From church history, there are a cloud of witnesses that can contribute to our spiritual growth.  While none of the following recommendations carry the weight of a Scriptural command, our pastors have found these older resources to be helpful in their own pursuits of cultivating communion with God:

Read Old Books

Augustine’s Confessions is an autobiography that provides a model for “repenting your way through your story.”

Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening is a twice-daily devotional; for over 150 years, Christians have begun and ended their day with these words.

Devotional Classics is a compendium of selected devotional readings, edited by Richard Foster, from a wealth of different ages and cultures. It includes reflection questions and selected exercises. There are two volumes.

Sing Old Songs

Song is a powerful devotional tool for us as individuals. Many artists continue to develop the old songs (hymns) in modern settings. Check out  Indelible Grace, Red Mountain Church, Shane and Shane, or seek out a playlist on Spotify.

Learn Old Creeds

Believers throughout centuries have used catechisms devotionally to grow in their theology. What would it look like to add portions of the Apostles’ Creed, Nicene Creed, or Westminster Catechism for reflection? 

Pray Old Prayers

Reading prayers from another era can give us a “bigger bucket or some longer rope” to draw deeper from the well in our prayer time. We don’t simply recite, but reflect and incorporate these words into our own. Our pastors recommend Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers.