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5th out of 101 books
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3 voters
The Good and Beautiful Life: Putting on the Character of Christ
"I have never met a person whose goal was to ruin his or her life. We all want to be happy, and we want it all of the time." So begins James Bryan Smith in The Good and Beautiful Life. The problem is, he tells us, we have bought into false notions of happiness and success. These self-centered decisions lead us further into the vices that cause ruin: anger, lust, lying, wor...more
Hardcover, 262 pages
Published
December 11th 2009
by IVP Books
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I have been slowly reviewing the Apprentice Series by James Bryan Smith of the Aprentis Institute and Friends College in conjunction with Intervarsity Press. This is the second book in the series. I was able to read this book in the Audiobook format, which I found extremely helpful and well-done.
The Apprentice Series has three parts to the series. The first book in the series is about God, and our beliefs and ideas about who he is and what kind of relationship he wants with us. The second book i...more
The Apprentice Series has three parts to the series. The first book in the series is about God, and our beliefs and ideas about who he is and what kind of relationship he wants with us. The second book i...more
I really enjoyed this book. It's the second in a trilogy, and I read The Good and Beautiful God first, which I recommend to other readers (the first volume delves a lot into the structure of the books, and this volume gives a brief overview and plunges in). My main complaint with the first book was that it was very basic, and while it served as a good reminder and a terrific discipleship tool, it had little purely instructive value for someone who has been a Christian for a while. This book does...more
The second book in the series changes the focus from false narratives about God (book 1) to things we need to have in place in our lives in order to experience the abundant life that Jesus talks about. The book focuses on Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. Smith does a really nice job unpacking the various themes and life issues found in Jesus' famous teaching. This is every bit as good and accessible as the first book of the series... and I continue to believe that this series would make a great basic...more
the book offers challenging and unexpected ways to look at your life and make small (and sometimes big) changes to draw closer to Jesus.
the last chapter is my favorite. some quotes from it are:
"People who are close to Christ and his kingdom are the exception, not the rule. Some estimate that only ten percent of Christians are actively developing their relationship with God on a daily basis. Why? ... Many Christians have been taught that a relationship with Jesus is not important. [Spiritual disc...more
the last chapter is my favorite. some quotes from it are:
"People who are close to Christ and his kingdom are the exception, not the rule. Some estimate that only ten percent of Christians are actively developing their relationship with God on a daily basis. Why? ... Many Christians have been taught that a relationship with Jesus is not important. [Spiritual disc...more
Jul 26, 2012
CCCfaithathome
added it
The second book in the series, The Good and Beautiful Life uses Jesus' teaching in the Sermon on the Mount to encourage you to be transformed by the Holy Spirit more and more into the likeness of Christ. Each chapter includes practices to implement in your daily life.
Like The Good and Beautiful God, this book includes discussion guides for each chapter to encourage you to read it in a small group.
Like The Good and Beautiful God, this book includes discussion guides for each chapter to encourage you to read it in a small group.
Smith's second of three installments in the Apprentice Series is just as good as the first. This one's focus is on the Sermon on the Mount. Sometimes his interpretation of texts are debatable, his strength lies in helping Christians make real life change. I'm leading a small group through this during the New Year.
Jim builds upon the false narratives defined in his "The Good and Beautiful God" by helping us practice living as apprentices of Jesus and giving us the platform to practice in a small, intimate class setting. When done with a committed group, this book can literally change the way you live as a Christian.
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This is the 2nd of three books in the Apprentice series by Smith. My man's Bible study group just completed it. It is based on the lessons taught by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. I was amazed each week how the topic applied to me and my life. Topics included: anger, lust, lying, blessing those who curse us, being humble, not living for things, living without worry, gossip, not judging others and having a personal relationship with Jesus. I really enjoyed going through this with other guys. T...more
Used the themes for a sermon series. Found Smith's insights at places great, at others forced. Generally great practical work for pursuing life change as taught by Jesus.
READ MAY 2011
Second in the "Good and Beautiful" series. The author continues to contrast the false narratives with alternatives that make for a good and beautiful life.
Second in the "Good and Beautiful" series. The author continues to contrast the false narratives with alternatives that make for a good and beautiful life.
Great so far. This is a disciple of Dallas Willard who has created a curriculum for Willard's Divine Conspiracy. Interesting.
A great follow up to the first book. Loved the soul training exercises to help change the way we think and live.
Loved this. SO insightful and with lots of ways to apply what you're learning.
Most excelent book for anyone that is looking to deepen their christian walk.
Second in the series. Very good. I highly recommend this series.
Love the soul training exercises at the end of every chapter!
Read it by myself. Now I'm going thrum it with 12 others!
Loved it.
2nd in a series of three, even better than the first, focus is on the Sermon on the Mount!
The Good and Beautiful Life is the second book in a three-book series. Both books so far have been great for small group bible studies, so far this has been my favorite. It does a nice of job of exploring a topic each week and parting that topic with a life application exercise. You can easily read these books on your own, however, I think doing them in a group adds richness and value with discussion and accountability.
The second in a series of three, the Good And Beautiful Life discusses one virtue per chapter and includes discussion questions and ways to put the disciplines into practice. It is straightforward with good, solid examples (perhaps not always the examples our group would have chosen.) Our small group enjoyed this book, but somehow didn't go as deep with it as we did with the first one (The Good and Beautiful God.)
Truly Educating.
I'd go with Richard Foster or Dallas Willard instead of this. The author was mentors by Dallas, but his mentor's depth is missing in most places. I'm sure he's a great practitioner though. Just not an excellent author. Some good stuff in places but you need to read a lot to find it.
Was a few places I didn't really agree with his interpretation and many places I wish he had better and deeper personal stories to go along with the topic. But. Sermon on the mount is good stuff, always challenging, and a few of the chapters were great.
This was a great book. I love the practical application the author provides. Easy to put into practice.
Great book that Matt and I read together and discussed. It focused mainly on the Sermon on the Mount. I can't wait to read the final book in this apprentice series.
Reading with church (or rather, after--I'm a little behind; something came up--a baby... but I'm working on it here and there)
A great 2nd book in the trilogy. Wonderful journey...
Very practical stuff. Good book to discuss with others.
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James Bryan Smith (M.Div., Yale University Divinity School, D.Min., Fuller Seminary) is a theology professor at Friends University in Wichita, KS and a writer and speaker in the area of Christian spiritual formation. He also serves as the director of the Aprentis Institute for Christian Spiritual Formation at Friends University.
A founding member of Richard J. Foster's spiritual renewal ministry, R...more
More about James Bryan Smith...
A founding member of Richard J. Foster's spiritual renewal ministry, R...more
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