Good to Great in God's Eyes: 10 Practices Great Christians Have in Common [Hardcover]

Chip Ingram (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2007

Jim Collins's Good to Great became a bestselling business book because it studies the characteristics of great businesses. But should Christians want to become great in the eyes of the world? In Good to Great in God's Eyes, bestselling author Chip Ingram shows how Christians can honor God with lives of great faith and excellent work. Believers become great in God's eyes by applying the 10 common characteristics of great Christians: • think great thoughts • read great books • pursue great people • dream great dreams • pray great prayers • take great risks • make great sacrifices • enjoy great moments • empower great people • develop great habits Using Scripture, personal stories, and examples from Christians who left a lasting legacy, Ingram offers practical steps for becoming great in all areas of life, in spiritual growth, family, relationships, and career.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

How do you become great in God's eyes? Chip Ingram shows you how by identifying 10 common practices great Christians of all ages have in common. Great Christians • Think Great Thoughts • Pursue Great People • Dream Great Dreams • Pray Great Prayers • and much more Applying the practical principles in this book will jump-start your relationship with God by providing you with practical and biblical means to obtain true greatness.

From the Back Cover

We were designed to be great in God's eyes Are you tired of the status quo Christian life? Do you long for a spiritual breakthrough? Are you looking to go to the next level or get a fresh infusion of faith and spiritual passion? If you answered yes, then this book is for you. Great Christians live out their faith with purpose. Using Scripture, personal stories, and examples from Christians who left an indelible mark on the world, Chip Ingram offers clear steps to becoming great in the things that matter most. "Chip Ingram poses the provocative question: 'Can greatness be a Christian calling?' And if it is, what are the most helpful practices of people who aim to be great in God's eyes? With his trademark combination of winsomeness and intensity, Chip answers these questions in a way that is both helpful and challenging. Good to Great in God's Eyes is timely, thoughtful, and biblical--all hallmarks of Chip's writing and teaching."--Frank Wright, PhD, president and CEO, National Religious Broadcasters "I want to be all that God wants me to be. Do you? Chip Ingram helps us tremendously with ten 'practical' practices that are biblically based. A challenge to be a great Christian is backed up with insightful stories, the author's transparency, and biblical truths. Chip's writing style is like his speaking style: engaging and compelling."--Gary Daichendt, former executive vice president, Cisco Systems "The principles that my good friend Chip Ingram outlines in this book will inspire, encourage, and enable any sincere reader to maximize their God-given potential for the glory of God and for the good of others. Only read this if you want your life to matter."--Tony Evans, PhD, senior pastor, Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship; president, The Urban Alternative

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Baker Books; Reprinted edition (September 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0801012937
• ISBN-13: 978-0801012938
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #285,548 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Chip Ingram's passion is to help Christians really live like Christians. As a pastor, author, coach, and teacher for twenty-five years, Chip has helped people around the world break out of spiritual ruts to live out God's purpose for their lives.

Today, he serves as Senior Pastor of Venture Christian Church in Silicon Valley, California, and President of Living on the Edge - an international teaching and discipleship ministry. Chip and his wife, Theresa, have four children and eight grandchildren.

For more information about Chip or Living on the Edge, please visit www.LivingontheEdge.org.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Book for Those Who Want to Become Great Christians!, October 29, 2007

By 

Michael Taylor "Michael Taylor" (Indian Trail NC) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Good to Great in God's Eyes: 10 Practices Great Christians Have in Common (Hardcover)

Contrary to what another reviewer says, "Good to Great" is not about earning God's love but about finding greater ways to express His love for us by serving others and helping to grow His kingdom for His glory.

Personally, I am very concerned about people who profess to be Christian and just want know that God loves them and that's all there is to the Christian life ("Jesus loves me this I know and that is all I want to know!"). The Christian life is so much more than that! In our increasingly self-absorbed culture, God does not want us to just live for our own pleasure, but to also love and serve others in Jesus' name. How, pray tell, is that competition over others and trying to earn God's love as charged by the earlier reviewer?

Anyway, Ingram focuses on 10 areas on how we can become greater Christians:

1. Think Great Thoughts
2. Read Great Books
3. Pursue Great People
4. Dream Great Dreams
5. Pray Great Prayers
6. Take Great Risks
7. Make Great Sacrifices
8. Enjoy Great Moments
9. Empower Great People
10.Develop Great Habits

Among the important points covered in the book include:

1. 5 ways to develop healthy habits.
2. Great dreams see possibilities instead of what has already been done.
3. While praying for our needs is okay, we should spend more time praying for God's agenda for our lives.
4. 3 ways to be a great risk taker for God.
5. God will periodically test our devotion to Him.
6. 5 reasons mentioned in the Bible why we are to enjoy great moments with God.
7. Distorted views we have of God and leisure/pleasure.
8. 5 practices to help us enjoy time with God.
9. In the world, being #1 is great while in God's eyes, being great means that you serve others (Did that reviewer really read this book? If she did, she must have missed this point!).
10. 3 reasons so few people leave a legacy.
11. Good habits can save effort, ease routines, increase efficiency, and release power.
12. 4 ways Jesus empowered others.

"Good to Great" is a great book to read! Read the book yourself and see what you think. Highly recommended.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars EXCELLENT MUST READ!!!, September 26, 2007

By 

T. Buchanan - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Good to Great in God's Eyes: 10 Practices Great Christians Have in Common (Hardcover)

The profound simplicity of this book is refreshing! It's all about Christ and growing more and more into His image, and in this book Chip lays out ten observations he has gleaned from studying others who have lived well for the Kingdom. Who in their right mind would dare criticize that?!

This book is definitely not written from the perspective of a "works" based theology as a previous reviewer commented. Rather, it is written in the same style that a father would take with his son by taking him aside and speaking wisdom into his life. Just as Jesus grew in "wisdom and stature and favor with God and man," so I need to grow also. Chip has provided an excellent tool to help me accomplish that.

If you're serious about becoming more like Christ, read this book and apply it.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Growing Closer to Christ, September 26, 2007

By 

Thadeus (Nebraska, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Good to Great in God's Eyes: 10 Practices Great Christians Have in Common (Hardcover)

I wonder if the person who rated this book one star has read it, or only the title. This book is about growing closer to Christ. This book does NOT say that you get to heaven through works. It gives you guidance in how to become closer to Christ as you live your life on earth, which is what God wants from us.
I am listening to Chip Ingram's radio broadcast based on this book and it contains wonderful insight and practical tools to help any person in their desire to walk with Christ.
Great resource!