Practice
A Short Guide to Spiritual Formation Finding Life in Truth, Goodness, Beauty, and Community Alex Sosler Foreword by Russell Moore In a fast-paced society always seeking the new and novel, Chris- tians can become more grounded and mature through a retrieval of our common tradition. Alex Sosler sets forth the “transcendentals” of truth, goodness, and beauty—along with community—to help readers follow the way of Jesus. Weaving together church history, theology, and devotional practice, Sosler offers a holistic introduction to spiritual formation, encom- passing biblical truth, the pursuit of the good life, the contemplation of God, and communal belonging. Each section includes a biblical and historical precedent for the tradition and highlights an ex- emplar from church history: Augustine on truth, Dorothy Day on goodness, Teresa of Ávila on beauty, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer on church commitment and community. This accessible book provides avenues for a broader and deeper spirituality that can shape the complexity of our souls. It is ideal for undergraduate students and as a formation primer for church adult education classes, classical schools, and homeschooling communities.
MAY 2024 • 224 pp. • paper • $21.99 • 9781540966612
Alex Sosler (EdD, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is assistant professor of Bible and ministry at Montreat College and assisting priest at Redeemer Anglican Church in Asheville, North Carolina. He is the author of Learning to Love: Christian Higher Education as Pilgrimage and the editor of Theology and the Avett Brothers.
“Spiritual formation with substance and depth! This is one to read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest and then share with another pilgrim on the way of the restless heart.” —ALEX FOGLEMAN, Institute for Studies of Religion, Baylor University; director, Catechesis Institute
FROM THE FOREWORD “This book by Alex Sosler is not a guilt-inducing to-do list from a guru or a ‘life coach.’ Instead, this book helps us to think through just what’s in the way of our pursuit of virtue—or, better, of Christ- likeness. The book doesn’t hit us with abstractions but with specific, concrete counsel on how to recognize and to pursue truth, goodness, beauty, and community. You will not leave this short book burdened down with a sense of all the things you can’t ever seem to do. You’ll instead start to see the possibility of how you, in your own life, can seek holiness and formation. The author knows that we don’t ascend the ladder to God by performing better with our prayers or our works. God has come to us, and the Ladder has a name, Jesus of Nazareth.”— Russell Moore
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