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The Gospel for Real Life: Turn to the Liberating Power of the Cross... Every Day
By Jerry Bridges


There are so many people who have heard the Gospel message, can even repeat the message, and yet that Truth hasn't penetrated their life. Do you know what I'm saying? These people are good people, yet when strangers come across them, they think, "That's a nice person" instead of "That person must be a Christian". Do you know these people? Are you one of these people?

I am thinking I probably fall into that group. Don't get me wrong, I try hard to make sure my faith shows. Yet it is so easy to be part this world. I mean the day to day stuff usually is all that I can focus on. What about you? I mean I need some practical points to go off of.

This book, The Gospel for Real Life, really helped me to focus my efforts a little more. Now don't get me wrong, I would still put myself into that second group of people, but I am thinking that I might not be lost in that group anymore - I might be able to start to separate myself from that group eventually.

Bridges does a great job with this book to make the Gospel relevant for us - 2,000+ years after the fact. He breaks down some of the fancy vocabulary of religion (propitiation for example). However, the biggest plus to this book, is that Bridges makes sure you, the reader, realize that the Gospel is a gift that saves all people. More specifically, it is something that we, as people, cannot earn through actions, but a gift we receive simply because.

So this means that during my day to day, I don't have to focus on earning anything from God. I can just focus on being grateful for all that I have, because he has gifted me. Make sense on a practical level? It did for me. This book is a great reminder of how the world works to take our minds away from being grateful and focus all our energy on earning, when it should be the other way around.

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Another point that stuck with me was near the end of the book. Bridges reminds us, as Christians, that we are to pray that the Gospel will reach all people. Our actions also need to help this point, right? Maybe we won't all be missionaries, but we can all pray. An action that needs to be in our lives daily, prayer, a conversation with God. Here is a practical step: pray for those that haven't heard the Gospel, and for those that are actively spreading it. Bridges goes as far as to say "plead" for this goal to be accomplished. For me that word "plead" had more action associated with it than just "pray".

There is a ton in this quick read. Bridges write in a way that is easy to understand and then internalize so that you are able to make sure the Gospel is in your daily life. There are also study guide questions in the newer versions of the book, so this could be a nice summer study for a group that is looking for a challenge to their daily Christian lives. If you decide to read this book, or use it as a study, let me know! I'd love to hear your opinions and thoughts.






~~ Linked Up with: http://womenlivingwell.org/category/women-living-well-wednesdays/, http://internetcafedevotions.com/, http://www.goodmorninggirls.org/2012/05/disney-sea-shells-and-easy-ways-to-be-intentional-with-your-kids-link-up/, http://www.deeprootsathome.com/, http://www.amothersheritage.com/, http://www.oursimplecountrylife.com/, http://raisinghomemakers.com/2012/homemaking-link-up-77/,http://www.beholdingglory.com/, http://biblelovenotes.blogspot.com/, http://bloggerspirit.blogspot.com/, http://www.thebettermom.com/,  http://athometake2.blogspot.com/2012/05/moms-monday-mingle-4.html,  http://www.michellederusha.com/2012/05/hear-it-on-sunday-use-it-on-monday-hope.html,