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  3. Water From a Deep Well

EBOOK

Water From a Deep Well

Christian Spirituality from Early Martyrs to Modern Missionaries

Gerald L. Sittser
3.7
(3)
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Year
2026
Language
English
Publisher
IVP

About

"[This book] is a treasure. The first time I read it, I remember closing the final page and thinking to myself, I wish I could make every single Christian on earth read this book. … John Chrysostom, Evagrius the Solitary, Julian of Norwich, Martin Luther, Dorothy Day, Dietrich Bonhoeffer-these saints and sages live on in me. And they can live on in you, too. They can enlarge and enrich your faith, one page at a time." - John Mark Comer, from the afterword
Ancient Faith for Modern Souls
In AD 165, two men named Carpus and Papylus stood before the proconsul of Pergamum, charged with the crime of being Christians. Not even torture could make them deny Christ, so they were burned alive.
Is my faithfulness as strong?
In the fifth century, Melania the Younger and her husband, Pinian, distributed their enormous wealth to the poor and intentionally practiced the discipline of renunciation.
Could living more simply deepen my trust in God?
In the seventeenth century, Philipp Jakob Spener's love for the Word of God and his desire to help people apply the Bible to their daily life moved him to start "Colleges of Piety," or small groups.
In what ways could commitment to community make me more like Christ?
The history of Christianity has produced models of spiritual life, some very different from our own, that can enrich and enlarge our spiritual lives. These saints believed in the same God, followed the same Christ, read the same Bible, and walked in the same Spirit. And they lived wholeheartedly for God, like Perpetua, an early Christian martyr; Francis of Assisi, a medieval visionary; Philipp Jakob Spener, the founder of fifteenth-century small groups; and Dorothy Day, a servant of the poor.
In Water from a Deep Well, Gerald Sittser opens to us the rich history of spirituality, helping us learn from the practices and stories of believers from the past who thirsted for God. These vibrant narratives reveal deep, powerful faith and demonstrate how old ways can bring new life to our spirituality today. These histories are deep waters from which we can drink to become faithful followers of Jesus, like those who came before us.
In this revised edition, you'll find

- history, insights, and practical exercises for incorporating spiritual practices into your life;
- a new chapter and updates throughout the book; and
- a new afterword from John Mark Comer.

Discover the richness of ancient faith practices and renew your spiritual life with Water from a Deep Well. Whether you're discovering spiritual practices for the first time or seeking to deepen your journey with Christ, this book provides timeless guidance for spiritual growth, drawn from the wisdom of those who have walked the path before you.

Related Subjects

  • Religious
  • Biography & Autobiography
  • Adult Nonfiction
  • Saints & Sainthood
  • Christianity
  • Religion
  • Christian

Reviews

"Gerald Sittser offers us two enormous gifts in this compelling history of Christian spirituality--a wonderfully flowing narrative that catches us up into the lives and practices of great saints, and voluminous endnotes so that we can pursue more thoroughly the topics and characters he describes. This beautiful book will widen everyone's spirituality, for Sittser introduces us to an extensive range of eras and their greatest contributions. Taste and see--this book will deepen you!"
Marva Dawn, author of The Sense of the Call and Keeping the Sabbath Wholly, from the first
"This fine book is as useful as it is informative. In lucid prose and with a gentle spirit, Gerald Sittser offers a careful primer on the history of Christian spirituality, a gracious guide to spiritual experience today and most of all a winsome invitation to experience the reality of Jesus Christ, who inspires all true spirituality. In words spoken to St. Augustine, 'tolle, lege' (pick it up, read it). The book will make a real difference."
Mark A. Noll, McAnaney Professor of History, University of Notre Dame, from the first edit

Artists

Gerald L. SittserAuthor