Ryle on the Christian Life: Growing in Grace

by Andrew Atherstone, Justin Taylor (series_editor), Thomas Kidd (series_editor)

An Introduction to the Life and Work of J. C. Ryle

John Charles Ryle (1816-1900), a lover of Puritan theology, was one of the most popular evangelical orators and lively tract writers. Known for his direct and punchy style, Ryle expressed gospel truths with clarity and vivacity, leaving a legacy that continues to shape Christians today.

This audiobook traces the life of J. C. Ryle, highlighting his work as a clergyman in the Church of England, the first Bishop of Liverpool, and a prolific tract writer. His tracts were designed to grab his readers' attention, with pithy titles like Are You Forgiven?; Are You Happy?; Do You Believe?; and Repent or Perish!. Ryle on the Christian Life offers a fresh examination of Ryle's timeless writings, delving into his profound wisdom on key topics such as Scripture, salvation, the cross of Christ, conversion, revival, sovereign grace, and more.

Part of the Theologians on the Christian Life Provides accessible introductions to some of church history's greatest teachers Provides a compelling account of J. C. Ryle's life as a clergyman, bishop, and tract writer, highlighting his lasting impact on the church Wise Presents Ryle's timeless teachings about Scripture, salvation, conversion, revival, grace, holiness, and more

208 pages, Paperback

Published November 11, 2025

About the author

Andrew Atherstone is tutor in History and Doctrine, and Latimer research fellow, at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. He is a fellow of the Royal Historical Society, and has published widely on a number of Anglican personalities such as Charles Golightly (Oxford's Protestant Spy, Paternoster, 2007), and George Carey.

Reviews

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

First sentence: The Bible was the foundational text for Ryle's Christian life and public ministry.

This one is part of Crossway's THEOLOGIANS ON THE CHRISTIAN LIFE series.

It blends biography and theology, though heavier on theology. It is a topical approach instead of strictly chronological.

J.C. Ryle was a Victorian pastor--a writer. He was a writer of tracts. Many if not most of his tracts were later rearranged and reused in [compilation] books. These books are still read. Readers might think of him as writing books more than tracts. But many books had their origins in his tracts. [Holiness is one of J.C. Ryle's greatest books.]

The chapters include:

Scripture's Supremacy
Sin and Salvation
Conversion
Sovereign Grace
Heart Religion
Fruits of Faith
Fighting for Holiness
Means of Grace
Preaching
Sorrow and Affliction
Facing Eternity.

The book, as I mentioned, is arranged topically. Plenty of biographical facts are shared as well--placing him within the context of HIS life, his times, his society, his works. Each chapter is topical. AND each chapter features Ryle in his own words mainly. I think that's wonderful. I'd rather read what Ryle has to say on a subject than to read a summary of what Ryle thought on a subject. I think this one would be a great introduction to J.C. Ryle!

Quotes:

Prove all things by the Word of God--all ministers, all teaching, all preaching, all doctrines, all sermons, all writings, all opinions, all practices--prove all by the Word of God. Measure all by the measure of the Bible. Compare all with the standard of the Bible. Weigh all in the balances of the Bible. Examine all by the light of the Bible. Test all in the crucible of the Bible. That which can abide the fire of the Bible, receive, hold, believe, and obey. That which cannot abide the fire of the Bible, reject, refuse, repudiate, and cast away. ~ J.C. Ryle
Follow us so far as we follow Christ, but not a hair's breadth farther. Believe whatever we can show you out of the Bible, but do not believe a single word more. ~ J.C. Ryle

[Nitoy Gonzales · Rating 5 out of 5]

If Spurgeon is the Prince of Preachers, Ryle is the Prince of Tract Writer. This is one of the things that believers might not know about him (including me). He wrote gospel tracts. When we look at those piece of Christian literature, we might view it as not as par to a full written book. However, this is not the case with Ryle. He doesn't just wrote a nice tract but a solid, biblical and soul converting tracts that shares the gospel of Christ. God mightily used Ryle and his gospel tracts for His glory.

Drawing from those tract is this book that isn't a vehicle to drive the gospel but it gave us a peek on the Christian life that God wants us to live. More than grabbing the next fad of the day to write a new tract, Ryle shows the relevance of the Word of God in the lives of people in his time, whether a believer or a heathen. It's an engaging book that opens how effective Ryle is as a messenger of God using the printed page. Yes we know about his book, specially his popular one, Holiness. But given the space and choice of words he puts in those little literature, for me he has cornered that "market." Undeniable, he should be recognized not just how prolific writer he is on that medium, but he made those gospel tracts (which we usually ignore) as effective in evangelizing or conveying God's Word to the masses. This book gives you both the writings from his tracts, backstory and how it affects the society he lives in. This is my first book of this series and I was encourage with this one.

My verdict:

5 out of 5

[E · Rating 3 out of 5]

When it comes to this series, Ryle is definitely in the "it would probably be easier to read the guy's own writings" camp (kind of like Lewis or Stott and the opposite of, say, Luther or Bavinck). He wrote mostly tracts that were often sermons (later the tracts were combined into longer books, such as famed work Holiness).

Ryle was an evangelical stalwart of the nineteenth-century English church. Besides his tracts, his commentaries on the Gospels are also well worth reading. This volume is fine too, but not especially groundbreaking. Although if someone is writing about me some day, I hope a summary of my life would not be groundbreaking either. Stick to the basics. Preach the text. Love the church.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic new book on J. C. Ryle and his teaching on authentic practical religion and living a vital Christian life. If you like this book, start reading some of the primary texts by J. C. Ryle, summarized in the Appendix.