Faith Formation in Christian Practices
The recovery of historic Christian practices—honoring the body, discernment, dying well, forgiving, healing, hospitality, keeping Sabbath, managing household life, praying, reading the Bible, testimony and witness, transforming the world (caring for creation, doing justice, peacemaking, serving), singing our lives—provides a way to shape and focus faith formation for all ages. These Christian practices have endured over time and can help contemporary people to treasure their continuity with the past. Faith formation in Christian practices equips people to apply these practices to everyday life in our own time and place. Those who embrace Christian practices engage in them in the light of God’s presence and in response to God’s grace as it is known in Jesus Christ.
Christian practices can be incorporated into all of church life and faith formation through a holistic formation process of teaching the practice, listening to God’s Word and celebrating the practice at worship, experiencing the practice in the life of the church community, living/acting on the practice at home and in the world, and reflecting upon the lived experience. Churches can form people in Christian practices through educational programs, apprenticeships, and immersion experiences that give people a firsthand experience of a Christian practice, equip people to live the Christian practice in their daily lives, and guide reflection on living the practices. Faith formation can offer a wide variety of programs for all ages and generations to teach Christian practices, such as family and intergenerational programs, summer camps, workshops, courses, retreats, children’s Liturgy of the Word and discussions after Sunday worship, field trips, action projects, and small groups.
For strategies and ideas for "Faith Formation in Christian Practices" read the section from Chapter 4 of Faith Formation 2020, pages 175-179.
Christian practices can be incorporated into all of church life and faith formation through a holistic formation process of teaching the practice, listening to God’s Word and celebrating the practice at worship, experiencing the practice in the life of the church community, living/acting on the practice at home and in the world, and reflecting upon the lived experience. Churches can form people in Christian practices through educational programs, apprenticeships, and immersion experiences that give people a firsthand experience of a Christian practice, equip people to live the Christian practice in their daily lives, and guide reflection on living the practices. Faith formation can offer a wide variety of programs for all ages and generations to teach Christian practices, such as family and intergenerational programs, summer camps, workshops, courses, retreats, children’s Liturgy of the Word and discussions after Sunday worship, field trips, action projects, and small groups.
For strategies and ideas for "Faith Formation in Christian Practices" read the section from Chapter 4 of Faith Formation 2020, pages 175-179.
Practices & Approaches
- What is Christian Practice? - Dorothy Bass
- A Theological Understanding of Christian Practice - Craig Dykstra and Dorothy Bass
- Faith Formation in Christian Practices with Youth and Young Adults - Don Richter
- Christian Practices Strategies - John Roberto
| what_is_christian_practice.pdf |
| theological_understanding_of_practice_-_bass.pdf |
| faith_formation_in_christian_practices_with_youth__young_adults_-_richter.pdf |
| christian_practices_strategies.pdf |
Resources
Adults
- Allender, Dan. Sabbath. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2009.
- Barton, Ruth Haley. Sacred Rhythm: Arranging Our Lives for Spiritual Transformation. Downers Grove: Intervarsity, 2006.
- Bass, Dorothy ., Editor. Practicing Our Faith: A Way of Life for a Searching People. Revised Edition. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2010.
- Bass, Dorothy C. Receiving the Day: Christian Practices for Opening the Gift of Time. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2001.
- Benson, Robert. In Constant Prayer. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2008.
- Chittister, Joan. The Liturgical Year. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2009.
- Foster, Charles. The Sacred Journey. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2010.
- Gallagher, Nora. The Sacred Meal. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2009.
- Hicks, Douglas A. Money Enough: Everyday Practices for Living Faithfully in the Global Economy. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2010.
- Jung, L Shannon. Sharing Food: Christian Practices for Enjoyment. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2006.
- LeBlanc, Douglas. Tithing. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2010.
- Living the Good Life Together: A Study of Christian Character in Community. Nashville: Abingdon. (www.livingthegoodlifetogether.com)
- Long, Thomas. Testimony: Talking Ourselves into Being Christian. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2004.
- McLaren, Brian. Finding Our Way Again: The Return of the Ancient Practices. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2008.
- McKnight, Scott. Fasting. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2009.
- Newman, Elizabeth. Untamed Hospitality: Welcoming God and Other Strangers. Grand Rapids: Brazos, 2007.
- Peterson, Margaret Kim. Keeping House: The Litany of Everyday Life. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2007.
- Paulsell, Stephanie. Honoring the Body: Meditations on a Christian Practice. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2003.
- Pohl, Christine D. Making Room: Recovering Hospitality as a Christian Tradition. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1999.
- Saliers, Don, and Emily Saliers. A Song to Sing, A Life to Live: Reflections on Music as Spiritual Practice. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2005.
- Wirzba, Norman. Living the Sabbath. Grand Rapids: Brazos, 2006.
- Wolfteich, Claire. Lord Have Mercy: Praying for Justice with Conviction and Humility. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2006.
Family and Adult
- Living Well: Christian Practices for Everyday Life. Naugatuck: LifelongFaith Associates, 2009. (www.LifelongFaith.com) [12 Christian practices]
- Living Well Children’s Workbook. Naugatuck: LifelongFaith Associates, 2009. (www.LifelongFaith.com)
- Download individual chapters from the Lifelong Faith website as well as learning activities and study guides. Go to www.lifelongfaith.com.
Youth
- Bass, Dorothy C. and Don Richter, editors. Way to Live. Nashville: Upper Room, 2002.
- Download free lesson plans for each of the 16 Christian practices in Way to Live. Go to http://waytolive.org.
Young Adult
- Bass, Dorothy C. and Susan R. Briehl, editors. On Our Way: Christian Practices for Living a Whole Life. Nashville: Upper Room, 2010.
- Download a free study guide for On Our Way. Go to: http://practicingourfaith.org/bookstore.
- Watch video conversations with the authors of On Our Way. Go to: http://practicingourfaith.org/OOW_video_conversations
All Ages
- Faith Practices. United Church of Christ. Cleveland: Pilgrim, 2010. Go to: www.faithpractices.org. (Online resources for every age group and setting in your congregation with at least twenty-four different faith practices—each practice has more than six hundred activities, fifty activities per age group)
Websites
Living the Good Life Together: A Study of Christian Character in Community: www.livingthegoodlifetogether.com
Faith Practices (United Church of Christ): www.faithpractices.org
Living Well: Christian Practices for Everyday Life (LifelongFaith Associates): www.LifelongFaith.com
Practicing our Faith: www.practicingourfaith.org
Way to Live: http://waytolive.org