Many Christians misunderstand and trivialize the biblical meaning of love and miss the transformation that God wants for them. We may practice the disciplines without grasping the life that Jesus desires to give within us. Through many years of spiritual formation teaching, coaching, and spiritual direction, I have found that both pastors and lay folk seem to simply blow past the central teaching of Scripture that LOVE forms the heart of the Gospel message. When we translate the Greek word agape with our various cultural understandings such as attraction, affection, or kindly deeds, love makes no real sense. Why would affection or kind deeds toward God or others trump faith or hope, for example? People easily affirm that God loves them and then move on to more important kingdom issues. When, however, we grasp the real meaning of agapPaperbacke, LOVE changes everything!

Paperback (2022): Amazon: $17.95 (Kindle $9.99)

A practical program for developing a deeper, more authentic relationship with God

Written for anyone who wants to develop a deeper more meaningful relationship with God, Mansions of the Heart offers a step-by-step guide through a spiritual formation road map based on Teresa of Avila's Seven Mansions..

Hardcover (2009): Amazon: $24.95 (Kindle $13.00)

Study Guide (2014): Amazon: $13.99.

Contagious Fire challenges the Church to enflame the hearts of its members with the love of God and mobilize that love in outreach to those who desperately need Jesus. Enriched by contributions from many Church and Ministry Leaders, Contagious Fire provides the insights and resources to empower Christian leaders for the coming fulfillment of the Great Commandment and Great Commission in the Church.

Paperback (2018) $23.95; Kindle $13.99. 

Presence describes a fictional story about Jesus’ ongoing physical appearances to three people in a small mid-western town. Under the promise that they may never tell anyone about their experiences, each one meets with Jesus personally and engages the issues in their relationship with Him and in everyday life. Jesus leads them personally and then collectively into the experience of community and discovery of Scripture’s invitation to abundant life through adoption and transformation. (See ThinSpace Podcast, episodes 41-42)

Paperback (2015): Amazon: $17.99 (Kindle $9.99)

Discovering Christ's Presence: A Study Guide to Presence: $13.95

The Exercises for Discovery Companions are designed for people who have participated in an Imago Christi Spiritual Formation Discovery event to deepen your experience of the themes and practices introduced in the Discovery event long after the event is over. 

The preparatory exercises and eight sessions provide practical helps for you and your Discovery Companion to engage regularly in Abiding Prayer, and discover deeper insights about yourself, your spiritual journey, and your Longing for a more intimate relationship with God, so that you may intentionally live out your First Order Calling to love God first. 

Paperback (2017): Amazon: $14.99. 

Imago Christi has developed a Coaching Manual that will help leadership coaches and spiritual directors coach important spiritual growth experiences. This manual is based on our unique ABIDE coaching model for Spiritual Formation, which comes out of our extensive experience coaching Christian leaders in their personal spiritual formation. Each chapter contains coaching guidelines and questions for the coaching process, along with an extensive bibliography. To purchase visit our Coaching Manual page. 

Most approaches to liturgical theology are anthropocentric: the study of liturgy is primarily focused on what we, the worshipers, do. Thomas F. Torrance and James B. Torrance offer a trinitarian and christocentric approach. This informs not only the “why” of worship and not simply the “what” or “how” of worship, but centers on the One whom we worship. Most significantly, it fully recognizes the key role of the humanity of Christ as the ascended High Priest who alone offers the perfect worship and through whom alone we are enabled by the Spirit to worship God.

Paperback $28.00

Springing from the desire for a deeper appreciation and participation with Christ, this Lenten Journey consists of nine weeks of devotional meditations and questions for reflection. The first seven weeks follow Christ’s journey through His passion. Two additional weeks after Easter explore the reality of Jesus’ resurrection life.

Paperback rev. ed. (2021): $14.98 (Kindle $8.98)

How do I live a life more centered on Christ today? In the wake of a fast-paced world, this guide is a concrete response to this question. For those seeking a “kingdom life”; a life more centered on Christ, a regular prayer habit is critical. This prayer guide offers a fresh look at “daily offices” inviting us to be with God throughout our day. It weaves spiritual practices including Bible verses, worship, silence, and confession, into a cohesive and sustainable pattern. If you need help in your walk with Christ, this guide offers a place to begin. If you are in a challenging season, this simple prayer rhythm can be your solace and anchor. Whether you are a young or seasoned follower of Jesus, if you yearn to explore uncharted waters of spiritual living, this guide is for you.

Paperback (2016): Amazon:$12.99

During the imprisonment of the Apostle Paul in Judea in 57 AD, Luke finds himself a fugitive, who is on a mission to write an accurate account of all that Jesus began to do and teach, in Greek for generations of the Church to come. As he flees from the attempts of the Pharisees to arrest him as Paul's accomplice, Luke has divine encounters with apostles, eyewitnesses and "attendants of the word," who help him on his fugitive way, and also help him encounter the reality of Jesus behind the words.

Fugitive Encounters relates a fictional, though historically and biblically plausible, account of the writing of Luke's Gospel in the form of a novel. Readers of all ages and levels of familiarity with Gospel studies will enjoy seeing the Gospel come alive to Luke in the context of the third decade of the Early Church.

Paperback (2016) $12.89; Kindle; eBook (ePub) 

In this concise and clearly written handbook, worship leaders from every denomination and musical style will find a wealth of information on how to develop their leadership skills and improve the effectiveness of corporate worship. Kevin J. Navarro explains the four basic elements that are crucial to becoming an effective worship leader: theology, discipleship, artistry, and leadership.

The Complete Worship Leader provides a holistic, biblical view of worship leading as drawing people into God's presence through more than song leading. Pastors, worship planners, lay leaders, and college and seminary students from a cross section of denominations will benefit from this simple yet thorough discussion of what it means to lead the body of Christ into a genuine experience of worshiping God. 

Amazon Paperback $12.80, Kindle $9.36

Just as diners visit a fine restaurant anticipating the ambiance and meal to come, so first time guests and members alike come to church to experience the presence of God. In this follow up book to The Complete Worship Leader, veteran worship leader and past or Kevin Navarro helps church leaders create a complete worship service by implementing a four part pattern of worship: longing for, preparing for, experiencing, and talking about a taste of heaven.

Approaching the worship service as an act of hospitality, Navarro emphasizes clearing away obstacles and communicating the gospel. He shares practical ideas for churches of all kinds and sizes everything from assisting guests to using the arts to centering the preaching on Christ. Pastors, worship leaders, and church leaders of any denomination and worship style will benefit from this practical guide.

Amazon Paperback $15.00, Kindle $14.25