Practical Christian Living

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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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Parent Categories

Christian Books

Practical Christianity

Practical Christian Living

Subcategories

Gospel for Real Life Series

Theologians On the Christian Life

75 Items found Print

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10th grade (Ages 15-16)

	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)
	Augustine on the Christian Life Transformed by the Power of God Theologians on the Christian Life by Gerald Bray from Crossway Books for 9th-Adult in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC)
	Basic Christian Living A Survey Course on Practical Christianity by Douglas Wilson from Canon Press for 9th-Adult in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC) $18.00
	Be Still My Soul by Elisabeth Elliot from Revell Publishing for 10th-Adult in Spiritual Disciplines (Location: XCL-SPDI)
	Blood-Bought World by Toby J. Sumpter from Canon Press for 10th-Adult in Jesus Christ (Location: XTH-JES)
	Breakfast with Bonhoeffer How I Learned to Stop Being Religious So I Could Follow Jesus by Jon Walker from Leafwood Publishing for 9th-Adult in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC) $7.50 (1 in stock)
	Business of Heaven Daily Readings by C.S. Lewis Reissue from HarperOne for 10th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $17.99
	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)
	Carved in Ebony Lessons from the Black Women who Shape Us by Jasmine L. Holmes from Bethany House for 10th-Adult in Biography Anthologies (Location: BIO-ANTH)
	Christ Formed in You The Power of the Gospel for Personal Change by Brian G. Hedges from Shepherd Press for 10th-Adult in Pursuing Holiness (Location: XCL-HOLY) $15.95
	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)
	Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Foreword by Eric Metaxas 1^st edition from Touchstone for 10th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $15.19
	Crazy Love by Francis Chan Revised and Updated from David C. Cook for 10th-Adult in Sacrificial Living (Location: XCL-SAC) $12.00
	Crossroads Navigating Your Calling and Career by Colin Creel from Crossway Books for 10th-Adult in Work & Vocation (Location: SS-VOC) $10.39 $7.00 (1 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 God's Role and Our Role in the Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges from NavPress for 10th-Adult in Spiritual Disciplines (Location: XCL-SPDI) $14.99 $7.50 (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)
	Dug Down Deep Unearthing What I Believe and Why It Matters by Joshua Harris from Multnomah Books for 9th-Adult in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC)
	Enemy Within Straight Talk About the Power and Defeat of Sin by Kris Lundgaard from P&R Publishing for 9th-Adult in Repentance & Avoiding Sin (Location: XCL-REP) $9.99
	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) Knowing and Doing the Will of God 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 the Trinity by Darrell W. Johnson from Regent College for 9th-Adult in Theology Proper: The Study of God (Location: XTH-GOD) $10.00
	Extravagant Grace God's Glory Displayed in Our Weakness by Barbara Duguid from P&R Publishing for 10th-Adult in The Gospel (Location: XTH-GOS) $12.99 $7.50 (1 in stock)
	Face to Face Meditations on Friendship and Hospitality by Steve Wilkins 2^nd edition from Canon Press for 9th-Adult in Hospitality (Location: SS-HOS) $14.00
	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)
	God's Will: God's Best for Your Life by Josh McDowell, Kevin Johnson from Bethany House for 7th-12th grade in Growing Up Christian (Location: XCL-GROW)
	God's Wisdom for Navigating Life A Year of Daily Devotions in the Book of Proverbs by Timothy J. Keller & Kathy Keller from Viking Press for 9th-Adult in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC) $23.00
	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)
	Greatest Among You A Student's Guide to Servant Leadership by Randy Sims from Worldview Academy for 9th-12th grade in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC) $5.00 (1 in stock)
	Habakkuk A Wrestler with God by Walter J. Chantry from Banner of Truth Trust for 10th-Adult in Bible Commentaries (Location: XBI-COMM) $9.00
	Heaven in Stone and Glass Experiencing the Spirituality of the Great Cathedrals by Robert Barron from Crossroad Publishing Co. for 10th-Adult in Architecture and Sculpture (Location: ELE-ARC) $14.95
	Hero of Heroes Seeing Christ in the Beatitudes by Iain Duguid from P&R Publishing for 10th-Adult in Knowing & Loving God (Location: XCL-KNOW) $9.99
	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)
	How To Be Free From Bitterness and other essays on Christian relationships by Jim Wilson 2^nd edition from Canon Press for 10th-Adult in Repentance & Avoiding Sin (Location: XCL-REP) $12.00
	How to Grow in Christ by Jack Kinneer from P&R Publishing for 9th-Adult in Bible Reading & Study (Location: XBI-STUDY) $6.80
	Humility by Andrew Murray for 10th-Adult in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC) $3.00 (1 in stock)
	Humility and Absolute Surrender by Andrew Murray from Hendrickson Publishers for 10th-Adult in Hendrickson Christian Classics (Location: XCL-DEV) $6.00 (1 in stock)
	If. . . What Do I Know of Calvary Love? by Amy Carmichael from CLC Publications for 9th-Adult in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC) $5.99
	In His Steps by Charles M. Sheldon from Grosset & Dunlap for 9th-Adult in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $14.00 (1 in stock)
	John Ploughman's Talk Or, Plain Advice for Plain People by Charles Haddon Spurgeon from Wipf and Stock Publishers Christian Living for 10th-Adult in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC) $15.00
	Knowing God by J. I. Packer 2^nd edition from InterVarsity Press for 9th-Adult in Knowing & Loving God (Location: XCL-KNOW) $20.00
	Learning Contentment A Study for Ladies of Every Age by Nancy Wilson from Canon Press for 10th-Adult in Biblical Womanhood (Location: XFA-WOM) $12.00
	Let Justice Roll Down by John M. Perkins from Baker Books for 9th-Adult in Biographies (Location: BIO) $15.99
	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)
	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)
	Mark of the Christian by Francis A. Schaeffer 2^nd edition from InterVarsity Press for 10th-Adult in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC) $10.00
	Morning and Evening by Charles H. Spurgeon & Alistair Begg 2^nd edition from Crossway Books Devotional Material for 9th-Adult in Devotionals (Location: XCL-DEV) $29.99
	My Utmost For His Highest The Classic Edition by Oswald Chambers from Barbour Publishing Christian Devotional for 9th-Adult in Devotionals (Location: XCL-DEV) $3.00 (1 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)
	Proverbs for You by Kathleen Nielson from Good Book Company for 9th-Adult in Bible Commentaries (Location: XBI-COMM)
	Pursuit of God The Human Thirst for the Divine by A. W. Tozer from Moody Press for 9th-Adult in Knowing & Loving God (Location: XCL-KNOW) $4.99
	Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges from NavPress for 9th-Adult in Pursuing Holiness (Location: XCL-HOLY)
	Quest for More Living for Something Bigger Than You by Paul David Tripp 1^st edition from New Growth Press for 10th-Adult in Christian Counseling (Location: XCL-COU) $14.50
	Respectable Sins Confronting the Sins We Tolerate by Jerry Bridges from NavPress for 9th-Adult in Repentance & Avoiding Sin (Location: XCL-REP) $19.99
	Respectable Sins - Discussion Guide by Jerry Bridges & Stephen Sorenson from NavPress for 10th-Adult in Repentance & Avoiding Sin (Location: XCL-REP) $8.99
	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)
	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)
	Taking God Seriously Vital Things We Need to Know by J. I. Packer 1^st edition from Crossway Books for 9th-Adult in Reformed Theology (Location: XTH-REF) $10.39
	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) $8.95
	True Community The Biblical Practice of Koinonia by Jerry Bridges from NavPress for 10th-Adult in Discipleship & Community (Location: XCL-DIS) $7.50 (4 in stock)
	Trusting God Even When Life Hurts 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 Effective Prayer and Disciplined Bible Study 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) $3.00 (1 in stock)
	Woman After God's Own Heart by Elizabeth George Deluxe from Harvest House for 10th-adult in Biblical Womanhood (Location: XFA-WOM) $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Word versus Deed Resetting the Scales to a Biblical Balance by Duane Litfin 1^st edition from Crossway Books for 10th-Adult in Clearance: Christian Books (Location: XCLE) $11.00
	Work Matters by Tom Nelson from Crossway Books for 10th-Adult in Work & Vocation (Location: SS-VOC) $12.79
	Worldliness Resisting the Seduction of a Fallen World by C. J. Mahaney from Crossway Books for 10th-Adult in Repentance & Avoiding Sin (Location: XCL-REP) $10.39 $8.00 (1 in stock)
	Yesterday, Today, and Forever The Religious Life of a Remarkable Family by Maria Augusta Trapp from Master Books for 7th-10th grade in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC) $11.19
	You Are What You Love by James K. A. Smith from Brazos Press in Practical Christian Living (Location: XCL-PRAC) $19.99
	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)
	Young, Restless, Reformed A Journalist's Journey with the New Calvinists by Collin Hansen from Crossway Books for 9th-Adult in Reformed Theology (Location: XTH-REF) $12.00

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