|
$12.99
|
Item Added to Cart Electronic Item Added to Cart
|
|
Item Added to Cart
|
|
|
Jerry Bridges explores the nine aspects of the “fruit of the Spirit” described in Gal. 5:22-23 and shows us how to practice them in real life.
Description:
As we desire to be more like Jesus, we want to live loving, joyful lives. Yet loving our enemies seems impossible. Even being patient with our family is often difficult. How can we put on the gentle garments of grace when we're so busy battling our old behavior patterns?
Navigator author Jerry Bridges explains how to practice the “fruit of the Spirit” (Gal. 5:22-23):
• love
• joy
• peace
• patience
• kindness
• goodness
• faithfulness
• gentleness
• self-control
Learn how the Holy Spirit can help in your spiritual formation as you become a serious follower of Christ.
The Fruitful Life
ISBN-13:
9781600060274
Trim Size: 5.5 x 8.25
Cover: Paperback
192
Pages
$12.99
Percentage Discounts for Bulk Purchases of Single Items
-
Downloadable
-
Part of a Series
-
Available in Spanish
You May Also Like:
Customer Reviews
The Fruitful Life: producing a harvest of righteousness
Devotees of Jerry Bridges’ well-known books The Pursuit of Holiness and The Practice of Godliness will be familiar with his encouraging words to modern day disciples of Jesus. I devoured these books when I first became a Christian, finding them essential tools as I began walking with Jesus. I thought this would, therefore, be an ‘easy read’.
Far from it. The style is easily accessible but the content is so thought-provoking that it is impossible to skim quickly through this lovely book. Bridges first takes the reader through the implications of taking on God’s character and becoming devoted to God. Gaining an understanding of this alone could be years of Bible study, but Bridges gives six principles for us to consider. One particularly useful reminder was that our conduct develops our character just as our character informs our conduct: what we are and what we do are intrinsic to each other. This understanding is essential to gaining an appreciation of the gifts of the Spirit. It is only then that the reader can begin to study, with a humble heart, what it means to develop the fruits of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Each chapter ends with thought-provoking questions for practice and discussion – ideal for a small group.
I am using this lovely little book with a group of friends who meet regularly for breakfast. Already, they are telling me how the topics we discussed have cropped up in their lives. And how helpful the discussions, based on The Fruitful Life, have been as they endeavour to ‘be Jesus’ in their workplaces. I imagine this is exactly what Jerry Bridges desires: that we can be encouraged to live more fruitful lives.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from NavPress Publishers as part of their Blogger Review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Posted by
Angie Pollard
on
10/31/2010 7:16:44 AM
Coming full circle
To the best of my recollection, I have read ten books by Jerry Bridges. In each decade of my adulthood, one or two of his books were just what I needed. In my 20s I read “The Practice of Godliness” and “The Pursuit of Holiness”. In my 30s it was “Transforming Grace” and “The Discipline of Grace”. In my 40s it was “The Gospel for Real Life” and “Respectable Sins”. Now as I turn 50 it is “The Fruitful Life”.
It seems Bridges and I have come full circle. “The Fruitful Life” is a reworking of “The Practice of Godliness”. The major difference is both the author and I have twenty-five more years experience under our belts. As Bridges felt a need to revisit the fruit of the Spirit, I likewise have a need to reexamine the Spirit’s fruit in my life.
Jerry Bridges is eighty years old and has worked with the Navigators (a discipleship ministry) for over fifty years. His writing reveals a humble believer who is not afraid to confess his faults. As I read this book, I felt like I was sitting across his breakfast table as he shared the details of his spiritual growth. I highly recommend this book.
NavPress freely provided this book for review and there was no expectation of a positive review.
Posted by
Greg Wilson
on
8/4/2010 2:26:02 PM
great book: disclosure
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from NavPress Publishers as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR., Part 255:"Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
Posted by
Barbara
on
7/27/2010 12:21:51 PM
great book: disclosure
Recently posts a review but the review posted before I could add my disclosure statement and it reposted again when I tried to enter one so I am doing this here.
Posted by
Barbara
on
7/27/2010 12:20:30 PM
Great book
I have read several sections of books on the fruits of the spirit but none have been like what I read in The Fruitful Life by Jerry Bridges.
First all all this book is more of a guide on how to apply Galatians 5: 22-23 to your life rather than just simply telling you about the fruits of the spirit. Each chapter contains information that will enable you to apply these teachings in a real way to your own life in order to become more of what God has intended for each of us. Each section also has a set of questions at the end in order to help you to focus and reflect on what you have just read and to bring things more in perspective for you. This also makes it ideal for either an individual study or to use with a group. We have all been exposed to what the fruits of the spirit are and have had discussions on what each one means, but if you are like me, none have gone that extra step to guide you into applying the fruits to your own life as does the book The Fruitful Life. If you are truly looking for ways to enrich your personal relationship with God then this book is one that will help lead you on that path.
Posted by
Barbara
on
7/27/2010 12:19:07 PM
Great book
I have read several sections of books on the fruits of the spirit but none have been like what I read in The Fruitful Life by Jerry Bridges.
First all all this book is more of a guide on how to apply Galatians 5: 22-23 to your life rather than just simply telling you about the fruits of the spirit. Each chapter contains information that will enable you to apply these teachings in a real way to your own life in order to become more of what God has intended for each of us. Each section also has a set of questions at the end in order to help you to focus and reflect on what you have just read and to bring things more in perspective for you. This also makes it ideal for either an individual study or to use with a group. We have all been exposed to what the fruits of the spirit are and have had discussions on what each one means, but if you are like me, none have gone that extra step to guide you into applying the fruits to your own life as does the book The Fruitful Life. If you are truly looking for ways to enrich your personal relationship with God then this book is one that will help lead you on that path.
Posted by
Barbara
on
7/27/2010 12:18:23 PM
Encouragement to Pursue God
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from NavPress Publishers as part of their Blogger Review Program, in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
Posted by
Jennifer
on
7/2/2010 8:08:59 AM
Encouragement to Pursue God
“The Fruitful Life” is definitely not a quick read, but is absolutely, positively worth the time. Jerry Bridges uses frequent scripture references to expound upon each fruit of the Spirit, and places a great emphasis on personal prayer and Bible reading. Each chapter has study questions that encourage the Christian to open the Bible, pray, and think about what Christ-like character means. The humble tone of the writing is wonderful. The author’s fundamental devotion to God shines through. While Bridges offers the reader scriptures and methods to mold character through the fruit of the Spirit, he stresses that each Christian is individual, with a very personal relationship with God. He encourages the reader to use the book as a starting place, but most importantly to pray, ponder, worship, study on one’s own, and seek out the help of the Holy Spirit to find the path that God wants for the reader. Although the book has many how-to‘s, it is not simply a book of instruction, but one of encouragement that led me many times to pray and open my Bible to learn more. I will be referring to this book over and over in the future, and consider it one of the best books I have ever read.
Posted by
Jennifer
on
7/2/2010 8:08:02 AM
Spiritual Fruit
This Fruitful Life takes you on a journey through each of the fruits of the Spirit as described in Galatians 5. This book dedicates a chapter to each and offers insight into how we can cultivate each one in our life.
I liked this book because the author addresses the important fact that while the Holy Spirit does the work in us, we have work to do also. He offers insight and wisdom into what each fruit ‘looks like’ in our lives and how and why it is important in our walk with God. There is a brief study section at the end of each chapter.
I would recommend this for small groups and for individual study.
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from NavPress Publishers as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."*
Posted by
Karyn
on
6/18/2010 5:36:33 PM
"The Fruitful Life" is one that is devoted to God
Jerry Bridges calls the fruitful life the overflow of God’s love through you. In his book, “The Fruitful Life,” Bridges covers nine “fruits of the Spirit,” from Galatians 5:22-23, including love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. In order to produce fruit, a Christian must be devoted to God. According to Bridges, you cannot be a Christian and not have a basic devotion to God.
This devotion will spur you on to seek to become God-centered and God-like. As with all of his books, he uses Scripture as the guideline to follow when looking for direction in seeking God’s principles in our life. Each chapter ends with a group of questions and exercises to apply the principles he outlines. Perfect for individual or group study, “The Fruitful Life” will convict you, encourage you and guide you into a closer relationship with God.
In recent years, we’ve tried to bring God to our level when we should be striving for His. We cannot forget about the holiness and godliness of God. There is an awe to this relationship we have failed to be taught, but Bridges is gradually bringing it back. Bridges will ask you to take a long hard look at yourself. Be prepared to see the good, the bad and the ugly. He also shows you what God would desire for you and how you can change. God is seeking a relationship with His people. Bridges is asking you to be open to seeing yourself the way God does and shows you through Scripture what God is seeking in you.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from NavPress as part of their Book Review Blogger Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Posted by
Jill Jones
on
6/17/2010 6:44:38 PM
This is a great book
It's taken me a while to finish reading this book, but I really liked it a lot. The Fruitful Life is a study focused on the fruit of the Spirit. The author started out by using the first two chapters to "examine how these traits are cultivated through devotion to God." Bridges uses a triangle to represent devotion to God with the three elements as its three points. The fear of God and the love of God form the base of the triangle and the desire for God is at the apex. These three elements are essential in developing a God-centered devotion. The third chapter addresses humility, although it isn't listed as one of the fruit of the Spirit, we wouldn't be able to cultivate the rest of the fruit in our lives without it. Chapter's four through eleven are each devoted to examine one of the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness and goodness, faithfulness gentleness, and self-control. I liked that the author uses plenty of verses to back up everything he says and you know you're reading a book that is biblically correct. The last chapter is about seeking a deeper devotion. How can we grow in our devotion to God? Prayer, meditation on the Scriptures, worship, and quiet time. "Wholehearted God-centeredness bears fruit in our lives - The fruit of the Spirit." This book would be a great resource to use in a bible study group or in your personal study of Galatians 5:22-23.
Posted by
Crystal
on
6/10/2010 7:19:04 PM
Scripture soaked and full of personal application.
Jerry Bridges has written an accessible, thoroughly Biblical guide to the fruits of the Spirit, based on Gal. 5:22-23. As Bridges states in the Intro, a healthy life is a fruitful life.
I loved the emphasis throughout that producing spiritual fruit is not something that we can do ourselves, it’s something we must allow the Spirit to do through us. Bridges uses the term “garments of grace” to describe that, although God is the source, we must actively “put on” these character traits like garments. What a beautiful word picture! The fruit of the Spirit is also relational, having an outward focus toward other people, not just an inward, personal spiritual focus. It flows to us from our union with Christ and beyond us to bring us into fellowship with others.
Ch. 1 examines how each of the nine traits is cultivated through devotion to Christ. Ch. 2 is one of the best, discussing our devotion to God in terms of a triangle with the two points at the base representing the fear of God and love for God while the apex represents the desire for God...the three essential elements of devotion. Bridges’ explanation of the biblical concept of the fear of God is superb. Ch. 3 is another favorite. It addresses humility, not one of the nine fruits, but essential. Humility is the soil in which all the other traits grow.
Ch. 4-11 each examine one of the nine fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness/goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The final chapter revisits devotion to God as the only acceptable motive for actions that are pleasing to God, and what we can do to develop and grow this fruit even further in our lives. Praying for growth, meditating on God’s word, worshiping God, and fellowship with God through “quiet time” are essential. The three essential elements of devotion discussed in Ch. 2 are revisited. We must strive to grow equally in these three areas, or we risk becoming unbalanced in our devotion to God, emphasizing fear of God or love of God to the extreme. Balance is crucial, along with vital dependence on the Holy Spirit. Bridges closes by explaining that there is another area of life that is key. It’s not an activity, but an attitude of life: obedience to the will of God. He calls this “the ultimate test”, the only true response to His love for us. Do we earnestly desire to obey His commands?
Each chapter ends with questions for discussion and personal application, as well as Scriptures for meditation. This book is ideal for a group study or to use in personal devotions. Jerry Bridges has a true gift for expressing Biblical truth in an accessible, applicable way. I’ll be revisiting this book in my personal devotions and taking more time to meditate on the Scriptures he provides throughout.
Thank you to Navpress for providing a review copy of this title to me through their Blogger Review program. The opinions expressed are my own.
Posted by
Kara Haschke
on
6/7/2010 3:21:05 PM
Another Contribution From a Great Author
Jerry Bridges provides us with a helpful study on the fruit of the Spirit in The Fruitful Life. He is careful to make the distinction between the fruit of the Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit. The gifts are more function focused, while fruit is character focused. Perhaps too much emphasis has been placed on the gifts in contemporary literature rather than the fruit. As one said, “Many of those who contend for the gifts of the Spirit lack the spirit of the gifts.”
Bridges’ contribution is valuable because of these emphases:
First, he leads us to consider the fruit of the Spirit in the context of a life devoted to God. The emphasis on the fear of God, the love of God, and the desire for God is not what one expects from a work on this topic.
Second, Bridges is careful to lay a foundation of Christ centeredness as essential for the pursuit of God. We need to be Christ centered and gospel focused in our walk.
Third, the fruit of the Spirit is demonstrated to be qualities of Christlikeness. What is manifested in this fruit are character traits that model the life of Jesus.
Fourth, the fruit of the Spirit is not portrayed as passive qualities that just happen. It is true that only the Holy Spirit can produce fruit in a believer, it is also true that we have the responsibility to provide the best possible soil for the fruit to grow.
The exercises at the end of each chapter make this book a useful resource for small group Bible studies.
Posted by
Ron Starcher
on
6/4/2010 7:09:32 PM
An “In-Your-Face” Book: Grace times Nine!
If you want to “shake up your categories” of doing Christianity, then look no more: This is your book! I knew I was asking God to stick His “hoe” in my “dirt” when I started to read The Fruitful Life. (I need to tell you, though, that Jerry Bridges is already is in the category of “different Christian author” for me, ever after I first read his book, Trusting God: Even When Life Hurts, over ten years ago. Last year about this time, I was wandering through a church library, minding my own business, when I spotted a more recent of Bridges’ books, Respectable Sins: Confronting the Sins We Tolerate, on the shelf. I checked it out, and… knew I would be eager to read more of his writing.)
Here’s what I most love about reading Jerry Bridges: He’s “real”. He does not write from some pompous, elevated stance, as if he’s better than the rest of us! He’s bold. (Jerry Bridge’s writing reminds me of the kind of coffee I love best : BOLD!) But (and this trait is THE best) even better than his “realness” (read: “transparency”), and more potent than his boldness, I most appreciate the author’s being Biblical – He doesn’t simply toss a verse or two of Scripture out there to support a point, then walk away; no, he links the verses together in a natural way, and with great clarity. (NB: Neither Jerry Bridges nor NavPress has paid me to write these words!)
The Fruitful Life is definitely an in-your-face book. Don’t bother to buy it if you want washed-out, pre-tasted, Christianity-“lite”: You won’t find it here. What you will find are some hard questions that will challenge you, even push you, out of your “comfort zone”. Bridges’ ability to write clearly on a topic that is often glossed over (the fruit of the Spirit), his knowledge of Scripture applicable to the topic at hand, his gift of “exhorting through his pen”, and his reflections on the fruit of the Spirit in light of God’s Sovereignty will cause you to read this book as have I, with your Bible, a pen, and a highlighter nearby.
This would be a great small-group book, yet also works as an individual study. It could be used for a large-group “ABF” (“Adult Bible Fellowship”), for a study between a mentor and a mentee, or even for two friends meeting weekly over coffee/tea wanting to get a better “handle” on how to express God’s love to others in practical ways. Expect God to change you if you read this book, because He *will*.
Posted by
Grace
on
6/3/2010 9:08:03 PM
INFLUENCING OTHERS TO FOLLOW JESUS, WE NEED TO HAVE THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
To feel the overflow of God's Love, it must start within you first and to learn it by heart the principles that makes a fruitful life. In order to be a believable Christian---you must walk the talk! Now if you want to disciple someone, you need the fruit of the spirit to be more effective and that is the secret of Christian influence. Start within yourself is from what I understand from reading Jerry Bridges book. Concentrate on developing character traits such as joy, peace, kindness, goodness, devotion among others to have a solid spiritual formation. If you are a church worker, laymen, Pastor or Worship Leader, you must know these things if you want more followers to lead to Jesus. Although there is nothing new even if each chapter is concentrated in how to having humility, self-control,having gentleness etc. Still this is worth reading if you think you need more "radical" approach to influence the lives of others . Learning and getting back to basics is one way of admitting with humility--- that you can't do it alone without the help of the Holy Spirit to guide you. Immerse yourself with these insightful book and you will benefit more if you practice it and learn from wisdom of the Author by also doing the exercises for practice discussion found at the end of each chapter and suggested bible verses to make your bible reading or "alone" time more meaningful.
I received this book from Navpress as part of their books for bloggers program and the opinions I have expressed are entirely my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the U.S Federal Trade Commission
Posted by
Vernie Espanola
on
6/2/2010 8:06:21 PM
Can't wait to read more of this author!
I was not disappointed with Bridges' Scripture-laden study on the fruit of the Spirit. Devotion to God is the only reason we can and should seek to bear fruit. I agree with Bridges statement that all too often our motives are self-centered: worrying about what others might think of us, or feeling good about ourselves personally. We can even be acting on ethics or morals, yet not truly out of sole devotion to God.
One lesson that God has been teaching me personally over and over again lately is humility. Bridges starts his book off with the virtue of humility, stating that bearing fruit starts with an attitude of humility. The more I think about his hypothesis the more I agree that humility is the central virtue necessary for bearing fruit. In order to act in love, we must put others before ourselves. In order to live a self-controlled life, we must realize we have no power to do so in and of ourselves.
Bridges also shows the never-ending cycle between conduct and character. Which direction are we training ourselves by our actions? Are we training ourselves to wait patiently for God's timing? Are we cultivating thankfulness that will create a joyful character?
Devotion to God, according to Bridges is based on fear of God, love of God, and desire of God. I definitely agree with Bridges' assertion that all three need to be in balance. He states that the church today is strongly lacking in the area of fear of God.
Bridges' proceeds to devote a chapter to each of the fruit of the Spirit. My favorite part of The Fruitful Life is the fact that Bridges provides meditation verses for each fruit of the Spirit. I have found in my own life, meditating on Scriptures is a great way not only to fight sin but also to build the corresponding virtue. I want to return to Bridges' list of Scriptures for each of the fruit.
Bridges also directs the reader to prayer giving ideas for Scripture the reader can pray in building fruit in their lives. He provides applicational questions about each fruit, centering the reader on honestly evaluating him or herself in regards to struggles. For instance:
"Review the last couple of days, looking for situations in which you were tempted to act in a self-centered way instead of putting others before yourself. What did you do in each case? What do you observe about yourself." (60). Ouch, Bridges asks some tough questions of the reader.
The Fruitful Life is a book I will find myself "chewing" on for weeks to come. I plan to spend more time meditating on the Scriptures and questions Bridges shares.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from NavPress Publishers as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
Posted by
Julia M. Reffner
on
6/1/2010 8:10:35 PM
The Fruitful Life
The Fruitful Life by Jerry Bridges is a wonderful devotional centered on becoming Christ-like by examining the "fruit of the Spirit". He takes the nine fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23 and shares how we can cooperate with the Holy Spirit in producing these fruit in our own lives. A chapter is devoted to each of these - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, where he defines them and then shows examples through scripture of each ones use and worth.
Overall this is a very practical book, exposing our weaknesses and providing ideas on how to overcome them. The quest for Christ-likeness is one we would all claim to be on, but this book is slap of reality, awakening us from our slumber and self-deception. At the end of each chapter he includes "exercises for practice and discussion" which facilitate personal or small group study, but be warned, you may be forced into seeing things in yourself that you'd rather not. This may be why he included a chapter on humility at the beginning of the book.
The Fruitful Life is a very helpful resource to deepen your devotion to and dependence on God and to grow in holiness out of your love for him.
I'd like to thank Navpress for sending me this free copy for review.
Posted by
Brandon
on
5/21/2010 1:38:31 AM
The Fruitful Life
This book has been such a tremendous blessing to me in learning how to practice the "fruit of the Spirit". It has been an excellant tool God has guided me to pick up. I have devoured it in my Quiet Time, at which God has showed me "how to", which at times has been painful, but, God has blessed me because of my obedience. I am also purchasing more to share with some of my family and friends. Thank you, Jerry, for your obedience in writing this.
Posted by
Carol L.
on
2/5/2008 2:40:00 PM
This is an excellent book!
This book does a good job of explaining concepts and gives practical help in growing in our worship of God, fear of God, understanding of God's love, and desire for God. I have read it more than once and still turn to it often.
Posted by
Susan Gras
on
5/7/2007 12:25:00 PM