nouwen’s spiritual journals.
Nouwen. In the Name of Jesus: Reflections on Christian Leadership (Harper and Row). A brilliant little book, among the best I have ever read on pastoral leadership.
Nouwen. Lifesigns: Intimacy, Fecundity, and Ecstasy in Christian Perspective (New York: Image, 1986).
Nouwen. Making All Things New: An Invitation to the Spiritual Life (New York: Harper and Row, 1981).
Nouwen. The Only Necessary Thing: Living a Prayerful Life.
Nouwen. The Only Necessary Thing: Living a Prayerful Life.
Nouwen. Out of Solitude: Three Meditations on the Spiritual Life (Notre Dame: Ave Maria Press, 1980).
Nouwen. Reaching Out: The Three Movements of the Spiritual Life (Garden City, New York: Image, 1976). An excellent text; a modern classic. On solitude, hospitality, and prayer.
Nouwen. Spiritual Direction: Wisdom for the Long Walk of Faith.
Nouwen. Spiritual Formation: Following the Movements of the Spirit. This text, published posthumously, provides a clearly written summary of the main ideas of Nouwen's theory of spiritual formation.
Nouwen. The Genesee Diary: Report From A Trappist Monastery (Garden City, New York: Image, 1976). This book makes my top ten ever-read list in terms of spiritual impact. An excellent example of journaling that is of spiritual value.
Nouwen, The Inner Voice of Love (Image Books: 1999). I find it hard to express how much God used a slow, meditative reading of this book to effect changes in my life.
Nouwen. The Living Reminder: Service and Prayer in Memory of Jesus Christ (New York
Nouwen. The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming (New York: Image, 1992). Simply put, one of Nouwen’s best and one of my very favorites.
Nouwen. The Way of the Heart (New York: Ballantine, 1981). A beautiful, meditative little book on solitude, silence, and prayer.
Paris, Peter. The Spirituality of African Peoples.
Payne, Leanne. Listening Prayer: Learning to Hear God’s Voice and Keep a Prayer Journal (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1991). A very good, well-written text on what it means to hear God’s voice.
Peterson, Eugene
Peterson. Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places: A Conversation in Spiritual Theology. The first of five books in Peterson’s summary of his spiritual theology.
Peterson. Eat This Book: A Conversation In the Art of Spiritual Reading.
Peterson. Subversive Spirituality. This is a collection of writings by Peterson on the spiritual life.
Peterson. The Pastor: A Memoir. Every pastor and Christian leader should read this. It will knock the “mega” out of you and bring you to the heart of leadership in Jesus’ name.
Quinn, Robert. Deep Change (Jossey-Bass: 1996). A very good book, written from a leadership-business perspective, on the inner transformation required to lead effectively.
Senn, Frank, ed. Protestant Spiritual Traditions (New York: Paulist, 1986). Various authors writing from the following perspectives: Lutheran, Reformed, Anabaptist, Puritan, Pietist, and Methodist.
Smedes, Lewis. Love Within Limits: Realizing Selfless Love In a Selfish World. This may be the best book, outside of Christian Scripture, ever written on the matter of love. Clearly and eloquently written, deep, profound..., you'll need to go very slowly through this one.
Smedes. Shame and Grace. (San Francisco: Harper and Row, 1994). For me, a beautiful book on overcoming self-condemnation by a deeper understanding and experience of the grace of God.
St. Teresa of Avila Interior Castle
Thomas, Gary
Thurman, Howard. For the Inward Journey: The Writings of Howard Thurman (Harcourt Brace: 1984). An excellent anthology of Thurman’s spiritual writings.
Thurman. Jesus and the Disinherited (Beacon: 1996). If you’re going to read one book by Thurman this is the one to read. He is brilliant, insightful, and extremely relevant for even today. There s a timelessness about Thurman’s writings.
Thurman. Howard Thurman: Essential Writings. (Orbis: 2006) Edited by Luther Smith. Smith is one of our great, if not our greatest, Thurman scholars. His introduction to Thurman’s writing is very helpful.
Thurman. Meditations of the Heart. (Beacon: 1999)
Van Yperen, Jim. Making Peace: A Guide to Overcoming Church Conflict. This is the best book of its kind because it integrates spiritual formation and listening to God with authentic leadership in the name of Christ.
Weems, Renita. Listening for God: A Minister’s Journey Through Silence and Doubt (Simon and Schuster: 1999). An excellent reflection of the silence of God and intimacy with God.
West, Cornel, and Glaube Jr., Eddie S. African American Religious Thought: An Anthology. (Westminster
Willard, Dallas. The Divine Conspiracy: Rediscovering Our Hidden Life in God (Harper Collins: 1998). What a deep, beautiful book on the kingdom of God
Willard. Hearing God: Developing aConversational Relationship with God (IVP: 1999)
Willard. Renovation of theHeart: Putting on the Character of Christ (Navpress:2002). This excellent book is all about spiritual transformation and is especially helpful in defining biblical terms like “soul,” “heart,” “spirit,” and “body.”
Willard. The Spirit of the Disciplines: Understanding How God Changes Lives (Harper and Row: 1988). A great book, profound, clearly written. Richard Foster called it “the book of the decade.”
Wilmore, Gayraud S. Black Religion and Black Radicalism: An Interpretation of the Religious History of African Americans. James Cone calls this "the most important textbook on the history of black religion and the black church ever written."
Wilmore, Gayraud S. Black Religion and Black Radicalism: An Interpretation of the Religious History of African Americans. James Cone calls this "the most important textbook on the history of black religion and the black church ever written."
Wimber, John. Power Healing (Harper and Row). An excellent, encouraging text filled with realism and hope.
