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Recommended Reading on the Means of Grace and Contemplative Spirituality
By Dave Jenkins
Fall 2025 | Theology for Life
For readers who want to go further in understanding the sufficiency of Scripture, the biblical means of grace, and the dangers of contemplative spirituality, here are some trusted resources:
On the Means of Grace
- J.I. Packer, Knowing God – A classic that anchors the Christian life in knowing God through His Word and promises.
- T. David Gordon, Why Johnny Can’t Preach – A thoughtful reminder of the centrality of preaching and hearing the Word.
- Joel R. Beeke, Puritan Reformed Spirituality – Rich insights from the Puritans on the ordinary means of grace.
On the Dangers of Mysticism and Contemplative Spirituality
- D.A. Carson, Worship by the Book – A balanced biblical theology of worship, contrasting with mystical distortions.
- John MacArthur, Strange Fire – Explores the dangers of subjective spiritual practices that undermine Scripture.
- Marcia Montenegro & Don Veinot, Richard Rohr and the Enneagram Secret – A focused look at mystical influences in today’s church.
- Gary Gilley, This Little Church Stayed Home – Addresses how churches can resist cultural fads and remain faithful to God’s Word.
On Discernment and Spiritual Clarity
- R.C. Sproul, Everyone’s a Theologian – A helpful primer in systematic theology that grounds believers in truth.
- John Owen, The Mortification of Sin – A Puritan classic reminding us that sanctification flows from God’s Word and Spirit, not mystical techniques.
- Justin Peters, Do Not Hinder Them – Though focused on children, it contains strong warnings about experiential errors in church life.
In Christ Alone,
Dave Jenkins
Executive Editor, Theology for Life Magazine
This article appears in the Fall 2025 Issue of Theology for Life Magazine, exploring “The Means of Grace.”
Ordinary Means, Extraordinary Grace: Rejecting Mysticism in the Church
Dave Jenkins is happily married to his wife, Sarah, and lives in beautiful Southern Oregon. He is a writer, editor, and speaker who loves Christ, His people, the Church, and sound theology.
Dave serves as the Executive Director of Servants of Grace Ministries and the Executive Editor of Theology for Life Magazine. He is the Host and Producer of the Equipping You in Grace Podcast and a contributor to and producer of Contending for the Word.
He is the author of The War of Worldviews: Truth, Lies, and the Battle for the Christian Mind (Theology for Life, 2026), Contentment: The Journey of a Lifetime (Theology for Life, 2024), The Word Matters: Defending Biblical Authority Against the Spirit of the Age and The Word Explored: The Problem of Biblical Illiteracy and What To Do About It (House to House, 2021).
You can connect with Dave on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, or subscribe to his newsletter.
When he is not engaged in ministry work, Dave enjoys spending time with his wife, going to movies, sharing a meal at a favorite restaurant, or playing a round of golf with friends. He is also a voracious reader, particularly of Reformed theology and the Puritans, and is often found working through a stack of new books from a wide range of Christian publishers.
Dave earned his M.A.R. and M.Div. from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.
