Recently, I have been paying much closer attention to my personal spiritual formation than before. That’s not to say that my personal spiritual growth has not been a priority before. It has. It’s just that I have been more aware and more intentional about it than previously in my life.

Perhaps that is because I’m getting older. Or perhaps it has been sparked by some classes I have taken that focus on leadership from a self-awareness and spiritual formation perspective. Either way, I have been pursuing this more and more, and have spent much time in several good books that have helped.

One of those books is A Soul’s House, by J. K. Jones. Jones labels this book as “A Primer for Spiritual Formation,” and it is that, but even more, it is a “conversation” with another book on spiritual formation that has had a profound impact on Jones’ life. Evelyn Underhill wrote The House of the Soul, and this provides the basis for Jones’ discussion.

While I have not read Underhill’s book (it’s on my list), I found that Jones quotes her extensively and helps his readers gain some perspective into Underhill’s insights and his own responses and perspective. I find that very helpful.

Sometimes, it’s valuable to set aside the contemporary and take in something classic and time honored. Sometimes, we need to go back and see what those who have come before us have learned, and what they have to share with us.

Brother Lawrence was a 17th-century French Carmelite monk who is best known for his spiritual writings and his practice of living in constant awareness of God’s presence. A simple man, Brother Lawrence served most of his life in the kitchen of a monastery near Paris. What set him apart was his unwavering commitment to practicing the presence of God in his daily life. He believed that anyone could experience a deep and constant communion with God, not just through formal prayers and rituals, but in the midst of ordinary, everyday tasks. Brother Lawrence’s simple and practical approach to spirituality resonated with many, and a friend compiled his teachings and his letters into a small book after his death, called The Practice Of The Presence Of God.

This book is quick and easy to read, although you should take it slow. It may be simple, but is also incredibly profound, and filled with insights and wisdom on how to cultivate a continuous awareness of God’s presence in every aspect of life. I first read this little book in 2000, but recently pulled it out to read it again. There are a few things that stood out to me.

Most of the time, I think I have a pretty wide range of reading topics. But occasionally, I am reminded of how limited my range can be, and I find myself reading a book that I would never have even imagined I’d pursue. Let me explain.

I am currently working towards a Master of Arts in Christian Ministry in Strategic Leadership. So far, my classes have introduced me to reading material that would probably have come to my attention eventually. But there has been a book or two that I doubt I would have found if not for a professor recommending it or a class requiring it. That is the case with The Mission of God, by Christopher J. H. Wright.

The Bible is a narrative, telling the story of humanity and our relationship with God. In that overarching narrative, there are several threads that run through the pages of Scripture: sin and redemption, our need for a Savior in Jesus Christ, God’s glory, and judgment, just to name a few. And another is the theme of “mission.” What Wright proposes, however, is not simply that the Bible contains a basis for mission, but that there is a missional basis for the Bible. That seems a minor issue of semantics, but the difference is enormous, and holds some significant implications for humanity, and our role as Christians, partnering with God in his plan of redemption.

One of my top interests for most of my ministry career has been the topic of leadership. Very early in my ministry, I was introduced to John Maxwell’s leadership materials, and I was instantly hooked. I devoured everything I could find that he had written, and I still purchase his books as they come out. (I’m sure I’ll be posting a review soon about his most recent release, The 16 Undeniable Laws of Communication.)

Since then, I have found several other authors whose leadership material has encouraged my life and ministry, and has helped me grow. One such resource is Lead, by Paul David Tripp. This is a book that was required for one of my classes in Ozark Christian College’s graduate studies program. But as I read it for class, I realized that it would be an incredible tool and resource for ministry in a variety of ways.

Tripp’s book covers twelve principles that he has pulled out of Scripture and found to be necessary for leadership in the church. This is a direct response to the growing crisis of leaders leaving ministry in increasing numbers over the past few years. While there may be a variety of reasons for this, one of the problems Tripp sees is that leaders in the church have lost sight of what it means to lead from a biblical perspective. So many of the resources out there — as excellent as they are — approach leadership from a corporate perspective. But a corporate leadership style doesn’t always fit into a church setting. In fact, a case could be made for the fact that such a leadership approach rarely fits a church scenario.

And as a result, church leaders are leaving the church. What Tripp does is take a look at some deeper insights and values, some biblical principles of leadership, and shows how they were meant to be implemented into leading the body of Christ in a way that impacts the Kingdom of God in lasting ways.