A Guide to Christian Spiritual Formation: How Scripture, Spirit, Community, and Mission Shape Our Souls

by Evan B. Howard

Evan Howard, a noted authority on Christian spirituality, provides a holistic, accessible, and informed introduction to Christian spiritual formation written from a broadly evangelical perspective. Howard joins Scripture with themes of community, spirit, formation, and mission in a single integrative guide. The book includes helpful features such as figures, charts, chapter overviews, and formation-focused questions. Its evangelical-ecumenical and global perspectives will appeal to a wide audience. Resources for professors and students are available through Baker Academic's Textbook eSources.

Genres: Spirituality

288 pages, Paperback

Published January 16, 2018

Reviews

[Nicholas Abraham · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book could have been better titled. It’s both a guide at times but also a survey of Christian Spiritual Formation. Also, the intended scope of the book seems broader than what he actually wanted to write. Howard emphasizes a more Charismatic and Monastic Spirituality.

Those things aside there are some helpful things here, particularly in the first part of the book with his definition of Christian Spiritual Formation and its various components.

[Josh Trice · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic, insightful work on the importance and components of Spiritual Formation. Howard, delivers an easy to follow guide for one of Christianity's (sadly) most overlooked aspects (from a western, evangelical view).
I would highly recommend this book to any Christian looking to deepen their faith, and what that means. The Christian life is purposeful, freeing and creative. I think Howard provides adequate explanation of this in his work.

[Stephen Ring · Rating 3 out of 5]

One my textbooks for Christian Spiritual Formation course at ADC

[Jess · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very thorough academic book that I did not in the least enjoy reading but did take a couple nuggets from. Worth reading if you want to have an academic take on spiritual formation.

[Brett D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

As Dallas Willard said on several occasions, "Everybody gets a spiritual formation. Just like everybody gets an education. What kind and quality of education . . ." This book examines the methods by which we are formed and how to thoughtfully engage with that formation. It provides a good overview of what goes into the spiritual formation of an individual and gives suggestions for how to improve that formation.

Howard had dedicated a good bit of his life to examining and understanding spiritual formation, and it shows in this book. I recommend it.