An exploration of the Enneagram and its place in the life of faith.

The author speaks of his own story in terms of coming to understand the Enneagram and supplies many ancedotes about the application thereof in his ministry.

This book is at its best when it speaks about the Enneagram and its application in various aspects of the life in the faith: identity, personality, discipleship, and character. One can tell the author has been compelled to defend the use of the Enneagram and has proven circumspect about what it is and the limitations thereof.

The book gets iffy when it starts playing loose and fast with the Enneagram. One hard rule of the Enneagram is that you ought not try to type anyone else; yet the author would suggest possible types for Biblical characters. The author attempts to "type" churches with the assumption that a given local congregation will often reflect the type of its leadership; wherever that might be accurate is unfortunate, since a local congregation should reflect many aspects of many types as its members contribute and manifest their particular strengths and weaknesses.

The book is at its worst when the author spends a lot of time talking about himself.

There are some interesting ideas and applications here, but this probably shouldn't be your gateway into the Enneagram.

AJ Sherrill does a great job approaching the Enneagram from a pastoral perspective. He gives thoughtful insight into each Enneagram type from his years of experience and helps the reader to identify with the type most likely to fit. Common strengths and weakness are laid out with care to help readers grow not only as individuals, but also in their relationships to others and God. He provides the commentary you would expect from a spiritual director for each type, giving the reader reason to return again and again to info that’s relevant at different points along the never ending path of spiritual development.

Thanks to NetGalley and Brazos Press for an advanced copy of this book.

The cover, format, and graphs and structure within the book are well done and artful. The breakdown of the enneagram through the lens of spirituality isn’t unique but the approach within this book feels fresh and new. It’s a quick read if you focus on your own enneagram only but tools within allow you to categorize those you share your time with for a deeper look into their perspective.

This is a great book for any Christian who already has some knowledge of the Enneagram and would like to dive deeper in using it as a means of spiritual formation. I found it to be accessible and helpful.

The Enneagram is credited for more than it can accomplish and blamed for less than it can do. It’s not THE answer. But it is AN answer.

A.J. Sherrill strikes a good balance in this book. Sherrill shows we can use the Enneagram to root our identity in Christ, to work with our personality, and to create a life of wholeness and beauty.

As Sherrill does in his Enneagram workshops, he also states in The Enneagram for Spiritual Formation these four agreements:

1. Remember that you are not a number.
2. Refuse to become branded as the Enneagram person, church, or organization.
3. Resist the urge to type another person.
4. Reclaim the Enneagram as a means, not an end.

For each of the nine Enneagram types, Sherrill lists the following (as an example, I’ll use Type 6):

* Type 6
* One Word: Questioner
* Survival Strategy: “I must be secure and safe.”
* Full Description
* Lies they believe: “It is not okay to trust yourself.”
* Truth they need: “You are safe.”

He later lists discipleship spiritual practices for each Enneatype: downstream practices (these come naturally) and upstream practices (harder to do).

For example, he suggests Type 2s practice hospitality as their downstream practice and to use centering prayer as their upstream practice. The day in the church calendar they should heed is Maundy Thursday (the day Jesus washed feet).

This book isn’t an exhaustive resource to fully explain the Enneagram. But if you already know your number, it can help you discover specific ways to practice it.

In the conclusion, Sherrill says,

“There are many things the Enneagram cannot do. Its power is limited. However, as a means toward self-reflection, spiritual practice, marriage, leadership, and evangelism, it is an incredibly valuable tool. . . .

The Enneagram isn’t Jesus, but it can help you learn how to be more like him.”

My thanks to Net Galley for the review copy of this book.

3 stars = Good/solid/fine
I was hoping for a rich spiritual growth resource, but this didn't deliver like I hoped. There were a couple chapters I enjoyed where the information felt new/different. One chapter was on spiritual practices for each type, one that would be a natural fit and another that was designed to challenge the type in a way that was important for growth. The other chapter I liked was Bible stories and passages that would be good for each type and the reason they were chosen. I could see those chapters being part of a spiritual director or therapist's repertoire for counseling. The rest was fine, but not anything really new that I don't already have in other resources.

For readers looking for spiritual growth recommendations by type, I would go with Spiritual Rhythms for the Enneagram instead.

There wasn't much to take away from this book. The first half focuses on what the Enneagram is and a little bit about who God is. It seems like wasted real estate, since this book is so niche. There were really only three practical application of how to lean into spiritual growth for your enneagram type. I wish this book was more developed.

I've been following AJ Sherrill's writings (and speaking) on the Enneagram around the internet ever since I stumbled on his dissertation online. I remember thinking to myself then that this guy should write a book!

I am honored to be able to preview AJ Sherrill's book, The Enneagram for Spiritual Formation.

The Enneagram is a tool and that our identity cannot be distilled down to a number are two very important themes that run throughout the book. One can sense AJ's commitment to our understanding of this in the way that the book always brings the reader back to The Maker and how he busts down the Enneagram myths from the jump. You also won't find the nuances of wings and subtypes to distract you from making the connection between how understanding ourselves as imago Dei helps us understand that our significance is because of whose we are, not who we are. AJ invites us to experience the tool of the Enneagram as aid in getting off the treadmill of competence, comparison and control.. A highly recommended read!

This book was SOOOO GOOD.

As an enneagram 4 I often find it hard to relate myself back yo my spiritual formation and this book really helped answer a lot of questions for me as well as give language to the enneagram on a more spiritual level.

I appreciated that the first couple of chapters were helping the reader to better understand the enneagram and then gave very useful and practical exercises to help people better fall into who God created them to be.

A Christian must read!

A.J. Sherrill’s “The Enneagram for Spiritual Formation” is one of the best books on the Enneagram out there! This book is profound in its depth and wisdom and will undoubtedly help folks know themselves and how God has wired them. Of course, this book will do more than inform, it will surely transform and help you live with love, integrity, and wisdom! I highly recommend it!

This book starts with emphasizing that we are loved full stop. That is a message too many people forget, and important to be reminded of when reading a book that gives you a framework to pin your personality off.

What I liked about this book was that it had practical exercises and advice related to each type. I also liked that everything was underpinned by a Christian framework. No matter which Church you go to, I think you would find something in this book that would help you - it's not geared to a specific denomination.

In full disclosure, I got this book for free. My only part to play is this honest review. Worth a read - I've got multiple highlights in it. I think it would fit well in a Church library.