Practicing Our Faith

by Dorothy C. Bass (Editor)

As wise as grandparents, a good guide to living within our families and communities with integrity and generosity.
-- Kathleen Norris, author of Dakota and The Cloister Walk

Many people are looking for ways to deepen their relationship with God by practicing their faith in everyday life. Some go on retreats but are often disappointed. Many thoughtful, educated people search for spiritual guidance in Eastern religious traditions, unaware of the great riches within their own heritage. Dorothy Bass and the other contributors to this multi-denominational collection show how they can shape a faithful way of life during challenging times at work, at home, and in the community. This book explores the stuff of everyday life, placing ordinary activities in a biblical and historical context, and discovering in them opportunities to realize God's active presence in life.

Practices
* Honoring the body
* Hospitality
* Household economics
* Saying yes and saying no
* Keeping Sabbath
* Testimony
* Discernment
* Shaping Communities
* Forgiveness
* Healing

Genres: Religion, Theology, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Faith, Christianity, Christian

254 pages, Paperback

First published December 30, 1996

About the author

Dorothy C. Bass is a writer, noted church historian, and director of the Valparaiso Project on the Education and Formation of People in Faith.

Reviews

[Austin Spence · Rating 4 out of 5]

More like 3.5 but I’ll take it

[Meredithhb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each of these chapters provided great discussion and insight. I am glad I read it in a group - the addition of everyone’s perspectives was an important aspect for me

[Shirley Brosius · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why do we do the things we do? This book answers that question related to practices of our faith. Written by various authors and edited by Dorothy C. Bass, chapters include titles you might expect such as: Hospitality and Keeping Sabbath. But there are also chapters on: Household Economics, Testimony, Dying Well and Singing Our Lives. Since our lives are largely shaped by the things to which we say “yes” and “no,” there’s a chapter on that very topic. I liked the quotations and scripture that were included by related topics.

The book offers insight behind rituals we often come to take for granted. For instance, a chapter on Honoring the Body explains how touch is involved in activities such as passing the peace and foot washing, and as part of worship, such rituals teach us to lovingly embrace one another. While the book doesn’t cover all the practices of the faith (you might expect whole chapters on Bible study and prayer, but they are assumed as related to the other practices), it offers groundwork for discussions you might want to add. This would be a great book for a group study since the final chapter helps readers apply the book’s guidelines to their own situations, and it includes an appendix of “Suggestions for Conversation and Reflection.” Altogether, the book helps us think about the how and why of practices of the faith and so fosters our love and service to God and others.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read "Practicing Our Faith" as part of a growth group and found it interesting. It would make a good companion book to other books on the spiritual disciplines, like Foster's "Celebration of Discipline" or Willard's "Spirit of the Disciplines." Its strength is its emphasis on community in the context of Christian practices that are not traditionally put into the same category as individual spiritual disciplines. Written by a variety of authors, some writing is better than others and some chapters are stronger than others. This unevenness was a drawback to getting excited about the whole book. Some supplementary books have been written which would be helpful to check out. Also the web site is a help if a group discussion is being facilitated. I found the topics covered best were on honoring the body, saying yes and saying no, keeping Sabbath, healing and discernment. One significant editorial miss is the placement of a significant caveat in the last concluding chapter. A statement is made that the practices of prayer and Bible study are essential and undergird all other practices. "Without either one, the twelve practices we have discussed, and other practices as well, would collapse." I believe this statement should have been placed in the introductory chapter and expanded on. Though the editors felt that each chapter author included these, mention was minimal.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like most collections, Practicing our Faith has some excellent chapters and some which seem inadequate to the material being covered (though in the case of Rasmussen's "Shaping Communities," I'm not sure how the topic could be adequately covered in this format, requiring, as it would, at least 1 entire book, if not a collection of volumes!). That said, the chapters on "Honoring the Body" (Paulsell), "Hospitality" (Pineda), "Healing," (John Koenig) and "Dying Well" (Pauw) were particularly well done.

I highly recommend the book as a resource to elicit further conversation perhaps as an Advent or Lenten study program or as formation for church leaders.

[Keith · Rating 2 out of 5]

While the topics covered here are vitally important to me and my community of faith, the chapters seemed flat, academic, and at times reflecting the lowered expectations of Western Christianity in the 21st Century. It was tough slog for me to stick with it, but I did so since it was assigned for a class in seminary.

Perhaps I should take this book as a challenge to myself to do some writing on these practices myself, trying to do so in more heartfelt way.

It covered the following practices: Honoring the body. Hospitality. Household economics. Keeping Sabbath. Saying yes and saying no. Testimony. Discernment. Shaping communities. Forgiveness. Healing. Dying well. Singing our lives.

[Audrey Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

DISCLAIMER: I read this book only because I was forced to in my Life of Christ: Acts class—

This was a really neat book! I feel like a lot of Christian books these days are SUPER repetitive and cover the same thing over and over again, but this book didn’t! Every chapter was over a different topic. Every chapter was also written by a different author which I thought was super neat. Some of this book was boring to me tbh but some was actually fascinating. I would have never read this book if I wasn’t forced to but it wasn’t the worst thing I’ve been forced to read ☺️

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book of chapters by various authors, this is one of those books where you will love some of it and shrug through some of it. On the whole I was given a great deal to think and pray about concerning the practicing of the disciplines of the faith. The two chapters I return to are "Dying Well" by Amy Plantinga Pauw and "Singing Our Lives" by Don E. Saliers. Whether the topics are familiar or whether you are new to them, this is overall a very good and prayerful read.

[Daniel Uecker-Herman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not a how to book but rather a primer on thinking about how I currently practice my faith, giving an invitation to assess how I live my life based on what I profess. Is it consistent? Is it too rote? What aspect should I - would I change? The four tenants are: prayer, study, worship, and practice. All of these are best done in a community. This is a book that is worthy of looking at again in the future.

[Sylvia Jeronimo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lauded for his collaborative nature, it’s well versed authors and its call to action to live out a practical, everyday faith. Somehow all those qualities got lost in translation. A most academic, dry, removed treatise of our faith practices. Felt more like an ivory tower exercise. Pity.

[Fubzi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book covered a wide range of practices well. It did insist on putting quotes in random places though so you had to stop in the middle of a sentence/paragraph to read them before turning the page which was very annoying.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great way to introduce a focus on spiritual practices.

[John MOREHOUSE · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good primer on spiritual practice

Well written despite a decidedly Western focus with little attention to the emerging church and Asian influences on contemporary Christianity.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book I suspect I will return to again and again. Good material here to think about.

[Graig · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic book. If you’re considering the audio version, and if mispronunciation by a narrator grates on you, you will want to avoid the audiobook version.

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book originally in 1999 and I am re-reading it now. I have taught from this book and have found it helpful in my own life. Subsequent to this book entire books have been written by the authors of various chapters - practices. These too are worth the read. Some chapters are stronger than others, but a major point, not to be missed, is each of these practices work together and are dependent on the others to live a life that speaks of and to God. This book will be classic in Christian books.

[Jonelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm planning to use this book as I lead my church's adult education committee, perhaps using it as the basis for a year long study. In it, Bass provides a solid introduction and overview of about a dozen Christian community practices that can help us recognize the mystery of God. Her associated website has lots of wonderful resources too.

[Katy · Rating 3 out of 5]

To echo a pervious reader, some of the chapters in this book are better than others. I'm not sure it would be first book I would hand someone who was looking to read something on spiritual formation, but there is plenty in here that I would draw from.

[Carol Naille · Rating 3 out of 5]

Trying to practice a faith based life? Good suggestions on how to do it. Over the top in some areas, but covers the hard stuff.....forgiveness, Sabbath keeping, doing good. I liked it. Makes you think about your daily life and how you are living.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book while participating in a women's faith sharing group a few years back. The book focuses on 12 practices that will help deepen their faith. Some of the practices I liked reading about better than others.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent resource book for people wanting to think through what discipleship in community should be about. I loved the study guide and teaching resources at the which would be great for small groups or congregations.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading for participation in a project on the relationship between Christian practices and Christian teaching and learning.

[Lauren]

this book is excellant--reviews spiritual practices and offers suggestions for how to incorporate these practices into everyday life.

[cati · Rating 5 out of 5]

read this on spring break during my religous only reading. second time and liked it the same. some really good adivice thourgh out

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some really good stuff, some mediocre

[Sandy H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recommended for group study. Not your average "spiritual practices" book--looks at different types of practices and takes them in different directions than you might expect.