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The Deeper Christian Life
South African missionary Andrew Murray looks at the well-worn tale of the prodigal son from a different angle. By doing so, he provides a stirring and approachable guide to living a life closer to God. This book was part of Murray's highly regarded series of works on the well-lived Christian life.
127 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 1987
61 people are currently reading
358 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Murray
1,200 books546 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Murray was Born in Cape Town, South Africa, Murray became a noted missionary leader. His father was a Scottish Presbyterian serving the Dutch Reformed Church of South Africa, and his mother had connections with both French Huguenots and German Lutherans. This background to some extent explains his ecumenical spirit. He was educated at Aberdeen University, Scotland, and at Utrecht University in the Netherlands. After ordination in 1848 he served pastorates at Bloemfontein, Worcester, Cape Town, and Wellington. He helped to found what are now the University College of the Orange Free State and the Stellenbosch Seminary. He served as Moderator of the Cape Synod of the Dutch Reformed Church and was president of both the YMCA (1865) and the South Africa General Mission (1888-1917), now the Africa Evangelical Fellowship.
He was one of the chief promoters of the call to missions in South Africa. This led to the Dutch Reformed Church missions to blacks in the Transvaal and Malawi. Apart from his evangelistic tours in South Africa, he spoke at the Keswick and Northfield Conventions in 1895, making a great impression. upon his British and American audiences. For his contribution to world missions he was given an honorary doctorate by the universities of Aberdeen (1898) and Cape of Good Hope(1907).
Murray is best known today for his devotional writings, which place great emphasis on the need for a rich, personal devotional life. Many of his 240 publications explain in how he saw this devotion and its outworking in the life of the Christian. Several of his books have become devotional classics. Among these are Abide in Christ, Absolute Surrender, With Christ in the School of Prayer, The Spirit of Christ and Waiting on God.
Murray was Born in Cape Town, South Africa, Murray became a noted missionary leader. His father was a Scottish Presbyterian serving the Dutch Reformed Church of South Africa, and his mother had connections with both French Huguenots and German Lutherans. This background to some extent explains his ecumenical spirit. He was educated at Aberdeen University, Scotland, and at Utrecht University in the Netherlands. After ordination in 1848 he served pastorates at Bloemfontein, Worcester, Cape Town, and Wellington. He helped to found what are now the University College of the Orange Free State and the Stellenbosch Seminary. He served as Moderator of the Cape Synod of the Dutch Reformed Church and was president of both the YMCA (1865) and the South Africa General Mission (1888-1917), now the Africa Evangelical Fellowship.
He was one of the chief promoters of the call to missions in South Africa. This led to the Dutch Reformed Church missions to blacks in the Transvaal and Malawi. Apart from his evangelistic tours in South Africa, he spoke at the Keswick and Northfield Conventions in 1895, making a great impression. upon his British and American audiences. For his contribution to world missions he was given an honorary doctorate by the universities of Aberdeen (1898) and Cape of Good Hope(1907).
Murray is best known today for his devotional writings, which place great emphasis on the need for a rich, personal devotional life. Many of his 240 publications explain in how he saw this devotion and its outworking in the life of the Christian. Several of his books have become devotional classics. Among these are Abide in Christ, Absolute Surrender, With Christ in the School of Prayer, The Spirit of Christ and Waiting on God.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
December 16, 2024
Thoroughly enjoyed this commentary on the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Growing up, I never understood the role of the Spirit (still don’t fully know), and I believe it has led to a neglect that many Christians may experience. Murray provides insight into the life of Peter and how he initially relied on his flesh and own understanding while being trained by Jesus. Many of us may find we are “with Jesus” and being “trained by Him” yet we are missing the full glory of God because of the lack of surrender. I loved the way Murray defines a carnal christian; Yet, he provides words of encouragement and puts emphasis on the Holy Spirit’s role in defeating the worldly desires and distractors that hinder our experience of God.
May 24, 2018
This is just SO good that it merits regular reading. (I need to get a paper copy!) His take on the prodigal son's older brother is an angle we don't usually think about. I don't fully agree with his theology of the Holy Spirit, but the overriding message of being in God's presence is one we all need to understand.
March 10, 2016
God is surely rejoicing the moment you accepted Him as your Lord and Saviour. But that's not the end of it, your journey with the Lord is just the beginning and it's going to be tough especially when you got used to living your old life. The moment you accept Christ, you are a new creation. God wants us to have a daily walk with Him. But it lies within our choice. Will you walk with Him? Are you going to let Him lead your life? Will you let the Holy Spirit work within you?
The Deeper Christian Life discussed about the principles of growing deeper in our relationship with God. From having a daily fellowship with Him to living a consecrated life, Murray wrote about these things that can help us understand the real nature of God. It is a great read for those who are interested to grow deeper in love for God.
The Deeper Christian Life discussed about the principles of growing deeper in our relationship with God. From having a daily fellowship with Him to living a consecrated life, Murray wrote about these things that can help us understand the real nature of God. It is a great read for those who are interested to grow deeper in love for God.
June 1, 2016
This book may be little, but it is absolutely packed with life-changing truth. I feel I could read this book over and over and still sit back in awe at who our God is! My Christian life was truly deepened through this read.
January 18, 2018
A great little 19th century book on living the "with God" life and being filled with the Holy Spirit.
April 2, 2021
I really enjoyed this book, though I can’t say that there has been an Andrew Murray book that I haven’t enjoyed.
Small though it is, it is packed with so much wisdom. Murray applies parallels from the Prodigal Son’s brother to our own personal lives, shows the reader his similarities to Peter in faithlessness, and challenges us to live our Spirit-filled life in Him. Five stars, and I can’t wait to read it again and really delve into it. If you haven’t read Andrew Murray… get one of his little books, and savor it with your daily devotions. Every one I’ve read, and this one is no exception, I have been left with so much to ponder and reflect on throughout my day.
Small though it is, it is packed with so much wisdom. Murray applies parallels from the Prodigal Son’s brother to our own personal lives, shows the reader his similarities to Peter in faithlessness, and challenges us to live our Spirit-filled life in Him. Five stars, and I can’t wait to read it again and really delve into it. If you haven’t read Andrew Murray… get one of his little books, and savor it with your daily devotions. Every one I’ve read, and this one is no exception, I have been left with so much to ponder and reflect on throughout my day.
November 18, 2019
Clave para entender la relación del cristiano con Jesús y el Espíritu Santo y la dependencia diaria de esa conexión.
February 11, 2016
I expect that you, like me, only read books that you hope to enjoy or learn from. If you write starred reviews of these books, then I would expect that you mostly give out three, four, or five stars. I hope, therefore, that you will excuse the frequency of my three and four star ratings. Five-star ratings, however, still owe us their apologies.
Most books, the vast undulating majority of them, are not worth reading. Those with two star ratings might be worth the slog if they contain something specific you wish to learn from them. Those with three star ratings are probably worth at least a page or chapter test to see if they might be the sort of thing you enjoy. And four-star books are likely essential reading, a depressingly cheering thought given the disparity between number of good books and time in which to read them.
Five star books should be, at the very least, an unsurpassable exemplar of their genre. Taken on their own terms, measured by their own aspirations, they should exceed every expectation. It would be unfair, after all, to measure any book by what it does not pretend to accomplish.
The Deeper Christian Life by Andrew Murray is a five-star devotional book. However you call the genre of Christian life-coaching slash spiritual encouragement, I have not encountered an author of any time period that exceeds Murray as a prose stylist, authentically ardent believer, or trenchant observer of human tendencies and godly wisdom. He speaks as a man of his time, to be sure, but as one who enjoyed fellowship with the Wisdom out of time, though always timely, of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
I learned a great deal from and enjoyed the book, prompting four stars. I think many others would have similar experiences, prompting five.
Most books, the vast undulating majority of them, are not worth reading. Those with two star ratings might be worth the slog if they contain something specific you wish to learn from them. Those with three star ratings are probably worth at least a page or chapter test to see if they might be the sort of thing you enjoy. And four-star books are likely essential reading, a depressingly cheering thought given the disparity between number of good books and time in which to read them.
Five star books should be, at the very least, an unsurpassable exemplar of their genre. Taken on their own terms, measured by their own aspirations, they should exceed every expectation. It would be unfair, after all, to measure any book by what it does not pretend to accomplish.
The Deeper Christian Life by Andrew Murray is a five-star devotional book. However you call the genre of Christian life-coaching slash spiritual encouragement, I have not encountered an author of any time period that exceeds Murray as a prose stylist, authentically ardent believer, or trenchant observer of human tendencies and godly wisdom. He speaks as a man of his time, to be sure, but as one who enjoyed fellowship with the Wisdom out of time, though always timely, of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
I learned a great deal from and enjoyed the book, prompting four stars. I think many others would have similar experiences, prompting five.
January 9, 2025
The Deeper Christian Life is a concise exposition on the virtues of Christian living, as is pretty much made clear in the title. From a South African Protestant pastor and writer in the late nineteenth century, it has its obligatory putdown of Catholics (those superstitious Italians with their "worry beads and silly chants"). But this is only to a small extent, enough to notice but not enough to have any real issue with. On the whole, it is just a nice extended sermon about how Christians ought to place their lives and their trust in Christ. Despite its age, it does not really seem all that dated at all.
June 21, 2015
I will reread and probably reread.
September 2, 2017
In His mercy, God begins a good work in us at salvation, of which our willingness will either allow God to continue, until He is ALL in ALL, or hinder Him from working any further. Whatever maybe the state of your Christian life, it points to one of two things: 1) God is fully at work. 2) God is rarely at work.
God has offered us the fullness of Himself to us through Christ (Romans 8:32), it is now left for us to empty out ourselves, in order that this fullness can be our experience. And when it is yours and mine, the world will have a witness that can only be refused by those who are bent on going their own way (2 Corinthians 4:3-4).
Our beloved brother Murray, here helps the child of God, to pursue Jesus as a faithful disciple until he is conformed to the very image of the Son of God. He speaks as a fellow pilgrim, albeit ahead, in the Christian journey; and he passionately encourages his readers to press on beyond intellectual knowledge to a life transfer of experience into our own spirits.
God has offered us the fullness of Himself to us through Christ (Romans 8:32), it is now left for us to empty out ourselves, in order that this fullness can be our experience. And when it is yours and mine, the world will have a witness that can only be refused by those who are bent on going their own way (2 Corinthians 4:3-4).
Our beloved brother Murray, here helps the child of God, to pursue Jesus as a faithful disciple until he is conformed to the very image of the Son of God. He speaks as a fellow pilgrim, albeit ahead, in the Christian journey; and he passionately encourages his readers to press on beyond intellectual knowledge to a life transfer of experience into our own spirits.
February 9, 2018
Another good book by Andrew Murray
Andrew Murray is my favorite preacher and author outside of the Bible. I did not find this book as good as some of his others, except the last chapter on Consecration. However, the chapter on Consecration is wonderful and very meaningful. So, I am glad I purchased and read this book.
Andrew Murray is my favorite preacher and author outside of the Bible. I did not find this book as good as some of his others, except the last chapter on Consecration. However, the chapter on Consecration is wonderful and very meaningful. So, I am glad I purchased and read this book.
May 22, 2020
Little hard to read with Old King James version of the Bible used but still good messages.
1-7: Daily Fellowship with God; Privilege and Experience: Carnal or Spiritual?; Out of and into; The Blessing Secured; The Presence of Christ; A Word to Workers. You will learn new things or at least reinforce things you already knew.
1-7: Daily Fellowship with God; Privilege and Experience: Carnal or Spiritual?; Out of and into; The Blessing Secured; The Presence of Christ; A Word to Workers. You will learn new things or at least reinforce things you already knew.
March 31, 2025
Written in 1895, this book prompts readers to experience the deeper Christian life. While it is a relatively short read, the distance of time from Andrew Murray's day and the present time (2025) made this reading slightly difficult as the expressions, verbiage and grammar used are no longer common today.
January 11, 2018
this book is amazing. it's short and to the point, but so powerful. it gives practical steps for how to be filled with the holy spirit. upon hearing these steps I immediately began to apply them. it has brought peace to my days.
August 6, 2018
This book talks about why we don't live an abundant life.
He also brings a new look to me of the prodigal son! This book also speaks about the carnal And the spiritual life in the Lord! I love most of his books, his books can also be heard in you tube!! would listen to it there, not a bad read!
He also brings a new look to me of the prodigal son! This book also speaks about the carnal And the spiritual life in the Lord! I love most of his books, his books can also be heard in you tube!! would listen to it there, not a bad read!
September 29, 2020
A classic. Some great content, but the style of writing in a bit antiquated and not to my liking. Not sure that I would read another of his books. His comments on the older son in the story of the prodigal were quite good.
January 15, 2024
Really good reminder of the necessity of your entire life being humbled and revolving around the Lord. While it doesn't bill itself as a "Holy Spirit book" it focuses on the need for the Holy Spirit and gently urges you to ask and receive.
September 11, 2017
Wow
A must read for all Christian people. You will feel the spirit as you read. Andrew Murray knows his stuff. Praise God.
A must read for all Christian people. You will feel the spirit as you read. Andrew Murray knows his stuff. Praise God.
November 11, 2017
Some helpful thoughts and considerations from Andrew Murray.
March 16, 2018
It made some good points…
September 5, 2018
Straight to the point. What a man of God! I love it. To be reread.
June 13, 2018
Helpful.
February 18, 2021
Can't wait to read this again.
June 8, 2022
The content was much likely abide in God. The author argue that Christian life is that God gives all, I receive all, and I give up all.
December 1, 2022
This book is perfect for the Christian who wants to go deeper than a shallow understanding and /or devotion to Christ. The book guide the process and gives biblical foundation and importance to going deeper into the Lord. Those who are beginning to think “there must be more to my faith than this.” are perfect for this book.
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October 11, 2023Great book! Listened to this in pieces throughout my day. Some wonderful insight in here.
August 10, 2016
This book is EXCELLENT!!! A deep read, but a great one if you are looking to strengthen your walk with the Lord. There's no fuss to the book whatsoever--no introduction, no foreword. And in the first chapter he jumps right in without any gradualness, no cute illustration or anything. I highly recommend this to the Christian who wants to improve their walk with the Lord--honestly and sincerely!!!
February 10, 2013
I liked his other works much better than this one. I didn't agree totally or fully with some of the theology in the last two to chapters (7 & 8). I would recommend his books "Humility" and "Absolute Surrender" before this one.
February 21, 2014
This is a deep read for anyone who wants to deepen their relationship with the Lord. Using the example of Peter Andrew Murray does a beautiful job of showing how a life can be changed and move forward in the process of coming into a deeper relationship with the Lord. I highly recommend it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews