Develop your spiritual life this Lent, or any time, with these new book studies for use by individuals or in groups.
The Holy Living series brings a fresh perspective on the spiritual disciplines, enabling us to apply their practices to our current lives. Each book in this series introduces a spiritual practice, suggests ways of living the practice daily, and provides opportunities to grow personally and in a faith community with others who engage with the practice.
The series is edited by Elaine A. Heath, former Dean of Duke Divinity School, but each book is authored by a different expert.
Each study includes four sessions with reflection questions and focuses on one of these disciplines: Study, Prayer, Neighboring, Discernment, Worship, Confession, or Simplicity.
Study by K. Kale Yu
Study fills us with God’s words, and the more we study, the more of God’s words fill our hearts and minds and inform our thoughts, words, and actions. This book challenges our preconceptions of study and offers practical steps on how to develop the habit of study.
Prayer by Ray Buckley
No matter your comfort level or experience with prayer, this book will help you explore the purpose of prayer, the nature of prayer, and the results of a life of prayer. It leads you to be open to the transformation prayer can bring to your life and helps you better engage in prayer both individually and with others.
Neighboring by Jorge Acevedo
Both the Old and New Testaments call the people of God to love God completely as well as to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. This book first defines what is meant by the spiritual practice of “neighboring” and then looks at ways we can live into neighboring as a spiritual practice in our own lives and in the lives of our churches and communities.
Discernment by Beth Ann Estock
Discernment is a contemplative practice that opens us to the fruits of the Spirit. This book introduces us to this ancient practice and helps us discover how practicing it can lead us to moments in which we sense meaning and purpose in our lives by desiring what God desires and embodying the love that is God.
Worship by Matthew E. Johnson
When we break the concept of worship outside the walls of a sanctuary, we find new energy for living a “Godward” life, a life of turning toward God for guidance moment by moment, day by day. Living a Godward life opens us up to God’s transforming love and enables us to engage in practices of worship in locations and situations we never dreamed of before.
Confession by Paul W. Chilcote
Confession is so much more than a call to apologize, though that is an integral part. Confession is fundamentally relational, providing the opportunity to experience a much fuller relationship with God. This book provides opportunities both to examine and to practice the many forms that confession takes.
Simplicity by Wendy J. Miller
At its core, the spiritual practice of simplicity enables us to eliminate from our lives all the things—both material possessions and thoughts, habits, and attitudes—that distract us from God so that God has complete freedom to work in and through us. Developing the spiritual practice of simplicity is key to a healthy, vibrant relationship with God and others.
Request These Resources
These resources can be borrowed for free by anyone involved with a United Methodist Church in the North Carolina Conference. We can even mail them to you! All you need to do is fill out the Resource Request Form.