Helpful Resources for

Cultivating Christian Character

First things first: the Bible is a tremendous resource for cultivating character.  It not only sets forth the targets for our sanctification, it informs us about the various pathways that lead us toward those objectives.  We recommend that as you review various resources, seeking to develop your virtue, that you read these resources in tandem with scripture, not as a substitute for scripture.

Among the classic works in the field of spiritual growth are:

• The Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis

• Introduction to the Devout Life by Francis de Sales

• The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan

• Dark Night of the Soul by St. John of the Cross

• The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola

• A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life by William Law (for a more readable version, see the modern translation of Law, A Serious Call to Holy Living by Marvin Hinter)

• The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence

• The Screwtape Letters by C.S.Lewis

• Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster

There are also countless resources to aid us in specific areas of need.  The following is a short list of books profitably used by many people.

Resources for Cultivating Joy

• Joy in Christ’s Presence by Charles Spurgeon (Whitaker House, 1997)

• Shattered Dreams: God’s Unexpected Pathway to Joy by Larry Crabb (Waterbrook Press, 2001)Ordering Your Private World by Gordon MacDonald (Thomas Nelson, 1997)

Resources for Cultivating Inner Peace

• A Grief Observed by C.S. Lewis (Bantam, 1961)

• Finding Contentment by Neil Clark Warren (Thomas Nelson, 1997)

• The Search for Significance by Robert McGee (Word, 1998)

Resources for Cultivating Patience and Gentleness

• God Isn’t in a Hurry: Learning to Slow Down and Live by Warren Wiersbe (Baker Books, 1994)

• Patience, My Foot! By Michael LeFan (College Press Publishing, 1993)

Resources for Cultivating Kindness and Generosity

• Generous Living: Finding Contentment through Giving by Ron Blue (Zondervan, 1997)

• Just Generosity: A New Vision for Overcoming Poverty in America by Ronald Sider (Baker Books,  1999)

• Neither Poverty Nor Riches by Craig Blomberg (InterVarsity Press, 2001)

Resources for Cultivating Faithfulness

• Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis (Scribner, 1952)

• Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing His Will by Henry Blackaby and Clause King (Broadman and Holman 1998)

• The Seven Storey Mountain by Thomas Merton (Sheldon Press, 1948)

• The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer (Christian Publications 1948)

• Knowing God by J. I. Packer (InterVarsity Press, 1993)

• My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers (Dodd, Mead &Co., 1935)

• The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer (Macmillan 1949)

• The Divine Conspiracy: Rediscovering Our Hidden Life in God by Dallas Willard (Harper San Francisco 1998)

• The Jesus I Never Knew by Philip Yancey (Zondervan 1995)

• Basic Christianity by John Stott (Eerdman’s 1986)

Resources for Cultivating Self-Control

• Telling Yourself the Truth by William Backus and Marie Chapian (Bethany House, 2000)

• The Anger Workbook by Les Carter and Frank Minrith (Thomas Nelson, 1993)

• Finding the Freedom of Self-Control by William Backus (Bethany House, 1987)

• When Good Men Are Tempted by Bill Perkins (Zondervan, 1997)

Resources for Cultivating Forgiveness

• Forgive and Forget: Healing the Hurts We Don’t Deserve by Lewes Smedes (Harper San Francisco, 1996)

• The Art of Forgiving by Lewes Smedes (Ballentine, 1997)

• The Choosing to Forgive Workbook by Les Carter and Frank Minrith (Thomas Nelson 1997)

• How to Forgive When You Can’t Forget: Healing Our Personal Relationships by Charles Klein (Berkeley Group, 1997)

Resources for Cultivating Gratitude

• Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger by Ronald Sider (Word Publishing 1997)

• The Grateful Heart by David Stendl-Rast (Sounds True 1997)

• Basket of Blessings: 31 Days to a More Thankful Heart by Karen O’Connor (Waterbrook Press, 1998)

• Attitudes of Gratitude : How to Give and Receive Joy Everyday of Your Life by M.J. Ryan (Conari Press 1999)

Resources for Cultivating Compassion

• Compassion: A Reflection on Christian Life by Henri Nouwen (Image Books, 1983)

• Burn: Live the Compassion of Jesus by Brian Shipman (Thomas Nelson, 2001)