Customer Reviews

How People Grow: What the Bible Reveals about Personal Growth

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

While "How People Grow" concentrates on a small group setting, the book is also valuable for the individual person struggling with spiritual growth.

Among the many interesting points the authors describe include:

1. We have to give up our self-sufficiency and submit to God's rule in our lives.
2. Humility is an essential trait for bearing pain and we are created to be dependent on God and others.
3. We are responsible for submitting our will to God's will.
4. Guilt is inwardly focused while godly sorrow is focused on how we have hurt others.
5. Grief is an essential part of spiritual growth.
6. Psychology is to used only to support, not supplant, the Bible.
7. We need to show people that change is not just for religious reasons, but as the way to a better life.
8. God has a special tenderness towards those who are needy and brokenhearted.
9. Life works much better when we surrender lordship to Jesus.
10. Excellent points on dealing with rebellion and overcoming temptation.

Additionally, the book stresses the importance of being accountable to safe people who are interested in our spiritual growth and are not out to just judge others.

The book is highly recommended for either the individual or small group leader interested in facilitating the spiritual growth of others.

I believe the book would have been even more valuable if more text had been dedicated to developing strategies for finding safe people to confide in and some specific steps to facilitating growth. In other words, many principles were stated but fewer strategies were mentioned. For example, the tips for growers and facilitators at the end of every chapter could have been more specific (what questions to ask, what specific steps can you step to help those hurt by distorted Bible teachings, how can you teach the value of godly sorrow, etc.).

The complaint aside, I highly recommend the book!

In the short time I have seen this book pass through several hands, I have seen it change lives. My wife has used it to understand and overcome a stalled relationship with her mom. My Salvation Army friend says it is essentally the same approach used by them to treat addictions and alcohol abuse. In short, it is an excellent presentation of two basic truths:

- A personal relationship with God, through Christ, is the necessary first step for spiritual growth...which is the only real growth.
- All growth after that first step is in relationship with others.

If anyone is looking for an in-depth understanding of why they can or cannot overcome personal limits, this is the best resource I've seen. And if you follow John Townsend or Henry Cloud's work, this is a decent summary of all they have been teaching over the years.

The authors may have influenced my thinking and life profoundly in the 5 years I have come to listen to and read them, but there was no way I would let anyone get away with clunky spiritual assertions if there were any.

But I didn't have to as there weren't any in 'How People Grow'.

Now this is difficult for me. Cloud and Townsend have themselves suggested and promoted that if we agree with someone about nearly everything, then there is probably something wrong.

I would in an instant be flame them, but 'How People Grow' just keeps getting me to appreciate and honour God more and more as well as walk in truth and grace that all I can do is thank God it was written. (I will the flak to the so-called heresy-hunters.)

From the first day 2 years ago, this book has always managed to to point me back to a God of loving and truthful holiness, grace, acceptance, unconditional love and majesty.

They write about the same Christian God who has been misrepresented in the legalistic and 'holier-than-thou' evangelical and Charismatic circles, and the One skewed beyond recognition by the liberal camp.

Much of what I read in their books and listen in their messages hark to the works of Henri Nouwen and Philip Yancey in the spirit and tenor of the themes.

'How People Grow' is ultimately about accepting that we desperately need God and His resources and His ways to accomplish life as He has planned it for us. People play an integral part in God's plan for us.

Also, without humbly asking each other for help and support, we negate and cut-off a crucial resource of God to our detriment.

'How People Grow' is already the best devotional in my room among an impressive array of old trusted standards and it has spoiled me. I won't be able to read anymore "you-better-comply-or-God-will-be-mad-at-you" books. Neither the "look-at-me,aint-i-great-and-blessed, it-was -just- God- and-me-all-the-way" offerings.

Thank God for tender mercies

How People Grow is an easily accessible, Biblically-centered, psychologically-deep, and thorough overview of the growth process. I have read through this book twice and refer to it sporadically to refresh my memory on various parts of the growth process and, in my work with college students, urge them to read the book. I have found that living out and sharing its insights has helped me in every area of life, from becoming a more effective evangelist to developing stronger work habits. My main challenge in reading it is owning up to how misguided my understanding of the growth process has been, how I have subsequently misled others, repenting of these mistakes, and seeking to think and live differently in the future. It is a book that speaks to deep issues in a grace-filled but challenging way.

This book was not only helpful to my own emotional growth, but it gave me great insight and help in leading others with their own growth. If you are looking for answers to the hard questions you get about recovery from addiction, abuse, grief, or loss, you need this book. My paradigm has made another shift. I have read most of C and T's books and this one tops the list of the best I have read. It is 100% backed by the word of God, and pulls no punches to value of relationships in dealing with lifes problems.

This book can be summarized as a Biblical based approach to understanding personal growth and how that relates to spiritual growth. Two psychologists, Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend examine the personal growth process and point out how that process is found within the pages of the Bible. With that personal growth process as the starting point they then show how personal growth is in fact spiritual growth. This is one of the best books on personal growth that I have read. How People Grow is highly recommended to anyone seeking to change their life, get out of the rut of stagnation, or move to a happier place in their life. It is also recommended to Christian counselors, Pastoral counselors, and others involved with helping people.

The Cloud & Townsend duo has authored yet another Christian-oriented book with very practical application methodology to lives burdened with unresolved hurts, relationship struggles, and Christians struggling to be true God-like creatures. This book sets the foundation of what God intended and that all growth is truly spiritual. The book walks through the key disciplines to growth: discipline, obedience, suffering, etc. and gives instructive approaches to staying on track both as a grower and as a disciple to a grower. If only everyone would read this and stretch and strive for growth....

I enjoy the use of personal journey at the beginning of the book. The author's frustrations pan out to have real answers that are cleanly defined with the clarity only hindsight and rare perception can capture.

I am finding the book tremendously useful, neither simplisticly nor weighted with academic analysis. Joe regular-Person will enjoy it. Psychologists and that ilk will benefit by it. Theologians may even have revelations as they read.

It has been an excellent study for me. It raises questions I had not thought about and attitudes I didn't realize I could be harboring. It was an excellent study guide for me.

Cloud and Townsend provide all that a book on how people grow according to the Bible ought to have. They offer explanations and insights about Scripture, they highlight dynamics from psychology and family systems, they provide a plethora of examples from their practices, lives and relationships. How People Grow identifies the obstacles to growth related to the fact that all humans are sinful and wounded. The growth they emphasize entails redemption and salvation but does not come easily. I was impressed with how they uphold virtues like humility and suffering as essential Christian elements required for growth.

This is a dense and meaty book that is accessible to all levels of readers. Cloud and Townsend do not get lofty or overly pithy in their writing. They keep it at a level that can be grasped and used by any readers.

In their solutions for people to grow past their problems, the authors continually highlight the importance of solid relationships with other people and especially support groups. This may be the biggest factor in our individualistic culture that people come away with. To grow, we need others and we need close, personal and trusting relationships with others.

The authors also convey their belief that growth comes through God and not apart from him. The book is not preachy but it is realistic and practical.