The Good and Beautiful God: Falling in Love with the God Jesus Knows

by James Bryan Smith

Overview

"God wants me to try harder." "God blesses me when I'm good and punishes me when I'm bad." "God is angry with me." For the past decade The Good and Beautiful God has been helping readers ask hard questions about the character of God. We all have ideas that we tell ourselves about God and how he works in our lives. Some are true-but many are false. James Bryan Smith believes those thoughts determine not only who we are, but also how we live. In the pages of this book you are invited to put your ideas to the test to see if they match up with what Jesus himself reveals about God. Once you've discovered the truth in Scripture, you can engage in a process of spiritual formation that includes specific activities aimed at making these new narratives real in your body and soul as well as your mind. This limited premium quality anniversary edition includes a new afterword by James Bryan Smith and a ribbon bookmark. Discover the narratives that Jesus lived by-to know the Lord he knew and the kingdom he proclaimed-and learn how to practice spiritual exercises that will help you grow in the knowledge of our good and beautiful God:

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780830835348
Publisher:	InterVarsity Press
Publication date:	09/03/2019
Series:	Apprentice Resources
Edition description:	Special Edition, 10th Anniversary Edition
Pages:	240
Sales rank:	669,446
Product dimensions:	5.70(w) x 8.40(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

James Bryan Smith is a theology professor at Friends University in Wichita, Kansas. He is a founding board member of RENOVARÉ and frequently speaks at RENOVARÉ conferences. Jim is also the author of A Spiritual Formation Workbook, Devotional Classics (with Richard Foster), Embracing the Love of God, Rich Mullins: An Arrow Pointing to Heaven, which hit the New York Times bestseller list, and Room of Marvels.

Table of Contents

Introduction 9

How to Get the Most Out of This Book 17

1 What Are You Seeking? 19

Soul Training: Sleep

2 God Is Good 37

Soul Training: Silence and Awareness of Creation

3 God Is Trustworthy 55

Soul Training: Counting Your Blessings

4 God Is Generous 75

Soul Training: Praying Psalm 83

5 God Is Love 93

Soul Training: Lectio Divina

6 God Is Holy 113

Soul Training: Margin

7 God Is Self-Sacrificing 133

Soul Training: Reading the Gospel of John

8 God Transforms 149

Soul Training: Solitude

9 How to Make a Pickle 171

Soul Training: Slowing Down

Afterword to the Tenth Anniversary Edition 193

Acknowledgments 199

Appendix: Small Group Discussion Guide 203

Notes 229

What People are Saying About This

Todd Hunter

"I know from our long relationship that Jim Smith is a fine and trustworthy man, who authentically knows 'the good and beautiful God.' I can think of no higher compliment than this: I would happily trust the care of my soul to Jim and the good and beautiful God he commends to us."
— Todd Hunter, author of Christianity Beyond Belief and pastor of Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Costa Mesa

Dallas Willard

"The Apprentice Series is the best practice I have seen in Christian spiritual formation."
— Dallas Willard, author of The Divine Conspiracy

John Ortberg

"I am so grateful this edition of a rich spiritual resource will become available. I hope it is widely and wisely read."

Richard J. Foster

"This first book in The Apprentice Series, The Good and Beautiful God, 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 this book immediately! Read it and apply it. Then live it 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

Jen Pollock Michel

"'What do you want?' This question, which Jesus often asked, is central to this book. If you want a life of growing connection to Jesus and a reliable plan for advancing that goal, this is a book to read and return to again and again. James Bryan Smith holds to the compelling paradox of God's good news: that while spiritual formation is not accidental, we only learn to love him because he, in his kindness, has first loved us."

Scot McKnight

"Most of us want to change, whether it is changing some bad habit to changing a deeply ingrained character defect, and Smith reminds us that change does not result from willpower. The will has no power. Spiritual change begins with God—what we think about God shapes what we think about ourselves and those around us and our world. Spiritual change begins with a narrative where God is the center: What is our 'narrative' of God? What are the narratives that hinder our perception and life in God? A major feature of this series is the power of false narratives in our lives and the power of good narratives that can effect change. The false narrative is that effort and willpower leads to change. The true narrative is about God—about Christ—about the Spirit—and about your place in the God Narrative."

Ken Shigematsu

"James Bryan Smith has written a great and beautiful book. Deep, inspiring, and highly accessible, this is the best book I've read on spiritual practices. I recommend it to everyone."

Editorial Reviews

"James Bryan Smith has written a great and beautiful book. Deep, inspiring, and highly accessible, this is the best book I've read on spiritual practices. I recommend it to everyone."

Ken Shigematsu

"I am so grateful this edition of a rich spiritual resource will become available. I hope it is widely and wisely read."

John Ortberg

"'What do you want?' This question, which Jesus often asked, is central to this book. If you want a life of growing connection to Jesus and a reliable plan for advancing that goal, this is a book to read and return to again and again. James Bryan Smith holds to the compelling paradox of God's good news: that while spiritual formation is not accidental, we only learn to love him because he, in his kindness, has first loved us."

Jen Pollock Michel

"If you're looking for books to help patrons rekindle or enhance their relationships with God, buy this one. Highly recommended for small groups interested in deepening their relationships with God."

Church Libraries

"I predict this book, and the two more in the series, will become deeply influential books in evangelical churches that want to deepen spiritual formation."

Scot McKnight

"This first book in The Apprentice Series, The Good and Beautiful God, 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 this book immediately! Read it and apply it. Then live it out in the context of a loving community. You will not regret doing so."

Richard J. Foster

"I know from our long relationship that Jim Smith is a fine and trustworthy man, who authentically knows 'the good and beautiful God.' I can think of no higher compliment than this: I would happily trust the care of my soul to Jim and the good and beautiful God he commends to us."

Todd Hunter

"The Apprentice Series is the best practice I have seen in Christian spiritual formation."

Dallas Willard

Other authors have written extensively on spiritual disciplines and the spiritual life, but few have created a curriculum that is as accessible to the common believer seeking spiritual growth. I exuberantly recommend this book to anyone interested in a practical model of spiritual growth.

Steve Gioielli

"I have observed that every individual, whether a new beliver or seasoned veteran, has given testimony of a new joy in their journey as a result of this book. The content is sound, inspiring and enlightening."

Jerry Barker

"Make spiritual mentors, group leaders, youth pastors, Christian educators, and Willard/Foster fans aware of this material."

David Mundt