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.

 

Did you find this review helpful?
106 Items found Print
Active Filters: Used Books & Materials
Anywhere He Leads Me
by Corrie Ten Boom
from Billy Graham Evangelistic Association
for 9th-Adult
in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Approved Unto God with Facing Reality
by Oswald Chambers
from Discovery House Publishers
for Adult
in Church Ministry & Service (Location: XWO-MIN)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Authentic Faith
by Gary Thomas
from Zondervan
for Adult
in Clearance: Christian Books (Location: XCLE)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Awe
by Paul David Tripp
from Crossway Books
for Adult
in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC)
$10.00 (1 in stock)
Biblical View of Self-Esteem, Self-Love, Self-Image
by Jay Adams
from Harvest House
in Christian Counseling (Location: XCL-COU)
$9.99 $6.00 (2 in stock)
Bread & Wine
by Shauna Niequist
from Zondervan
for Adult
in Culture of Food (Location: COOK-CUL)
$3.60 (1 in stock)
Breakfast with Bonhoeffer
by Jon Walker
from Leafwood Publishing
for 9th-Adult
in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC)
$7.50 (1 in stock)
C.S. Lewis Readings for Meditation and Reflection
by C. S. Lewis
from HarperOne
for 10th-Adult
in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20)
$7.50 (1 in stock)
Celebration of Discipline - 25th Anniversary
by Richard J. Foster
25th Anniversary from HarperCollins
for Adult
in Spiritual Disciplines (Location: XCL-SPDI)
$7.00 (1 in stock)
Christian in Complete Armour
by William Gurnall, edited and introduced by James S. Bell, Jr.
from Moody Press
for Adult
in Devotionals (Location: XCL-DEV)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Christian's Secret of a Happy Life
by Hannah Whitall Smith
from Hendrickson Publishers
for 9th-Adult
in Hendrickson Christian Classics (Location: XCL-DEV)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Commandments of Christ
by Robert C. Beasley
from P&R Publishing
for Adult
in Clearance: Christian Books (Location: XCLE)
$3.00 (2 in stock)
Crossroads
by Colin Creel
from Crossway Books
for 10th-Adult
in Work & Vocation (Location: SS-VOC)
$10.39 $7.00 (1 in stock)
Daring to Live on the Edge
by Loren Cunningham
from YWAM Publishing
for 4th-7th grade
in Sacrificial Living (Location: XCL-SAC)
$9.99 $6.00 (2 in stock)
Decision Making & the Will of God
by Garry Friesen with J. Robin Maxson
25th Anniversary Edition from Multnomah Books
for Adult
in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Desiring God
by John Piper
10th edition from Multnomah Books
for 11th-Adult
in Clearance: Christian Books (Location: XCLE)
$8.00 (2 in stock)
Developing Christian Character - Lecture series on DVD
by R. C. Sproul
from Ligonier Ministries
for 8th-Adult
in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC)
$15.00 (1 in stock)
Discipline of Grace
by Jerry Bridges
from NavPress
for 10th-Adult
in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
Discipline of Grace
by Jerry Bridges
from NavPress
for 10th-Adult
in Spiritual Disciplines (Location: XCL-SPDI)
$14.99 $7.50 (1 in stock)
Discipline of Grace - Study Guide
by written by Jerry Bridges
from NavPress
in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC)
$2.50 (1 in stock)
Does Grace Grow Best in Winter?
by J. Ligon Duncan III, Nicholas J. Reid
from P&R Publishing
for Adult
in Suffering & Hope (Location: XCL-SUF)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Don't Waste Your Life
by John Piper
from Crossway Books
for 9th-Adult
in Sacrificial Living (Location: XCL-SAC)
$11.19 $7.50 (1 in stock)
Every Good Endeavor
by Timothy Keller
from Riverhead Books
for Adult
in Work & Vocation (Location: SS-VOC)
$9.50 (1 in stock)
Existence and Attributes of God
by Stephen Charnock
from Baker Books
for 11th-Adult
in Theology Proper: The Study of God (Location: XTH-GOD)
$75.00 (1 in stock)
Experiencing God
by Henry T. Blackaby & Claude V. King
Revised & Expanded from Broadman & Holman
for 9th-Adult
in Knowing & Loving God (Location: XCL-KNOW)
$14.99 $9.00 (2 in stock)
Experiencing God (Student Edition)
by Claude V. King, Henry T. Blackaby
Revised from Lifeway Christian Resources
for 7th-12th grade
in Knowing & Loving God (Location: XCL-KNOW)
$9.00 (3 in stock)
Experiencing God - Workbook
by Henry T. Blackaby & Claude V. King
Workbook from Lifeway Christian Resources
for Adult
in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC)
$7.00 (2 in stock)
Extravagant Grace
by Barbara Duguid
from P&R Publishing
for 10th-Adult
in The Gospel (Location: XTH-GOS)
$12.99 $7.50 (1 in stock)
Faith. Hope. Love.
by Mark Jones
from Crossway Books
for Adult
in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC)
$11.00 (1 in stock)
Fault Lines
by Voddie Baucham Jr.
from Salem Books
in Christianity and the State (Location: XWV-STA)
$24.99 $10.00 (1 in stock)
Fight to the Death
by Wayne A. Mack, Joshua Mack
from P&R Publishing
for Adult
in Repentance & Avoiding Sin (Location: XCL-REP)
$6.00 (2 in stock)
Finding God in Unexpected Places
by Philip Yancey
from Vine Books
in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC)
$6.00 (2 in stock)
Fit Bodies, Fat Minds
by Os Guinness
from Baker Books
for Adult
in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
Follow Me
by David Platt, introduction by Francis Chan
from Tyndale House
for 10th-Adult
in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Follow Me - Study Guide
by David Platt
from Lifeway Christian Resources
for 10th-Adult
in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Friendship: The Master-Passion
by Henry Clay Trumball
from Solid Ground Christian Books
for Adult
in Clearance: Christian Books (Location: XCLE)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Glory of His Life
by Watchman Nee
from Christian Fellowship Publishers
for Adult
in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
God Loves Broken People
by Sheila Walsh
from Thomas Nelson Publishers
in Suffering & Hope (Location: XCL-SUF)
$9.50 (1 in stock)
Gospel in Life - Study Guide
by Timothy J. Keller
from Zondervan
for 10th-Adult
in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC)
$5.50 (2 in stock)
Gospel Primer for Christians
by Milton Vincent
from Focus Publishing
for 9th-Adult
in The Gospel (Location: XTH-GOS)
$10.95 $6.00 (1 in stock)
Gospel Wakefulness
by Jared C. Wilson, foreword by Ray Ortlund
from Crossway Books
for Adult
in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC)
$10.00 (1 in stock)
Grace Abounding in a Believer's Life
by Charles Spurgeon, compiled and edited by Robert Hall
from Emerald Books
for Adult
in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Grand Weaver
by Ravi Zacharias
Book Club from Zondervan
in Clearance: Christian Books (Location: XCLE)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Greatest Among You
by Randy Sims
from Worldview Academy
for 9th-12th grade
in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Happiness
by Randy Alcorn
from Tyndale House
for Adult
in Clearance: Christian Books (Location: XCLE)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World
by Joanna Weaver
from WaterBrook Press
for Adult
in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC)
$7.50 (1 in stock)
Help for Women Under Stress
by Nanci Alcorn, Randy Alcorn
Revised & Updated from Eternal Perspective Ministries
for Adult
in Biblical Womanhood (Location: XFA-WOM)
$7.00 (1 in stock)
Hospitality Commands
by Alexander Strauch
from Lewis and Roth Publishers
for 10th-Adult
in Hospitality (Location: SS-HOS)
$4.75 $3.00 (1 in stock)
Humility
by C. J. Mahaney
from Multnomah Books
for Adult
in Spiritual Disciplines (Location: XCL-SPDI)
$12.99 $4.00 (1 in stock)
Humility
by Andrew Murray
for 10th-Adult
in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Idols of the Heart
by Elyse Fitzpatrick
2nd edition from P&R Publishing
for Adult
in Repentance & Avoiding Sin (Location: XCL-REP)
$14.99 $9.00 (1 in stock)
In His Steps
by Charles M. Sheldon
from Grosset & Dunlap
for 9th-Adult
in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
$14.00 (1 in stock)
Knowledge of the Holy
by A. W. Tozer
from HarperOne
in Theology Proper: The Study of God (Location: XTH-GOD)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
Law of Rewards
by Randy Alcorn
from Tyndale House
for Adult
in Clearance: Christian Books (Location: XCLE)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Letters of Samuel Rutherford
Puritan Paperbacks
by Samuel Rutherford
1891 Reprint from Banner of Truth Trust
in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC)
$32.00 (1 in stock)
Living Church: Convictions of a Lifelong Pastor
by John Stott
from InterVarsity Press
for Adult
in Clearance: Christian Books (Location: XCLE)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Living Crazy Love - Workbook
by Francis Chan, Mark Beuving
from David C. Cook
for 9th-Adult
in Sacrificial Living (Location: XCL-SAC)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
Long Journey Home
by Os Guinness
First Edition from WaterBrook Press
for Adult
in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Lord, I Want to Know You
by Kay Arthur
from Multnomah Books
for 10th-Adult
in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Lost in the Middle
by Paul David Tripp
from Shepherd Press
for Adult
in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC)
$9.00 (1 in stock)
Love Does
by Bob Goff
from Thomas Nelson Publishers
for 11th-Adult
in Sacrificial Living (Location: XCL-SAC)
$8.00 (2 in stock)
Mark of Jesus
by Timothy George & John Woodbridge
New from Moody Press
for Adult
in Clearance: Christian Books (Location: XCLE)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
My Utmost For His Highest
by Oswald Chambers
from Barbour Publishing
Christian Devotional for 9th-Adult
in Devotionals (Location: XCL-DEV)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
No Other Gospel
by Carol J. Ruvolo
from P&R Publishing
for Adult
in Clearance: Christian Books (Location: XCLE)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
None Like Him
by Jen Wilkin
from Crossway Books
for Adult
in Knowing & Loving God (Location: XCL-KNOW)
$7.00 (2 in stock)
Normal Christian Life
by Watchman Nee
3rd from Hendrickson Publishers
in Hendrickson Christian Classics (Location: XCL-DEV)
$7.00 (1 in stock)
One Thousand Gifts
by Ann Voskamp
from Zondervan
in Suffering & Hope (Location: XCL-SUF)
$18.99 $8.00 (2 in stock)
One Thousand Gifts - Study Guide
by Ann Voskamp
from Zondervan
for Adult
in Suffering & Hope (Location: XCL-SUF)
$5.00 (2 in stock)
Overcoming Overload
by Steve Farrar, Mary Farrar
from Multnomah Books
for Adult
in Clearance: Christian Books (Location: XCLE)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Pathway to Freedom
by Alistair Begg, foreword by Charles Colson
from Moody Press
for Adult
in Biblical Law (Location: XTH-LAW)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Person of Christ - DVD
by Voddie Baucham
from Vision Forum
for Adult
in Clearance: Christian Books (Location: XCLE)
$10.00 (2 in stock)
Power Perfected in Weakness
by Christopher J. Klicka
from Shepherd Press
for 9th-Adult
in Suffering & Hope (Location: XCL-SUF)
$9.50 (1 in stock)
Practical View of Christianity
by William Wilberforce
from Hendrickson Publishers
Religion/Philosophy for 11th-Adult
in Hendrickson Christian Classics (Location: XCL-DEV)
$12.95 $6.00 (2 in stock)
Prayer of Jehoshaphat
by Stanley D. Gale
from P&R Publishing
for Adult
in Suffering & Hope (Location: XCL-SUF)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Pure Desire
by Ted Roberts
from Gospel Light Publications
for Adult
in Clearance: Christian Books (Location: XCLE)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Radical
by David Platt
1st edition from Multnomah Books
for 11th-Adult
in Sacrificial Living (Location: XCL-SAC)
$5.00 (2 in stock)
Radical Disciple
by John Scott
from InterVarsity Press
for Adult
in Discipleship & Community (Location: XCL-DIS)
$9.00 (1 in stock)
Radical Together
by David Platt
1st edition from Multnomah Books
for Adult
in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC)
$8.00 $8.00 (2 in stock)
Real Christianity
by William Wilberforce, abridged and edited by James M. Houston
from Multnomah Press
for Adult
in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
Rescuing Ambition
by Dave Harvey
from Crossway Books
for Adult
in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Same Lake, Different Boat
by Stephanie O. Hubach
from P&R Publishing
for Adult
in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ
by John Piper
from Crossway Books
for Adult
in Knowing & Loving God (Location: XCL-KNOW)
$5.50 (1 in stock)
Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ
by John Piper
from Crossway Books
for Adult
in Knowing & Loving God (Location: XCL-KNOW)
$5.00 (2 in stock)
Sex and the Supremacy of Christ
by John Piper & Justin Taylor, eds.
from Crossway Books
for Adult
in Covenant Marriage (Location: XFA-MAR)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23
by W. Phillip Keller
from Zondervan
for 9th-Adult
in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Soul Repair
by Jeff VanVonderen, Dale Ryan, Juanita Ryan
from InterVarsity Press
for Adult
in Christian Counseling (Location: XCL-COU)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
Spirit of the Disciplines
by Dallas Willard
from HarperCollins
in Spiritual Disciplines (Location: XCL-SPDI)
$7.50 (2 in stock)
Suffering and the Sovereignty of God
by John Piper & Justin Taylor
from Crossway Books
for Adult
in Suffering & Hope (Location: XCL-SUF)
$9.00 (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)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Surviving the Wilderness
by Jack Williamson
from Unknown Publisher
for Adult
in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
The Relationship Principles of Jesus
by written by Tom Holladay
from Zondervan
in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC)
$10.00 (1 in stock)
Tired of Trying to Measure Up
by Jeff VanVonderan
2008 repackaged from Bethany House
for Adult
in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Tithing and Dominion
by Edward A. Powell & R. J. Rushdoony
from Chalcedon / Ross House Books
for 11th-Adult
in Biblical Law (Location: XTH-LAW)
$8.00 $4.00 (6 in stock)
Treasuring Christ When Your Hands Are Full
by Gloria Furman
from Crossway Books
for Adult
in Biblical Womanhood (Location: XFA-WOM)
$7.50 $4.00 (1 in stock)
True Community
by Jerry Bridges
from NavPress
for 10th-Adult
in Discipleship & Community (Location: XCL-DIS)
$7.50 (4 in stock)
Trusting God
by Jerry Bridges
from NavPress
for 10th-Adult
in Suffering & Hope (Location: XCL-SUF)
$14.99 $8.00 (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)
When Grace Comes Alive
by Terry L. Johnson
from Christian Focus Publications
for Adult
in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
When Grace Comes Home
by Terry L. Johnson
from Christian Focus Publications
for Adult
in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
When I Don't Desire God
by John Piper
from Crossway Books
in Spiritual Disciplines (Location: XCL-SPDI)
$13.59 $8.00 (1 in stock)
12