The Practice of Godliness: Godliness has value for all things [Paperback]

Jerry Bridges (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 1996

Scripture tells us that God has given us “everything we need for life and godliness.” But what makes a Christian godly?

In this book, Navigator author Jerry Bridges examines what it means to grow in Christian character. Learn more about the character of God as you grow a deeper relationship with Him. Establish the foundation upon which godly character is built and continue by developing maturity and pursuing holiness.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Scripture tells us that God has given us “everything we need for life and godliness.” But what makes a Christian godly? In The Practice of Godliness, Jerry Bridges examines what it means to grow in Christian character and helps us establish the foundation upon which that character is built. Bridges opens our eyes to see how character formation affects the way we relate to God, to ourselves, and to others.

In order to live godly lives, we need an inward foundation of God-centeredness. This book will help you establish that foundation and then build an outward structure of godlikeness.

About the Author

JERRY BRIDGES is an author and conference speaker. His most popular book, The Pursuit of Holiness, has sold over one million copies. Jerry has been on the staff of The Navigators for over fifty years and currently serves in the collegiate mission department, where he is involved primarily in staff development but also serves as a speaker resource to the campus ministries.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: NavPress; Revised edition edition (February 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0891099417
• ISBN-13: 978-0891099413
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #118,860 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

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A practical approach to Christian living, January 22, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: The Practice of Godliness: Godliness has value for all things (Paperback)

I meant to read this book for several years before I actually got around to it. I can't believe I waited--it's one of the best Christian books I have read. Many Christian books encourage us to be godly, but they don't tell us how. Most of us know we should be joyful, for instance, but we don't know how to develop joy. We can try to act joyful on the outside, but unless it's from the heart, it is empty. This book takes a practical approach to developing godliness in our lives.

Jerry Bridges defines godliness as "devotion to God which results in a life that is pleasing to him." The first several chapters deal with the devotion. Bridges emphasizes the necessity of a proper motivation, and what's more, he explains some ways in which we can develop that motivation. To me, it was a completely new way of looking at things. In the remainder of the book, Bridges focuses each chapter on one or two godly traits, such as humility, joy, thanksgiving, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, self-control, and love. Bridges uses scripture to explore the traits and how we can develop them. I have read much about these traits in the past--what amazed me about this book was the practical guidance for developing them. For instance, Bridges includes many scripture passages we can meditate on and pray through to help us understand certain godly traits and grow in those areas. He also discusses our responsibility vs. God's responsibility for the development of godliness in our lives.

This book gave me a lot to think about and a new perspective on some incredibly important things. I think this book should be recommended reading for every Christian. A very good study guide is also available to supplement the book.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incorporating The Virtues of God In Daily Life, November 10, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Practice of Godliness: Godliness has value for all things (Paperback)

This book is the follow-up to The Pursuit of Holiness, which deals with putting of the old-self. Here, in The Practice of Godliness, the reader sees what Godly virtues a Christian must live and exemplify and how to incorporate them into practical daily living. Upon completion of both books, I was completely broken down and made anew through God. God used Jerry Bridges as the instrument to mold me towards the Christian I must strive to be.

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Devotion in action, July 28, 2000

By 

E. Johnson (El Cajon, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Practice of Godliness: Godliness has value for all things (Paperback)

So says the first words of the back cover. And indeed, this book will do everything but force you to become godly. This part is going to be left up to you. The Bible says that the fruit of the spirit are obvious, and so it ought to be. Yet sometimes, in the American society at least, it has become most difficult to keep a Christian witness and remain devoted to God. And so often the joy of Christian living is lost as we enmesh ourselves in the everyday routines of our everyday wrolds. It need not be, and Bridges does a wonderful job covering some of the virtues of the victorious Chrstian life. My suggestion is to get the workbook, get together with several other Christians, and treat this as a Bible study. It makes for wonderful discussions, as I can attest as a Sunday School teacher of adults. This is a book well worth the read.