Downloads: Articles

• David Terpstra (from Christianity Today), 
  “Exit Stage Left: Why the Spiritually Mature are Leaving the Church”
• Ruminations Library (featuring a host of free, downloadable materials
  from Zoe-Life Explorations related to the spiritual formation journey)

Downloads: Spiritual Formation “Guides”
(available for download “out there”)

• The Art of Spiritual Formation (from the North Georgia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church)

Links to[Meaningful]
Spiritual Formation Mentors/Sites Worth Engaging…

• Conversatio.org
  (a great repository of spiritual formation teachings from those behind the old “Conversations Journal”–with an especial focus on the teachings of Dallas Willard)
• soulcare.com
  (spiritual formation ministry that exists to increase “soul health” in the body of Christ on the basis of seven core spiritual practices… founded by Mindy Caliguire, former Director of Transformation Ministry for the Willow Creek Association)
• center for action and contemplation
  (spiritual formation ministry of Fr. Richard Rohr…  here, you will have a chance to sign-up for a daily email from Fr. Rohr… note, as well, the wealth of podcasts, videos and articles in the “Articles and Media” subsection)
• renovare.org
  (spiritual formation ministry founded by Richard Foster, author of Celebration of Discipline)
• transformingcenter.org/
  (spiritual formation ministry of Dr. Ruth Haley Barton that exists “to strengthen the souls of pastors and Christian leaders and the congregations and organizations they serve”)
• dwightjudy.com
  (web site for one of the “grandfathers” of spiritual formation in the United Methodist Church, with a wealth of online materials and resources)
• contemplativeoutreach.org
  (a spiritual network of individuals and small faith communities committed to living the contemplative dimension of the Gospel — with a common desire for Divine transformation (primarily expressed through a commitment to a daily practice) as explicated in the teachings of Fr. Thomas Keating.)
• Spiritual Formation Reading Room at Tyndale University
  (points you to a host of spiritual formation readings via Google books [which provides a pretty generous sampling of each title])

Links
Emphasizing Different Spiritual Practices/Disciplines 

“Traditional” Means of Grace

• Engaging the Bible

• • The Bible Project
    (we’ve watched them evolve over the years — providing great videos that give survey to the Scriptures and each book of the Bible…  They are not the “end all” in your engagement of the Scriptures but do provide a good foundation for deeper learning and exploration)
  • First-Steps-To-Spiritual-Growth (by Rick Warren from a few years ago… while it covers the breadth of a “quiet time” we might have with God, it is especially focused on an approach to engaging the Scriptures)
  • How to Study the Bible (A Self-Study Resource by Brian McLaren from brianmclaren.net a few years ago)
    
    
• Sabbath
  • A few offerings from the Methodist Publishing House (which appear to be out of print):
    –> Take Time to Be Holy (“Faithlink” issue from July, 2002)
    –> Holy Rest (“Faithlink” issue from January, 2005)
    
  • The Sabbath Experiment (site dedicated to book by Rob Muthiah)
    
    
• Prayer
  • Sacred Space:
    Guides you step-by-step through daily prayer, scripture, and personal reflection.
  • Pray As You Go:
    multiple formats allow individuals to engage new prayer session is produced every day, lasting 10-13 minutes, that combines music, scripture and questions for reflection. The aim is to help you to become more aware of God’s presence in your life, hear and reflect on God’s word, and grow in your relationship with God. Produced in Britain with lovely British accents. Requires a high-speed connection.

Not-so-conventional or traditional 
“means of grace”/disciplines

• The Enneagram

• • Podcasts

• • • “The Enneagram” podcast episode from The Liturgists
    • The Road Back to You: Looking at Life through the Lens of the Enneagram
    • Typology by Ian Morgan Cron
    • The Enneagram Journey by Suzanne Stabile
    • Sleeping at Last (with singer-songwriter, producer and composer, Ryan O’Neal… you will need to scroll down to 2017-2019 episodes when the “enneagram” number  songs were recorded)
    • The Art of Growth, Joel Hubbard and Jim Zartman
      
  • Web Sites

• • • The Enneagram Institute website
    • Sites related to the work of Suzanne Stabile:
      –> LIFE IN THE TRINITY MINISTRY
      –> SuzanneStabile.com
    • Enneagram in the Narrative Tradition, https://www.enneagramworldwide.com.
      
      

• Developing a Rule for Faithful Living

• • The Society of Saint John the Evangelist
    (a wealth of materials, including videos and download materials to guide you through the creation of a rule of life)
  • The Society of Saint John the Evangelist, “Living Intentionally” document
  • Sacred Ordinary Day’s page deveoted to rules (a wealth of links)
  • Steve Macchia’s website dedicated to “rules” (great samples)
  • Portland’s Bridgetown Church has several sections related to its recent emphasis on “rules”, including this particular page, with a downloadable workbook
  • Bishop Curry & the Episcopal Church recently launched an initiative focused on a rule of life which can be engaged at both of these links:
    • https://episcopalchurch.org/way-of-love
    • https://www.forwardmovement.org/Pages/Item/10742/The-Way-of-Love.aspx
      
      
• Gratitude
  • Gratefulness.org
    (inspired by the life and teachings of Br. David Steindl-Rast, OSB… a treasure trove of educational and support resources for the practice of grateful living)
  • “Expanding Gratitude” Initiative
    (from the Greater Good Science Center (at UC Berkley, in collaboration with UC Davis)… this $5.6 million, three-year project seeks “the expansion of the science and the practice of gratitude.”)
  • Finally, there is TEDblog’s post on “A Non-Cheesy Guide to Gratefulness: What to Read and Watch”
    
    
• Art-Creativity
  • Abbey of the Arts
    (a virtual global online monastery offering pilgrimages, online classes & retreats, reflections, and resources which integrate contemplative spiritual practice and creative expression with monastic spirituality”)
    
    
• Arts-Media: Movie Watching and Spiritual Formation

• • HollywoodJesus
    (offering entertainment reviews and interactive ranking articles from a faith-based perspective since 1997…  We value this old site.  Sadly, we have deactivated the link — as McAfee signals it as “Suspicious.” You can engage it at your own risk )
  • Visual Parables
    (web site for faith-and-film reviews and study guides, hosted by Ed McNulty)
  • Reel Spirituality
    (brings together filmmakers and film-viewers, Christian leaders and laity, scholars and students for dialogue between our culture’s primary stories, whether in film or television, and the Christian faith)
  • Focus on the Family’s “Plugged In”
    (designed to shine a light on the world of popular entertainment while giving families the essential tools they need to understand, navigate, and impact the culture in which they live.)
  • Films at “Spirituality &Practice”
    (the film section of the multifaith and “interspiritual” website is devoted to resources for spiritual journeys)
  • “Movie Reviews Zone” (at kidology.org)
    (various movies reviewed in the context of children’s ministry)
  • Reel Faith (at patheos.com)
    (site with reviews and publications by “church and culture” journalist , DeWayne Hamby)
  • Popcorn Theology
    (a new podcast which will address the subject matter of Entertainment, Theology, and how the two meet)
  • Movie Goings
    (web site by Jared Wheeler dedicated to the exploration of  Faith, History, and Culture through Films)
  • Cinema Faith (Movie reviews and commentary through a Christian lens )
    
    
• Bible: Lectio Divina
  • Accepting the Embrace of God: The Ancient Art of Lectio Divina: dedicated to the time-honored spiritual practice that combines Bible reading and prayer (for use by both individuals and groups)
    
    
• Journaling
  • Write for Your Soul ebook from Mindy Caliguire
    (yes, it requires that you fill out a form but I see no real “harm” in doing so… Mindy’s work is solid and has integrity)
    
  • Journaling (a “Christian Spiritual Practice” download from the Retreat Ministry of Saddleback)
  • Sample of/from Metanoia Catholic Journal
    (again, you will need to sign up, clicking on the “Try Our Journal for Free” tab… [looks like they use MailChimp…  you can unsubscribe any time])
    
    
• Labyrinth
  • labyrinthsociety.org
    (introduction to this ancient means of prayer, meditation, and transformation)
  • Online Interactive Labyrinth 
    (“walk” a virtual labyrinth using your computer’s mouse, with optional music)

Links:
Various Materials-Offerings from The Upper Room…

• Daily Online Devotional
• The Academy for Spiritual Formation (a two-year Journey in Christ)
• Resources Page from The Upper Room (
  a treasure trove of resources covering a variety of categories)
• Resources Page from the Living Prayer Center of the Upper Room
  (with links to explore a variety of prayer methods… and articles on prayer)

Miscellany

• Retreat_in_a_Box
  (a downloadable day retreat, produced by Rev. Larry J. Peacock  for the New England Conference [Annual Conference] Spiritual Formation Initiative)
• An Online Retreat
  (a 34-week Ignatian retreat, offered by Creighton University)
• Northumbria Community
  (web site of a diverse and dispersed network of people (alone and together) gathered around a Rule of Life as a Way to follow the Way)

Have another resource you’d commend to us for consideration on this resource page?

We’d love to hear from you!  Feel free to drop us contact us by clicking here!