Ancient Paths: Discover Christian Formation the Benedictine Way

by David Robinson

Overview

Ancient Paths offers personal and practical insights into "The Rule of St. Benedict", an ancient guidebook for Christian formation in community. Drawing upon centuries of Benedictine spirituality and monastic spiritual practices, Ancient Paths presents a five-fold approach to spiritual formation in community. While Benedict wrote his guidebook for monks living in the early sixth century, Ancient Paths presents Benedict's perspectives and principles as a rich source of wisdom and practical guidance for Christian formation today. Ancient Paths is a field-tested guidebook, showing how this way of life has been lived by monastics day by day over the past fifteen centuries. Through biblical principles and practical applications for Christian formation today, readers will discover ancient, but new ways of living their faith together with others. This book also provides guidance for pastors, priests, and lay-leaders in the local congregation for helping to grow a community of faith in the ancient way of Christ. A twelve-week study guide is also provided for individuals, home groups, house churches and small group leaders.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781557258304
Publisher:	Paraclete Press
Publication date:	08/01/2010
Series:	US
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	256
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

David Robinson (M.Div., D.Min. Fuller Seminary) is a pastor of Community Church in Cannon Beach, Oregon, and a Benedictine Oblate of Mount Angel Abbey. He is married with three grown sons, and is the author of seven spirituality books, including Cloud Devotion and Ancient Paths: Discover Christian Formation the Benedictine Way. His author website is http://waterpaths.org/.

Table of Contents

Preface vii

Introdution: Which Way Will We Go? xi

Part 1 Ancient Perspectives on Christian Formation

1 How Benedict Transformed the World 3

2 Benedictine Essentials for The Journey 18

3 The Path of Communal Prayer 41

4 The Path of Spiritual Guidance 56

5 The Path of Ordinary Spirituality 76

6 The Path of Lectio Divina 92

7 The Path of Hospitality 109

Part 2 Christian Formation As a Way of Life Together

8 How Benedict Is Still Transforming the World 129

9 Five Case Studies of Christian Formation 152

10 A Guide for Christian Formation in a Local Church 172

l1 User's Guide to Going on a Monastic Retreat 182

12 A Year of Tools for Christian Formation 198

Afterword: Guidance on Ancient Paths 204

Acknowledgments 209

Appendix: Twelve-Week Study Guide for Ancient Paths 211

Notes 221

Selected Bibliography 231

Editorial Reviews

"Whether you are engaged in public office or business or a member of AA or a local parish, Ancient Paths applies the values of St. Benedict's sixth-century monastic Rule to your circumstances in modern life. This author is a path-finder." --Brother Benet Tvedten, OSB, author of How to Be a Monastic and Not Leave Your Day Job

"This is a book by an experienced Benedictine-not a monk and not a Catholic, but a Presbyterian pastor with a family who has spent twenty years living and studying the Rule of Benedict. His style is simple and gently; his many suggestions practical; his sincerity palpable." --Fr. Hugh Feiss, OSB, author of Essential Monastic Wisdom

"Eminently practical applications for any person interested in being re-molded into the image of God." --Dennis Okholm, Professor of Theology, Azusa Pacific University

From the Publisher