The Fruitful Life: The Overflow of God's Love Through You [Paperback]

Gerald Bridges (Author), Jerry Bridges (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 30, 2006

As we desire to be more like Jesus, we want to live loving, joyful lives. Yet loving our enemies seems impossible. Even being patient with our family is often difficult. How can we put on the gentle garments of grace when we're so busy battling our old behavior patterns?

Navigator author Jerry Bridges explains how to practice the “fruit of the Spirit” (Gal. 5:22-23):

• love
• joy
• peace
• patience
• kindness
• goodness
• faithfulness
• gentleness
• self-control

Learn how the Holy Spirit can help in your spiritual formation as you become a serious follower of Christ.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Headline: How can we put on the garments of grace? As we become serious followers of Christ, we want to live loving, joyful, anxiety-free lives. Yet loving our enemies seems impossible. Even being patient with our family is often difficult. How can we put on the gentle garments of grace when we're so busy battling our old behavior patterns? In The Fruitful Life, beloved author Jerry Bridges explores the nine aspects of the “fruit of the Spirit” described in Galatians 5:22-23: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. He clarifies the cultivation process by showing us how to practice them in real life. Bridges says these qualities of character can truly mark our lives if we devote ourselves to a two-fold pursuit: God-centeredness and God-likeness. This book will guide you on that quest by focusing on God's nature as revealed in Scripture and by helping you cultivate the beautiful fruit given by the Holy Spirit.

About the Author

Dr. Jerry Bridges is the best-selling author of such books as The Pursuit of Holiness, Transforming Grace, and The Practice of Godliness, from which this book is derived. Jerry is on staff with The Navigators' collegiate ministry. A popular speaker known around the world, Jerry lives with his wife, Jane, in Colorado Springs.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: NavPress (September 30, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1600060277
• ISBN-13: 978-1600060274
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #112,566 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jerry Bridges is a longtime staff member of the Navigators and currently serves with their collegiate ministry. In addition to his international speaking ministry, he has authored ten books and three devotionals; among them The Pursuit of Holiness, which has sold well over a million copies, and the award-winning The Discipline of Grace and I Will Follow You, O God.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Before you read this book..., November 14, 2007

By 

Deepak K. Singh "DKS" (Delhi, India) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Fruitful Life: The Overflow of God's Love Through You (Paperback)

As with all books from Jerry Bridges, this book is also firmly rooted in the scriptures. Bridges explores nine aspects of the "fruit of the Spirit" as described in Galatians 5:22-23. But I want you to know that this book is derived from his earlier book "The Practice of Godliness" (ISBN-10: 0891099417) which examines what it means to grow in Christian character and helps us establish the foundation upon which that character is built. It contains all the chapters in this book plus some more wonderful chapters adding up about 50 pages. So, if you are interested in studying this topic in more detail, I suggest you read the earlier book.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My Favorite Christian book so far..., October 27, 2006

By 

Running (United States of America) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Fruitful Life: The Overflow of God's Love Through You (Paperback)

I love this book! "The Fruitful Life" is easy to read and like many other Bridges' books, it has plenty of Bible verses to back his words, so you know you are reading biblical sources. Best of all, this book contains study questions at the end of each chapter for you to read and meditate upon. "The Fruitful Life" is just what a Christian needs when it comes to "bearing more fruits" or "be more like Christ." This book teaches the basics of each fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control, or simply Galatians 5:22-23.

For instance, before I read the chapter on Love, I thought love as in loving others like how God loves us or love others as much as yourself. Well, I was right in a sense but loving others also means that we give our time, energy and money. Loving others means we are to forgive them and show care for them. Loving others isn't just loving the one you love, but also loving the ones you don't love, or your "enemies" sort of speak.

We only know the "dictionary" meaning of these fruits but when it comes to how to practice them in life...Bridges got the answers.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Practical and helpful wisdom, March 31, 2007

By 

Novathinker (Northern Virginia, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Fruitful Life: The Overflow of God's Love Through You (Paperback)

One of the first Christian books I read was Bridges' The Pursuit of Holiness. He continues his tradition of very readable advice for everyday Christian living in The Fruitful Life. This is a practical book, filled with helpful insight. New Christians and mature Christians alike will benefit from the wisdom in this book. This is a great little guidebook for living lives worthy of the grace we've been given.

If you're like me, and you tend to avoid guidebooks in favor of thought-provoking books, there is something for you as well. Indirectly, Bridges brings up a concept that every Christian should consider: God is sovereign in everything yet we are not puppets (because we are responsible for what we do). Our actions and thoughts have eternal significance yet we are not free agents (because God's eternal plan determines all that comes to pass). This is non-trivial and may challenge our ideas about God and ourselves.