Book Recommendations for Spiritual Formation

1. Eternity Is Now in Session 
    John Ortberg

In Eternity Is Now in Session, best-selling author John Ortberg dispels the myth that eternal life is something in outer space that we can only hope to experience after we die―and that being saved is merely about meeting the minimal entrance requirements for getting into Heaven. Instead, John unpacks the reality that the moment we trust Christ, we are initiated into “eternal living” with God as a here-and-now reality, one that will continue beyond our life on this Earth.

2. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality
    Pete Scazzero

Even though Peter Scazzero was the pastor of a growing church, he did what most people do—avoided conflict in the name of Christianity, ignored his anger, sadness, and fear, and lived without boundaries. Eventually, God awakened him to a biblical integration of emotional health and the Spiritual practice of slowing down and quieting your life to experience a first-hand relationship with Jesus. It created nothing short of a Spiritual revolution.

3. Ruthless Elimination of Hurry 
    John Mark Comer

“Who am I becoming?” That was the question nagging pastor and author John Mark Comer. Outwardly, he appeared successful. But inwardly, things weren’t pretty. So he turned to a trusted mentor for guidance and heard these words: “Ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life. Hurry is the great enemy of the Spiritual life.” It wasn’t the response he expected, but it was—and continues to be—the answer he needed. In this book, you’ll find a fascinating roadmap to staying emotionally healthy and Spiritually alive in the chaos of the modern world.

4. Soul Keeping
    John Ortberg

When was the last time you thought about the state of your soul? Best-selling author John Ortberg guides you through practical steps to restoring your soul so you can finally experience a life of wholeness, balance, and hope. Including reflections from his decades-long relationship with friend and mentor Dallas Willard, Ortberg presents another classic that will help you discover your soul—the most important connection to God there is—and find your way out of the Spiritual shallow lands to true divine depth.

5. Anonymous: Jesus’ Hidden Years…and Yours 
    Alicia Britt Chole 

In Anonymous, you’ll learn to recognize the riches in the uncelebrated seasons of your life. When your potential is unseen and your abilities are unappreciated, use those times as opportunities to develop an unshakable identity and to find rest in God's timing—just as Jesus did. What you’ll find is that unsettling spaces are actually the surprising birthplace of true Spiritual strength.

6. Celebration of Discipline
    Richard J. Foster

Hailed by many as the best modern book on Christian spirituality, Celebration of Discipline explores the "classic disciplines," or central Spiritual practices, of the Christian faith. Along the way, Foster shows that it is only by and through these practices that the true path to Spiritual growth can be found.

7. Your One Life
    Lance Witt

In Your One Life, Pastor Lance Witt offers you a roadmap to align yourself with God's purposes and take extreme ownership over your life. Sharing several practical tools, Witt shows you how to craft the life you want, care for your emotional health, establish healthy rhythms, and more. 

8. The Deeply Formed Life
    Rich Villodas

New York Pastor Rich Villodas teaches we must restore balance, focus, and meaning for our souls. The Deeply Formed Life lays out a fresh vision for Spiritual breakthrough by following five key values:

• Contemplative Rhythms Value: slowing down our lives to be with God.
• Racial Justice Value: examining a multi-layered approach to pursuing racial justice and reconciliation.
• Interior Examination Value: looking beneath the surface of our lives to live free and love well.
• Sexual Wholeness Value: exploring how our sexuality connects with our Spirituality.
• Missional Presence Value: living as the presence of Christ in a broken world.

9. The Life You’ve Always Wanted
    John Ortberg

Ignite a deeper, more vibrant relationship with God that impacts not just your Spiritual life but every aspect of your daily life. John Ortberg calls readers back to the dynamic heartbeat of Christianity—God's power to bring change and growth—and reveals how and why transformation takes place. The Life You've Always Wanted offers modern perspectives on the ancient path of the Spiritual disciplines. But it is more than just a book about things to do to be a good Christian. It's a roadmap toward true transformation that starts not with the individual but with the Person at the journey's end—Jesus Christ.

10. Find Your People
     Jennie Allen

In Find Your People, best-selling author Jennie Allen draws on fascinating insights from science and history, timeless biblical truth, and vulnerable stories from her own life to help you:

• Overcome the barriers to making new friends and learn to initiate with easy-to-follow steps.
• Find simple ways to press through the awkwardness to get to authentic conversations.
• Understand how conflict can strengthen relationships rather than destroy them.
• Identify the type of friend you are and the types of friends you need.
• Learn the five practical ingredients you need in order to have the type of friends you’ve always longed for.

For more Formed series resources, click here.