Practical Christian Living

If Christianity is nothing else, it is practical. “Practical Christian living” is nearly redundant, since Christ’s complete redemption extends beyond theoretical concepts to encompass our day-to-day behavior. Not that Christianity is merely practical—its inherent behavioral principals stem from its deeply spiritual and mystical character.

Maintaining a life of devotion to Christ is the “perseverance of the saints” John Calvin and other Reformers cited as evidence of true belief. In our current culture it is popular to emphasize the fact that each of us fails to live up to Christ’s perfect standard, that the important thing is to pursue that standard nonetheless. Traditionally, however, the Church has emphasized Christ's example, not our failure or ability to imitate it.

Such an approach may not appeal to people outside the fold (or to many within it), but it is the correct one. To preach a softened Gospel to attract souls does not ultimately result in more Christians, it only results in many deluded people trusting a weakened gospel.

Jesus’ statement that His yoke is easy is frequently taken to mean that a Christian need only “believe in Jesus” to eventually “go to Heaven.” Belief is a key aspect, and eternity with Our Savior certainly the object, but Christ’s redemption means our duty becomes not to ourselves (as when we are slaves to sin), but to render Him praise and uphold His perfect law. The ease of the Christian life derives not from the absence of moral constraint, but from the Holy Spirit abiding in each of us as well as in the corporate Church. In order to act the way we ought, we must cultivate our awareness of the Spirit and rely on His power and not our own to avoid sin and pursue holiness.

It goes without saying that slavery to Christ is abhorrent to non-Christians, understanding as they do their own slavery to sin as absolute personal freedom. The proper Christian response is not to downplay our bondage to Christ, but to discover the true joy of holiness and the paradoxical freedom our new slavery entails. Those we would bring into Christianity must not be misled, nor should they be ignorant of the duties of believers. Instead they should see the beauty of Christ’s righteousness as displayed by His followers, and the peace that His servants experience when they submit themselves to God’s law.

Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he is a husband and father, teaches adult Sunday school in his Presbyterian congregation, and likes weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews here.

 

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Anywhere He Leads Me
by Corrie Ten Boom
from Billy Graham Evangelistic Association
for 9th-Adult
in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC)
$1.80 (1 in stock)
Augustine on the Christian Life
Theologians on the Christian Life
by Gerald Bray
from Crossway Books
for 9th-Adult
in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC)
Basic Christian Living
by Douglas Wilson
from Canon Press
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in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC)
$15.30
Be Still My Soul
by Elisabeth Elliot
from Revell Publishing
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Blood-Bought World
by Toby J. Sumpter
from Canon Press
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in Jesus Christ (Location: XTH-JES)
Breakfast with Bonhoeffer
by Jon Walker
from Leafwood Publishing
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in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
Business of Heaven
by C.S. Lewis
Reissue from HarperOne
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$17.99
Carved in Ebony
by Jasmine L. Holmes
from Bethany House
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$17.99
Christ Formed in You
by Brian G. Hedges
from Shepherd Press
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$13.56
Christian's Secret of a Happy Life
by Hannah Whitall Smith
from Hendrickson Publishers
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Cost of Discipleship
by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Foreword by Eric Metaxas
1st edition from Touchstone
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$15.19
Crazy Love
by Francis Chan
Revised and Updated from David C. Cook
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Crossroads
by Colin Creel
from Crossway Books
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$11.04 $4.20 (1 in stock)
Developing Christian Character - Lecture series on DVD
by R. C. Sproul
from Ligonier Ministries
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Discipline of Grace
by Jerry Bridges
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$2.70 (2 in stock)
Discipline of Grace
by Jerry Bridges
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Don't Waste Your Life
by John Piper
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Don't Waste Your Life - Gift Edition w/DVD
by John Piper
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$4.50 (1 in stock)
Dug Down Deep
by Joshua Harris
from Multnomah Books
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Enemy Within
by Kris Lundgaard
from P&R Publishing
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$8.49
Experiencing God
by Henry T. Blackaby & Claude V. King
Revised & Expanded from Broadman & Holman
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Experiencing God (Student Edition)
by Claude V. King, Henry T. Blackaby
Revised from Lifeway Christian Resources
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$5.40 (3 in stock)
Experiencing the Trinity
by Darrell W. Johnson
from Regent College
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$10.00
Extravagant Grace
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Face to Face
by Steve Wilkins
2nd edition from Canon Press
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$11.90
Follow Me
by David Platt, introduction by Francis Chan
from Tyndale House
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$3.60 (1 in stock)
Follow Me - Study Guide
by David Platt
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$2.40 (1 in stock)
Glorious Intruder
by Joni Eareckson Tada
from Multnomah Books
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$3.00 (1 in stock)
God's Will: God's Best for Your Life
by Josh McDowell, Kevin Johnson
from Bethany House
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$3.30 (1 in stock)
God's Wisdom for Navigating Life
by Timothy J. Keller & Kathy Keller
from Viking Press
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$19.55
Gospel in Life - Study Guide
by Timothy J. Keller
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$5.50 (2 in stock)
Gospel Primer for Christians
by Milton Vincent
from Focus Publishing
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Grace & Truth Paradox
by Randy Alcorn
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$3.00 (1 in stock)
Habakkuk
by Walter J. Chantry
from Banner of Truth Trust
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$7.65
Heaven in Stone and Glass
by Robert Barron
from Crossroad Publishing Co.
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$14.95
Hero of Heroes
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$8.49
Hospitality Commands
by Alexander Strauch
from Lewis and Roth Publishers
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How To Be Free From Bitterness
by Jim Wilson
2nd edition from Canon Press
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$10.20
How to Grow in Christ
by Jack Kinneer
from P&R Publishing
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Humility and Absolute Surrender
by Andrew Murray
from Hendrickson Publishers
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If. . .
by Amy Carmichael
from CLC Publications
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$5.09
In His Steps
by Charles M. Sheldon
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John Ploughman's Talk
by Charles Haddon Spurgeon
from Wipf and Stock Publishers
Christian Living for 10th-Adult
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$15.00
Knowing God
by J. I. Packer
2nd edition from InterVarsity Press
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$5.40 (1 in stock)
Knowing God
by J. I. Packer
from InterVarsity Press
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$18.70
Learning Contentment
by Nancy Wilson
from Canon Press
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$10.20
Let Justice Roll Down
by John M. Perkins
from Baker Books
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$15.99
Living Crazy Love - Workbook
by Francis Chan, Mark Beuving
from David C. Cook
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$4.80 (1 in stock)
Lord, I Want to Know You
by Kay Arthur
from Multnomah Books
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$3.00 (1 in stock)
Mark of the Christian
by Francis A. Schaeffer
2nd edition from InterVarsity Press
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$8.50
Morning and Evening
by Charles H. Spurgeon & Alistair Begg
2nd edition from Crossway Books
Devotional Material for 9th-Adult
in Devotionals (Location: XCL-DEV)
$29.99
My Utmost For His Highest
by Oswald Chambers
from Barbour Publishing
Christian Devotional for 9th-Adult
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My Utmost For His Highest
by Oswald Chambers
from Our Daily Bread Publishing
Christian Devotional for 9th-Adult
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$5.94
Power Perfected in Weakness
by Christopher J. Klicka
from Shepherd Press
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$5.70 (1 in stock)
Proverbs for You
by Kathleen Nielson
from Good Book Company
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Pursuit of God
by A. W. Tozer
from Moody Press
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$4.24
Pursuit of Holiness
by Jerry Bridges
from NavPress
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in Pursuing Holiness (Location: XCL-HOLY)
Quest for More
by Paul David Tripp
1st edition from New Growth Press
for 10th-Adult
in Christian Counseling (Location: XCL-COU)
$14.50
Real Christianity
by Dale Partridge
from Relearn Press
for 9th-Adult
in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Respectable Sins
by Jerry Bridges
from NavPress
for 9th-Adult
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$16.99
Respectable Sins - Discussion Guide
by Jerry Bridges & Stephen Sorenson
from NavPress
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in Repentance & Avoiding Sin (Location: XCL-REP)
$7.64
Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23
by W. Phillip Keller
from Zondervan
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$1.80 (1 in stock)
Surprised by Suffering - Lecture Series on Audio CD
by R.C. Sproul
from Ligonier Ministries
for 8th-Adult
in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC)
$3.60 (1 in stock)
Taking God Seriously
by J. I. Packer
1st edition from Crossway Books
for 9th-Adult
in Reformed Theology (Location: XTH-REF)
$11.04
Theology and Sanity
by Frank Sheed
from Ignatius Press
for 10th-Adult
in Various Theology (Location: XTH-MISC)
Thoughts for Young Men
by J. C. Ryle
from Canon Press
for 10th-Adult
in Raising Sons (Location: XFA-SON)
$7.61
Treasure Principle
by Randy Alcorn
from Multnomah Books
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in Clearance: Christian Books (Location: XCLE)
$2.00 (2 in stock)
True Community
by Jerry Bridges
from NavPress
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$7.50 (4 in stock)
Trusting God
by Jerry Bridges
from NavPress
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$12.74 $4.80 (1 in stock)
Twin Pillars of the Christian Life
by Dr. Wayne Mack & Joshua Mack
from Grace & Truth Books
Formal Poetry for 10th-Adult
in Clearance: Christian Books (Location: XCLE)
$5.00 (2 in stock)
Woman After God's Own Heart
by Elizabeth George
1St Edition from Harvest House
for 10th-adult
in Biblical Womanhood (Location: XFA-WOM)
$1.80 (1 in stock)
Woman After God's Own Heart
by Elizabeth George
Deluxe from Harvest House
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$2.40 (1 in stock)
Word versus Deed
by Duane Litfin
1st edition from Crossway Books
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$11.00
Work Matters
by Tom Nelson
from Crossway Books
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in Work & Vocation (Location: XCL-VOC)
$13.59
Worldliness
by C. J. Mahaney
from Crossway Books
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$11.04 $4.80 (1 in stock)
Yesterday, Today, and Forever
by Maria Augusta Trapp
from Master Books
for 7th-10th grade
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$11.89
You Are What You Love
by James K. A. Smith
from Brazos Press
in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC)
$16.99
Young Person's Guide to Knowing God
by Patricia St. John
from Christian Focus Publications
for 7th-12th grade
in Devotions for Kids (Location: BIB-DEV)
$7.00 (1 in stock)
Young, Restless, Reformed
by Collin Hansen
from Crossway Books
for 9th-Adult
in Reformed Theology (Location: XTH-REF)
$12.00