Customer Reviews

Spiritual Classics: Selected Readings on the Twelve Spiritual Disciplines

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I have recently started rereading Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster with my wife. We are seeking to live out the Spiritual Disciplines in our lives. I have found "Spiritual Classics: Selected Readings for Individuals and Groups on the Twelve Spiritual Disciplines" by Richard J. Foster and Emilie Griffin to be an invaluable resource in doing so.

The book is divided into fifty-two chapters which are excerpts from works by famous devotional writers of the past. Each chapter focuses on one of the spiritual disciplines from "Celebration of Discipline." Each chapter contains an introduction to the author, the excerpt itself, a Biblical selection that complements the text, suggested spiritual exercises, recommendations for further reading, and a reflection by Richard Foster.

I found the chapters of "Spiritual Classics" not only useful...but thought provoking. Each chapter examines a different facet of the spiritual disciplines. The chapter on fasting by Catherine Marshall was particularly thought provoking for me.

"Spiritual Classics" is a great resource for those trying to live out the spiritual disciplines. I readily recommend it to anyone seeking to follow the narrow path of Jesus Christ. Get a copy today...and read it.

In the case of Richard Foster, more is a very good thing. Once again Foster gives us a glimpse of spiritual disciplines through the lenses of the greatest Christian authors of history. This time he tackles the following subjects:
. INWARD DISCIPLINES
. meditation, prayer, fasting, study
. OUTWARD DISCIPLINES
. simplicity, solitude, submission, service
. CORPORATE DISCIPLINES
. confession, worship, guidance, celebration

If you liked any of Foster's other books, you will like this one.

I found the essays by different authors enlightening. The style of some of the authors was a bit strange at first, but it is helpful reading how great Christian thinkers of different ages approached the Christian faith.

Foster and Griffin have put together an excellent book for group or personal use. Readings are arranged according to spiritual disciplines, such as meditations, prayer or fasting. A brief selection of text from famous writers is followed by a Bible reading, questions to be used to understand the readings, exercises, reflections and a bibliography for those who want to delve deeper the topic. It took me a year to get through Foster's first book, Devotional Classics, doing a reading a week. In other words, it's a long term resource to enhance your spiritual life. I really loved this book.

Great sampler of classic work. It will lead to further exploration of the writers who move you. Love it.

I am part of an informal Bible study group that has been together for several years.These are mostly retirement age folks who have been in church their whole lives. Finding material that leads to new growth in faith is so difficult. When we started this material it was so difficult both intellectually and spiritually that we would have given it up if there had been other suitable material accessible to us. Somehow, as we searched for an alternative, we hit our stride. Each section has been challenging but also strengthening.

Spiritual Classics is not for the faint of heart, but it is totally wonderful. Expect every reading to set the bar higher than most of us regularly go in our faith. Don't expect to skim the lesson and be ready to discuss it. These are some of the most respected writers of the Christian faith whether from the mid 1900's or the late 300's. They think deeply and require that you do likewise. You will not come away unchanged.

I lead a Sunday School group of 20- and 30-somethings. While the book is set up primarily as an individual, daily devotional, it works wonderously in a group setting. The ideas collected under each discipline led to some thoughtful discussions. I only devoted 3 Sunday's to the book; but, we could have spent three times that many discussing the issues presented.

Taken as a whole (now that's I've read the book a second time) the WAY in which I approach worship and my faith in general, has been GREATLY enhanced. This is one of those books that reveals something new every time I read from it.

Our study group "The Enquiring Minds" finds this book ideal for group study. Especially helpful is the wide range of diversity both in content and contributors. Each chapter provides stimulating discussion material that is varied enough to remain interesting over an extended period.

Excellent book by some great authors. I was deeply impressed by the selections that they chose. I was suprised by some choices and after reading them, I have to agree that they were correct and expaned my world view.

I had to read this book for a seminary class. I am so glad I did. It is a wonderful book filled with great insight from some of the greatest religious thinkers of all times. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about the spiritual disciplines. It also has questions that would make it a great small group study.