Reader's Review (in 500 Words or Less): The Good and Beautiful God by James Bryan Smith

The Good and Beautiful God by James Bryan Smith is the first in a series of three "Apprenticeship" books that aims at cultivating a "robust discipleship" for Christians, something that I as an Anabaptist deeply appreciate.  This book on spiritual formation is meant to help guide and re-shape our minds and hearts to conceive of God correctly.  Simply put, Smith shows God through Jesus' eyes and understanding.  Through the use of Scripture, short stories, and rich metaphors, Smith cultivates this image of God in us with the purpose of helping us relate to God in clearer ways so that we can be spiritually formed by Jesus.  Smith offers very helpful spiritual disciplines and practices to help us to live out the new narrative being spoken into us and whispered to us by God.  These exercises are very helpful.  I appreciated that James made his book very understandable without technical jargon.  This makes the book approachable and helpful.

One of the most meaningful sections of this book for me is Smith's understanding of how God transforms us.  He says the first and foremost thing is to know (deep down heart level) that, since we have turned our lives over to Christ, Jesus dwells in us and in Christ we have been raised up with Jesus to new life.  He states that Christians are no longer sinners, i.e. those who are dominated by and ruled by sin.  Instead, we are ruled by Jesus.  However, sin stills holds rebellion in us (hence why we still sin), but we are no longer identified by, defined by, or bound in the power of sin because Christ rules in us and through us.  I found this to be a crucial shift in my own thinking, life, and action (page p. 149-165).

While this book is meant to be read in a small group, it can also be read individually.  Since I do not have a small group at this time, I read it individually and can still say that it has profoundly impacted me.  I read the book quickly in order to have an opinion of it for a meeting that is coming up shortly, but I can't wait to read it slowly over again. 

One Line Summary: Go buy this book. Here's the link: http://www.amazon.com/Good-Beautiful-James-Bryan-Smith-ebook/dp/B006NZ6744/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1400787925&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Good+and+Beautiful+God

Book Reviewed: Smith, James Bryan. The Good and Beautiful God. Downers Grove: IVP, 2009.  

Here is James' Apprenticeship website in case you wanted to check out more information:

https://apprenticeinstitute.org/