Toolkit for Spiritual Growth

A Practical Guide to Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving

De: Evan Armatas

Narrado por: Evan Armatas

Are you a new Orthodox Christian, confused about what you need to do to grow in your faith? Or perhaps you've been Orthodox for some time but could use a refresher course in basic spirituality. Popular podcaster Fr. Evan Armatas explains the fundamentals of the three-legged stool of Orthdoox practice - prayer, almsgiving, and fasting - in terms that everyone can understand and implement. Let Fr. Evan help you establish your life in Christ on a firm footing.

©2020 Evan Armatas (P)2020 Evan Armatas

Great intro for those wanting to know more about orthodoxy

Great intro for those wanting to know more about orthodox Christianity. I will keep a few copies of these books handy in my parish for those interested.

Very good!

Father was very clear and to the point. Though I was aware of some things already it was good to hear again. This has been very helpful.

Great balanced authentic perspectives on Spirituality

Father Evan speaks from the heart about Spiritual practice in the Orthodox Church in North American English. His presentation is tempered, and balanced between the various facets of Christian tradition as lived and practiced by Orthodox Christians, based on the Apostolic tradition of the Church, the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, Church Fathers and Mothers, and his life in the Church in his role as Priest and Spiritual counsellor.

Great book

easy to understand with good points to reflect on. Great audio book. Will listen again

Tools to get started in the spiritual disciplines

Sometimes, when facing an intimidating project, all that is needed to inspire confidence and get started is simply having the necessary tools and good instructions. In Toolkit for Spiritual Growth, Fr. Evan Armatas offers the necessary tools to get started in a life of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. He draws on the Holy Scriptures, the example of Christ and the saints, as well as his experience as a parish priest to present the Christian reader with a beginner’s guide to the basics of spiritual discipline. As an introduction, this book is not too lengthy or verbose. It is divided into three chapters, one for each of the disciplines, and each chapter can be read or listened to on Audible in less than an hour. It is not an academic or polemical work, but Fr. Evan does offer some biblical justification for these practices as he interacts with anticipated questions and objections. In his chapter on prayer he answers the questions, “What should prayer look like, physically? How is it done? Where should one pray? What should one say and when?” He discusses liturgical prayer, according to the “rhythm and method of the Church,” versus extemporaneous prayer. And he outlines how to set up a prayer corner. The chapter on almsgiving encourages Christians to view charitable giving as more comprehensive than feeding and clothing the poor, and to not overlook the use of individual gifts and talents in meeting the varying needs of others, starting within one’s own home. In his final chapter, Fr. Evan explains the purpose and meaning of the regular fasting days and seasons of the Orthodox Church calendar, and he offers some guidelines for fasting. I appreciated Fr. Evan’s constant reminder that “matter matters” and “what we do with our physical selves’ matters”. When we pray, our prayer space, lighting, direction, routine, posture, and attire all mean something. When we give to others, putting ourselves in a space of real physical contact is important. When we fast, we fast from physical food. I also appreciated his stress on seeking the guidance of one’s priest as these practices are communal and Christians are not meant to go it alone. This book gives the reader the practical guidance and encouragement to get started in these disciplines and it whets the appetite to learn more about them from the fathers and saints of the church.

very practical guide and enlightning

very practical guide and enlightning. I highly recommend for establshing a good Orthodox life. Love it.

Good introduction or refresher

A straightforward book of crucial practices. Good for refreshing or introducing or helping explain why Orthodox Christians live this way. Fr Armitas offers his explanations with a firm base on our physical needs as human beings, a welcome approach and much needed. Highly recommended.

Absolutely love it!

Fr. Armatas made it easy to understand some difficult and confusing topics. I found answers for many questions I had for years.

an apt title

This is a good handbook and a good theological exegesis in easy to read and understand. I like it that Fr Armatas, the author, took the time to read it for audible.

Excellent concise book on growing in faith

I'm not Orthodox but rather am Catholic. I found this to be the best book on prayer, fasting and almsgiving I've ever read or heard. It has actionable steps and golden nuggets of advice to help one grow in faith. I could not put it down.