This month we are sharing different resources and insights geared around a theme of renewal. This is an essential part of the rhythm of our walk with Jesus, part of what makes us fit for his purposes in our work.

Earlier this week we posted a short video teaching and reflective guide focused on how we can look to and adopt some of the practices of Jesus to find rest and renewal for our work, from our work, and in our work (check out the video and reflective guide on LinkedIn).

Today we’re sharing some resources that our team has found helpful. Whether you’re taking some downtime this summer, vacation, or just normal drive or think-time, we’d encourage you to take advantage of this season to renew your heart and mind as you seek to stay connected to God throughout your day.

Books:

Life Together is a classic book exploring what it means to practice Christian community. Many of us still feel dislocated as we shift from home to work, make decisions on activities, and work through the longer-term implications of the past 18 months. Written by Dietrich Bonhoeffer out of his experience leading an underground seminary in a time of intense persecution, this has helped us understand the essential practices for flourishing in uncertain and difficult circumstances.

In Sacred Pathways: Nine Ways to Connect with God, Gary Thomas helps us identify the primary ways people connect with God. This book gives us a framework for understanding how God has created us each uniquely and validates how we naturally draw near to him. Sacred Pathways is a great tool for personal growth and discovery as well as helpful resource to better understand the people around us.

Podcasts and Thought-Leaders:

We love the work that Praxis is doing in advancing redemptive entrepreneurship, and their work has been a guide to us in how to think about and navigate our organization. A recent talk/article by Andy Crouch unpacks changes accelerated by the pandemic that will shape the horizon of redemptive action. This is extremely worthwhile for any leader or thoughtful contributor in any organization.

The WorkLife podcast with organizational psychologist and best-selling author Adam Grant explores how to think about work differently. The topics are relevant, and it will cause you to ask different and deeper questions about your work, systems, and ways of thinking.

Every week the Faith Driven Entrepreneur podcast interviews a Christian business leader, thinker, or entrepreneur. The stories are interesting, and they often tackle very specific challenges or issues common to many business leaders. It is more than simply inspiring, but helpful, practical insight.

Prayer Practices:

As part of the Workmatters Institute we expose young leaders to different historic prayer practices, intended to get at the root of where God is at work in and through their workday. The Lectio Divina is traditional practice of scriptural reading, meditation, and prayer intended to grow our communion with God and hear his word. Here is a guide for experimenting with this practice in your personal time with the Lord.

Spend a month praying through the Psalms. The Psalms cover every human emotion, and give us language and permission to go to God with anything. The Book of Common Prayer has a helpful way of breaking the Psalms up so that you go through them all over the course of a month.

While this list is just a small sample of what we are finding helpful, it is by no means exhaustive – there are so many helpful resources available! So whether it is something from this list or something else that has been recommended by someone you trust, we encourage you to take advantage of the summer rhythm to read, listen, think, or commune with God in a way that is different from your normal routine.

If there is wisdom to be had, it is God who is speaking it. So whatever the resource, we encourage you with the words of the Apostle Paul:

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me -put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:8-9)