What do you think?
Rate this book
Sacred Pathways
'Thou Shalt Not Covet Thy Neighbor's Spiritual Walk.' After all, it's his, not yours. Better to discover the path God designed you to take--a path marked by growth and fulfillment, based on your unique temperament. In Sacred Pathways, Gary Thomas strips away the frustration of a one-size-fits-all spirituality and guides you toward a path of worship that frees you to be you. If your devotional times have hit a snag, perhaps it is because you're trying to follow someone else's path. This book unfolds nine distinct spiritual temperaments--their traits, strengths, and pitfalls. In one or more, you will see yourself and the ways you most naturally express your relationship with Jesus Christ. Whatever temperament or blend of temperaments best describes you, rest assured it's not by accident. It's by the design of a Creator who knew what he was doing when he made you according to his own unique specifications. Sacred Pathways will show you the route you were made to travel, marked by growth and filled with the riches of a close walk with God.
240 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
675 people are currently reading
4236 people want to read
About the author
Gary L. Thomas
61 books644 followersGary Thomas is a bestselling author and international speaker whose ministry brings people closer to Christ and closer to others. He unites the study of Scripture, church history, and the Christian classics to foster spiritual growth and deeper relationships within the Christian community.
Gary is the author of 20 books, including "Sacred Marriage" and "Cherish", that together have sold over two million copies, have been translated into more than a dozen languages, and won numerous awards . His writings have established him as a thought-leader in the areas of marriage, parenting, and spiritual formation.
Gary holds a B.A. in English Literature from Western Washington University, an MA degree in systematic theology from Regent College (Vancouver, BC), and an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Western Seminary (Portland, OR).
He serves on the teaching team (and as Writer in Residence) at Second Baptist Church, Houston—a congregation with six campuses and 70,000 members—and is an adjunct faculty member at Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon and Houston Theological Seminary in Houston Texas.
Gary’s speaking ministry has led him to speak in 49 states and nine different countries, and on numerous national television and radio programs, including multiple appearances on Focus on the Family and Family Life Today. Gary’s interviews on Focus on the Family have been chosen among the “Best of 2013,” “Best of 2014” and “Best of 2017.” Gary is a lifelong advocate of using the Christian classics to bring people closer to Christ.
Gary enjoys running in his spare time and has completed 14 marathons, including the Boston Marathon three times. He and his wife Lisa have been married for 35 years and they have three adult children and the smartest, cutest, most adorable granddaughter on the planet.
Gary Thomas – Bringing people closer to Christ and closer to others.
Gary is the author of 20 books, including "Sacred Marriage" and "Cherish", that together have sold over two million copies, have been translated into more than a dozen languages, and won numerous awards . His writings have established him as a thought-leader in the areas of marriage, parenting, and spiritual formation.
Gary holds a B.A. in English Literature from Western Washington University, an MA degree in systematic theology from Regent College (Vancouver, BC), and an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Western Seminary (Portland, OR).
He serves on the teaching team (and as Writer in Residence) at Second Baptist Church, Houston—a congregation with six campuses and 70,000 members—and is an adjunct faculty member at Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon and Houston Theological Seminary in Houston Texas.
Gary’s speaking ministry has led him to speak in 49 states and nine different countries, and on numerous national television and radio programs, including multiple appearances on Focus on the Family and Family Life Today. Gary’s interviews on Focus on the Family have been chosen among the “Best of 2013,” “Best of 2014” and “Best of 2017.” Gary is a lifelong advocate of using the Christian classics to bring people closer to Christ.
Gary enjoys running in his spare time and has completed 14 marathons, including the Boston Marathon three times. He and his wife Lisa have been married for 35 years and they have three adult children and the smartest, cutest, most adorable granddaughter on the planet.
Gary Thomas – Bringing people closer to Christ and closer to others.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 333 reviews
December 4, 2013
This book leaves me in a bit of a predicament. On multiple levels, I have serious concerns about some of the ideas about spirituality, specifically teachings about prayer and intimacy with God in Thomas’s text. Unfortunately, this is not surprising. Thomas quotes from and cites many of what have been coined the Christian Classics, early church writers and philosophers, many of which were Roman Catholic monks and mystics who taught a contemplative spirituality and mystic view of prayer. In his defense, when Thomas approaches these kinds of prayers he states his concern and even some hesitancy in doing so, but I still think we need to be concerned any time these kinds of prayers are taught to the Christian masses.
On the other hand, in teaching Spiritual Formation and Christian Life for two different Christian Universities I have read many of the standard Christian texts on the subject: books by Foster, Whitney, Ortberg, Nouwen, Westerhoff, and Willard. Thomas’ finding your Gethsemane approach is inviting and I think important for mature Christians. I appreciate if nothing else his desire to foster a sense of community and grace in both loving people of different spiritual temperaments and in challenging Christians to do a little reflection on their own walk. Reflection on our spiritual temperaments and learning about the temperaments of others is an important part of the mature Christian life.
I would feel more comfortable recommending this book if Thomas had left out some of the teaching of contemplative spirituality. I would not recommend it to people newer in the faith, but this book invites important reflection into the spiritual temperament of the mature and biblically rooted Christian.
On the other hand, in teaching Spiritual Formation and Christian Life for two different Christian Universities I have read many of the standard Christian texts on the subject: books by Foster, Whitney, Ortberg, Nouwen, Westerhoff, and Willard. Thomas’ finding your Gethsemane approach is inviting and I think important for mature Christians. I appreciate if nothing else his desire to foster a sense of community and grace in both loving people of different spiritual temperaments and in challenging Christians to do a little reflection on their own walk. Reflection on our spiritual temperaments and learning about the temperaments of others is an important part of the mature Christian life.
I would feel more comfortable recommending this book if Thomas had left out some of the teaching of contemplative spirituality. I would not recommend it to people newer in the faith, but this book invites important reflection into the spiritual temperament of the mature and biblically rooted Christian.
July 23, 2018
One of the most important books a modern evangelical Christian can read, especially considering the extraordinary social pressure that everyone fit into a specific and socially acceptable mold.
December 30, 2013
If I was sure of a certain level of spiritual maturity and discernment, I would be inclined to recommend this book to everyone. Unfortunately, one issue with this book means I have to be careful recommended its otherwise wonderful contents. Namely, the author seems to be of a mind that certain sections falling under the broad term of "Christianity" are valid, when a study of their doctrines shows them to certainly not be so. With that caveat, however, I found Sacred Pathways to be an immensely helpful book.
The book is about nine types of spiritual "approaches" to worshiping God. The author presents the characteristics of each with examples of Bible figures who display them, discusses ways a person with that temperament might feel strengthened in his or her spiritual walk, outlines several temptations to be aware of with each approach, then ends with a brief test to help you figure out if you lean toward the approach. Thankfully, the book regularly points out that none of these spiritual temperaments are an island, and that you should find yourself feeling at home with more than one. The author is also careful to explain that none of the approaches is better than the others, and encourages every Christian to incorporate aspects of all nine, even the ones that may not resonate as well with them.
Where the book shines for me is in two ways. First, in gaining a better understanding of how some of my brothers and sisters worship, I now can see why they do some of the things that I just don't get. Second, as I read through the book, I noticed things in all nine temperaments that I felt would be beneficial for me to practice.
My only concern beyond the caveat given that start of this review is that I wish the author had included one chapter on the basic, fundamental things that every Christian, regardless of which of the nine approaches most resonates with them, should be doing to cultivate their walk with God. He alludes to a few things in nearly every chapter which would have been nice spelled out, such as prayer, church attendance, and Bible reading.
Summing up: Read with discernment, but jump into this book with your mind open to learning how God has wired you to worship Him.
The book is about nine types of spiritual "approaches" to worshiping God. The author presents the characteristics of each with examples of Bible figures who display them, discusses ways a person with that temperament might feel strengthened in his or her spiritual walk, outlines several temptations to be aware of with each approach, then ends with a brief test to help you figure out if you lean toward the approach. Thankfully, the book regularly points out that none of these spiritual temperaments are an island, and that you should find yourself feeling at home with more than one. The author is also careful to explain that none of the approaches is better than the others, and encourages every Christian to incorporate aspects of all nine, even the ones that may not resonate as well with them.
Where the book shines for me is in two ways. First, in gaining a better understanding of how some of my brothers and sisters worship, I now can see why they do some of the things that I just don't get. Second, as I read through the book, I noticed things in all nine temperaments that I felt would be beneficial for me to practice.
My only concern beyond the caveat given that start of this review is that I wish the author had included one chapter on the basic, fundamental things that every Christian, regardless of which of the nine approaches most resonates with them, should be doing to cultivate their walk with God. He alludes to a few things in nearly every chapter which would have been nice spelled out, such as prayer, church attendance, and Bible reading.
Summing up: Read with discernment, but jump into this book with your mind open to learning how God has wired you to worship Him.
July 29, 2023
I liked this book a lot. Some practical and new ways to engage with God, but each chapter could have been much shorter to really make his point clear and concise. Some practical things I took away:
#1 Caregiver - I am so thankful for HCC and a job that I love that truly does use the gifts that the Lord has blessed me with- to simple love people tangibly. Also ministries at my local church, I am passionate about and able to grow in loving people.
#2 Naturalist - I am learning to love the desert I live in. Where God has me right now. Thankful I can be outside and in the sun daily, praising Jesus for His role in creation! And for mountains literally out my front door. Praying for my attitude in the summer months - when being outside in a man made pool feels a little stifling. Choosing thankfulness.
# 3 Activist - I am bent to DO. I am quick to judge Christians who I think don’t do enough. I am committing to slow down and “plug into prayer”. Specifically with my church body and fellow foster families in the 4 Sunday of every month.
#4 Traditionalist - I love liturgy. I simply want to commit to engaging with it more in my home and on Sundays or even watch liturgical church services online or in person. Also, when weather permits- walking the stations of the cross right up the road from me.
#5 Intellectual - love the non-fiction books I’ve read this year. Next year I am committing to study one spiritual topic to truly understand it better and know the Lord better though it.
#1 Caregiver - I am so thankful for HCC and a job that I love that truly does use the gifts that the Lord has blessed me with- to simple love people tangibly. Also ministries at my local church, I am passionate about and able to grow in loving people.
#2 Naturalist - I am learning to love the desert I live in. Where God has me right now. Thankful I can be outside and in the sun daily, praising Jesus for His role in creation! And for mountains literally out my front door. Praying for my attitude in the summer months - when being outside in a man made pool feels a little stifling. Choosing thankfulness.
# 3 Activist - I am bent to DO. I am quick to judge Christians who I think don’t do enough. I am committing to slow down and “plug into prayer”. Specifically with my church body and fellow foster families in the 4 Sunday of every month.
#4 Traditionalist - I love liturgy. I simply want to commit to engaging with it more in my home and on Sundays or even watch liturgical church services online or in person. Also, when weather permits- walking the stations of the cross right up the road from me.
#5 Intellectual - love the non-fiction books I’ve read this year. Next year I am committing to study one spiritual topic to truly understand it better and know the Lord better though it.
December 14, 2024
Sacred Pathways scratched an itch I’ve been feeling for a few years now.
I first heard of it a few years ago at a Sabbath breakout session at a winter conference with my friend Andy. It was the primary tool in helping college students create Sabbath plans that spiritually nourish them. A few months ago, I saw it for $1.99 at Goodwill, and well, it was time to go to the source.
Gary Thomas outlines nine Spiritual Temperaments: naturalists, sensates, traditionalists, ascetics, activists, caregivers, enthusiasts, contemplatives, and intellectuals. He shows where these types of people appear in the Bible and how we’ve seen them throughout Church history. He then describes how these temperaments tend to relate to God and what common temptations they may fall into.
Overall, I adored this book. I think, mostly, it’s a recognition that different people have different spiritual diets, and its tolerance toward people who connect with God differently than you—while remaining incredibly Orthodox and true to the Christian faith—blessed me.
I really want to lead a book club or a teaching series through this content. I think it’s especially a blessing to the more Reformed and evangelical streams.
I first heard of it a few years ago at a Sabbath breakout session at a winter conference with my friend Andy. It was the primary tool in helping college students create Sabbath plans that spiritually nourish them. A few months ago, I saw it for $1.99 at Goodwill, and well, it was time to go to the source.
Gary Thomas outlines nine Spiritual Temperaments: naturalists, sensates, traditionalists, ascetics, activists, caregivers, enthusiasts, contemplatives, and intellectuals. He shows where these types of people appear in the Bible and how we’ve seen them throughout Church history. He then describes how these temperaments tend to relate to God and what common temptations they may fall into.
Overall, I adored this book. I think, mostly, it’s a recognition that different people have different spiritual diets, and its tolerance toward people who connect with God differently than you—while remaining incredibly Orthodox and true to the Christian faith—blessed me.
I really want to lead a book club or a teaching series through this content. I think it’s especially a blessing to the more Reformed and evangelical streams.
February 23, 2023
I would give this zero stars if I could.
Gary is confused and clearly does not understand the unbounded love that Jesus has for his people. He lets his biases cloud his description of each of the pathways in an unacceptable (clearly unedited by Kingdom people) way. If I was new to Christianity and I read this book, I would be discouraged from continuing my path to God. His sexism is disgusting and he does a disservice to Christianity.
As an echo to my fellow book study mates - this was a missed opportunity. A more effective way to write the book would have been to interview people that are inclined to each of the pathways to give a more objective account of how one can find God through each pathway. If the book had been written in this manner, Gary would have avoided giving an account of the pathways that is based solely on his experience (and lacks any foundational basis) and that lacks the true love of God.
Although the cover of the book boasts that over 100,000 copies have been sold, I wonder how many people have actually endeavoured to finish it.
Gary is confused and clearly does not understand the unbounded love that Jesus has for his people. He lets his biases cloud his description of each of the pathways in an unacceptable (clearly unedited by Kingdom people) way. If I was new to Christianity and I read this book, I would be discouraged from continuing my path to God. His sexism is disgusting and he does a disservice to Christianity.
As an echo to my fellow book study mates - this was a missed opportunity. A more effective way to write the book would have been to interview people that are inclined to each of the pathways to give a more objective account of how one can find God through each pathway. If the book had been written in this manner, Gary would have avoided giving an account of the pathways that is based solely on his experience (and lacks any foundational basis) and that lacks the true love of God.
Although the cover of the book boasts that over 100,000 copies have been sold, I wonder how many people have actually endeavoured to finish it.
December 31, 2022
In Sacred Pathways, Gary Thomas presents a framework for spiritual formation that shattered the overly limited perspective I heard for the first twenty-five years of my life. My cataloging nine primary ways that people connect with God, Thomas empowers readers to believe that they are not broken for yearning different styles of worship, methods of spiritual practice, and ministry priorities than those around them. Thomas does an excellent job of providing examples of his pathways from Scripture and Church History (although I would have preferred if he had at least one example from each category in each of the nine chapters). Thomas also provides examples from his own life of how the nine pathways have taken form, showing that all people can access and participate in all of the pathways, even if certain ones are more dominant. Each chapter ends with a few questions designed to asses the reader's tendency toward that particular pathway (like a personality test), but the questions are not designed especially well. The book could use a revised edition that accounts for changes in culture and technology.
February 20, 2023
I give 1 stars to books I don’t finish… I wouldn’t have finished this book had I not been reading it with a group.
What drew me to the book initially was the concept - an introduction to 9 pathways to connect with God & practices to get you started. What I hoped was that this would be an author who would encourage creativity, authenticity, embodiment (actual practices) and relationship (with God and with community). I was sorely disappointed.
I will not repeat what my fellow 1 star-ers have said, though I agree whole-heartedly with many of them. I will highlight the deep self-contradictions Thomas presents and the lack of accurate or meaningful incorporation or recognition of the broader (global/historical) Christian canon of writing and thought on the topics he presented. For someone who is so concerned with being “biblically accurate” he is careless with his biblical interpretation and utterly lacking in over-all critical (or even logical) thinking.
What drew me to the book initially was the concept - an introduction to 9 pathways to connect with God & practices to get you started. What I hoped was that this would be an author who would encourage creativity, authenticity, embodiment (actual practices) and relationship (with God and with community). I was sorely disappointed.
I will not repeat what my fellow 1 star-ers have said, though I agree whole-heartedly with many of them. I will highlight the deep self-contradictions Thomas presents and the lack of accurate or meaningful incorporation or recognition of the broader (global/historical) Christian canon of writing and thought on the topics he presented. For someone who is so concerned with being “biblically accurate” he is careless with his biblical interpretation and utterly lacking in over-all critical (or even logical) thinking.
July 6, 2023
Very educational read. I loved learning about my spiritual temperament which I learned is primarily contemplative secondary to a naturalist and an enthusiast. Learning about all of the 9 temperaments also helped me to understand other believers in a deeper way. ♥️ Especially about some of the temperaments that don’t resonate with me. All temperaments have ways of reaching and pleasing God.
I loved how the author writes the benefits of each temperament and things to be watchful and careful about.
These are complimentary to the enneagram, not identical.
I loved how the author writes the benefits of each temperament and things to be watchful and careful about.
These are complimentary to the enneagram, not identical.
December 17, 2024
Woah. This book was so fascinating and delightful! I appreciate Thomas’ ability to take high-level thoughts and concepts and bring them to simplicity. His insight on how to worship and love God according to each spiritual temperament was so interesting! I recommend to anyone who want to grow in understanding of their unique relationship with God as well as learn how to better understand and appreciate others :))
May 2, 2024
4.5✨
There’s so much about this book that I enjoyed! I definitely found some practical and applicable advice in it, as well as some inspiring notes on developing your faith.
For those who are interested, my spiritual temperament is Sensate primarily with Traditinalist, Contemplative, and Intellectual tied for second. 🤍
There’s so much about this book that I enjoyed! I definitely found some practical and applicable advice in it, as well as some inspiring notes on developing your faith.
For those who are interested, my spiritual temperament is Sensate primarily with Traditinalist, Contemplative, and Intellectual tied for second. 🤍
April 1, 2025
In Sacred Pathways, Gary Thomas describes 9 spiritual temperaments which are like personality types for Christian spirituality. They are presented as less restrictive than a type but more like categories for personal preferences.
This book advocates for equality and tolerance amidst the spiritual temperaments and contributes greatly to the unification of the church.
I find myself to be an Ascetic-Naturalist-Sensate.
This book advocates for equality and tolerance amidst the spiritual temperaments and contributes greatly to the unification of the church.
I find myself to be an Ascetic-Naturalist-Sensate.
December 1, 2020
I had such high hopes for this book. I even recommended it to a friend before reading it (always a mistake).
This book started out with so much promise. Temperament mapping for preferences in worshipping and relating to God is genius, and much needed. As an Industrial and Organizational Psychologist and former pastor, this should’ve been the perfect book for me. It just wasn’t and I’m still left feeling that this type of book needs to exist. While Gary Thomas did a good job introducing the concept, someone with more of a psychological background is needed to take it to the next level.
Thomas begins the book well - unpacking the idea that a healthy relationship with God requires having a daily “quiet time”. He highlights the reality that we all relate to and experience God in different ways, and thus we should be permitted and even encouraged to worship him in various ways (through nature, through study, through song/dance, through beauty, through tradition, etc.). The concept is beautiful and Biblical, as Thomas points out if that God commands parents to raise each child according to his/her bent, then surely God parents in this manner as well.
However, once Thomas actually gets into the 9 temperaments, things fall apart. Most of the time it felt like Thomas had the framework nailed, but then had nothing in terms of supporting content. The stories, examples, and analogies felt like they had been manipulated to fit the framework and not vise versa. Further, whereas Thomas begins the book celebrating diversity, he often fell back into an overly dogmatic approach, and seemingly trying to force all of the 9 types back into the formulaic spiritual “discipline” of a quiet time steeped in Bible reading, praying the Lord’s Prayer, and memorizing scripture. In this way, the book seemed to recommend the robotic form of Christianity that he initially set out to battle against.
Again, I think that the framework that Thomas put forth is helpful and his ideas have led me to ideas of my own that I wouldn’t have been drawn to without this book. So, despite the 2-star rating, “Sacred Pathways” isn’t a total loss. But, I do think that somebody could take this model and extrapolate it out to be something really, really beneficial for the 21st century Church.
2020 Reading Prompt 25/40: "A book that cost you less than $5"
This book started out with so much promise. Temperament mapping for preferences in worshipping and relating to God is genius, and much needed. As an Industrial and Organizational Psychologist and former pastor, this should’ve been the perfect book for me. It just wasn’t and I’m still left feeling that this type of book needs to exist. While Gary Thomas did a good job introducing the concept, someone with more of a psychological background is needed to take it to the next level.
Thomas begins the book well - unpacking the idea that a healthy relationship with God requires having a daily “quiet time”. He highlights the reality that we all relate to and experience God in different ways, and thus we should be permitted and even encouraged to worship him in various ways (through nature, through study, through song/dance, through beauty, through tradition, etc.). The concept is beautiful and Biblical, as Thomas points out if that God commands parents to raise each child according to his/her bent, then surely God parents in this manner as well.
However, once Thomas actually gets into the 9 temperaments, things fall apart. Most of the time it felt like Thomas had the framework nailed, but then had nothing in terms of supporting content. The stories, examples, and analogies felt like they had been manipulated to fit the framework and not vise versa. Further, whereas Thomas begins the book celebrating diversity, he often fell back into an overly dogmatic approach, and seemingly trying to force all of the 9 types back into the formulaic spiritual “discipline” of a quiet time steeped in Bible reading, praying the Lord’s Prayer, and memorizing scripture. In this way, the book seemed to recommend the robotic form of Christianity that he initially set out to battle against.
Again, I think that the framework that Thomas put forth is helpful and his ideas have led me to ideas of my own that I wouldn’t have been drawn to without this book. So, despite the 2-star rating, “Sacred Pathways” isn’t a total loss. But, I do think that somebody could take this model and extrapolate it out to be something really, really beneficial for the 21st century Church.
2020 Reading Prompt 25/40: "A book that cost you less than $5"
February 19, 2010
A very helpful book, focussing on nine different pathways that people meet with God. The author explains early on that these are not the same as personality preferences - such as the Myers-Briggs or Enneagram systems - although there are some obvious correlations.
There's a chapter on each of the pathways. Each one has an explanation with some examples from Scripture and from other lives; some suggestions; some warnings against extremes, and a useful short questionnaire enabling the reader to build up a general profile.
As I read the first few, my scores on the questionnaires were all around 12-15, and I wondered if anything would apply to me. Then at last I read the last two - the contemplative and the intellectual - and scored 24 and 21 respectively. That made a lot more sense.
Nicely balanced, well written, clearly presented. It's made clear that these are nine different equally valid ways of finding God, and that we mostly have one or two preferred ways, although it's worth experimenting with others from time to time. my only slight reservation was the insistence -repeated a few times - that it was of vital importance to be part of an established congregation meeting for services... even though he also points out that one hour per week can do very little to meet most people's spiritual needs overall.
Recommended.
There's a chapter on each of the pathways. Each one has an explanation with some examples from Scripture and from other lives; some suggestions; some warnings against extremes, and a useful short questionnaire enabling the reader to build up a general profile.
As I read the first few, my scores on the questionnaires were all around 12-15, and I wondered if anything would apply to me. Then at last I read the last two - the contemplative and the intellectual - and scored 24 and 21 respectively. That made a lot more sense.
Nicely balanced, well written, clearly presented. It's made clear that these are nine different equally valid ways of finding God, and that we mostly have one or two preferred ways, although it's worth experimenting with others from time to time. my only slight reservation was the insistence -repeated a few times - that it was of vital importance to be part of an established congregation meeting for services... even though he also points out that one hour per week can do very little to meet most people's spiritual needs overall.
Recommended.
October 21, 2020
This is such a phenomenal book! This is the second Gary Thomas book I've read and it was just as good as the first one. Thomas believes that there are 9 core spiritual temperaments or personalities that Christians can have. These temperaments affect how we most love, connect to, experience, and display God. Many people are prescribed a spiritual prescription when they become Christians. Oftentimes this prescriptions is the one that works for their friend, family member, or Christian who led them to faith. If you are close with God and know how you best relate to Him then this book will confirm things for you and also challenge you to experiment and find new ways to "tend your garden." If you have been struggling or are in a season when you feel far from God this can be a great resource for discovering a way to relate to God you may have never considered. One of the biggest takeaways beyond what I learned about myself is that true Christianity is based on Christ, but this faith can be expressed in many ways. We all have our biases based on what we like, our upbringings, and our denominations. We all have something to learn from each other and something to teach to others!
April 3, 2011
This book is an incredibly insightful work that sees to help the follower of Christ to identify ways that they are uniquely wired to practice their faith. In me it has wrought a sense of freedom in some of my tendencies that I thought quirky, and led to some conviction due the subtle judging I have developed in regard to how I perceive others' habits. I recommend it to all!
February 24, 2023
I gave the book 2 stars because of its content, I believe so much in the idea that you can come to God and so many ways. The book would have been so much better if he had consulted with people who follow the different spiritual pathways he was talking about, If he had found relevant popular figures who follow this virtual pathways, If you had found a wealth of biblical characters who exemplify these spiritual pathways beyond the more obvious choices he makes, And if he had Provided concrete ways to follow these pathways and not left it up to the reader to search them out themselves.
June 22, 2021
This was a very good read about identifying nine different ways to worship or love God. The idea being that proper spiritual growth for an individual may be individually different from one person to the next, based on their spiritual temperaments.
I found the reading of the different temperaments to be quite informative, though the Biblical backing for them is rather limited besides the author pointing out a few named examples in the Bible (I don't suppose the Bible would explicitly say "Thou art nine paths to spiritual growth"). Going through the questions and "scoring" at the end of reading about each spiritual temperament was insightful, though I also have to say that the "scoring" is rather imprecise and flawed. Certain questions being "Do the words 'joy' and 'excitement' mean a lot to you?" kind of leave me wondering who wouldn't answer yes with a 5/5 for that question?
Still, I enjoyed reading about the different temperaments and how my own spiritual growth might fall into them. Gives me more to think about and use in identifying how I can best engage in fruitful worship.
I found the reading of the different temperaments to be quite informative, though the Biblical backing for them is rather limited besides the author pointing out a few named examples in the Bible (I don't suppose the Bible would explicitly say "Thou art nine paths to spiritual growth"). Going through the questions and "scoring" at the end of reading about each spiritual temperament was insightful, though I also have to say that the "scoring" is rather imprecise and flawed. Certain questions being "Do the words 'joy' and 'excitement' mean a lot to you?" kind of leave me wondering who wouldn't answer yes with a 5/5 for that question?
Still, I enjoyed reading about the different temperaments and how my own spiritual growth might fall into them. Gives me more to think about and use in identifying how I can best engage in fruitful worship.
January 18, 2025
Major ick from the rampant sexism. But I expect that of Gary Thomas, given his complimentarian theology.
However, just like in other books of his that I’ve read (Sacred Parenting, Sacred Marriage, etc.) if you can blot out some of the more problematic bits, there’s still a lot of gold.
This book explains some of the main strands of spiritual expression whilst helping you to map your own preferences by asking pertinent questions around how and when you feel closest to God. It’s a helpful reflection which combats a ‘one size fits all’ prescriptive approach to living the Christian life.
Gary exhorts the reader throughout to consider how judgmental we can be over different traditions and expressions of faith. Within the bounds of orthodoxy, this book encourages the reader to learn about themselves, and also about some of the lost branches of our Christian spirituality. Anything which challenges evangelicalism to recover some of the richness we’ve lost along the way is good news, in my opinion.
However, just like in other books of his that I’ve read (Sacred Parenting, Sacred Marriage, etc.) if you can blot out some of the more problematic bits, there’s still a lot of gold.
This book explains some of the main strands of spiritual expression whilst helping you to map your own preferences by asking pertinent questions around how and when you feel closest to God. It’s a helpful reflection which combats a ‘one size fits all’ prescriptive approach to living the Christian life.
Gary exhorts the reader throughout to consider how judgmental we can be over different traditions and expressions of faith. Within the bounds of orthodoxy, this book encourages the reader to learn about themselves, and also about some of the lost branches of our Christian spirituality. Anything which challenges evangelicalism to recover some of the richness we’ve lost along the way is good news, in my opinion.
April 27, 2021
When I first picked this up, I was excited. As I read the introduction where Thomas encouraged the reader to be “open minded” and to not get too hung up on these methods, I began to grow skeptical.
While I do not doubt that Gary intended to illustrate that people sense or have an easier time connecting to God through prayer in a variety of settings, my concern is that some of these will give way to ways of worshipping God that are not Biblical. For example, if one is a sense type person, would they believe that they NEED incense in order to connect with God? Perhaps I’m too much of the logical mentioned in the book but I think analysis is necessary, especially when cross referencing Scripture in regards to how God requires His people to worship Him.
Perhaps this book simply is not for me and I’m viewing it through a critical lens. But I just found myself bored and squinting my eyes at a lot of what Gary had to say.
While I do not doubt that Gary intended to illustrate that people sense or have an easier time connecting to God through prayer in a variety of settings, my concern is that some of these will give way to ways of worshipping God that are not Biblical. For example, if one is a sense type person, would they believe that they NEED incense in order to connect with God? Perhaps I’m too much of the logical mentioned in the book but I think analysis is necessary, especially when cross referencing Scripture in regards to how God requires His people to worship Him.
Perhaps this book simply is not for me and I’m viewing it through a critical lens. But I just found myself bored and squinting my eyes at a lot of what Gary had to say.
February 23, 2017
This book confirmed and enlightened me to the ways that I experience God and connect with Him best. It was an assignment for school, and we also had to include our Myers Briggs personality test in the discussion of this book. My top sacred pathways are caregiver (loving God by serving others), intellectual (loving God with my mind), and traditionalist (loving God through ritual and symbol). What are you sacred pathways?
May 23, 2012
This book has been instrumental in my spiritual walk. What "The Five Love Languages" will do for your relationships, this book will do for your time with God.
February 20, 2023
The concept of this book had some really great promise. I was excited to read and discuss it with my book study, since we felt it would give us rich language to help us understand each other better.
Unfortunately, Gary Thomas really, really missed the mark. In his attempt to give Christians permission to experience God in multiple ways (the nine pathways), Gary was prescriptive, judgemental, and primarily motivated by fear. This led to frustrating, circular arguments that reflected a temperamental and distant God, rather than the very present, incarnational, loving God revealed in Jesus. This was especially evident for chapters in which the spiritual temperament in question was not one that Gary related to very much.
One of the major downfalls of this book is that Gary is limited by his own tradition and perspective. The book is chalk full of narratives of his own experiences, and only sprinkled with supplementary quotes from influential figures from Christian history. I believe that Gary would have benefitted greatly from studying other church traditions in greater depth, and recognizing how his spiritual temperaments are practiced in traditions other than his own. Additionally, I think the book would have had a much greater impact if Gary had either interviewed folks who reflected the spiritual temperaments which he himself did not hold to strongly, or if he had asked others to write those chapters for him, to get a richer, broader, personal perspective.
Overall, this book had great potential to be powerful, challenging, encouraging, and influential, but it really fell flat.
Unfortunately, Gary Thomas really, really missed the mark. In his attempt to give Christians permission to experience God in multiple ways (the nine pathways), Gary was prescriptive, judgemental, and primarily motivated by fear. This led to frustrating, circular arguments that reflected a temperamental and distant God, rather than the very present, incarnational, loving God revealed in Jesus. This was especially evident for chapters in which the spiritual temperament in question was not one that Gary related to very much.
One of the major downfalls of this book is that Gary is limited by his own tradition and perspective. The book is chalk full of narratives of his own experiences, and only sprinkled with supplementary quotes from influential figures from Christian history. I believe that Gary would have benefitted greatly from studying other church traditions in greater depth, and recognizing how his spiritual temperaments are practiced in traditions other than his own. Additionally, I think the book would have had a much greater impact if Gary had either interviewed folks who reflected the spiritual temperaments which he himself did not hold to strongly, or if he had asked others to write those chapters for him, to get a richer, broader, personal perspective.
Overall, this book had great potential to be powerful, challenging, encouraging, and influential, but it really fell flat.
May 5, 2021
I really appreciated reading a book that gives permission for people to relate to God differently. So many Christian churches don't make room for that in their rhetoric, and it's exclusionary and completely anti-Christian, in my way of seeing things. Thomas blows any idea that there's only ONE way to worship God completely out of the water and opens doors to all personality types and how they connect with God in different ways.
Once you know it's possible to worship and honor God in different ways (and that there really isn't a wrong way--unless of course you're harming yourself or others), then begins the journey to discovering what your primary God languages are. Similar to another Gary's book, the concept of The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts, Thomas outlines various ways of giving and receiving a connection, and what that might look like. The reader is then able to answer six simple questions based on what they have just learned and, applying it to themselves, can determine whether or not each pathway is something they resonate with.
It's a super easy read and incredibly inspiring and empowering, especially if you come from a restrictive Christian background where God is put in a single box, probably by the older straight white dudes of your religion. This book means freedom to relate to God in whatever way(s) best suit your lifestyle and personality and how God has called you to honor and live for him.
And, for the skeptics, this is not freedom to stray from being an actual Christian and still claiming to be one, nor is it excuse to be lazy and not bother trying. I'm not saying that. It is simply an opportunity to explore how God is calling each of us to bring his spirit of love and light to the world, because we each have a unique calling, and that includes worshiping, honoring, and connecting with him.
Once you know it's possible to worship and honor God in different ways (and that there really isn't a wrong way--unless of course you're harming yourself or others), then begins the journey to discovering what your primary God languages are. Similar to another Gary's book, the concept of The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts, Thomas outlines various ways of giving and receiving a connection, and what that might look like. The reader is then able to answer six simple questions based on what they have just learned and, applying it to themselves, can determine whether or not each pathway is something they resonate with.
It's a super easy read and incredibly inspiring and empowering, especially if you come from a restrictive Christian background where God is put in a single box, probably by the older straight white dudes of your religion. This book means freedom to relate to God in whatever way(s) best suit your lifestyle and personality and how God has called you to honor and live for him.
And, for the skeptics, this is not freedom to stray from being an actual Christian and still claiming to be one, nor is it excuse to be lazy and not bother trying. I'm not saying that. It is simply an opportunity to explore how God is calling each of us to bring his spirit of love and light to the world, because we each have a unique calling, and that includes worshiping, honoring, and connecting with him.
September 25, 2021
If you feel stifled, frustrated, bored, or disconnected when it comes to interacting with God then this book may be what you need. Most Christians, churches and denominations have a limited concept of "how one ought to worship/connect with God." Those concepts work well for some but not for others, because we are all unique and God created each is us to worship him in our own unique way.
This books opens your eyes to the nine scripture-based "pathways", many of which fall outside a typical definition of worship.
As the author writes:
"The sacred pathways, employed rightly, will create increased personal freedom and increased respect for others, which are two desperate needs in today’s church."
This books opens your eyes to the nine scripture-based "pathways", many of which fall outside a typical definition of worship.
As the author writes:
"The sacred pathways, employed rightly, will create increased personal freedom and increased respect for others, which are two desperate needs in today’s church."
May 4, 2024
I think this was helpful for me to read to remember that there isn’t one right way to worship, love, and serve God and that all believers are created to uniquely mirror different aspects of His image. At first it just seemed like another personality type assessment (no hate, I like to seek understanding of my own personality and the personalities of others), but soon it diverged into how rich each “sacred pathway” is. I was also reminded of how cultural a lot of a church’s beliefs and practices are. When certain practices of a church cross me as strange, I think I’ll be better able to step back and assess if it’s a gospel issue or a preference since reading this book. There’s also a pathway assessment included which I’m intrigued by.
February 17, 2018
This is another favourite book of mine because it has helped me so much in giving myself (and others) freedom to connect with God in different ways. We have different personalities, but we also have different ways of connecting closely with God - of experiencing Him in profound ways. Yes, reading Scripture is one of them (study), and attending worship gatherings (enthusiast), but there are other ways that "count" as well! - like spending time in God's creation and enjoying Him there, and through our 5 senses, etc. It's a good and simply read, and should spark some great ongoing conversation if you read it with someone else or a few others.
November 2, 2019
This book was brought to my attention because I was asked to lead a spiritual development retreat using it. I am glad I read and immersed myself enough in it to lead this retreat. I love the work I've done using the Myers-Briggs, so I believe in personality temperaments. It makes sense to me too that we have a certain bent toward spiritual pathways for drawing closer to God because of our spiritual temperament. Some of the writing and suggestions may lean in the evangelical Christian direction, but I took a lot out of it. I see myself in my top pathways - my personality type and spiritual gifts fit well with them. I'm sure it's not for everyone but I think many will value it.
December 4, 2020
This is an older book, but still very helpful and relevant, especially for anyone who loves personality studies. God made each of us unique, and the ways we connect with him best are equally unique. It was instructive and enlightening to learn which areas I need to grow in, and which of the nine pathways are a more natural fit for me. I think it can also relieve some of the perceived guilt over the ways we might not have “measured up” in our worship practices in someone else’s estimation, because our own pathways will never coincide exactly with another’s.
September 26, 2019
This book is astoundingly practical and helpful. The author goes into the 9 main ways that people connect with God, and includes some basic steps on how to recognize your bent as well as grow in that area. While some sections left me wanting deeper insight, I don’t hold that against this book because it feels like an “introduction” to each area, welcoming to reader to explore the basics and use this book as a “launching point.”
I highly recommend this!
I highly recommend this!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 333 reviews