The Good and Beautiful Life: Putting on the Character of Christ, By James Bryan Smith

The Good and Beautiful Life

Putting on the Character of Christ

The Good and Beautiful Series

by James Bryan Smith

The Good and Beautiful Life
Hardback
  • Length: 264 pages
  • Dimensions: 5.5 × 8.25 in
  • Published: December 11, 2009
  • Imprint: IVP Formatio
  • ISBN: 9780830835324
Other Formats:

Finding the Good Life through the Sermon on the Mount

James Bryan Smith argues that we’ve bought into false ideas of happiness and success, pushing us toward self-centered decisions that fuel destructive vices like anger, lying, and judging. Building from Jesus' teachings in the Sermon on the Mount, this compelling follow-up to The Good and Beautiful God invites us to replace these false beliefs with the transformative teachings of Jesus about life in God’s kingdom.

Through Biblical teaching and practical exercises, Smith equips readers to confront our failings, inviting us to replace them with practices taught by Jesus, helping to form his character in us. Thought-provoking and deeply spiritual,this book offers a roadmap for turning away from harmful beliefs and living a life rooted in the vibrant and renewing kingdom of God.

In The Good and Beautiful Life, you'll find chapters like

  • Learning to Live Without Worry
  • Learning to Bless Those Who Curse Us
  • Living in the Kingdom Day by Day

You'll also gain practical insights through "soul training" activities like

  • Writing a letter to God
  • Practicing disciplines likesilence and prayer
  • Fasting from media
  • Living one day devotionally
  • and more!

If you're ready to discover a deeper, more meaningful way to live, The Good and Beautiful Life is the guide you've been waiting for. This book offers tools to shape your heart to become more like Christ. Begin your journey toward truly living in the kingdom of God.

About the Series

The Good and Beautiful Series includes four essential discipleship books from James Bryan Smith. Work through these proven Bible study resources individually or with a group to learn who God is, what it means to be a Christian, how to live in community, and how to address toxic self-narratives that hinder spiritual growth.

"Jim Smith is the most articulate, accurate and helpful writer of spiritual formation of my generation. I give this series my highest recommendation."Todd D. Hunter, author of Giving Church Another Chance
"The Apprentice Series is a treasure. Dr. Smith has thought long and hard about the process of human transformation into the likeness of Jesus. I urge you to buy these books immediately! Read them and apply them. Then live them out in the context of a loving community. You will not regret doing so."Richard J. Foster, author of Celebration of Discipline and coauthor of Longing for God
"The Apprentice Series is the best practice I have seen in Christian spiritual formation."Dallas Willard, author of The Divine Conspiracy
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CONTENTS

Introduction
How to Get the Most Out of This Book
1 An Invitation to the Good Life
Soul Training: Writing a Letter to God
2 Getting Heaven in Us
Soul Training: Play
3 An Invitation to Blessedness
Soul Training: Hospitality
4 Learning to Live Without Anger
Soul Training: Keeping the Sabbath
5 Learning to Live Without Lust
Soul Training: Media Fast
6 Learning to Live Without Lying
Soul Training: Silence
7 Learning toBless Those Who Curse Us
Soul Training: Praying for the Success of Competitors
8 Learning to Live Without Vainglory
Soul Training: Secret Service
9 Learning to Live Without Avarice
Soul Training: Deaccumulation
10 Learning to Live Without Worry
Soul Training: Prayer
11 Learning to Live Without Judging Others
Soul Training: A Day Without Gossip
12 Living in the Kingdom Day by Day
Soul Training: Living One Day Devotionally
Appendix:Small Group Discussion Guide
Notes
Acknowledgments

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James Bryan Smith

James Bryan Smith is the author of The Good and Beautiful Series. He is a theology professor at Friends University in Wichita, Kansas, where he also serves as the director of the Apprentice Institute for Christian Spiritual Formation. A founding member of Richard J. Foster's spiritual renewal ministry, Renovaré, Smith is an ordained United Methodist Church minister and has served in various capacities in local churches.