Introduction
 
Part 1: Foundations

Chapter 1: “Spiritual Formation”: A Simple Concept with a Complicated History
Chapter 2: Spiritual Formation in a Reformation Key
 
Part 2: The Reformation Triangle

Chapter 3: Scripture: Hearing from God
Chapter 4: Meditation: Reflecting on God
Chapter 5: Prayer: Responding to God
 
Part 3: Widening Our Scope

Chapter 6: Looking Inward: Self-Examination
Chapter 7: Looking Outward: The Natural World
Chapter 8: Looking to One Another: Christian Relationships
 
Part 4: Challenges

Chapter 9: But What about the Body?
Chapter 10: When Things Go Wrong
 
Epilogue 

“A Heart Aflame for God is one of the most edifying and spiritually insightful books I have ever read. While confessional Protestants often look to other traditions for guidance in spiritual formation, Matthew Bingham is like a miner uncovering the rich, life-giving treasures of the Reformed tradition. I wish I could travel back in time and hand this book to my younger self. Highly recommended!”
Hans Madueme, Professor of Theological Studies, Covenant College

“In our current historical moment, rife as it is with digital noise, doctrinal shallowness, and irreverent worship, some professing Christians have moved away from the biblical faith in search of ostensibly soul-satisfying alternatives. Turning to denominations like Roman Catholicism or Eastern Orthodoxy, many crave the stillness, theological intricacy, and spiritual gravitas that are promised by those traditions but that, when weighed in the balances, are found wanting. Matthew Bingham returns to the old paths by examining the sound doctrine and experiential piety of the Reformed tradition, a faith whose theologians of previous centuries—whether the English Puritans, the Dutch Nadere Reformatie divines, or the Old Princeton theologians—were masters of the craft of vibrant spiritual formation. Bingham examines how the Reformed tradition promotes spiritual growth through the disciplines of Scripture reading, meditation, and prayer, as well as through self-examination, worship, and Christian fellowship. This is a very helpful exposition and affirmation of Reformed experiential piety.”
Joel R. Beeke, Chancellor and Professor of Homiletics and Systematic Theology, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary; Pastor, Heritage Reformed Congregation, Grand Rapids, Michigan

“In a time when many evangelicals are experiencing great spiritual anxiety and discontentment, Matthew Bingham retrieves a distinctively Reformed account of spiritual formation. This book is like food in a time of hunger. Many are leaving evangelicalism in search of a greater depth of spiritual practice. Bingham helps us see how this need can be met within the resources of our own tradition. Drawing especially from the Puritans, he builds a robust theology of prayer, Scripture reading, meditation, self-examination, relationship, and even nature and the human body. Rich in both theology and spiritual insight, A Heart Aflame for God will serve and edify readers at multiple levels. Highly recommended!”
Gavin Ortlund, President, Truth Unites; Theologian in Residence, Immanuel Church, Nashville, Tennessee

“Matthew Bingham calls us to leave the experiential shallows of modern evangelicalism and to plunge into the deeper understanding of Christian formation that was developed by the Reformers and Puritans from their sustained reflection on the word and works of God. This is an incredibly important new book—a word in season to those who are weary.”
Crawford Gribben, Professor of History, Queen’s University Belfast; author, An Introduction to John Owen      

“This book on spiritual formation by Matthew Bingham is just the tonic for this age, in part because it relies on many ‘ages’ throughout church history. To address contemporary concerns, while also offering a positive approach to how to live as a Christian, Bingham has marshaled some of the best in this delightful treatise. A Reformed approach to living a spiritual life is not an oxymoron but rather part and parcel of how Reformed theologians, including many of the illustrious Puritan divines, did theology. This is a modern ‘Puritan’ work addressing a present need in the hopes that evangelicals will embrace the tools readily available to them to make them mature, deep-thinking Christians.”
Mark Jones, Senior Minister, Faith Reformed Presbyterian Church, Vancouver, British Columbia

“This work stands as a guiding light, showing us that a heart aflame for God can thrive within a Reformed understanding of spiritual formation. I highly recommend Matthew Bingham’s insightful and accessible book to anyone yearning for a stronger connection to the Reformed faith and a deeper walk with God. Protestant readers will discover that the resources for profound spiritual growth can be found within their tradition.”
Karin Spiecker Stetina, Associate Professor of Biblical and Theological Studies, Talbot School of Theology, Biola University

“One of the major effects for evangelical Christians living in the modern West with its ahistorical ethos and mentalité is an ignorance of the spiritual riches of their tradition. Matthew Bingham’s work on spiritual formation and what have traditionally been called the means of grace is a fabulous remedy for this dire situation. Drawing especially on the Puritan writings of our evangelical heritage (he even includes quotes from that relatively unknown star of the Puritan firmament Brilliana Harley!), Bingham charts a way for modern Christians to benefit from that notable era of spiritual wisdom and so walk worthy of their calling. It is a book, I trust, that will bring much good to God’s people and glory to the God of the Puritans!”
Michael A. G. Haykin, Professor of Church History and Biblical Spirituality, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

“Matthew Bingham helps the sons and daughters of the Reformation to feel no shame for the origin story of their piety. He displays the rich fare of spiritual formation passed down to us by the Reformers, even as he strongly resists the modern trend of adopting spiritual and mystical practices from other traditions. This book outlines the contours of a truly healthy spirituality that is inseparably connected to healthy doctrine—with the ‘Reformation triangle’ at its foundation and with Christ at its center.”
A. Craig Troxel, Robert G. den Dulk Professor of Practical Theology, Westminster Seminary California; author, With All Your Heart

“Oh to have ‘great souls’ like the early modern saints. Our inner persons today have shriveled so small. We are fragile and weak of heart. We are in desperate need of enlarged, deepened, conditioned souls that glory in real glories, fear real threats, and keep Godward balance in the tides of unbelief, decadence, and trivial distraction. Bingham has collected many Puritan treasures in one chest, arranged them in order, and made them accessible for use today. The health of your soul in the late modern world—and perhaps, through you, the healing of others—may await a slow, attentive engagement with this book. The more I read, the better it got. I’ve already made plans to reread this book.”
David Mathis, Senior Teacher and Executive Editor, Desiring God; Pastor, Cities Church, Saint Paul, Minnesota; author, Habits of Grace

“In Galatians 4:19, the apostle Paul expressed his longing to see that ‘Christ is formed’ in believers. From this verse, the term spiritual formation has arisen to describe the biblical process of molding the mind, heart, and life of a Christian into conformity to Christ. Books related to this theme have appeared for as long as Christian books have been written, but I cannot recommend many of them because they rely heavily on writers who hold to a different gospel than the one taught in Scripture. They may say wonderful things about how a Christian should pray, for example, but behind those commendations is false teaching about how a person becomes a Christian in the first place. I cannot encourage the reading of some books on the subject because they advocate spiritual formation by means of practices not found in Scripture at all. But A Heart Aflame for God rightly contends for a sola Scriptura spirituality. Those unfamiliar with the Reformed tradition on spiritual formation (which seems to be true of some of the bestselling contemporary authors on spiritual formation) will be surprised by the depth and breadth of the riches uncovered by Bingham. He carefully considers the views of other traditions, but he maintains that all true spirituality must be founded on the Bible and the gospel it proclaims. As Jesus prayed, ‘Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth’ (John 17:17).”
Donald S. Whitney, Professor of Biblical Spirituality and John H. Powell Professor of Pastoral Ministry, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary; author, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life; Praying the Bible; and Family Worship