This innovative guide to Christian formation offers an ancient-yet-contemporary approach to growth in Christ. Providing practical guidance for pastors and lay leaders in the local congregation and help for home groups, house churches, and small groups, Ancient Paths will show you the way that has formed millions of Christians over the last 1,500 years.
Over the past decade, a growing number of books have been published exploring monastic spirituality for general readers. Among these, newly published Ancient Paths: Discover Christian Formation the Benedictine Way (Paraclete Press, August 2010) draws upon centuries of Benedictine spirituality and monastic spiritual practices. This new titlepresents a five-fold approach to spiritual formation in community, including steps along paths of communal prayer, spiritual guidance, everyday spirituality, sacred study of Scripture, and the Benedictine way of hospitality. Ancient Paths is written to encourage spiritual formation, both in the lives of individuals as well as among faith communities. For all who come to draw water from this well, Benedictine spirituality continues to present a deep source of wisdom and practical support for spiritual formation in the 21st century. Ancient Paths traces how the Benedictine way of life has been daily lived over the past fifteen centuries. Through field-tested monastic principles laid out in this book, readers discover how to implement ancient ways of spiritual life together. Each chapter concludes with a list of practical ideas called “Taking Steps into Christian Formation”. In addition, a three year plan is included for developing spiritual formation within the local parish, along with a guide to getting away on a monastic retreat. A twelve-week study guide is also provided for individual or group use.
Excerpt
As we stand at the crossroads in our time, who will point us in the right direction? Which way will we go? I’ve written this book to introduce you to Benedict and his guidebook for the journey of Christian formation. How can busy, active people find rest for their souls and guidance for the pilgrimage of faith that lies ahead? Come along paths of Christian spirituality and discover an ancient way of faith practiced within Christian communities around the world for more than a thousand years. Across the centuries, Benedict continues to call people into a lifelong pilgrimage of faith: “See how the Lord in his love shows us the way of life. Clothed then with faith and the performance of good works, let us set out on this way, with the Gospel for our guide” (RB, Prologue 20–21).
Professional Reviews
Benedict in the Congregation
In his sixth century Rule, St. Benedict provides a guide for living a Christ-centered life. For many years, the Rule was considered relevant only for monastic communities. In recent decades, however, lay people have discovered its usefulness as a guide for anyone desiring to live a Christ-centered life. In Ancient Paths, David Robinson inaugurates the much-needed next step of showing how the Rule can offer practical guidance for the spiritual formation of a whole parish or congregation. Ancient Paths is historically and spiritually grounded, and above all full of specific suggestions for centering in Christ, directly relevant to a congregation's life in this busy, modern world. The spiritual depth of this book is brought near by its warm and inviting tone. By Norvene Vest, author of multiple books on Benedictine Spirituality.
Formation of Hearts and Minds
This book shown on the right is one of the most lovely, informed, and helpful books about Benedictine spirituality I've ever read. Written by a sensible Presbyterian pastor, too. Very, very nice. Yes, I know there are a hundred recent books drawing on Benedict. And I know I've promoted the beautifully simple recent work (The Good Life and The Good Neighbor both also published by Paraclete) by Robert Benson, by saying they were the best, clear, lovely, simple way into Benedictine spirituality. Well, this is level two---not exactly for true beginners, but it is the best serious introduction I've yet read. Man, this Presbyterian guy knows his stuff. The chapter on the ways in which the young monk from 5th century Nursia changed the world is worth the whole price of the volume, and it is exciting stuff. Faith well lived, deeply and in community, really does transform ideas and behaviors and can impact culture and history. For anyone interested in this classic path for growing a Christian community--and this is central, for spiritual formation is not done alone!---Ancient Paths is a tremendous guide. It is well written, practical, interesting, and not the least sentimental or breathy or "touchy feely." This is sensible, solid stuff, life-changing insights that are down-to-Earth (quite literally; you know Benedict's dictum about working and praying!) Robinson has spent over 20 years visiting a Benedictine monastery, and, as a Protestant pastor, has some special gifts to be able to share his experiences with those not particularly fluent in the monastic traditions. There is a fabulous 12-week study guide, too, making it ideal for small groups, spiritual friendship meetings, or to study with others. There are application points along the way, too, designed to help ordinary folks take small steps towards incorporating these sturdy practices into their daily discipleship. It is ideal for congregational use, too, or for anyone interested not only about Benedictine approaches, but for anyone wanting to grow in faith and Christian living. Dennis Okholm, of Azusa Pacific University, who wrote the also-fantastic (and cleverly titled) Monk Habits for Everyday People says, "Eminently practical applications for any person interested in being re-molded into the image of God. Very nicely done. By HEARTS AND MINDS BOOKS
234 East Main Street; Dallastown, PA 17313; http://www.heartsandmindsbooks.com/reviews/a_few_recent_books_on_spiritua/
Midwest Book Review
Christian faith is something learned in many ways. "Ancient Paths: Discover Christian Formation the Benedictine Way" is a guide to the more traditional learning paths, as David Robinson looks deep into history encourages faith through these ancient ways, complete with a twelve week study guide that encourages readers to empower themselves through the studies of this path. "Ancient Paths" is a fine addition to any Christian studies collection, highly recommended.
Our culture has taught us to believe in many ideas which aren't actually real. Exposing these illusions allows us to recover the power to live our lives according to our deepest desires.
