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.



"Gerald Sittser's Water from a Deep Well is a remarkable combination of sound and thorough scholarship with a warm heart for spiritual life in Christ and his people through the ages. The author speaks with profound theological insight and obvious personal experience. His book anchors spirituality now in the sometimes raw substance of the life of saints through the ages. I highly recommend it for those who, today, want to enter into the realities of Christ in his people for all times. For perspective on evangelical spirituality, in particular, it is highly useful."



"Open this book, and walk with holy fools and prophetic rebels as they struggle against all that would separate them from God. And what a blessing to have Jerry Sittser as a guide through the history of Christian spirituality! He writes not just as a scholar and a teacher, but also as a Christian who has long walked the narrow path, keeping company with God, and both his wisdom and his winsomeness mark every page."



"This fine book is as useful as it is informative. In lucid prose and with a gentle spirit, Gerald Sittser offers a careful primer on the history of Christian spirituality, a gracious guide to spiritual experience today and most of all a winsome invitation to experience the reality of Jesus Christ, who inspires all true spirituality. In words spoken to St. Augustine, 'tolle, lege' (pick it up, read it). The book will make a real difference."



"Much of the current interest in 'spirituality' suffers from a kind of amnesia--forgetful or oblivious that there is indeed a centuries-long well to draw from, full of an inheritance which can enrich our lives. Jerry Sittser has provided a bucket by which we can draw from that well, whether simply to taste, or better to drink deeply. This is a book to humble us, discovering how much more there is to know, but also to bring fresh hope that God works beyond our small personal experiences, and beyond our own lifetime. Read it--enjoy, and be stretched."



"Gerald Sittser offers us two enormous gifts in this compelling history of Christian spirituality--a wonderfully flowing narrative that catches us up into the lives and practices of great saints, and voluminous endnotes so that we can pursue more thoroughly the topics and characters he describes. This beautiful book will widen everyone's spirituality, for Sittser introduces us to an extensive range of eras and their greatest contributions. Taste and see--this book will deepen you!"



"What does it entail to seek, know, and experience God? This is the question at the heart of Gerald L. Sittser's life-giving book. Through a chronological structure (from early martyrs to modern missionaries), he offers wise insight on what a robust Christian spirituality entails, while each chapter ends with guiding Scripture for mediation along with practices to engage. His invitation is to come on a pilgrimage to our diverse family room of historical witnesses, where you learn from the past and then apply it to your present life."



"In Water from a Deep Well, Gerald L. Sittser offers highly readable chapters exploring the many paths of true biblical spirituality. Drawing from the richness of church history, he presents profound stories of faith that both challenge and guide believers, individually and in community with the Holy Spirit. Each chapter concludes with practical summaries and discussion questions that make the traditions accessible and applicable. This revised edition only deepens its value for shaping transformed lives."



"When Christianity is in danger of becoming an empire religion, we've got to make it strange again. Gerald L. Sittser does just this for us, reminding us that our cisterns may well be broken and can no longer hold the living water. Gerald shows us the ancient paths. I can't recommend his book highly enough."