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The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment
by
Tim Challies (Goodreads Author)
Spiritual discernment is good for more than just making monumental decisions according to God's will. It is an essential, day-to-day activity that allows thoughtful Christians to separate the truth of God from error and to distinguish right from wrong in all kinds of settings and situations. It is also a skill-something that any person can develop and improve, especially w...more
Paperback, 206 pages
Published
December 19th 2007
by Crossway Books
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It was hard to rate this book. There were many good things in it but also quite a few disappointments.When I saw the title, "The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment", I thought it would be about the discernment of spiritual things or the discernment of spirits. He does mention that in his book, but that isn't what the book is really about.
Basically this book is about learning how to: read scripture, interact with Christians who have different views, and discern right from wrong. Obviously this...more
Basically this book is about learning how to: read scripture, interact with Christians who have different views, and discern right from wrong. Obviously this...more
I recently finished this book by Tim Challies who is a web designer who hails from the Great White North. Although I have had my difference with Canadians over the years (they try to pawn of ham as "Canadian Bacon"...I'm not buying it...it is to different parts of pig) I was still very fond of this book.
This book does not have a misleading title...it is about the act of discernment which is a discipline that has not been the focus of much attention in recent years.
Challies attempts to engage the...more
This book does not have a misleading title...it is about the act of discernment which is a discipline that has not been the focus of much attention in recent years.
Challies attempts to engage the...more
Tim Challies clearly communicates the need for discernment and how it is paralleled with spiritual maturity. In a day when we are opposed by culture, satanic influence, and even our own evil natures, we need to be a discerning people. Challies shows the importance of "understanding and applying God's Word" in order to separte what is error from what is good. We must believe and think correctly about what the Word has revealed about God and His character. And we must believe and think correctly a...more
Discernment is something that I think we talk about in Christian circles as a side issue, or something that happens almost by accident as we progress in our faith. Tim Challies asserts that this should be a much more important topic in our lives... if not the most essential discipline as we grow in our knowledge and love of God.
It is a comprehensive, to say the least, and challenging book that has left me with a thorough understanding of the biblical definition and importance of discernment. But...more
It is a comprehensive, to say the least, and challenging book that has left me with a thorough understanding of the biblical definition and importance of discernment. But...more
In my opinion Tim Challies has added a considerable contribution to the body of Christ by writing this book on the need of acurate, humble and timely discernment in the the world. Although the theme of discernment is by no means scarce in the Bible, there is comparatively very little literature on the subject. Challies has contributed a relevant and biblically accurate urgent call for discernment that is so needed in the church today. In a culture where excercizing biblical discernment is oftent...more
Tim Challies tackles an important topic. What I really appreciated was how he debunked the behavior that suggests that we can find proof verses or know the specific will of God in a particular situation that is not addressed in the scriptures by examining the scriptures for a specific answer. Instead, he suggests that we need to be reading the whole body of the Bible, to be working on living as God intends, and then out of this infusion of scripture, experience, and Spirit, we will begin to be a...more
The book was average, which was surprising given Mr. Challies's normally excellent grasps of topics. While I wouldn't call the book poor or badly written, the discipline comes down to two separate, but simple things. The mind will fill with what you decide to feed it. If you fill with trash, your spiritual discernment will be nill. Or as we learned in computer programming courses, "Garbage In, Garbage Out." If you read The Word constantly and allow it to mold your mind and thought processes, you...more
Tim Challies writes an interesting and informative blog (challies.com) which I check regularly. I find that he is a good thinker and a decent writer, and I can tell that he puts a lot of effort into his blog posts. His book reviews have been particularly helpful to me.
I was disappointed in this book, however. Spiritual discernment is surely an important topic and one that is desperately needed within the church, and as it goes, Challies did a decent job handling this topic. However, two things s...more
I was disappointed in this book, however. Spiritual discernment is surely an important topic and one that is desperately needed within the church, and as it goes, Challies did a decent job handling this topic. However, two things s...more
Right or wrong? Truth or error? The process of answering these questions is discernment, and Challies has written a work dedicated entirely to defining and developing this discipline. Challies spends the first part of the book explaining what discernment is, then discusses some of its dangers before concluding with practical advice on how to put discernment to use. Although this book is full of helpful information, it seems repetitive in some places and slow in others.
This book is a must read, only if you're in a place where you're willing to do the hard work involved with spiritual discernment. The last chapter provides a great framework to apply when analyzing spiritual teaching and when making decisions.
The rest of the book makes the case, for holding everything up to the Word of God to determine what is true and what is not. Truth is consistent. It never varies. Being able to clearly identify truth makes spotting falsehoods packaged in grains of truth ea...more
The rest of the book makes the case, for holding everything up to the Word of God to determine what is true and what is not. Truth is consistent. It never varies. Being able to clearly identify truth makes spotting falsehoods packaged in grains of truth ea...more
I burned up a highlighter on this book. there were a couple of tedious chapters that seemed get get bogged down in details and I kept wanting to skip to the chapter on developing discernment. but over all this was very helpful! I know I will be returning to this book many times as I both practice and teach on spiritual discernment. I am convinced the American church is really sick as a result of this issue being neglected.
Jul 27, 2012
Rebekah
added it
I absolutely loved this book. It calls Believers to be discerning without condemning or throwing out "the baby with the bath water" so to speak. Challies also gives his reader an "ethical model" of sorts to help them discern truth from lie. Overall one that I can highly recommend and will be added to my library.
Great book. Read it with a group of guys and found that it worked will for group discussions. Disagreed with Challies on some points, but that helped conversations go all the better. I think that this a really helpful place to start when looking into the topic of discernment.
This book has opened my eyes to then importance of discernment not only in books but in every aspect of Christian living. Through the chapters, he explains discernment as found in the Bible and he also gives many pointers on how to practice discernment. Great book.
This was a very good book. It encouraged much thought and personal evaluation. I found it to be slightly repetitive at times, but I'm sure that helped with its clarity and ability to truly drive home his points. I highly recommend.
Really enjoyed this book. Easy to understand and sets out the basic principles all Christians should use in their everyday life to understand what real Truth is.
Terrific book. I lead a group through this book at church back in January and have another group in the summer.
Every church leader should read this book.
Every church leader should read this book.
Great book. Strong focus on 1 Thess. 5:21-22 - "Test everything, hold fast to what is good. Abstain from every form of evil." A much needed read personally and very challenging. This is an area that needs to be cultivated in our churches, specifically in our male leadership. I found the discussion questions at the end to be useful and probing. I would recommend this book for small-group book studies.
A fine little book whose contents are wise, timely, and urgent. All who profess Christ, whether readers or not, need to digest this.
1st book written by this author. A thorough treatment of a vital biblical practice. I would have liked more emphasis on the role, importance of the Holy Spirit, but Tim's clarity, and concise writing ability makes this a must read
Next to THE HOLINESS OF GOD this may be the most important book I have ever read. One to keep close by refer to often.
Really made me think about what discernment is and how to apply it. And absolutely not a dry read!
A most excellent and thoughtful book. Any Christ-follower should read this book or one like it!
A challenge to all God's people to discern truth from untruth. Well written & easy to read.
Discernment is a learned skill, which is an "unequivocal testament to ... spiritual growth."
Apr 16, 2009
Jeff Noble
added it
The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment by Tim Challies (?)
This book is in my top ten favorite books read. Loved it!
I had never read Tim Challies but I like what I read. This book is exceptionally easy to read, but not dumbed down by any means. It is a well written book that will keep almost anyone interested.
The book is dedicated to understanding what discernment is and how to attain it. At the end of the book he gives a practical example. This was the first book that I had read that was strictly concerning spiritual discernment. I was impressed.
The book is dedicated to understanding what discernment is and how to attain it. At the end of the book he gives a practical example. This was the first book that I had read that was strictly concerning spiritual discernment. I was impressed.
Absolutely wonderful book. This is a no nonsense approach to discernment that every believer everywhere should read. I read it on my kindle, but will be ordering a few hard copies, one to keep, and some on hand to give away. Well done Tim Challies!
I'm not sure that there is a biblical calling that believers are less familiar with but more in need of than the discipline of spiritual discernment. Challies' book, while occasionally giving us the opportunity to practice what he is encouraging (!) is a needed wake-up call and a very accessible primer on this vital theme. I found myself both deeply encouraged and challenged as I read.
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Tim Challies is a leading evangelical blogger and editor of Discerning Reader, a site dedicated to discerning reviews of books that are of interest to Christians. A self-employed web designer, Tim lives in the outskirts of Toronto, Ontario with his wife and three children.
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I really hate 'good Theology'....more
Sep 20, 2012 11:09am
That's what I thought, actually. I didn't mean to nitpick; I just wanted to make sure your me...more
Sep 20, 2012 11:10am