Water from a Deep Well: Christian Spirituality from Early Martyrs to Modern Missionaries

by Gerald L. Sittser, John Mark Comer (Other), Eugene H Peterson (Foreword)

"[This book] is a treasure. The first time I read it, I remember closing the final page and thinking to myself, I wish I could make every single Christian on earth read this book. … John Chrysostom, Evagrius the Solitary, Julian of Norwich, Martin Luther, Dorothy Day, Dietrich Bonhoeffer—these saints and sages live on in me. And they can live on in you, too. They can enlarge and enrich your faith, one page at a time." — John Mark Comer, from the afterword Ancient Faith for Modern Souls In AD 165, two men named Carpus and Papylus stood before the proconsul of Pergamum, charged with the crime of being Christians. Not even torture could make them deny Christ, so they were burned alive.Is my faithfulness as strong?In the fifth century, Melania the Younger and her husband, Pinian, distributed their enormous wealth to the poor and intentionally practiced the discipline of renunciation. Could living more simply deepen my trust in God? In the seventeenth century, Philipp Jakob Spener's love for the Word of God and his desire to help people apply the Bible to their daily life moved him to start "Colleges of Piety," or small groups. In what ways could commitment to community make me more like Christ? The history of Christianity has produced models of spiritual life, some very different from our own, that can enrich and enlarge our spiritual lives. These saints believed in the same God, followed the same Christ, read the same Bible, and walked in the same Spirit. And they lived wholeheartedly for God, like Perpetua, an early Christian martyr; Francis of Assisi, a medieval visionary; Philipp Jakob Spener, the founder of fifteenth-century small groups; and Dorothy Day, a servant of the poor. In Water from a Deep Well, Gerald Sittser opens to us the rich history of spirituality, helping us learn from the practices and stories of believers from the past who thirsted for God. These vibrant narratives reveal deep, powerful faith and demonstrate how old ways can bring new life to our spirituality today. These histories are deep waters from which we can drink to become faithful followers of Jesus, like those who came before us. In this revised edition, you'll find history, insights, and practical exercises for incorporating spiritual practices into your life; a new chapter and updates throughout the book; and a new afterword from John Mark Comer. Discover the richness of ancient faith practices and renew your spiritual life with Water from a Deep Well. Whether you're discovering spiritual practices for the first time or seeking to deepen your journey with Christ, this book provides timeless guidance for spiritual growth, drawn from the wisdom of those who have walked the path before you.

346 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 23, 2026

About the author

Usually publishes as Jerry Sittser.

Reviews

[Becky Beavers · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Credible and Critical Voice at a Time of Great Need

Dr. Sittser provides a voice we need to heed in light of crises including USAID defunding and multiple examples of government-sponsored injustice. He provides heartening stories both from the early church and from relatively recent contemporary examples. Sittser’s voice, supported by that of John Mark Comer, is one we need desperately to hear. A call to the church, particularly the evangelical church, to return to our core values even in the face of oppression, even that propagated by our own government. This book could easily be a response to Jim Wallis’ voice that we need to not go Left or Right but that we need to go deep into evangelical gospel values. A major strength of this book is specific exercise recommendations at the conclusion of each chapter.