What do you think?
Rate this book
Secrets of the Kingdom Life
"Secrets of the Kingdom Life" was written to make the reader hungry for a deeper walk with Christ. The reader who puts the teachings on prayer, Bible study, reflection, and obedience into action will draw closer to God than ever before. Bercot addresses issues of heart and spirit in a gracious yet convicting way and challenges the reader to make a decisive commitment to live a life totally surrendered to Christ.
- GenresSpiritualityChristian
280 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 23, 2014
10 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
June 24, 2024
Once again David Bercot hits the nail on the head, bats in a homerun, slamdunks, or whatever other analogy you might use to say that he exhorts and professes with 100% agreement in the Scriptures. I love reading this guy's work and have fast-tracked a few more of his books to the top of my reading list because he consistently proves to be an orthodox exegete who serves the word and will of God through his teachings.
Secrets of the Kingdom Life speaks to Christian conduct in some of the most indisputable and illustrative ways. He has certain anecdotes, such as "The Lord's Pig" that demonstrate just about as clearly as any parable the "why" behind the reasons of what we, as Christians, ought to do to serve God's will with diligence.
As Kingdom citizens, we ought to be pledging allegiance to Him by words, feeling, and behavior. Bercot gets this. We also ought to be doing so not in vanity, pride, or self-glory, but in humility as he shows quite well in Chapter 29 when he cites Luke 14:11. How does this manifest? Bercot lists 20 ways that a person can perform this Kingdom work in chapter 38.
More could be said, but why not read this short book and see for yourself. Also more theology should be written on these topics and done so with the accuracy and mindfulness of Bercot.
Secrets of the Kingdom Life speaks to Christian conduct in some of the most indisputable and illustrative ways. He has certain anecdotes, such as "The Lord's Pig" that demonstrate just about as clearly as any parable the "why" behind the reasons of what we, as Christians, ought to do to serve God's will with diligence.
As Kingdom citizens, we ought to be pledging allegiance to Him by words, feeling, and behavior. Bercot gets this. We also ought to be doing so not in vanity, pride, or self-glory, but in humility as he shows quite well in Chapter 29 when he cites Luke 14:11. How does this manifest? Bercot lists 20 ways that a person can perform this Kingdom work in chapter 38.
More could be said, but why not read this short book and see for yourself. Also more theology should be written on these topics and done so with the accuracy and mindfulness of Bercot.
November 27, 2024
As the title suggests, Bercot gives a survey of many of the foundational teachings of the Kingdom Life. I loved the parables he concocted to help illustrate his points.
Duty/fear obedience vs. love obedience, humility, forgiveness, materialism, storing our treasure in Heaven… not “new” subjects, but important ones.
Duty/fear obedience vs. love obedience, humility, forgiveness, materialism, storing our treasure in Heaven… not “new” subjects, but important ones.
January 20, 2019
Given to me by a friend. Much to ponder and think about. Not sure I agree with all of it, but a good book and thoughtful read nonetheless.
August 29, 2023
Great book. So encouraging, so convicting. Jesus Christ has given us so much. His grace is enough! We are not weak and flimsy and unable to follow him, to do as he commands, not if we place our trust in him! Because he is powerful! So many Christians buy into a cowardly, false gospel where "faith" means nothing more than a mental assent to certain ontological truth-claims. That's not faith in Jesus; that's faith in the institution of ecclesiastical orthodoxy.
David Bercot writes a convincing call to true, historical, Kingdom Christianity in his book "The Kingdom that Turned the World Upside Down." In "Secrets of the Kingdom Life" he explores the variety of ways that Kingdom Christians can follow and obey their King, and the fulfilling reality we can grasp in this life when we grow in love, faith, and obedience to Him.
The most memorable part of the book was when he outlines "three kinds of obedience":
1) "Fear Obedience" - I obey because I'm afraid of "the consequences". The Christians might not truly love God, but they've been fed a gospel that mainly makes them fearful of Hell, or of displeasing God, or of being out of favor with Him, or something. They tend to find rest by only obeying the things their loose evangelical churches insist on: the things that are "salvation issues". If they think they won't be damned to Hell for disobeying a command of Jesus or disregarding a biblical principle, they just won't bother.
2) "Dutiful Servant Obedience" - I obey because I love God and I love what He has done for me... but I don't necessarily love or even understand all his commands. Christians like this will definitely take seriously any commands in the Bible, but they sometimes do so with a bit of regret, as their heart isn't in it and their mind doesn't understand it. They probably won't apply any biblical principles in their lives; in this way, they are still a bit legalistic, but for the most part, they do obey out of love and allegiance to Jesus.
3) "Love Obedience" - I obey Jesus because I love Him AND I love his commands. This kind of Christian doesn't stop at obedience; they understand that a fully enriching love-faith relationship with Jesus means obeying Him as well as seeking out WHY He has given us the things we ought to obey. They have the innate understanding that what God has for us is for our benefit, and therefore, if we faithfully pursue Him in love, we will obey not out of fear or out of duty forever, but out of love and understanding.
Bercot is incredibly understanding toward these three types of obedience. Reading them how I just described them, you'd think this book would spend its time shaming you away from the evils of fear or duty obedience. But no. "Jesus will accept your obedience," he gently reminds the reader, "but He wants so much more for you!" The reason to seek that love-faith relationship with Jesus is because that is the fulfilling life Jesus wants for his followers. You're not going to hell because you obey out of fear, but you're going to have a miserable life... why not seek understanding and love for your master?
David Bercot writes a convincing call to true, historical, Kingdom Christianity in his book "The Kingdom that Turned the World Upside Down." In "Secrets of the Kingdom Life" he explores the variety of ways that Kingdom Christians can follow and obey their King, and the fulfilling reality we can grasp in this life when we grow in love, faith, and obedience to Him.
The most memorable part of the book was when he outlines "three kinds of obedience":
1) "Fear Obedience" - I obey because I'm afraid of "the consequences". The Christians might not truly love God, but they've been fed a gospel that mainly makes them fearful of Hell, or of displeasing God, or of being out of favor with Him, or something. They tend to find rest by only obeying the things their loose evangelical churches insist on: the things that are "salvation issues". If they think they won't be damned to Hell for disobeying a command of Jesus or disregarding a biblical principle, they just won't bother.
2) "Dutiful Servant Obedience" - I obey because I love God and I love what He has done for me... but I don't necessarily love or even understand all his commands. Christians like this will definitely take seriously any commands in the Bible, but they sometimes do so with a bit of regret, as their heart isn't in it and their mind doesn't understand it. They probably won't apply any biblical principles in their lives; in this way, they are still a bit legalistic, but for the most part, they do obey out of love and allegiance to Jesus.
3) "Love Obedience" - I obey Jesus because I love Him AND I love his commands. This kind of Christian doesn't stop at obedience; they understand that a fully enriching love-faith relationship with Jesus means obeying Him as well as seeking out WHY He has given us the things we ought to obey. They have the innate understanding that what God has for us is for our benefit, and therefore, if we faithfully pursue Him in love, we will obey not out of fear or out of duty forever, but out of love and understanding.
Bercot is incredibly understanding toward these three types of obedience. Reading them how I just described them, you'd think this book would spend its time shaming you away from the evils of fear or duty obedience. But no. "Jesus will accept your obedience," he gently reminds the reader, "but He wants so much more for you!" The reason to seek that love-faith relationship with Jesus is because that is the fulfilling life Jesus wants for his followers. You're not going to hell because you obey out of fear, but you're going to have a miserable life... why not seek understanding and love for your master?
June 25, 2022
A very worthwhile read. Also very challenging, I would definitely recommend! I find it interesting the focus he places on giving to the poor/using our earthly resources to help those in need. I think it is something that we, or at least I, haven’t thought about as very important, but something that should be given deeper thought.
August 29, 2020
This book is a worthy read for any sincere Christian.
With many stories to help illustrate his points, Bercot expounds on many aspects of living a Christian life.
I recommend this book as an additional read in my book, the Box Top to Life's Puzzle.
With many stories to help illustrate his points, Bercot expounds on many aspects of living a Christian life.
I recommend this book as an additional read in my book, the Box Top to Life's Puzzle.
April 1, 2020
My least favorite of Bercot’s books. Solid biblical truth interspersed with examples using such silly trite names that it was hard to take seriously.
July 14, 2020
This book was challenging, inspiring, and very practical. I would definitely recommend it to any Christian.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews