In the second service on Sunday, I mentioned that I would post some book recommendations on prayer for those wanting to dig deeper in the direction of what we learned from Luke 11:1-13. Although the below is more than just a few books, I have been particularly influenced and helped by each of these to me, and so I recommend them all highly. Martin Luther’s A Simple Way to Pray is a classic work on prayer. He initially wrote it for his barber, who had asked Luther for guidance on how to pray. Luther encourages reading Scripture and then praying along the same lines as the Scripture. This is a very short book, but well worth the read. Slightly longer, but still a quick read, is J.I. Packer’s Praying the Lord’s Prayer. Packer explains the Lord’s Prayer from a more historical perspective, taking into account the teaching of many of the older theologians. However, the book never drags and Packer, as usual, does a great job of updating the best of the Reformers and Puritans. The Soul of Prayer, by P.T. Forsyth, is another relatively short work. Although the language can be a bit complicated, the book is still very helpful because it deals with common questions about prayer and retains a devotional feel.

Slightly longer is the study of evangelical spirituality by Donald Bloesch, called The Struggle of Prayer. This book compares the theology and practice of Martin Luther, Richard Sibbes (Puritan), and P.T. Forsyth. This book includes a study of the more mystical tradition within Christianity and distinguishes what is biblical from what should be avoided.

D.A. Carson’s book, A Call to Spiritual Reformation, is an incredibly helpful study of the prayers in Paul’s epistles (Romans – Philemon). This is a book that we’ve “pushed” many times before at DSC, and many in the church could testify to how this book helped — even changed — the way they pray and think about prayer. In addition the several chapters on Paul’s prayers, it also has a whole chapter on practical advice on how we can become more genuine and pursue more growth in our prayer life.

Three other books can be mentioned more quickly, in no particular order: Praying, by J.I. Packer and Carolyn Nystrom; a new book, A Praying Life, by Paul Miller; and, the book that I mentioned specifically at the end of the service, The Heart of Prayer, by Jerram Barrs.  Remember, Jerram Barrs will be coming to DSC to do a seminar on prayer and evangelism on November 14-15, so we’ll have copies of this book at the DSC Resource Center for the near future.

Another thoughtful and pastoral post today from Kevin DeYoung. Here’s a sample:

The Bible is a big book and there’s a lot in there. So the Bible says a lot about the poor, about marriage, about children, about evangelism, about missions, about justice; it says a lot about a lot. Almost anyone can make a case that their thing should be the main thing or at least one of the most important things. But what often happens in churches (or church movements) is that the person with the “thing” thinks everyone else should devote their lives to the “thing” too. So churches squabble over limited resources, and people feel an abiding sense of guilt over not caring enough or doing enough about the ten other things that other people in the church care about more than they do.

Take the time and go read the rest. I think it is a very needed word, to pastors and parishioners alike.