The Beloved of God
This study explores Henri Nouwen’s teaching that the deepest truth about the believer is not usefulness, achievement, reputation, failure, shame, suffering, or religious performance, but belovedness in Jesus Christ. It presents belovedness as the foundation of Christian identity, the root of spiritual formation, the source of compassion, and the ground from which ministry, service, forgiveness, community, and peace flow. The study invites readers to hear and receive the voice of God that says, “You are my beloved,” and to live from that truth through the movements of being chosen, blessed, broken, and given.
https://awalkingstick.com/beloved/
Biblical Meditation: The Contemplative Path Into Scripture
This study introduces biblical meditation as a way of entering Scripture through listening, stillness, and prayerful reflection. Rather than reading only for information, it invites readers to receive Scripture as the living voice of God that moves from the head to the heart and shapes identity, compassion, gratitude, and daily action.
https://awalkingstick.com/meditation/
Crucifixion-Side Living
This study explores the believer’s life as both seated with Christ in victory and called to walk with Christ through suffering, obedience, and hope. It holds together the believer’s positional standing in Christ and the lived experience of suffering, showing how the descending way of Jesus shapes daily life, ministry, endurance, and the hope of future glory.
https://awalkingstick.com/crucifixion-side/
Discernment
This study presents discernment as a lifelong practice of listening for God’s voice, recognizing God’s presence, and responding faithfully in daily life. It explores discernment through prayer, Scripture, people, community, spiritual direction, vocation, time, and belovedness, showing how God guides believers toward freedom, love, and faithful action. https://awalkingstick.com/discernment-2/
Downward Mobility and the Descending Way of Christ
This study explores Nouwen’s teaching that the way of Jesus is not upward toward power, prestige, and recognition, but downward toward humility, vulnerability, service, suffering, and the cross. It invites believers and pastors to find their identity in God’s love, release the false self, and follow Christ into the places where true spiritual fruitfulness is found.
https://awalkingstick.com/downward-mobility-2/
The Living Circle: Preparing Local Church Leaders for Service Through Solitude, Community, and Service
This study explores Henri Nouwen’s model of solitude, community, and service as a living circle that forms believers for faithful and sustainable ministry in the local church. It shows that genuine preparation for service begins not merely with skills, methods, or ministry roles, but with an interior life formed in solitude with God, strengthened through honest Christian community, and poured out in free and compassionate service. The study is especially designed for church leaders, teachers, deacons, volunteers, and lay servants who desire to serve from a place of spiritual depth, belovedness, and long-term faithfulness.
https://awalkingstick.com/living-circle-2/
Prayer
This study explores prayer as a living relationship with God rather than a technique, duty, or spiritual performance. It presents seven forms of prayer—contemplative prayer, liturgical and communal prayer, gratitude, petition, intercession, confession and repentance, and prayer in suffering and lament—as one spiritual journey into deeper communion with God.
https://awalkingstick.com/prayer-3/
Self-Rejection
This study examines Nouwen’s teaching that self-rejection is one of the greatest enemies of the spiritual life because it contradicts the truth that we are God’s beloved children. It traces the causes, results, and spiritual dangers of self-rejection, while also presenting Nouwen’s path toward healing through belovedness, solitude, prayer, community, gratitude, and vulnerability.
https://awalkingstick.com/self-rejection/
Wounded Healer
Henri Nouwen describes the wounded healer as one who does not hide or deny personal pain, but allows it to become a source of compassion and understanding in ministry to others. Our wounds, when brought into the healing presence of Christ, can help us walk beside those who suffer with humility, honesty, and hope.