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29th out of 61 books
—
35 voters
The Discipline of Grace: God's Role and Our Role in the Pursuit of Holiness
The Discipline of Grace offers a clear and and thorough explanation of the gospel and what it means to be a believer.
Written by Navigator author Jerry Bridges, this book explores how the same grace that brings us to faith in Christ also disciplines us in Christ. In learning more about grace, you also will learn about God's character, His forgiveness, and the Holy Spirit.
Written by Navigator author Jerry Bridges, this book explores how the same grace that brings us to faith in Christ also disciplines us in Christ. In learning more about grace, you also will learn about God's character, His forgiveness, and the Holy Spirit.
Paperback, 242 pages
Published
April 28th 2006
by NavPress
(first published 1994)
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probably my favorite book of all time - sanctification is a tricky process... and the idea of God's grace is trickier still, but Bridges provides exactly what one may need to hear to fully comprehend a God that has His hands all over both in our lives.
Loved this book! Went through it with a friend, so helpful to understand the Holy Spirit's work in our sanctification. Discipline & Grace seem to be contrary statements, but this book helped to show that Disciple and Grace are complementary and by the Spirit. Here is a quote that left me in awe:
"God's Grace is greater than all our sins. Repentance is one of the Christian's highest privileges. A repentant Christian focuses on God's mercy and God's grace. Any moment in our lives when we bask i...more
"God's Grace is greater than all our sins. Repentance is one of the Christian's highest privileges. A repentant Christian focuses on God's mercy and God's grace. Any moment in our lives when we bask i...more
This is some great pastoral advice on how to view sanctification. Christians often struggle with how to put together two seemingly contradictory ideas: dependence on God on the one hand, and discipline in Spiritual activities we do on the other hand.
I listened to this on audio CD, so I wasn't able to digest a lot of the stuff he gets into. There were a couple of things in the book that bothered me. I'll get to those now. Bridges uses the word "appropriate" way too much. You gotta appropriate thi...more
I listened to this on audio CD, so I wasn't able to digest a lot of the stuff he gets into. There were a couple of things in the book that bothered me. I'll get to those now. Bridges uses the word "appropriate" way too much. You gotta appropriate thi...more
I picked up this book knowing that I needed to display more grace to those around me, but found this book geared towards explaining the "why" instead of demonstrating the "how". Nonetheless, it was still helpful to refocus on the basics of why grace is needed for everyone.
Quotable Moments:
- "Sin is like a defeated army in a civil war that, instead of surrendering and laying down its arms, simply fades into the countryside, from which it continues to wage a guerrilla war."
- On recurring sin pat...more
Quotable Moments:
- "Sin is like a defeated army in a civil war that, instead of surrendering and laying down its arms, simply fades into the countryside, from which it continues to wage a guerrilla war."
- On recurring sin pat...more
Jerry Bridges wrote The Discipline of Grace to connect the understanding of God's grace in Jesus Christ and seeking holiness. Unless our growth in holiness is anchored in God's grace poured out in Jesus, then we drift into the rocky shoals of temptations, attempt to scale the cliffs of self-improvement, or wash up on the sandbars of helplessness. This book is a lighthouse that guides the reader away from these pit-falls.
The book speaks most strongly to those Christians who desire with all their...more
The book speaks most strongly to those Christians who desire with all their...more
If there is a modern day Puritan, Jerry Bridges would be that Puritan. I shall rush to affirm that I say that in a very positive manner. Bridges seeks to strike the appropriate balance between the work of God within man and man's working out his own salvation. That was of great importance to the Puritans. So, too, was the understanding that doing so would lead to joy.
Bridges is one who is very consistent in his application of Scripture to the issue of grace and sanctification. Holiness is expect...more
Bridges is one who is very consistent in his application of Scripture to the issue of grace and sanctification. Holiness is expect...more
I don’t have a “Top Ten” list of favorite books, but if I did, this would be on it. It was insightful and convicting; illuminating to my mind while tremendously warming my heart. Jerry Bridges’ treatment of God’s role and our role in the pursuit of holiness is fantastic. Writing with years of wisdom and experience, he lays open our hearts, exposing hidden areas that God longs to deal with and clean up. At the very same time he writes with tenderness and grace, understanding God’s heart toward u...more
Dependence and Responsibility. This book attempts to find a Biblical basis for understanding our responsibilities in the pursuit of holiness. In particular, the book delves into what our role is, versus what God's role is, and then expanding upon not only what we should be doing, but what the proper approach and attitude should be in order for our efforts to be God-honoring.
This is a difficult area. As Bridges properly points out, teachings on personal holiness range from a 'God is in control s...more
This is a difficult area. As Bridges properly points out, teachings on personal holiness range from a 'God is in control s...more
Great book! Very evident that Jerry Bridges loves the gospel and desires believers to constantly trust in the finished work of Christ. He labors to show us that: on our very best days, we are still desperate for God's grace; and on our very worst days, we are never beyond the reach of God's grace. Our good works are never good enough to not need grace and our sins are never so bad that God's grace can't cover them. He also dives into the motive of our obedience. Yes we should obey God and yes we...more
I found this a helpful book, of about the right length to actually re-read, that encouraged me to throw everything on Jesus and not worry about my performance - in one sense. But yet, it really did a good job of walking through the our responsibility to pursue holiness, and pursue it hard, because God's standard is perfect, and he calls us to it. Often, toward the end of a chapter, when I would feel almost overwhelmed, he'd circle back and remind me that I'm no less loved by God on my bad days a...more
This is a helpful book that I thought did a good job overall of showing our respective roles in the pursuit of holiness. I confess, though, that at the beginning of the book, when it spoke of God's role, I was uncomfortable with the language at times because he gave it so much emphasis that it sounded like it was to the neglect of our responsibility, but then in the second half of the book, when it spoke of our role, I was again uncomfortable with the language at times because he gave so much em...more
I feel like this is a book that deserves more than 3 stars, but I don't think I can give it more than that right now. It seemed to have very good content, but I had a hard time staying focused on it. I listened to it most days (definitely took some breaks), and I found myself spacing out a lot and not being upset that I might've missed something. Maybe it reads better as an actual book and the narrator made it boring, I'm not sure.
One point that he makes and repeats throughout the book is the ne...more
One point that he makes and repeats throughout the book is the ne...more
Oct 04, 2011
Scott K
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Shelves:
living,
theology,
grace,
christianity,
cirriculum,
navpress,
prison-ministry,
jerry-bridges,
discipleship
I give it 5 stars but I prefer the word awesome versus amazing. Awesome in that Jerry Bridges does a great teaching of God's grace, His discipline and the need to preach the gospel to ourselves, as in believers, daily.
Bridges writes in a manner that is easy to grasp and retain for those who like me can't easily grasp those deep thinking theologians. That is not to say Bridges is not a deep thinking theologian, he is and shows it by taking the deep to shallow waters for us who zone out when readi...more
Bridges writes in a manner that is easy to grasp and retain for those who like me can't easily grasp those deep thinking theologians. That is not to say Bridges is not a deep thinking theologian, he is and shows it by taking the deep to shallow waters for us who zone out when readi...more
So glad that I read this after I read Jerry Bridges Transforming Grace. Holiness and grace fit so well together that it really is a picture of the Gospel. Again and I say again, we need the gospel 24/7. I appreciate the emphasis of the Gospel in this read. It makes it that more applicable. He talks about the disciplines of leading a holy life because we are called to but also because it reveals the Glory of God in our lives and transforms our hearts to be more like Jesus. The pursuit of holiness...more
I know I say this every time I review a Jerry Bridges book, but I'm going to say it again: I love his books! Every one of them has had a profound influence on me, including The Discipline of Grace. It's definitely at or near the top of the list for my favorite of his books so far. His writing is very simple and plain-spoken, but he has an incredible grasp on the truth of our life in Christ and what that looks like lived out.
This book is essentially a followup to two of his earlier books. Transfo...more
This book is essentially a followup to two of his earlier books. Transfo...more
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Discipler Jerry Bridges offers a treatment of the Christian Disciplines which purposes to show how grace and discipline are compatible. He does this by bringing together in one volume the spirits of his two earlier books, the practical Pursuit of Holiness and the devotional Transforming Grace. Bridges takes the perspective that conformity to Christ’s image requires of the Christian much hard work, but this work must be done in dependence on the power of the Holy Spirit -- or the Christian’s walk...more
Poignant Quotes:
...God's blessing does not depend on our performance.
[Christian's often think] that, although we are saved by grace, we earn or forfeit God's blessings in our daily lives by our performance.
Regardless of our performance, we are always dependent on God's grace, His undeserved favor to those who deserve His wrath.
We need to continue to hear the gospel every day of our Christian lives. Only a continuous reminder of the gospel of God's grace through Christ will keep us from falling i...more
...God's blessing does not depend on our performance.
[Christian's often think] that, although we are saved by grace, we earn or forfeit God's blessings in our daily lives by our performance.
Regardless of our performance, we are always dependent on God's grace, His undeserved favor to those who deserve His wrath.
We need to continue to hear the gospel every day of our Christian lives. Only a continuous reminder of the gospel of God's grace through Christ will keep us from falling i...more
Jun 01, 2012
Shannon
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
new Christians & "old" Christians who aren't growing spiritually
Recommended to Shannon by:
required reading for Theology of the Spiritual Life with Dr. Bibza
Shelves:
christian-books
I read this one in college and it brought an "a-ha" moment about the way God works -- that when we spend time with Him, He changes us, and we aren't responsible for changing ourselves. I'm rereading it now (15+ years later); it'll be interesting to see if I get any new ideas from it.
Update: I'm surprised by how different this book was from how I remember it! Though still packed with good insights, it seems to lean more heavily on self-discipline than on God's work within us. I would still recomm...more
Update: I'm surprised by how different this book was from how I remember it! Though still packed with good insights, it seems to lean more heavily on self-discipline than on God's work within us. I would still recomm...more
One of the 5 best Christian books I've ever read. Two points from the book have changed my walk. One, the reminder that I can go confidently before His throne of grace, regardless of whether I feel right with God (good day) or feeling like God is a million miles away (bad day). Two, I have adopted Bridges recommendation to preach the Gospel to myself every day. It starts my day and my prayer recognizing who and what I am in Christ and my position at the foot of the cross.
One I have read more tha...more
One I have read more tha...more
This is one of the best books I've ever read. Bridges draws out the implications of the simple gospel message for the continuing transformative, sanctifying work of God in the believer better than anything I've ever read. It will find its way into my top 10 most important books of my life, and will be required reading in any discipleship ministry I undertake from here on.
Last year I decided that a diet of at least one Jerry Bridges book each year would be good for my soul. The Discipline of Grace is a classic Bridges book, but this was my first time reading it. It was easy to read and yet rather deep as well.
Bridges introduced me to the phrase "preach the gospel to yourself everyday," and he explains that carefully in this book, arguing that the gospel is never merely the entrance to the Christian life. Bridges also explains at length the relationship between o...more
Bridges introduced me to the phrase "preach the gospel to yourself everyday," and he explains that carefully in this book, arguing that the gospel is never merely the entrance to the Christian life. Bridges also explains at length the relationship between o...more
It's difficult to summarize the impact this book had on my relationship with Christ. I read it at a time when my spirituality was becoming truly my own, and a big part of that battle was against a subtle form of legalism, or the "Christ plus" mentality that we need Christ's work on the cross for forgiveness, but our own good works bring about favor with God. Bridges combines the best of his two books "The Pursuit of Holiness" and "Transforming Grace" to form a synthesis of what being a Christ-fo...more
Oct 28, 2012
Karel
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Karel by:
Tim Challies
Shelves:
doctrine-of-sanctification
3.1B - Spiritual Growth
Jerry Bridges is a very clear and thought provoking writer. The Discipline of Grace highlighted for me not only the need to discipline myself towards godliness, but also my need to depend on the Holy Spirit for growth in godliness. My favorite chapter,"Dependent Discipline," reminded me to have both dependence and discipline, which are not mutually exclusive. Bridges describes dependence and discipline as the two wings of an airplane; both are necessary for flight, just as...more
Jerry Bridges is a very clear and thought provoking writer. The Discipline of Grace highlighted for me not only the need to discipline myself towards godliness, but also my need to depend on the Holy Spirit for growth in godliness. My favorite chapter,"Dependent Discipline," reminded me to have both dependence and discipline, which are not mutually exclusive. Bridges describes dependence and discipline as the two wings of an airplane; both are necessary for flight, just as...more
Written as a follow up of both "Transforming Grace" and "Pursuit of Holiness" this book explains how the concepts of complete dependence on God for personal growth and sanctification works together with personal responsibility in obedience to Him. Rather than two exclusive ideas, these two concepts work perfectly together and cannot be separated for true spiritual growth. As Paul says in I Corinthians 15:10, "But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I...more
Highly recommended. Jerry Bridges thoroughly explores the application of the gospel to the Christian believer. Pursuing holiness is neither a matter of passivity nor of gritting one's teeth and trying harder, but of daily preaching the gospel to oneself and, from the gracious knowledge of acceptance and of sin's broken dominion, pressing on in the joyful duty of discipleship. Bridges offers a number of practical helps for doing this.
I definitely had some "ouch" moments of realizing I do not tak...more
I definitely had some "ouch" moments of realizing I do not tak...more
Great book, I am a huge fan of Jerry Bridges. You should do yourself a favor and read anything that he writes, this is a great place to start. Gospel centered as usual and very practical. This is by far one of my favorite books by Mr. Bridges.
Jerry Bridges does a wonderful job explaining how grace disciplines us to walk closer to God. I've read the book 3 or 4 times already, preparing a series of teaching from this book and plan to read it again when I get the chance.
I really enjoy Bridge's books. He is one of the best when it comes to sanctification and holiness. This book was good, but it needed to be shorter. It was quite repetitive and I found myself saying to myself past the halfway mark of the book, "That was said in a previous chapter." Other than the repetitiveness, the book was good.
Great book with a great view of the gospel. We cannot say what we do or don't do right or wrong on any given day means anything before God's holy throne. We can only stand there in Christ's holiness.
A good work book to help apply and process through the principles of the book
Become like Christ - remember the beauty of grace and the gospel often, more often than you think you need.
Become like Christ - remember the beauty of grace and the gospel often, more often than you think you need.
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JERRY BRIDGES is an author and conference speaker. His most popular book, The Pursuit of Holiness, has sold over one million copies. Jerry has been on the staff of The Navigators for over fifty years, and currently serves in the Collegiate Mission where he is involved primarily in staff development, but also serves as a speaker resource to the campus ministries.
More about Jerry Bridges...
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“Preach the gospel to yourself every day.”
—
19 people liked it
“Nothing cuts the nerve of the desire to pursue holiness as much as a sense of guilt. On the contrary, nothing so motivates us to deal with sin in our lives as does the understanding and application of the two truth that our sins are forgiven and the dominion of sin is broken because of our union with Christ.”
—
3 people liked it
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