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Substance: Becoming Oaks of Righteousness in a World of Vapor
The world has become more worldly. Worldliness isn’t just, as sin, an offense against God; it changes us into its image. Through this transformation we become shallow, vaporous, and brittle. It leads predictably to misery. Worldliness, in short, is creating a crisis of substance.
Meanwhile, in the gospel, Jesus both gives and demands spiritual substance. Substance is all a gift, but it is received through a sweaty process; one the Bible calls 'discipleship'. Jesus has come both to count us righteous and then make us godly (Titus 2-3)—both through real faith. Godliness makes us deep, courageous, flexible, and resilient. It causes us to thrive and makes us a blessing to the world. Discipleship creates an abundance of substance. It is the gospel cure to the deception and enslavement of worldliness.
This book is about becoming disciples of substance in an increasingly worldly world. It is about experiencing the joys found only in the deep waters of discipleship. It is about finding the supernatural strength you have been given in Christ to stand like a mountain in the rains of worldliness.
Meanwhile, in the gospel, Jesus both gives and demands spiritual substance. Substance is all a gift, but it is received through a sweaty process; one the Bible calls 'discipleship'. Jesus has come both to count us righteous and then make us godly (Titus 2-3)—both through real faith. Godliness makes us deep, courageous, flexible, and resilient. It causes us to thrive and makes us a blessing to the world. Discipleship creates an abundance of substance. It is the gospel cure to the deception and enslavement of worldliness.
This book is about becoming disciples of substance in an increasingly worldly world. It is about experiencing the joys found only in the deep waters of discipleship. It is about finding the supernatural strength you have been given in Christ to stand like a mountain in the rains of worldliness.
312 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 23, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
April 3, 2021
In this book the author gives a fresh perspective on what the Christian life is meant to look like in today's world and culture. The author is evidently well-read, referring to lots of classical authors on philosophy, culture, and the Christian life. Every chapter kept making me think, "If people could just read this chapter..." Probably the most perceptive and clarifying book I've read in 10 years. Yes, there are several times when the author could say things more concisely, but the truth of what he was saying kept me going.
I actually started this book by reading the appendix, "The Cavalry: On Trumpets and Horses." The author explains that it is easy to cast a vision (a trumpet call), but most of the time there's no one with the strength and substance needed to fulfill that vision. As a church, we don't need inspiration (which leads to a need for validation) as much as we need simple instruction and growth in faith, love, and virtue.
If you are wondering why the Christian life doesn't seem to be working right for you, read this book.
I actually started this book by reading the appendix, "The Cavalry: On Trumpets and Horses." The author explains that it is easy to cast a vision (a trumpet call), but most of the time there's no one with the strength and substance needed to fulfill that vision. As a church, we don't need inspiration (which leads to a need for validation) as much as we need simple instruction and growth in faith, love, and virtue.
If you are wondering why the Christian life doesn't seem to be working right for you, read this book.
August 26, 2023
Being under the pastoral leadership of the author, I approached this book as a deep dive manifesto of what many members of our local body have already understood to be our church’s core values. So a lot of it was confirmation for what I’ve heard preached from the pulpit and pursued in community. I appreciated the redeeming view of the ordinary majority of life, and a wake up call to the war on our flesh that we must take heart in everyday. Grateful for Nic’s faithful study and pursuit of the substantive life, may we continue by the Spirit to follow this mission. Oh and don’t skip out on the appendices!
January 21, 2021
This book tries to capture the essence of what it means to live the Christian life (with the goal of becoming Christians of substance, or "oaks of righteousness" as the title says), taking on topics like getting free from worldliness, walking in the Spirit, freedom from the Law, distractions, the Christian life as warfare, and other topics.
Some highlights: Gibson's explanation as love being an expression of lots of different virtues working together was a revelation to me (and makes more sense than the old question of whether love is a feeling or an action). He had an excellent treatment of freedom from the Law, and how it is really meant to be freedom FOR something (maybe the most clear I have read). I liked his thoughts on distraction versus leisure. The idea of the world being a deformational environment whereas the church is meant to be a formational community is a nice way to package the idea of why church is so important.
Weaknesses: some parts felt a bit bloated, like they needed to be tightened up or edited down a bit. It was lacking a bit of overall polish in the writing.
Overall a good read, and I could see it being a good tool to go through with younger believers as a way to encourage maturity (which is not to imply that it doesn't have value for more mature believers).
Some highlights: Gibson's explanation as love being an expression of lots of different virtues working together was a revelation to me (and makes more sense than the old question of whether love is a feeling or an action). He had an excellent treatment of freedom from the Law, and how it is really meant to be freedom FOR something (maybe the most clear I have read). I liked his thoughts on distraction versus leisure. The idea of the world being a deformational environment whereas the church is meant to be a formational community is a nice way to package the idea of why church is so important.
Weaknesses: some parts felt a bit bloated, like they needed to be tightened up or edited down a bit. It was lacking a bit of overall polish in the writing.
Overall a good read, and I could see it being a good tool to go through with younger believers as a way to encourage maturity (which is not to imply that it doesn't have value for more mature believers).
December 22, 2017
Really enjoyed reading this book and I will take the time to implement small changes in my life and keep working on the rest. It was THE book that really made me want to be a person of substance, to stand out, to be an oak of righteousness in a world of vapor.
January 29, 2022
A must read regardless of your religion or background. This book is, in my opinion, focused on mindset. I see parallels with the stoic approach. Though it is different, naturally, in essence these practices have equal core values. Everyone can benefit from reading this book and applying what resonates with them. For me, 99% of this book resonated when it comes to approaching life and the beauty and challenges that come with it. This book is simply full of tools for anyone to use, written from a perspective of the Bible. That being said, one doesn't need to have read the Bible prior to this book. This book may even be a nice introduction to start reading the Bible. From a religious point of view or simply from a point of interest.
Read it! Your happiness will improve and the book provides some laughter for the intelligent mind!
Read it! Your happiness will improve and the book provides some laughter for the intelligent mind!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews