Spiritual Growth Resources
DAILY DEVOTIONS
You are invited to visit the following daily devotions. Some of them can be subscribed to through email. Others are available as an app on your device. May the Holy Spirit bless you today and help you to grow in faith, hope, and love in Jesus Christ. Amen.
The Upper Room
https://www.upperroom.org/devotionals
Sacred Space
www.sacredspace.ie
Our Daily Bread
www.odb.org
My Utmost for His Highest
www.utmost.org
Streams in the Desert
www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/desert
Charles Spurgeon
www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/morningandevening
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
www.biblegateway.com/devotionals/40-Day-Journey-Dietrich-Bonhoeffer/today
C.S. Lewis
www.biblegateway.com/devotionals/cs-lewis-daily
A.W. Tozer
www.studylight.org/daily-devotionals/eng/toz.html
Seedbed
www.seedbed.com
Rick Warren
www.pastorrick.com/devotional
Max Lucado
www.maxlucado.com
Henri Nouwen
www.henrinouwen.org/meditation
Boundaries with Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend
www.biblegateway.com/devotionals/boundaries/today
The Upper Room
https://www.upperroom.org/devotionals
Sacred Space
www.sacredspace.ie
Our Daily Bread
www.odb.org
My Utmost for His Highest
www.utmost.org
Streams in the Desert
www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/desert
Charles Spurgeon
www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/morningandevening
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
www.biblegateway.com/devotionals/40-Day-Journey-Dietrich-Bonhoeffer/today
C.S. Lewis
www.biblegateway.com/devotionals/cs-lewis-daily
A.W. Tozer
www.studylight.org/daily-devotionals/eng/toz.html
Seedbed
www.seedbed.com
Rick Warren
www.pastorrick.com/devotional
Max Lucado
www.maxlucado.com
Henri Nouwen
www.henrinouwen.org/meditation
Boundaries with Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend
www.biblegateway.com/devotionals/boundaries/today
BIBLE STUDY RESOURCES
Looking to Buy a Bible?
While the King James Version (KJV) is still the most popular translation of the Bible, we do not recommend it when buying a new Bible because there have been great advances in biblical scholarship since the year 1611. Also, the English language has changed a lot since that time, and in the 21st century many people find the King James Version challenging to read. When buying a Bible, we recommend the following.
YouVersion Bible App & Online
YouVersion is the leading on-line Bible for your phone, tablet, and computer. On the app you can look up verses, start a reading plan, bookmark and highlight verses, create and share Bible verse images for social media, and connect with friends for prayer and sharing together in scripture. The YouVersion Bible is available for download on your device.
The Bible Project
The Bible Project is a non-profit animation studio that produces inspirational and instructive videos of the Bible, podcasts, and other resources to help make the biblical story accessible to everyone, everywhere. The Bible Project is an excellent resource for individuals, families, Sunday School classes, and Bible study groups. You can find the Bible Project videos at www.bibleproject.com and on YouTube.
Read Scripture
Read Scripture is an app for a personal or group Bible reading plan. Each section begins with one of the Bible Project videos giving instruction and insight into a book or section of the Bible, and then it guides readers in daily readings of scripture. Read Scripture is available for download as an app on your device.
Bible Gateway
Bible Gateway is a searchable online Bible in more than 200 versions and 70 languages that you can freely read, research, and reference anywhere. With a library of audio Bibles, a mobile app, devotionals, email newsletters, and other free resources, Bible Gateway equips you not only to read the Bible, but to understand it. Bible Gateway is available at www.biblegateway.com and as an app for your device.
Blue Letter Bible
The Blue Letter Bible provides powerful tools for an in-depth study of God’s Word through a free online reference library, with study tools that are grounded in the historic Christian faith. Blue Letter Bible is especially helpful in doing Hebrew and Greek word studies. Blue Letter Bible is available at www.blueletterbible.com and as an app for your device.
John Wesley’s Explanatory Notes on the Bible
Between 1754 and 1765 the founder of the Methodist movement wrote a verse by verse commentary on the Bible. You can search and read these notes at http://wesley.nnu.edu/john-wesley/john-wesleys-notes-on-the-bible/
While the King James Version (KJV) is still the most popular translation of the Bible, we do not recommend it when buying a new Bible because there have been great advances in biblical scholarship since the year 1611. Also, the English language has changed a lot since that time, and in the 21st century many people find the King James Version challenging to read. When buying a Bible, we recommend the following.
- For a literal translation of scripture, we recommend the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) or the New International Version (NIV).
- For a more readable translation of scripture that aims to translate thought-for-thought instead of word-for-word into contemporary English, we recommend the New Living Translation (NLT) or the English Standard Version (ESV).
- For a modern paraphrase of scripture into modern English, we recommend Eugene Peterson’s Message Translation (The Message).
YouVersion Bible App & Online
YouVersion is the leading on-line Bible for your phone, tablet, and computer. On the app you can look up verses, start a reading plan, bookmark and highlight verses, create and share Bible verse images for social media, and connect with friends for prayer and sharing together in scripture. The YouVersion Bible is available for download on your device.
The Bible Project
The Bible Project is a non-profit animation studio that produces inspirational and instructive videos of the Bible, podcasts, and other resources to help make the biblical story accessible to everyone, everywhere. The Bible Project is an excellent resource for individuals, families, Sunday School classes, and Bible study groups. You can find the Bible Project videos at www.bibleproject.com and on YouTube.
Read Scripture
Read Scripture is an app for a personal or group Bible reading plan. Each section begins with one of the Bible Project videos giving instruction and insight into a book or section of the Bible, and then it guides readers in daily readings of scripture. Read Scripture is available for download as an app on your device.
Bible Gateway
Bible Gateway is a searchable online Bible in more than 200 versions and 70 languages that you can freely read, research, and reference anywhere. With a library of audio Bibles, a mobile app, devotionals, email newsletters, and other free resources, Bible Gateway equips you not only to read the Bible, but to understand it. Bible Gateway is available at www.biblegateway.com and as an app for your device.
Blue Letter Bible
The Blue Letter Bible provides powerful tools for an in-depth study of God’s Word through a free online reference library, with study tools that are grounded in the historic Christian faith. Blue Letter Bible is especially helpful in doing Hebrew and Greek word studies. Blue Letter Bible is available at www.blueletterbible.com and as an app for your device.
John Wesley’s Explanatory Notes on the Bible
Between 1754 and 1765 the founder of the Methodist movement wrote a verse by verse commentary on the Bible. You can search and read these notes at http://wesley.nnu.edu/john-wesley/john-wesleys-notes-on-the-bible/
CHRISTIAN CLASSICS
Christian Classics are writings of faithful men and women in years past whose words continue to instruct and inspire from generation to generation. Their witness to the historic Christian faith is timeless and abiding, and their significance and meaning is perpetual and enduring.
To be honest, reading Christian Classics is not always easy. In many cases they are translated from another language, and even if they are in English, they were often translated many years ago. However, those with spiritual hunger and longing for God will find the grace and presence of God in these books, and the diligent reader will find through opening these writings you have pulled up a seat next to a warm fire. You will find you are drinking from a deep and refreshing well, and you and your faith will never be the same.
Timeless Books on Spiritual Growth in Christ
4th century
The Life of Antony, Athanasius of Alexandria
The Confessions of St. Augustine, Augustine of Hippo
The Sayings of the Desert Fathers, Desert Fathers
4th - 8th centuries
The Creeds, Seven Ecumenical Councils
6th century
The Rule of St. Benedict, Benedict of Nursia
12th century
On the Love of God, Bernard of Clairvaux
13th century
Treatise on the Virtues, Thomas Aquinas
The Little Flowers of St. Francis, Brother Ugolino
14th century
The Cloud of Unknowing, Anonymous
The Divine Comedy, Dante Alighieri
The Fire of Love, Richard Rolle
Showings, Julian of Norwich
15th century
The Imitation of Christ, Thomas a Kempis
16th century
Private Devotions, Lancelot Andrews
The Interior Castle, Teresa of Avila
Institutes of Christian Religion, John Calvin
The Book of Common Prayer, Thomas Cranmer
The Dark Night of the Soul, John of the Cross
The Story of a Soul, Therese of Lisieux
A Simple Way to Pray, Martin Luther
17th century
The Practice of the Presence of God, Brother Lawrence
Paradise Lost, John Milton
The Temple, George Herbert
Pilgrim’s Progress, John Bunyan
Christian Perfection, Francois Fenelon
The Journal of George Fox, George Fox
Experiencing the Depths of Jesus Christ, Madame Guyon
Holy Living and Dying, Jeremy Taylor
Introduction to the Devout Life, Francis de Sales
18th century
Abandonment to Divine Providence, Jean-Pierre de Caussade
A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections, Jonathan Edwards
A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life, William Law
A Plain Account of Christian Perfection, John Wesley
19th century
The Journal of John Woolman, John Woolman
The Way of a Pilgrim, Anonymous
Power Through Prayer, E.M. Bounds
The Brothers Karamazov, Fyoder Dostoyevsky
Growth in Holiness, Frederick W. Faber
The Christian’s Secret of a Happy Life, Hannah Whitall Smith
20th century
The Cost of Discipleship, Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Poustinia, Catherine de Hueck Doherty
Testament of Devotion, Thomas Kelly
Letters by Modern Mystics, Frank Labauch
The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis
The Seven Storey Mountain, Thomas Merton
The Spiritual Man, Watchman Nee (Ni Shu-tsu)
The Pursuit of God, A.W. Tozer
God’s Chosen Fast, Arthur Wallis
21st century
Renovation of the Heart, Dallas Willard
The Early Church Fathers
www.ccel.org/fathers
John Wesley’s Standard Sermons
http://wesley.nnu.edu/john-wesley/the-sermons-of-john-wesley-1872-edition/the-sermons-of-john-wesley-the-standard-sermons/
The sermons are also available in modern english.
https://www.amazon.com/Wesleys-Standard-Sermons-Modern-English/dp/0687025168
To be honest, reading Christian Classics is not always easy. In many cases they are translated from another language, and even if they are in English, they were often translated many years ago. However, those with spiritual hunger and longing for God will find the grace and presence of God in these books, and the diligent reader will find through opening these writings you have pulled up a seat next to a warm fire. You will find you are drinking from a deep and refreshing well, and you and your faith will never be the same.
Timeless Books on Spiritual Growth in Christ
4th century
The Life of Antony, Athanasius of Alexandria
The Confessions of St. Augustine, Augustine of Hippo
The Sayings of the Desert Fathers, Desert Fathers
4th - 8th centuries
The Creeds, Seven Ecumenical Councils
6th century
The Rule of St. Benedict, Benedict of Nursia
12th century
On the Love of God, Bernard of Clairvaux
13th century
Treatise on the Virtues, Thomas Aquinas
The Little Flowers of St. Francis, Brother Ugolino
14th century
The Cloud of Unknowing, Anonymous
The Divine Comedy, Dante Alighieri
The Fire of Love, Richard Rolle
Showings, Julian of Norwich
15th century
The Imitation of Christ, Thomas a Kempis
16th century
Private Devotions, Lancelot Andrews
The Interior Castle, Teresa of Avila
Institutes of Christian Religion, John Calvin
The Book of Common Prayer, Thomas Cranmer
The Dark Night of the Soul, John of the Cross
The Story of a Soul, Therese of Lisieux
A Simple Way to Pray, Martin Luther
17th century
The Practice of the Presence of God, Brother Lawrence
Paradise Lost, John Milton
The Temple, George Herbert
Pilgrim’s Progress, John Bunyan
Christian Perfection, Francois Fenelon
The Journal of George Fox, George Fox
Experiencing the Depths of Jesus Christ, Madame Guyon
Holy Living and Dying, Jeremy Taylor
Introduction to the Devout Life, Francis de Sales
18th century
Abandonment to Divine Providence, Jean-Pierre de Caussade
A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections, Jonathan Edwards
A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life, William Law
A Plain Account of Christian Perfection, John Wesley
19th century
The Journal of John Woolman, John Woolman
The Way of a Pilgrim, Anonymous
Power Through Prayer, E.M. Bounds
The Brothers Karamazov, Fyoder Dostoyevsky
Growth in Holiness, Frederick W. Faber
The Christian’s Secret of a Happy Life, Hannah Whitall Smith
20th century
The Cost of Discipleship, Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Poustinia, Catherine de Hueck Doherty
Testament of Devotion, Thomas Kelly
Letters by Modern Mystics, Frank Labauch
The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis
The Seven Storey Mountain, Thomas Merton
The Spiritual Man, Watchman Nee (Ni Shu-tsu)
The Pursuit of God, A.W. Tozer
God’s Chosen Fast, Arthur Wallis
21st century
Renovation of the Heart, Dallas Willard
The Early Church Fathers
www.ccel.org/fathers
John Wesley’s Standard Sermons
http://wesley.nnu.edu/john-wesley/the-sermons-of-john-wesley-1872-edition/the-sermons-of-john-wesley-the-standard-sermons/
The sermons are also available in modern english.
https://www.amazon.com/Wesleys-Standard-Sermons-Modern-English/dp/0687025168