Spiritual Formation Resources
Over the past couple of weeks we’ve talked about the relationship between individual spiritual growth and congregational vitality. A church that is filled with people who are growing in their relationship with Christ is a church that is primed to bear fruit and grow in health. To that end, here are some resources that many Christians around the world have found helpful in their walk with Jesus. Remember, though—these are tools only. They are pathways to meeting with Jesus, and it’s in that meeting that we find the transformation and deepening faith we desire to know.
Worship
One of the main ways we connect with God is through worship. In worship we honour and glorify the only One worthy of our praise, and we find that in that act we are met by the One who loves us most and desires to minister to our hearts and minds. The goal of worship is not our edification, it is His glorification…and yet by His grace we are edified.
Here are some ways to build a time of worship and praise into your daily rhythm:
— Create a playlist of favourite worship tunes in your favourite music app
— Listen to the special New Wineskins songs posted here on our New Wineskins page
— Follow pre-made playlists on YouTube:
Top Praise & Worship Songs 2026
(these are just examples—search YouTube for playlists that match your preferred style)
— Follow pre-made playlists on Spotify:
(again, these are just examples—Spotify has tons of great playlists, as do other streaming services like Apple Music)
— Pray through a favourite hymn or worship song, either from a hymnbook or by searching for lyrics online
— Utilise the “Mid-Week Worship” devotional at Sharon and Jack’s website: Abiding Way Ministries.
Scripture
It goes without saying that spending time in God’s Word is a wonderful way to connect to Christ.
Here are some great, easy-to-use ideas and resources to help you dwell in the Word of God richly:
— YouVersion Bible - the most popular Bible app in the world with dozens of different translations and reading plans you can personalise for your use
— Read and pray through a Psalm a day
— The Presbyterian Church (USA) prayer app is a well-designed way of praying with Scripture at different times of the day
— Lectio Divina is an ancient way of praying with Scripture that millions of Christians use worldwide
Learn about Lectio Divina here
Listen to Sharon Brown’s daily Lectio Divina podcast here (also available on most major podcast platforms)
Prayer
As we’ve already said a few times on our vitality journey, everything we do as Christians needs to be bathed in prayer. But remember—prayer is not just about lifting up other people to God, as important as that is. Prayer is also a chance for us to simply dwell in the presence of our Creator and connect to Him. Prayer is not just about the needs we see around us, it is also about the greatest need in our own hearts—to know God and be known by Him.
Here are some thought and resources to help us embrace the gift of prayer more deeply:
— Use this simple formula for daily prayer, based on the word PRAY:
P – Praise: spend time simply praising God and thanking him for his goodness
R – Repentance: spend time acknowledging to God your need for him and your brokenness
A – Ask: bring your requests to God for yourself, your loved ones, and your world
Y – Yield: finish by surrendering to God and asking for his will to be done in your life
— The Scottish ministry “Try Praying” has a great website found here
— The 24/7 prayer movement is an international, interdenominational movement of prayer, mission and justice with great resources on their website here
— If you prefer quieter, more reflective approach to prayer, the Jesuit Community in the UK has created Pray-As-You-Go with a daily podcast and other resources here
