Reforming Joy: A Conversation Between Paul, the Reformers, and the Church Today

by Tim Chester

Have you lost your joy?  Do you feel like you have to prove yourself? Does your Christian life feel routine and performance oriented, driven by duty and obligation? The letter of Galatians was written to Christians who had lost their joy― confronted with false messages about rules and regulations they needed to follow. Similar false messages provoked the start of the Protestant Reformation, and have continued to threaten the joy of Christians ever since. Exploring how the sixteenth-century Reformation was a return to the gospel joy originally preached to first-century Galatia, this book was written to help today’s Christians rediscover the path to true freedom and lasting joy in Jesus.

Genres: Christian, Christian Living, Faith, Nonfiction, Theology

112 pages, Paperback

Published September 30, 2018

About the author

Dr Tim Chester is involved in The Crowded House, a church planting initiative in Sheffield, UK. He was previously Research & Policy Director for Tearfund UK, and has been published widely on prayer, mission, social issues and theology. He is married to Helen and has two daughters.

Reviews

[John Boyne · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great little book! Reforming Joy works to remind the Christian that the Christian life is not meant to be one of legalism and duty but one of joy that is full of life that is pleasing to God. Chester explains how the Galatians in the first century needed to be reminded of this joy in Christ and that is why the Apostle Paul focused so heavily on that in his letter to them. Chester then draws the connection through the centuries to the Reformation where this joy was rediscovered after being buried by the legalism of the Roman Church. This is a great and easy read for any believer who is feeling dragged down by religious duty and not understanding the true joy that exists in a life that is devoted and freed by Christ. The book is only 100 pages so can easily be read in a short period of time and well worth it!

[Anthony Ingram · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book was alright. Good, short, and an easy read. Reformation was cool I guess. I bought the book because it was like $3 on Christianbook.com and the cover looked cool. Was it good? Yes. Was it life changing? Eh. It was a good reminder that joy is only found in the Lord. It is not a commentary, but it is also not just a topical book. More of a mix between the two, and how we can find the theme of joy in Galatians from a 30,000 ft perspective as well as looking at the reformation. However, the cause of the reformation was not just a lack of joy like he makes it seem in the book.

[Tristany Corgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good, short book that would be ideal to include in your daily quiet time. The parallels between Paul’s day, the Reformation, and the church today were super interesting. I think I would’ve benefited from this more had I read Galatians at the same time, but it’s still a solid read!

[Will Dole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This really is a marvelous little book. Chester manages in 100 pages to give a clear taste of Pauline theology, some core tenants of the reformation, and practical application for your 21st century life.

Though I’m not sure this was Chester’s goal, he’s really written a first-rate introduction to Christianity. I plan to buy more copies to give away to believers whose faith could use strengthening, unbelievers to introduce them to the heart of Christianity, and anyone who needs more joy in their life. This book is that good.

[Dr. David Steele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review coming soon.

[Bobby Bonser · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book which focuses on unearthing what true joy looks like. Chester's writing reminds me of Michael Reeves: very down to earth and written for the "common" person to grasp and understand.
This book was written so new believers or even unbelievers can understand the gospel and implications of it. However, it is also immensely encouraging and insightful for those who have spent years walking with Christ.

This book would be great to be given to someone with little knowledge of the Reformation and what it was about.

Chester argues compellingly at the end of the book that true freedom looks like obeying Christ and mortifying sin.

Favorite quotes:
"If life is about self-fulfillment, then it's only as good as your last experience. If it's about self- expression, then it's only as good as your last performance. It's all precarious, and we're all insecure. So our generation suffers far more from depression, anxiety, and mental disorders...Those who live for Christ and for others are rich beyond wealth."

"Where does joy come from? It comes from being children of God. How can we enjoy God? By living as his children. How can we please God? By believing he loves us as he loves his Son."

"A life of mortifying the flesh or continual repentance means:
°saying no whenever you're tempted and saying °sorry whenever you sin."

[Sarah Jo shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

“ The problem is not reason tradition or experience. The problem is human reason, human tradition, and human experience.”

“Faith alone, connects us to Christ and Christ alone saves “

“We’re not called to obey God‘s word plus a human institution or God‘s word interpreted by human institution —not even the founding church of Jerusalem “

“So the father has given us the spirit of his son so that we could enjoy the experience of his son, so that we know what is to be sons like the son, so that we can enjoy the love the sun experiences from the father” WOAH

“The essence of the gospel is that God does everything we can’t to give his approval to his people”

This was so good. A concise and clear reflection of the reformation and what this means for us today. With lots of contexts all in one place. A quick and insightful read.

[Jeanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The more we recognize God's goodness, the more we want to be good. The more we recognize our identity as God's children, the more we're free to serve others in love.

The text digs deep into the Luther's, Paul's and the Church's struggle with joy. We can get caught up in the legalism of Christianity or impressing others that we lose sight of the joy found in the goodness of God.

I appreciate the struggle of Luther's as he understood the grace of God. The justification of God and the sanctification of God. Without the proper understanding, we can be in great despair and lose faith. This text brings back the joy that despair easily overtakes. It's not the church that creates the gospel. It's the gospel that creates the church. Highly Recommend.

A Special Thank You to Crossway and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

First sentence: This book is a three-way conversation. We’ll start in sixteenth-century Europe with the Reformation. We’ll travel back to first-century Galatia and the foundations of the Reformation in the message of Paul. And then we’ll come home and explore their relevance in the twenty-first century. It's going to be a conversation about joy.

Is Reforming Joy a commentary on Galatians? No. Yes. Maybe. It is a study of the book of Galatians. But it is not a verse-by-verse analysis of Paul's letter to the Galatians. It examines Galatians within the first-century context, the sixteenth-century context, and the twenty-first century context.

Did the Reformers "recover" the gospel? Did Luther grasp again what Paul's letter actually meant? How did his understanding of Paul change his life? change history? Does the book of Galatians--so incredibly powerful in Luther's day--still change lives? Do modern-day Christians take the gospel for granted? Do Christians read the book of Galatians and truly grasp how amazing, how wonderful, how transformative the gospel is? Have modern-day Christians lost sight of the gospel is--what it IS and what it ISN'T. Do we assume that all "gospel" messages proclaimed by teachers, preachers, evangelists are the same? Are we quick or slow in distinguishing between true and false gospels and true and false preachers? Do we need to be more discerning? If we were more discerning would we have more joy? Would we be better rooted in the faith?

The chapter titles:

How To Hear God's Voice: The Reforming Joy of Scripture Alone (Galatians 1)
How To Know God's Approval: The Reforming Joy of Faith Alone in Christ Alone (Galatians 2)
How To Recognize God's People: The Reforming Joy of Mother Church (Galatians 3-4)
How to Enjoy God's Love: The Reforming Joy of Adoption (Galatians 4)
How To Do God's Will: The Reforming Joy of Life in the Spirit (Galatians 5)

This book celebrates the gospel first and foremost. But it is also a celebration of the Reformation. I would definitely recommend this one! I would love to see other Christian books written with a "time machine" perspective. I'm sharing a few examples of this time machine approach:

"How do we know which is the true gospel? Where’s the true source of joy? We’ll address this issue by asking a series of connected questions. In Galatia one answer to the question of how we know what’s true was this: “You should submit to the founding church in Jerusalem.” People had come from Jerusalem telling the Gentiles (the non-Jews) that they needed to be circumcised. How do you know the true gospel? The Jerusalem church will tell you. Jump in our time machine, head to the sixteenth century, and we find the Catholic Church effectively giving the same answer. The only difference is that because the apostle Peter moved to Rome, it’s now the successor of Peter in Rome, the pope, who tells us what God wants. Fast forward to the twenty-first century, and we find a new variation on the answer. Today many people say, “I’ll follow the one I like best.” They say things like, “I’m not a Christian because I don’t like the idea of a god who sends people to hell.” That’s about as logical as saying, “I don’t believe in wearing a lifejacket because I don’t like the idea of drowning.” Nevertheless, people think they can determine what’s true on the basis of their preference, as if they construct reality through their decisions. It’s time to let the engine of the time machine cool down but not before we make the journey back to find Paul. He answers the question of how we can know what’s true in Galatians 1:11–12: “For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.”"

and

"Is the Bible Enough? But who decides what the Scriptures say? That was the issue in the Reformation. The Catholic Church said that ordinary people weren’t sophisticated enough to read the Bible. They would only misunderstand it. “We’ll read the Bible for you,” they said, “and tell you what to believe.” It was the same issue in Galatia. The troublemakers weren’t saying, “Follow us instead of following the Bible.” They were saying, “You’ve misunderstood the Bible. Let us tell you what it really means. After all, we’re from the founding church of Jerusalem.” Paul’s response is to tell a lengthy two-part story. It’s a fascinating response. His job would have been so much easier if he had just said, “Actually, the leaders of the church in Jerusalem agree with me.” Because that was the case. But Paul doesn’t go straight from 1:12 to 2:9. Instead, he gives a lengthy travel itinerary in 1:13–2:10. He describes how he received his message directly from Christ (1:13–16) and didn’t even consult the apostles (1:16–24). If Paul had simply said, “The Jerusalem church agrees with me,” then he would have won one battle at the expense of another. He would have won the one over circumcision, but he would have conceded that Gentile Christians needed to obey the Jerusalem church rather than Scripture alone. He’s determined that we should realize that authority comes from God’s Word above all else. We’re not called to obey God’s Word plus a human institution or God’s Word interpreted by a human institution—not even the founding church in Jerusalem. So is the Bible enough? Yes. Our authority comes from Scripture alone. For us the challenge of Scripture alone comes primarily from the world around us... The challenge of Scripture alone is, Will we listen to God or to the world? But behind that is a bigger challenge: Do we live for God’s or other people’s approval? If the answer is other people’s, then we’ll inevitably end up compromising, neglecting, or reinterpreting the Bible to fit into the world around us. After all, no one wants to be thought of as a religious bigot or an outdated fool."

[Chrys Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Are you searching for joy? Do you desire to find true wisdom on finding it? Are you interested in Reformation History? Reforming Joy: A Conversation Between Paul, the Reformers, and the Church Today by Tim Chester is the best of three wonderful worlds.

If you struggle with joy, Reforming Joy will offer you the gospel (our source of joy) and application (how to cultivate joy in your life). Rooted in Galatians, Chester makes clear the aim of this book:

"The Galatians are returning to legalism and losing their joy. So this is an invitation to rediscover joy. If your life lacks joy, then this is for you. I don’t mean being happy all the time—sometimes life is painful. But even in those moments we will find comfort in God. If you can’t find that comfort or if you’ve lost your fizz, then listen up."

He shows readers that we lack joy when we try to impress others and when we try to fix sin through religious duties. The gospel frees us from being slaves to the opinions of others and religious duties. In typical Tim Chester fashion, each chapter has a section to reflect. He also has a getting personal section which probes our hearts to get to the bottom of our joylessness:

"Identify someone in your church who you struggle to get along with. Satan sees that person’s faults and makes those faults the focus of his attention. God sees that person’s faults and makes Christ the focus of his attention. What difference would it make if your focus were more like God’s than Satan’s?"

Tucked neatly within this book is an exposition of Galatians 1-5. Throughout the chapters, you will find biblical teaching and sound doctrine based on Paul's teaching to the church in Galatia. For example:

"In 4:3, Paul says that the Jews “were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world.” He uses the same word in 4:8 to describe how the Gentile converts used to be “enslaved to those that by nature are not gods.” In the case of the Jews, Satan took God’s good law and persuaded them to see it as a means of proud, God-defying self-righteousness."

He also cites notable Reformation leaders such as Martin Luther, William Tyndall, Ulrich Zwingli, and John Calvin as he frames up his teaching on the true gospel. If you want sound, solid biblical exposition, you'll find it here!

Tim Chester knows his church history. As the co-author of Why The Reformation Matters, he brings his expertise to Reforming Joy. He drops historical tidbits throughout the book to help readers see how God brought joy by reforming their views of the gospel to match Scripture’s:

"Luther’s second breakthrough moment was when he realized that God’s righteousness is not just a boost to help us become righteous. First and foremost, it’s the declaration that we are righteous."

Each chapter also has a "Voice of the Reformation" section which lays out important doctrines such as active and passive righteousness as defined during the Reformation.

If you desire to learn more about joy, scripture, or Reformation history, you will be blessed and encouraged by this book. It values church history and keeps the historical context of the Reformation constantly in view. Most importantly, it's biblical and practical. Reforming Joy is a great resource for personal study, small groups, or teaching through the book of Galatians.

[Renee Masterson Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joy is the overwhelming theme of the Christian life. The people I admire in my life who are rock solid in their faith and dependent on Christ are the most joy-filled people I know. They are free and they are oh so happy in Jesus regardless of the storms that may billow.

Tim Chester’s book sets out to explain why. In this book, Chester walks through the book of Galatians and provides reasons for and benefits of the Christian’s increasing and unfading joy. Chester gives a unique voice to his book as he weaves the words of the Reformers alongside Paul while simultaneously showing us how these truths hold true for the 21st century Christian.

Chester reminds us that the gospel provides lasting joy. It frees us from legalism and dogmatic religiosity; it frees us from lawlessness; it frees us to serve one another in love; it frees us to be a part of a local body to make Christ’s name great while being a part of the global Church that collectively demonstrates the joy of Christ to the nations; it frees us to be reconciled to others and to be reconciled with God; it frees us from the chains of sin and frees us for adoption as sons; and it frees us to live a joy-filled life in the Spirit.

Chester reminds us that this joy isn’t just procured by our effort and good deeds, but that this joy comes from “Jesus, the Morning Star of heaven, the perfect Image of God, the true Man, the kind Husband, the faithful Friend. We see that following him leads to forgiveness, freedom, life, and the promise of eternal glory” (84).

This book was just 100 pages and a very quick read. But I really wish chapter 4—How to Enjoy God’s Love: The Reforming Joy of Adoption (Galatians 4)—was itself 100 pages long. I was so taken with the reminders of our adoption in Christ. “Jesus doesn’t have to win God over or persuade him to welcome us. The whole plan of salvation starts with the Father’s love. And it ends with our adoption, with us experiencing his love” (70).

It echoes Tozer’s quote about what we think about God. And I am finally coming to grips with that. This past summer I grasped in a fuller way that God is my Father and it completely shifted the lenses in which I saw everything. Colossians 1:12 was what opened me eyes to this glorious reality. “The more we recognize God’s fatherly love for us, the more we love him in return…The more we recognize our identity as God’s children, the more we’re free to serve others in love. As children of God, we don’t need to prove ourselves, worry what others think, or be anxious about tomorrow. As heirs of God, we don’t need to secure our future, get angry when things go wrong, or chase the treasures of this world” (90).

This book reminded me of the lasting joy found when we gaze at the cross and remember what it has accomplished for us. What freedom.

[Ryan Hawkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall idea and review:
The title is almost misleading, because it (and the subtitle too) makes it seem like it’d be just quoters from the reformers, on joy, that apply to the church today. But not at all. Instead, it’s just an exposition of Galatians, relying on Luther and Calvin a lot (and Paul, of course), with applications, usually about joy. That being said, it’s always good to read a book on Galatians, and Chester is a great, easy read. However, it wasn’t as much a book about joy itself. It was more a basic gospel book, with the idea that if you get the gospel wrong, it hurts your joy (and getting it right leads to joy). So I wouldn’t recommend it per se

Favorite Ideas:
- Irreligious people don’t want Jesus to be their Lord, religious people don’t want him to be their Savior - a simple but helpful point! (See 34)
- It is not enough for God to make us his children, he wants us to know it and for us to experience his love (see 71). That’s what our Father wants for us. Amazing to consider

General Notes:
- Sometimes we need to repent of doing the right things for the wrong reasons
- Luther’s idea of the two righteousnesses is very helpful and encouraging. See 44-45

Things I Didn’t Particularly Like:
- Honestly, just decent exposition, put against this backdrop of joy, but overall, just a basic exposition of Galatians

Key Applications/Takeaways for My Life:
- God wants me to experience his love. That’s his idea. The first step in doing that is realizing that’s what he wants and that he therefore enjoys me in that way.

[Brad Weber · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who struggles with a "performance based mindset" and always evaluating my self-worth based upon my completion of tasks, this book was a much needed breathe of fresh air. It is nice to be reminded that it is not about performance but about the finished work of Christ on our behalf.

Joy is often something I chase from many things outside of Christ and this book helped me to remember that my joy comes from Christ and Christ alone. The chapter on God's approval was extremely helpful. Reminding me from Galatians that I am rooted and grounded in Christ.

I would recommend this book for anyone struggling to enjoy the life of being a follower of Christ. It certainly helped me to see more clearly.

*I received a review copy from Crossway*

[Matthew Manchester · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a weird little book. I picked it up and decided to read it (1) because it was short and (2) I wanted to read something on joy. However, it is not about the subject and expression of joy (like Piper's books). Rather, it is a exegesis of the book of Galatians and how the gospel frees us from performance so therefore we should be more joyful.

IMO, those are two different (though obviously linked) subjects.

However, for what the book was, I enjoyed it. It was well written and laid out. I might recommend this to people who need to better understand the gospel.

[Shelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are parallels in the lost joy that both Paul and the reformers addressed in their respective time periods. By looking at Paul (Galatians) and the reformers side by side, Chester identifies several areas in which modern Christians are also prone to forfeit gospel joy. He uses Scripture as well as writings by Zwingli, Luther, and Calvin to help the reader identify specific ways to relight the flame of gospel joy.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciate this little book. While it's a book about joy, it's really a overview of the 5 solas that are drawn from the book of Galatians. It's an encouraging little piece. Oddly enough, I think this book would be a great entry point for someone who has never read the reformers but is not about to go and read The Institutes or The Bondage of the will. Each chapter ends with a tiny excerpt (6-8 paragraphs?) from either Calvin or Luther.

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very helpful overview of a believer's relationship with God. Chester probes the dynamics of hearing, obeying and joyfully trusting God for His grace to live a transformed life.

Each chapter ends with a quotation from Luther, Calvin or Zwingli that adds a historical dimension to the book's message. There are also application questions for each chapter that help the reader move from more abstract doctrine to an applied spirituality.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I received a free e-book from Crossway in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are 100% my own.*

I love the cover! The guy who designed it also did the illustrations and cover for the Story of Redemption Bible!

Click here to read my review.

[Bonhomous · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

I have now read a few books by this author, and I have loved them all. This book is a study of Galatians with an emphasis on 3 different points of view, but ultimately one message from God. Joy and fulfillment in Christ alone.
I recommend this book to anyone.

[Jeremy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title/subtitle says it all. I needed to be reminded of this message. Highly commend for those who need to remember where their joy is found: Christ's finished work.

[Scott Hunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple read on the importance of joy as found in the Gospel. Chester points us away from legalism to the joy of Christ’s salvation obtained for us. Well done.

[Wesley Caldwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good topical walkthrough of Galatians. This book is a fast read on the importance of finding joy and overcoming legalism.

[Wilson Hines]

A simple, but good book.

[Emily Shields · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hard to give a Chester anything less than 4 although tempted. Solid but not my favorite read. I think he misrepresents Luther a bit.

[Jess Long · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good parts for sure but not a pivotal book for me.

[Asher Burns · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe most valuable for providing several banger quotations from the Reformers, which I will probably go through and catalogue sometime.

[Emily Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great little read. I did find it a bit odd that it covers the book of Galatians, yet stopped at chapter 5 and made no mention of chapter 6.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book took me FOREVER to finish just because of life and circumstances so I feel like I can’t give it a really just review. I can say I gave it 4 stars and I really enjoyed it. It’s not quite a study on Galatians and not quite a history of the Reformation but a little of both. He compares what the Letter to the Galatians was confronting and what the Reformers were preaching. Like Paul in Galatians and the Reformers, this book seeks to direct you to or help you return to gospel joy in Christ rather than joyless, duty-filled Christianity. I was encouraged and I’ll just give a quote from one of my favorite sections:

“If the burden of serving Christ feels heavy, then something is wrong. The chances are that you’re trying to prove yourself or impress others… The law was supposed to point us to Christ. You undermine that purpose if, having found Christ, you then walk away from him and back to it. Indeed, in an unexpected twist, that actually makes you the ultimate lawbreaker, because you act contrary to the law’s true purpose (Galatians 2:18). For you’re walking away from Christ rather than toward him. Luther says, ‘Although the law discloses and increases sin, it is not against the promises of God but for them. The reason for this is that it humbles us and prepares us to seek for grace… When the law forces us to acknowledge and confess our sins in this way it has fulfilled its function and is no longer needed, because the moment for grace has come.’”

I received a free copy of this book from Crossway Books in exchange for an honest review.