Water from a Deep Well

"[This book] is a treasure. The first time I read it, I remember closing the final page and thinking to myself, I wish I could make every single Christian on earth read this book. … John Chrysostom, Evagrius the Solitary, Julian of Norwich, Martin Luther, Dorothy Day, Dietrich Bonhoeffer—these saints and sages live on in me. And they can live on in you, too. They can enlarge and enrich your faith, one page at a time." — John Mark Comer, from the afterword

Ancient Faith for Modern Souls

In AD 165, two men named Carpus and Papylus stood before the proconsul of Pergamum, charged with the crime of being Christians. Not even torture could make them deny Christ, so they were burned alive.

Is my faithfulness as strong?

In the fifth century, Melania the Younger and her husband, Pinian, distributed their enormous wealth to the poor and intentionally practiced the discipline of renunciation.

Could living more simply deepen my trust in God?

In the seventeenth century, Philipp Jakob Spener's love for the Word of God and his desire to help people apply the Bible to their daily life moved him to start "Colleges of Piety," or small groups.

In what ways could commitment to community make me more like Christ?

The history of Christianity has produced models of spiritual life, some very different from our own, that can enrich and enlarge our spiritual lives. These saints believed in the same God, followed the same Christ, read the same Bible, and walked in the same Spirit. And they lived wholeheartedly for God, like Perpetua, an early Christian martyr; Francis of Assisi, a medieval visionary; Philipp Jakob Spener, the founder of fifteenth-century small groups; and Dorothy Day, a servant of the poor.

In Water from a Deep Well, Gerald Sittser opens to us the rich history of spirituality, helping us learn from the practices and stories of believers from the past who thirsted for God. These vibrant narratives reveal deep, powerful faith and demonstrate how old ways can bring new life to our spirituality today. These histories are deep waters from which we can drink to become faithful followers of Jesus, like those who came before us.

In this revised edition, you'll find



- history, insights, and practical exercises for incorporating spiritual practices into your life;

- a new chapter and updates throughout the book; and

- a new afterword from John Mark Comer.



Discover the richness of ancient faith practices and renew your spiritual life with Water from a Deep Well. Whether you're discovering spiritual practices for the first time or seeking to deepen your journey with Christ, this book provides timeless guidance for spiritual growth, drawn from the wisdom of those who have walked the path before you.



Gerald L. Sittser (PhD, University of Chicago) is professor emeritus of theology at Whitworth University and a senior fellow in the Office of Church Engagement. He is a frequent university lecturer and writer and has authored nine books, including A Grace Disguised, A Grace Revealed, The Will of God as a Way of Life, Resilient Faith, and A Cautious Patriotism. He is married and has five married children and twelve grandchildren.

Foreword by Eugene Peterson


Introduction: There Is More!


1. Witness: The Spirituality of the Early Christian Martyrs


2. Belonging: The Spirituality of Early Christian Community


3. Struggle: The Spirituality of the Desert Saints


4. Rhythm: The Spirituality of Monasticism


5. Holy Heroes: The Spirituality of Icons and Saints


6. Windows: The Spirituality of the Sacraments


7. Union: The Spirituality of the Mystics


8. Ordinariness: The Spirituality of the Medieval Laity


9. Word: The Spirituality of the Reformers


10. Conversion: The Spirituality of Evangelicals


11. Risk: The Spirituality of Pioneer Missionaries


12. Resilience: The Spirituality of Resistance and Persistence


Acknowledgments


Discussion Questions


Annotated Reading List


Notes


Index