Spiritual Practices in Community: Drawing Groups into the Heart of God

by Diana Shiflett

Spiritual practices don't have to be scary.

Diana Shiflett has been leading groups of all descriptions in spiritual practices for many years, and she understands the difficulties involved: the potential for awkwardness and self-doubt, the nagging question of whether anyone's getting anything out of this at all. But more than that, she understands the value of spiritual practices: their deep roots in the history and worship of God's people, and their ability to calm our distracted minds and hearts so we are ready to hear the voice of Jesus.

In this personal, hands-on guide, Shiflett walks us through a wide array of spiritual practices, from communal silence and Scripture meditation to active prayer and corporate discernment. She proves a reliable guide, offering step-by-step instructions, pointing out hazards and pitfalls, and sharing her own experiences with honesty and humor.

With this book as a guide, these spiritual practices can become life-giving resources in your ministry setting for years to come.

Genres: Christian, Christian Living, Religion, Leadership, Christianity, Spirituality, Nonfiction

192 pages, Paperback

Published December 11, 2018

About the author

Diana Shiflett is the pastor of spiritual formation at Naperville Covenant Church in Naperville, Illinois. She is an adjunct professor of youth ministry at North Park University, and a licensed spiritual director. She has a masters degree in clinical psychology from Wheaton College.

Reviews

[Meagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a wonderful tool for any person who leads groups in any kind of ministry. Readable, warm, and engaging, Diana's work helps each of us as we seek to help others draw near to God, to hear God's voice, and to value God's speaking to others.

[Sarah Poling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Diana Shiflett is an amazing writer who brings to life how to lead or use spiritual practices in your own life or in the groups you lead. She has a heart for hearing God, training others in learning to be silent and hear God personally, her writing is approachable, helpful, with great examples to help the reader grasp how these strategies work across different ages and groups. And I’m recognizing some of her strategies are practices I’ve adopted, but I didn’t realize had names or were recognized. She’s centered on the Word and her ideas are achievable, simple, relevant and well grounded.

It's been so encouraging with ideas on how to improve my prayer, bible journaling, anxiety with spiritual practices-- The author has a degree in youth ministry, a Masters in Psychology from Wheaton and an MDiv. And she has great teaching skills in print plus she's fun- reminds you to laugh at yourself- and encouraging- it's an easy to read book- but I want to go back and read it slow and try EVERY one of her ideas or her ways of implementing spiritual practices to know God more intimately and experience Him in new ways. I read over 50 books each year- and this one makes the top of my list as beneficial and worthy of your reading it.

My suggestion for improvement is pictures of journaling examples, labyrinth prayer, etc. to bring it even more alive to those of us unfamiliar with these practices.

Blessed to partner with #intervarsitypress and get to read and advanced copy and review.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this book to anyone seeking peace in their life.

[Brian Hohmeier · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shiflett gives a very readable, practical introduction to the ministry of leading spiritual practices that I think many evangelicals will find comfortable and helpful relaying to their congregations. Her earlier chapters on silence and Scripture are, I think, excellent and worthy of recommendation. It seemed to me, however, that rather than deepening as the book advanced, it circled about with myriad fun, light and "fruitful" spiritual practices that I had difficulty relating to in my own faith as a convert and somewhat marginal evangelical. I hesitate to say that I worry this book may be only a little naïve, because it may be intentionally so, not as a detriment but as a limitation. Yet even if it avoids talking about the dark and difficult path of spiritual "nights," because it rightly knows its audience, it troublingly continues an especially Protestant and evangelical tradition of underpreparing God's people for the sure path ahead of them, from intimacy through a silent and painful desert to an even deeper intimacy we cannot yet even estimate. In that desert, lectio and emmaus walks and prophetic drawing will fail us so that we can know God through contemplation even apart from them. Yet to read this book, I would think that these practices are all there is to life experiencing Jesus.

[Linda Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read several books a year to enhance my study of Scripture and loved this one, in particular. The author is a pastor and writes in an easy to read manner. Her ideas would benefit both leaders of groups as well as those on solitary studies.
While reading, it occurred to me that her study groups must be phenomenally beneficial. From journaling (the book comes with a small journal and a pack of colored pencils) to prayer walks; each practice is fully explained. Practical ways to apply each into your spiritual practice conclude each chapter.
I received an Advance Review Copy from the publisher as part of the launch team. All opinions are my own. @intervarsitypress @DianaShiflett

[Erika · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author makes the world of spiritual formation easy to understand and access. Great for use as an individual, family, or small group. This will become a book you reach for over and over as you desire to grow in your spiritual life.

[CHANCE · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

I enjoyed this book and found it an important tool in spiritual discipline and practice. I will recommend it to others.

[SOLEIL WEAVER · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very entertaining read, lots of ideas for leading spiritual practices and explanation for why they work. Definitely recommend.