Best Selling Books by Dallas Willard

How to Live as Jesus Lived Dallas Willard, one of today's most brilliant Christian thinkers and author of The Divine Conspiracy (Christianity Today's 1999 Book of the Year), presents a way of living that enables ordinary men and women to enjoy the fruit of the Christian life. He reveals how the key to self-transformation resides in the practice of the spiritual disciplines, and how their practice affirms human life to the fullest. The Spirit of the Disciplines is for everyone who strives to be a disciple of Jesus in thought and action as well as intention.

A renowned teacher and writer of the acclaimed The Spirit of the Disciplines, Dallas Willard, one of today's most brilliant Christian thinkers now offers a timely and challenging call back to the true meaning of Christian discipleship. In The Divine Conspiracy, Willard gracefully weaves biblical teaching, popular culture, science, scholarship, and spiritual practice into a tour de force that shows the necessity of profound changes in how we view our lives and faith. In an era when many Christians consider Jesus a beloved but remote savior, Willard argues compellingly for the relevance of God to every aspect of our existence. Masterfully capturing the central insights of Christ's teachings in a fresh way for today's seekers, he helps us to explore a revolutionary way to experience God--by knowing Him as an essential part of the here and now, rather than only as a part of the hereafter. "The most telling thing about the contemporary Christian," Willard writes, "is that he or she has no compelling sense that understanding of and conformity with the clear teachings of Christ is of any vital importance to [their] life, and certainly not that it is in any way essential . . . Such obedience is regarded as just out of the question or impossible." Christians, he says, for the most part consider the primary function of Christianity to be admittance to heaven. But, as Willard clearly shows, a faith that guarantees a satisfactory afterlife, yet has absolutely no impact on life in the here and now, is nothing more than "consumer Christianity" and "bumper-sticker faith." Willard refutes this "fire escape" mentality by exploring the true nature of the teachings of Jesus, who intended that His followers become His disciples, and taught that we have access now to the life we are only too eager to relegate to the hereafter. The author calls us into a more authentic faith and offers a practical plan by which we can become Christ-like. He challenges us to step aside from the politics and pieties of contemporary Christian practice and inspires us to reject the all too common lukewarm faith of our times by embracing the true meaning of Christian discipleship.

Renowned spiritual director Jan Johnson takes nuggets of wisdom from Dallas Willard's classic work Renovation of the Heart and unpacks them for deeper understanding.

Being close to God means telling him what is on our hearts and understanding what he is saying to us. But how do we hear God? In these daily devotionals Dallas Willard helps us understand how we can know the voice of God and act on it, with daily Scripture readings and suggestions for prayer, journaling and reflection to draw you into God's presence.

The last command Jesus gave the church before he ascended to heaven was the Great Commission, the call for Christians to "make disciples of all the nations." But Christians have responded by making "Christians," not "disciples." This, according to brilliant scholar and renowned Christian thinker Dallas Willard, has been the church's Great Omission. "The word disciple occurs 269 times in the New Testament," writes Willard. "Christian is found three times and was first introduced to refer precisely to disciples of Jesus. . . . The New Testament is a book about disciples, by disciples, and for disciples of Jesus Christ. But the point is not merely verbal. What is more important is that the kind of life we see in the earliest church is that of a special type of person. All of the assurances and benefits offered to humankind in the gospel evidently presuppose such a life and do not make realistic sense apart from it. The disciple of Jesus is not the deluxe or heavy-duty model of the Christian -- especially padded, textured, streamlined, and empowered for the fast lane on the straight and narrow way. He or she stands on the pages of the New Testament as the first level of basic transportation in the Kingdom of God." Willard boldly challenges the thought that we can be Christians without being disciples, or call ourselves Christians without applying this understanding of life in the Kingdom of God to every aspect of life on earth. He calls on believers to restore what should be the heart of Christianity -- being active disciples of Jesus Christ. Willard shows us that in the school of life, we are apprentices of the Teacher whose brilliance encourages us to rise above traditional church understanding and embrace the true meaning of discipleship -- an active, concrete, 24/7 life with Jesus.

From Dallas Willard, one of the most important Christian intellectuals of the twentieth century, comes a collection of readings, interviews, talks, and articles—many previously unpublished. In his groundbreaking books The Divine Conspiracy, The Great Omission, Knowing Christ Today, Hearing God, The Spirit of the Disciplines, The Divine Conspiracy Continued, and The Allure of Gentleness, teacher, philosopher, and spiritual guide Dallas Willard forever changed the way many Christians experience their faith. Three years after his death, the influence of this provocative Christian thinker—“a man devoted to reestablishing the exalted place moral reasoning once held in the academy” (Christianity Today) remains strong. Compiled, edited, and introduced by his friend and fellow theologian, Gary Black, Jr., Renewing the Christian Mind is a collection of essays, interviews, and articles that brilliantly encapsulate Willard’s spiritual philosophy and his contributions to theology. Renewing the Christian Mind offers insight into spiritual formation, avocation, and theology, and includes sections directed at specific audiences, from church leaders to laypeople looking for spiritual counsel and nurture. Reasoned, honest, thought- provoking, and illuminating, this important anthology is an invaluable introduction and companion to Dallas Willard’s acclaimed body of work.

In this new six-session small group Bible study, The Divine Conspiracy, renowned teacher and writer Dallas Willard offers a timely and challenging call back to the true meaning of Christian discipleship.

Dallas Willard, the author of the bestselling spiritual classic, The Divine Conspiracy, now fulfills his revolutionary vision of how the kingdom of God is made real on earth in this sequel, the last book he was working on before his recent death. In The Divine Conspiracy, revered Christian philosopher and scholar Dallas Willard critiqued the church's obsession with "sin management" and revolutionized our understanding of true Christian discipleship. Jesus is not a remote savior, waiting to welcome us into heaven after we die, Willard argued. He is a dynamic living force, a leader and teacher to whom we apprentice ourselves to learn the sacred skills God wants us to embrace, and to fulfill His son's vision when Christ declared that the "kingdom of God has come." In The Divine Conspiracy Continued, co-written with theologian Gary Black, Willard lays out the next stage in God's plan as this generation of disciples, including ordained and lay leaders, step into positions of authority across our culture and begin to transform the world from the inside out. To fulfill the Christian calling is not to remove oneself from the outside world and take shelter from its shortcomings, Willard reminds us, but to step into the world to lead and serve as agents of change.

Learn the secret of living with contentment, peace, and security. Pause for a moment and ask yourself what it would be like to be completely without fear. If you did not fear death. If you did not fear life and what it might bring. If you did not fear any man, or woman, or any living creature. How would you go about your days differently? In Life Without Lack, Dallas Willard revolutionizes our understanding of Psalm 23 by taking this comfortably familiar passage and revealing its extraordinary promises: “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. . . . I will fear no evil.” The psalmist claims to live without any need and without any fear. How is that possible? Written with Willard’s characteristic gentle wisdom, Life Without Lack helps readers experience God’s presence, his abundant generosity, and peace and freedom from worry. Based on a series of talks by the late author and edited by his friend Larry Burtoft and by his daughter, Rebecca Willard Heatley, Life Without Lack will forever change the way you understand and apply the most well-known passage in all Scripture.

At a time when popular atheism books are talking about the irrationality of believing in God, Willard makes a rigorous intellectual case for why it makes sense to believe in God and in Jesus, the Son.

This study guide expands the discussion begun in The Divine Conspiracy, focusing on and clarifying key issues and encouraging a fuller understanding of Christian discipleship. Here you will find: Overviews and summaries of each chapter of The Divine Conspiracy Scripture meditations to enhance your understanding of the text Study questions to facilitate stimulating discussion and reflection

This book will help you reflect on the spiritual significance of each element of the human person—heart, mind, body, social life, and soul—so that God can transform you. Includes discussion questions.

How can we hear and understand God's voice? This six-session Bible study delves deeper into the biblical texts and themes contained in bestselling author Dallas Willard's beloved classic Hearing God. Written by longtime spiritual formation author Jan Johnson, these studies will help you encounter what Scripture says about listening to God and what it means for your today.

At a time when many people think that it is irrational to believe in God, renowned philosopher Dallas Willard challenges the idea that spiritual wisdom is somehow distinct from the realm of knowledge. PERSONAL RELIGION, PUBLIC REALITY? seeks to redress the balance, making a powerful case for the contribution that Christian knowledge can make in the global marketplace of ideas. Willard looks at the areas of faith, reason and science, making a rigorous case for why it still makes sense to believe in God.PERSONAL RELIGION, PUBLIC REALITY? is a powerful, eloquent book, written for all those interested in the philosophy of faith, whether Christian or not.

Dallas Willard explores what it means to live well now in light of God's kingdom. This book is adapted from the talks given at the February 2013 Dallas Willard Center "Knowing Christ Today" conference. Each chapter is followed with an illuminating dialogue between Dallas Willard and John Ortberg.

The Kingdom Life provides an integrated approach to spiritual formation. This rich compilation from an extraordinary team of thinkers offers sound theology and key practices to strengthen you and those you disciple in light of Christ's lordship and life in the kingdom. -- back.

As Christians, we know that we should become more like Jesus - so we try to act differently. But changing our outward behaviour doesn't change our hearts. Only God's grace can do that. Renovation of the Heart lays a biblical foundation for spiritual transformation, and explores the disciplines and practices that are crucial if we are to be changed from the inside out. Immensely profound but also practical and encouraging, Dallas Willard's insightful wisdom challenges us to rethink what it really means to become more Christlike and how we do so. This special 20th anniversary edition - featuring a new introduction by John Mark Comer, revised discussion questions and a never before published interview with Dallas Willard - shows that this dynamic and practical approach to spiritual growth is just as needed today as it was 20 years ago. It will both challenge and inspire you on the path of becoming more like Jesus and equip you to engage actively and intentionally in your spiritual formation. Renovation of the Heart has helped countless Christians begin the process of spiritual transformation. It is ideal both for anyone new to the Christian faith looking for guidance in discipleship, and those who are already Christians and want a new approach to help their spiritual growth and reaffirm their faith. Don't settle for complacency. Accept the challenge Renovation of the Heart offers and discover what Dallas Willard describes as a divine process that "brings every element in our being, working from inside out, into harmony with the will of God." Become an intentional apprentice of Jesus Christ, changing daily as you walk with Him.

When called upon to explain their faith, Christians do not always feel equipped to do so—particularly when some of the most difficult questions arise. In The Allure of Gentleness, esteemed teacher and author Dallas Willard not only assures us of the truth and reasonableness of the Christian faith, but also explores why reason and logic are not enough: to explain Jesus's message, we must also be like Jesus, characterized by love, humility, and gentleness. Based on a series of talks and lectures on apologetics given by the late author and edited by his daughter, Becky Heatley, this book constitutes Dallas Willard's most thorough presentation on how to defend the Christian faith for the twenty-first century. This beautiful model of life, this allure of gentleness, Willard tells us, is the foundation for making the most compelling argument for Christ, one that will assure others that the Christian faith is not only true but the answer to our deepest desires and hopes.

Many people are looking for a fresh way to read the Bible, not as a text to be mastered, but as a story to enter into and a lifestyle to pursue. In this unique Bible, the foremost names in Christian spirituality and biblical scholarship come together to provide a Bible that rediscovers Scripture as living text, rich with insights into how to live our lives more intimately with God. Spearheaded by bestselling authors Richard J. Foster (Celebration of Discipline) and Dallas Willard (The Divine Conspiracy), The Renovaré Spiritual Formation Bible introduces the concept of the "with-God life," a model for seeing the whole of Scripture as the unfolding story of God's plan for our loving relationship with the Creator. This central theme weaves throughout the essays, introductions, notes, and exercises, powerfully revealing how God is present to his people today and throughout history. Yet our relationship with God should not be passive. Concrete practices—Spiritual Disciplines—have been used throughout church history to guide disciples of Jesus. This Bible integrates the Spiritual Disciplines into the Christian life by showing how they are central to the Bible's teachings and stories. Abraham and Ruth, Moses and Deborah, Jesus and the disciples all provide amazing examples of the life-changing power of prayer, worship, fasting, celebration, and many other Spiritual Disciplines. Scripture thus becomes a primary means for the discovery, instruction, and practice of these disciplines as well as a tool for spiritual formation. Combining the highest possible biblical scholarship with the deepest possible heart devotion, this new Bible project seeks to nourish inner transformation by unlocking and revealing the profound resources within Scripture for changing our hearts and characters and bringing them in line with what God wants for our lives. The Renovaré Spiritual Formation Bible will redefine what the Bible means for Christian discipleship.

Many people are looking for a fresh way to read the Bible, not as a text to be mastered, but as a story to enter into and a lifestyle to pursue. In this unique Bible, the foremost names in Christian spirituality and biblical scholarship come together to provide a Bible that rediscovers Scripture as living text, rich with insights into how to live our lives more intimately with God. Spearheaded by bestselling authors Richard J. Foster (Celebration of Discipline) and Dallas Willard (The Divine Conspiracy), The Renovaré Spiritual Formation Bible introduces the concept of the "with-God life," a model for seeing the whole of Scripture as the unfolding story of God's plan for our loving relationship with the Creator. This central theme weaves throughout the essays, introductions, notes, and exercises, powerfully revealing how God is present to his people today and throughout history. Yet our relationship with God should not be passive. Concrete practices—Spiritual Disciplines—have been used throughout church history to guide disciples of Jesus. This Bible integrates the Spiritual Disciplines into the Christian life by showing how they are central to the Bible's teachings and stories. Abraham and Ruth, Moses and Deborah, Jesus and the disciples all provide amazing examples of the life-changing power of prayer, worship, fasting, celebration, and many other Spiritual Disciplines. Scripture thus becomes a primary means for the discovery, instruction, and practice of these disciplines as well as a tool for spiritual formation. Combining the highest possible biblical scholarship with the deepest possible heart devotion, this new Bible project seeks to nourish inner transformation by unlocking and revealing the profound resources within Scripture for changing our hearts and characters and bringing them in line with what God wants for our lives. The Renovaré Spiritual Formation Bible will redefine what the Bible means for Christian discipleship.

If you have struggled to learn what it means to live your life with God or if you have been looking for a fresh way to read the Bible, The Life with God Bible will help you rediscover Scripture as living text, rich with insights into how to live your life more intimately with the Creator. Spearheaded by bestselling authors Richard J. Foster (Celebration of Discipline) and Dallas Willard (The Divine Conspiracy), along-side the foremost names in Christian spirituality and biblical scholarship, The Life with God Bible introduces the concept of the "with-God life," a model for seeing the whole of Scripture as the unfolding story of God's plan for our loving relationship with God. This theme weaves throughout the essays and study notes, while the concrete practices and Spiritual Disciplines, such as prayer, worship, fasting, and celebration, will help you discover a deeper relationship with God and transform you into the likeness and character of Jesus. Combining the depth of a study Bible with the warmth of a devotional Bible, The Life with God Bible makes Scripture come alive as you learn to read the text in a fresh way, not as something to be mastered, but as a story to enter and a lifestyle to pursue.

Best-selling author Richard Foster, along with the foremost names in Christian spirituality and biblical scholarship come together to provide a unique Bible that rediscovers Scripture as living text, rich with insights into how to live our lives more intimately with God.

This book examines the role of reason in faith, helping you use your intellect to further God's kingdom.

To often, prayer seems only to be a dreary exercise that must be endured or a difficult skill that must be mastered. When we misunderstand its purpose and practice, we easily fall out of the habit of praying regularly. As a result, we miss one of the greatest opportunities to deepen our friendship with God. In " Prayer: The Transforming Friendship, " James Houston explores the transforming power of prayer, illustrating how prayer begins to change our lives and then how the way we live changes how we pray. Through clear and compelling examinations of the Scriptures, Dr. Houston shows the often-misunderstood spiritual realities of prayer. And through candid accounts of his own struggles to pray effectively, he will encourage you to engage boldly in the life-changing practice of intimate conversation with God. Dr. James M. Houston, a prolific author, editor, and Christian scholar, is the founding principal, former chancellor and emeritus professor of spiritual theology at Regent College in Vancouver, British Columbia. A native of Scotland whose parents were missionaries to Spain, he is recognized around the world as a leader in educating laypeople for effective ministry and in helping to restore spirituality to evangelicalism. His other book include The Mentored Life, The Heart's Desire, and Joyful Exiles.

In this updated and expanded edition of Dallas Willard's beloved book, you'll gain rich spiritual insight into how to hear God's voice clearly and develop an intimate partnership with him. Including new material from Willard's teaching at Renovar and reformatted for easier reading, this classic is still one of today's best spiritual resources.

Becoming "co-laborers" with God in the construction of our lives--from the popular author of The Spirit of the Disciplines. Willard explores the ways God has, is now, and will continue to communicate with us and shows us how to discover and utilize His guidance.

The Life with God Bible combines the depth of a study Bible with the warmth of a devotional Bible, offering a new way to discover the full riches of the Scriptures. According to Richard Foster, bestselling author and the project′s editor, the Bible is all about human life "with God." As we read Scripture, we should consider how God is with us in each story and allow ourselves to be spiritually transformed. Many people are looking for a new way to read the Bible, not as a text to be mastered. but as a story to enter into and a lifestyle to pursue. This unique Bible, previously published as The Renovare Spiritual Formation Bible and spearheaded by bestselling authors Richard Foster (Celebration of Discipline) and Dallas Willard (The Divine Conspiracy), introduces the concept of life with God - or the "with-God life" - a model for seeing the whole of Scripture as the unfolding story of God′s plan for our loving relationship with the Creator. This central theme weaves throughout the essays, introductions, notes, and exercises, powerfully revealing how God is present to his people today and throughout history. Yet our relationship with God should not be passive. Concrete practices - Spiritual Disciplines - have been used throughout church history to guide disciples of Jesus. This Bible integrates the Spiritual Disciplines into the Christian life by showing how they are central to the Bible′s teachings and stories. Abraham and Ruth, Moses and Deborah, Jesus and the disciples all provide amazing examples of the life-changing power of prayer, worship, fasting, celebration, and many other Spiritual Disciplines. Scripture thus becomes a primary means for the discovery, instruction, and practice of these disciplines as well as a tool for spiritual formation. Combining the highest possible biblical scholarship with the deepest possible heart devotion, this new Bible project seeks to nourish inner transformation by unlocking and revealing the profound resources within Scripture for changing our hearts and characters and bringing them in line with what God wants for our lives. The Life with God Bible will redefine what the Bible means for Christian discipleship.

The foundational principles from Dallas Willard's Renovation of the Heart provide students with a plan to be transformed into the character of Jesus in this interactive DVD curriculum.

This book makes the case that the 20th century saw a massive shift in Western beliefs and attitudes concerning the possibility of moral knowledge, such that knowledge of the moral life and of its conduct is no longer routinely available from the social institutions long thought to be responsible for it.