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Five Practices of Fruitful Living
How do I cultivate a life that is purposeful, deep, and fruitful? What are the commitments, critical risks, and personal practices that open me to God's grace? How can I discover the spiritual life and the difference God intends for me to make in the world?
Radical Hospitality. Passionate Worship. Intentional Faith Development. Risk-Taking Mission and Service. Extravagant Generosity.
Five Practices of Fruitful Living provides an honest, practical, and winsome guide to the spiritual journey. By repeating and deepening certain fundamental practices, we cooperate with God in our spiritual growth. These five practices - to receive God's love, to love God in return, to grow in Christ, to serve others, and to give ourselves fully - as we attend to them and develop them, help us settle ourselves in God and become instruments of God's grace. Following Christ will change your heart; and through you, God will change the world.
FROM THE INTRODUCTION - " Five Practices of Fruitful Living moves the discussion of Christian practice from the congregational level to the personal practices of discipleship. The fruitful, God-related life develops with intentional and repeated attention to five essential practices that are critical for our growth in Christ. Radical Hospitality. Passionate Worship. Intentional Faith Development. Risk-Taking Mission and Service. Extravagant Generosity. These practices open our heart—to God, to others, to a life that matters, a life rich with meaning, relationship, and contribution. They help us flourish."
Radical Hospitality. Passionate Worship. Intentional Faith Development. Risk-Taking Mission and Service. Extravagant Generosity.
Five Practices of Fruitful Living provides an honest, practical, and winsome guide to the spiritual journey. By repeating and deepening certain fundamental practices, we cooperate with God in our spiritual growth. These five practices - to receive God's love, to love God in return, to grow in Christ, to serve others, and to give ourselves fully - as we attend to them and develop them, help us settle ourselves in God and become instruments of God's grace. Following Christ will change your heart; and through you, God will change the world.
FROM THE INTRODUCTION - " Five Practices of Fruitful Living moves the discussion of Christian practice from the congregational level to the personal practices of discipleship. The fruitful, God-related life develops with intentional and repeated attention to five essential practices that are critical for our growth in Christ. Radical Hospitality. Passionate Worship. Intentional Faith Development. Risk-Taking Mission and Service. Extravagant Generosity. These practices open our heart—to God, to others, to a life that matters, a life rich with meaning, relationship, and contribution. They help us flourish."
168 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 7, 2011
It's pretty basic. I'm Methodist, and so at my church they assigned us this book, which was written by a Methodist bishop.
I have no idea if what the Methodists preach is all correct, but I know nobody else knows either, and they don't do anything harmful. To quote Stephen Colbert, "there are worse things to believe in."
Methodists just try to help, and I like that. And it provides structure. I wouldn't do as much to help fellow humans without structure.
Besides, I like walrus blood, which Methodists drink prodigiously in our secret rituals. Oh, I wasn't supposed to let that out, was I?
I have no idea if what the Methodists preach is all correct, but I know nobody else knows either, and they don't do anything harmful. To quote Stephen Colbert, "there are worse things to believe in."
Methodists just try to help, and I like that. And it provides structure. I wouldn't do as much to help fellow humans without structure.
Besides, I like walrus blood, which Methodists drink prodigiously in our secret rituals. Oh, I wasn't supposed to let that out, was I?
October 20, 2018
It's not that anything here is wrong. Or that its particularly bad at communicating the point. My main issue with this book is that it feels so forced. Schnase's "Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations" is an amazing book, and this is clearly supposed to compliment that work, applying it to individual spiritual lives. It just comes off as extremely forced and repetitive, especially at the beginning. This book isn't bad. It's just not that good either.
October 24, 2012
I began reading this after I had begun Schnase's other book, Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations. I enjoyed reading them together since they offered the full range of implementation of the practices. There was some overlap with his first book, but for the most part the text made it clear how to be a more fruitful person, something I hope we all keep working at. We aren't a finished product, so any book that can help us align more closely with God's vision for our lives is helpful.
November 15, 2016
It was a great book to read with people in my church. Through the discussions, I got to know them better and learned a lot about what they think of worship, giving, etc. Lots of things in the book are easy to say, hard to do, though!
March 5, 2012
One of the best books I've read in a long time, outside of the Bible. I used up 2 highlighters reading it, because God spoke to me time after time through that book.
November 2, 2012
I absolutely loved the model presented throughout this book. Schnase's book inspires, encourages, and challenges personal growth through the transformation of heart and mind.
July 6, 2013
another great book by Robert!
A great book for group discussions, and our Sunday School class used it well
A great book for group discussions, and our Sunday School class used it well
April 2, 2015
Gives you a lot to think about as far as improving your Faith life and relationship with God, but I found it very dry at times.
January 17, 2020
Reading this book has encouraged and blessed me toward becoming a better Christian. It would make an excellent book for study in a small group.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews