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Discipleship: Living for Christ in the Daily Grind

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Arnold guides readers toward leading Christ-like lives amid the stress and strain of modern life.

Perhaps the hardest thing about following Christ is translating our good intentions into deeds. Christ calls us, and we yearn to answer him, but time and again we lose resolve. Is discipleship really possible today? Many of the selections in this book offer answers to specific needs or problems. Others grapple with broader themes such as world suffering, salvation, and the coming of the kingdom of God. All of them pulsate with conviction and compassion, giving fresh hope to those who find themselves lonely or disheartened in the daily search to follow Christ.

J. Heinrich Arnold served for many years as elder of the Bruderhof, a Christian communal movement. Discipleship contains writings, letters, and talks from his forty years of service as pastor, marriage counselor, educator, and parent.

313 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1994

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About the author

Henri J.M. Nouwen

450 books2,114 followers
Henri Jozef Machiel Nouwen was a Dutch Catholic priest, theologian, psychologist, professor, and spiritual writer whose work profoundly shaped contemporary Christian spirituality. Born in Nijkerk, the Netherlands, in 1932, Nouwen pursued religious studies and was ordained a priest in 1957. His intellectual curiosity led him to study psychology at the Catholic University of Nijmegen and later at the Menninger Clinic in Kansas, where he explored the connection between faith and mental health. Throughout his life, Nouwen remained committed to integrating pastoral care, psychology, and spiritual theology in a way that addressed the emotional and existential needs of believers.
Nouwen held teaching positions at prestigious institutions including the University of Notre Dame, Yale Divinity School, and Harvard Divinity School. He authored over three dozen books and hundreds of articles, with notable works such as The Wounded Healer, The Return of the Prodigal Son, Life of the Beloved, and The Inner Voice of Love. His writing, often rooted in personal vulnerability and spiritual struggle, resonated with readers across denominations. Nouwen openly explored themes of loneliness, identity, intimacy, and the human desire for love and belonging, making his voice especially relatable and influential.
Though he was a gifted academic and popular speaker, Nouwen found his deepest calling later in life through his involvement with L’Arche, a network of communities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. After a transformative stay at the original L’Arche community in France, Nouwen accepted an invitation to become the pastor of L’Arche Daybreak in Richmond Hill, Ontario. There he developed a close bond with Adam Arnett, a core member with severe disabilities, which inspired the book Adam: God’s Beloved. At Daybreak, Nouwen discovered a deep spiritual home and a community that helped him embrace his humanity in profound ways.
Throughout his life, Nouwen wrestled with issues of identity, including his sexuality and his longing for connection, though he remained faithful to his vows. His openness about depression and inner conflict gave depth to his pastoral message, and his ability to turn personal struggle into shared spiritual insight made him one of the most beloved spiritual writers of the 20th century.
Henri Nouwen died in 1996 of a sudden heart attack, but his legacy endures through his writings, the Henri Nouwen Society, and the continued global reach of his message of belovedness, vulnerability, and compassionate community. His books remain bestsellers, widely read in seminaries, churches, and among individuals seeking a more intimate walk with God.

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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
Profile Image for Lavon Herschberger.
177 reviews5 followers
September 13, 2024
I read a couple pages of this most nights right before bed, and that pattern fit the format the best because this book is really a collection of the author’s random thoughts on various topics such as God, brotherhood, and marriage. Some quotes are from letters, some from sermons. This compilation style didn’t work well for me because most statements came across as very authoritative and shallow assertions rather than nuanced and well-considered ideas.

I’m not disappointed that I read this, but I doubt I’ll be coming back to it.

If you have really high regard for the author though, I’m sure that here you’ll find value and inspiration to live a radical Christian life the way that he did.
16 reviews
December 20, 2014
The Scriptural Meaning And The Practical Living Of Christian Discipleship








J. Heinrich Arnold Discipleship (Expanded Edition) [Plough, 2013]


311 pp $12.47 ISBN: 978-0874868760





Reviewer: Forrest Schultz





This book is a collection of the author's writings, many of them letters (which are so indicated). Surprisingly, there is no indication of the source of the portions which are not letters. The topics are very wide ranging, covering just about everything, which is not surprising because Arnold was a man of God; and God cares about everything!





Their style could be called that of "tough love", although that term had not yet been coined during the time Arnold when wrote! At any rate, you will find straight talk from Arnold, which is a refreshing contrast with the sentimental stuff popular these days. If you are concerned about what a recent writer called "The Osteenification" of the Church, Arnold is a good antidote! But, as good as his writings are, Arnold stresses the all-important point that people today "need to be shown deeds and a practical way of discipleship". (p. 91) This reminds me of a talk I heard by a missionary who told us about the great examples of godly living he saw from the persecuted Christians on the mission field -- he said he learned far more from their lives than he had from what he was taught in Bible College!





But the next best thing is godly counsel, of which you will find plenty in this book, which I highly recommend for that reason. I heartily concur with Betty Elliott's plaudit, found on the jacket, which regards this book as "thoroughly scriptural and highly practical".
Profile Image for Bob.
2,462 reviews726 followers
September 27, 2024
Summary: Discipleship: Living for Christ in the Daily Grind is a collection of forthright counsel on various aspects of following Christ.

One of the questions I wrestled with as a young follower of Christ was “now that I’ve begun following Jesus, how do I practically live this life?” Often, it seems that the answer was “read your Bible and God will show you.” I longed for a more mature believer who might walk alongside and offer practical counsel for questions like, “How do I know I am fully converted?” “And if so, why do I sin and what do I do about that?” “How do I remain pure in thought and action as a healthy young man?” “How do I discern and walk in God’s will?” “What is my place in God’s mission?” “What are my gifts and how should I use them?” “How do I cultivate a relationship with God and what is that really like?”

For over forty years J. Heinrich Arnold served as a leader in the Bruderhof movement until his death in 1982. Over that time he counselled many on various aspects of living for Christ “in the daily grind.” Plough Publishing, the publishing arm of the Bruderhof movement has collected the instruction of Arnold on various aspects of discipleship, organizing it by topics. The editors drew much of the material from letters to individuals. And in it, Arnold addresses all the questions I mentioned and many more.

First of all, Arnold has a clear and penetrating vision of the gospel. He writes:

“Anyone who has not been troubled by the scandal of Christ’s sufffering and his complete humilistion is ignorant of the meaning of belief in him.”

Second, I notice how forthright, to the point of bluntness, many of his statements are. He explains why in a letter quoted in a section on Sincerity:

“It is important to be straightforward and honest about your true feelings. Rather be too rude than too smooth, to blunt than too kind. Rather say an unkind word that is true than one that is ‘nice’ but untrue. You can always be sorry for an unkind word, but hypocrisy causes permanent harm unless special grace is given.”

For instance, his writing about sex exemplifies that forthrightness:

“Sex has no purpose apart from marriage. Outside of marriage it is sinful. The Bible demands chastity before it and outside of it; that is very clear. So if you have not always followed the chaste and pure way, then you must find forgiveness in order to stand upright before God. But Jesus wants to give you that forgiveness.“

Throughout, he points people to Christ’s provision and God’s care. To a young person, he concludes his letter thus:

I wish you the protection of God in all you may go through. May the pierced hands of Jesus hold you firmly as you hold firmly to him.”

No sugarcoating. Rather, the promise that God will meet one in trying times and hold one firmly.

The readings fall under three main headings: the disciple, the church, and the kingdom of God. We move from the personal life of the disciple to the community in which the disciple lives to the big picture of God’s bracing vision for the world. His words equally challenge young disciples and leaders. He tells leaders their authority is not over people for whom they humbly care. Their authority is over the spirits! Connected with that, he reminds leaders that their battle is not with people but with evil spirits, a word that seems important for our time.

The call to discipleship is for life. While I wish I had this book as a young man (or Arnold in person!), I’m glad I have it now. Arnold’s writing challenges and encourages young and old alike, beginners and leaders. Sometimes his incisive words are the faithful wounds of a friend that heal. At other times, his word offer spiritual and moral clarity needed in our murky times. And always he keeps central the main thing of Christ, his cross, his kingdom, and our future hope.

____________________

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for review.
Profile Image for Jared.
74 reviews6 followers
May 31, 2020
I just can’t go back to these works-based books. Behind every imperative in the book one ought to ask, “How can I fulfill this?” The answer is only found in Christ, through the hearing of the gospel. The reason we need doctrine is that it is the fuel to produce obedience in is. Preaching Christ and the gospel is the fuel in our gas tank. I tune out when all someone provides are moral imperatives and how-tos as though my problem is I just don’t know what is right.
Profile Image for 5greenway.
488 reviews4 followers
February 12, 2018
Another one of those silly-to-rate books. Compelling and challenging stuff. Always insights worth having, even in a passage that at first seems a little unpromising.
Profile Image for Jalynn Patterson.
2,216 reviews37 followers
December 23, 2014
About the Book:

A compilation of letters and writings from a pastor, counseling those who want to live a life of Christian Discipleship.

About the Author:

J. Heinrich Arnold(1913-1982)

Heini Arnold was a author and pastor of the Bruderhof, a communal movement started in Germany by his father, Eberhard Arnold. For more on Heini Arnold, visit http://www.heiniarnold.com.

In his words:

What a great gift it would be if we could see a little of the great vision of Jesus - if we could see beyond our small lives! Certainly our view is very limited. But we can at least ask him to call us out of our small worlds and our self-centeredness, and we can at least ask to feel the challenge of the great harvest that must be gathered - the harvest of all nations and all people, including the generations of the future.

My Review:

Discipleship is not an easy idea, especially when carried out. Especially in todays world. It is nice when others that have gone before you are able to carry this out and give you words of encouragement along the way. The book, Discipleship is a book with a collection of writings from a man who knew what this life had to offer as well as the Discipleship undertones and he left us with a good many items to take note of and to inspire us to soldier on.



My favorite quote from this man is at the beginning of the book, " Discipleship is not a question of our own doing; it is a matter of making room for God so that He can live in us." The author in his writings really causes you to think and he can likely be compared to Spurgeon.He was that raw and straight forward.

**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from Handlebar.
Profile Image for Georgia.
15 reviews24 followers
July 23, 2023
In "Discipleship: Living for Christ in the Daily Grind," J. Heinrich Arnold underscores the idea that being a disciple of Christ goes beyond mere adherence to religious rituals and traditions. He emphasizes the importance of developing a genuine, deep, and personal relationship with God.

Arnold urges readers to move beyond the surface-level practices of faith and instead focus on inner transformation and a heartfelt connection with God. This transformative relationship involves not just going through the motions of religious practices but actively seeking to align one's life with the teachings and example of Jesus Christ.

By embracing a transformative relationship with God, individuals are encouraged to surrender their selfish desires and ego, allowing God to shape their character and actions. Arnold believes that true discipleship involves surrendering to God's will and allowing His love to flow through them in their interactions with others.

In essence, Arnold's message in this work is a call to move beyond empty religious formalities and cultivate a vibrant and meaningful relationship with God that manifests in how one lives, loves, and serves others in the daily challenges of life. This authentic discipleship, lived out in the midst of the ordinary "daily grind," brings depth, purpose, and fulfillment to the Christian journey. Discipleship: Living for Christ in the Daily Grind
Profile Image for Nancy.
Author 7 books16 followers
January 11, 2015
Thoughts on Living as a Disciple of Christ

J. Heinrich Arnold grew up in a small Christian community in Sanerz, Germany and eventually became a leader of the community. This small group tried to live on the basis of Acts 2 and 4 and the Sermon on the Mount. As a leader of the community in later life, Arnold was asked to address many problems of spiritual life and community living. His writings on these topics form the basis of this book.

The writings are divided into three sections: The Disciple, The Church, and The Kingdom of God. Although in each section, Arnold offers advice and consolation on topics pertinent to living in a community and the trials affecting daily life, his focus is on Christ and the cross and making Christianity a living faith.

The book is not designed as a book of meditations, but the writings can be used as a part of daily meditation. I recommend reading the passages from the Bible in conjunction with the relevant passages. At times, Arnold's interpretations differ from modern church doctrine, but in all instances they are worth reading.

I highly recommend this book. It's a collection of writings that will make you think.

I reviewed this book for Handlebar Publishing.
Profile Image for Loraine Alcorn.
162 reviews17 followers
December 29, 2014
Welcome to my review for Discipleship by J Heinrich Arnold Living for Christ in the Daily Grind .
This book is like a study Devotional. it is set up like a scrapbook of inspirational sections of letters and sermons from J Heinrich Arnold.

It is like a devotional because you can read the authors advice that was given to each person or through a sermon and it comes together nicely .


Their are a lot of these in this book and sometimes you might find them to be a bit harsh as I did, but that does not make it any less valuable in content.


Personally I think this book would be a wonderful gift for a pastor or someone in seminary, it will teach them how to respond to some of life's difficult questions from hurting people.


It has many an encouraging moments and makes for a nice study devotional.
I received a free copy from handle bar to make an informed review thanks for looking

Profile Image for Christian Proano.
139 reviews7 followers
July 1, 2012
The book is great!
Admittedly one cannot agree with all the author wrote. But that is true with almost every book. Before the ending chapers his views are explicitly expressed in what we can call 'non-calvinistic' terms. Yet he does a great job in challenging and encouraging the reader to allign to the heart of God and walk closer to Jesus and His will, perhaps it may even help the reader to break some molds in current churchianity that has the faith captive. Because of his views I would recommend this book to new believers only if guided by somewhat with more experience in the faith. But if you are looking for a book to agree, disagree, challenge, debate (interact with), this book not only will help you in gaining perpective but will also help you grow in Christ while exploring the faith.
Profile Image for Denise DiFalco.
164 reviews2 followers
March 26, 2016
I really enjoyed this book by J Heinrich Arnold entitled "Discipleship, Living for Christ in the Daily Grind". Many of my personal questions were answered regarding different scriptures and what they meant. One example being where Jesus states that '"anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me"'. Arnold plainly explains that those of us who get caught up with the drama brought on by family life whereby we lose sight of the Holy Spirit and the pure love of Christ. This is one book that I decided to take as much time as I needed to study and re-study. I am not surprized by the number of supporters of this book that he has; Mother Teresa, Jimmy Carter and Elisabeth Elliot among more. I had the priviledge of reading for Handlebar Publishing.
Profile Image for J. Ewbank.
Author 4 books37 followers
July 25, 2015
This is a book about discipleship which the title states. It is a difficult book because Arnold does not sugar coat any elements of discipleship, making them easier than they really are. He tried to keep his group in line with the scrilptures and early Christian church. He handles experiences and questions that are difficult but handles them undoubtedlly after much prayer and experience. It is indeed refreshing to find a Christian group tring to live in this way.

J. Robert Ewbank author "John Wesley, Natual Man, and the Isms" "Wesley's Wars" "To Whom It May Concern" and soon "Tell me about the United Methodist Church"
Profile Image for Joan.
4,346 reviews122 followers
December 14, 2014
This is not a book one would read through, cover to cover. It is a collection of writings organized under subjects. There are real zingers in among them. Arnold was part of a community trying to live out the relationships seen in Acts 2 and 4. Some of the writings may be foreign to contemporary Christians. One could read the writings under a heading or a Scripture index is included.
See my complete review at http://bit.ly/1yNy3d5.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Handlebar for the purpose of an independent and honest review.
Profile Image for Eberhard Arnold.
2 reviews8 followers
September 2, 2011
The latest Kindle edition is free from the Publisher's website. A VERY challenging book for Christians. I had to read it slowly & prayerfully.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews

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