Green Pastures: A Pimer on the Ordinary Means of Grace

by J Ryan Davidson

This book, written for the person in the pew, is a helpful guide to understanding the ordinary means of grace. The book seeks to make the confessional position clear and to demonstrate it through the pages of the Scriptures. Written as a scriptural survey of the various ordinary means of grace, the book details the idea of what is meant by “ordinary means of grace” and it walks through the ministry of the Word, the two sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s Supper, and prayer, with a chapter dedicated to each. Finally, there is a concluding chapter which includes a discussion on the weekly rhythm the Scriptures reveal for the nourishment of the people of Christ. Endorsed by Tom Ascol, Liam Goligher, James Renihan, and Carl Trueman

Genres: Theology, Ecclesiology

110 pages, Paperback

Published October 19, 2019

Reviews

[Jake Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent resource that pastors and churches need to read! Ryan Davidson does a great job unpacking the phrase and concept of the ordinary means of grace. Many Baptists are fearful of such language due to misunderstandings. Davidson shows the biblical and confessional support. This book will change how you see Sunday and what we do when it comes to preaching, the sacraments, and prayer. Pick up and read!!!

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great primer on the ordinary means of grace. My only reason for not giving it five stars is that his chapter on baptism had very little to say about baptism being a means of grace.

[Wilson Hines · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read it twice back-to-back. That should be enough commentary.

[Timothy Decker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great little primer that introduces a vital subject that has been very neglected in the modern church.

[John-Jennifer Divito · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am convinced that most Christians today do not know what God's ordinary means of grace are. Even using the phrase "means of grace" is usually meant with confusion. But it is through the means of grace that we grow in Christlikeness! J. Ryan Davidson recognizes this challenge, which is why he has written Green Pastures: A Primer on the Ordinary Means of Grace. Through this book, we are introduced to the ordinary channels through which Christ's church receives His grace.

I greatly enjoyed reading this book! It's opening up of biblical passages not only explains the means of grace, but also helps us to see their value and to desire these means in our lives. We learn how the ministry of the Word, the ordinances of baptism and the Lord's Supper, and prayer serve as means of grace. It is through these ordinary means that God births and strengthens our faith.

Additionally, Davidson writes a very devotional primer on the means of grace. Through his book, we are able to read and meditate on many passages of Scripture which helps our hearts to rejoice in Christ's loving care for us as His church. This makes it easy to read and a fruitful biblical study to reflect upon.

I also appreciate Davidson's focus on the centrality of the church and corporate worship. In a day of personal and privatized spirituality, Davidson reminds us that Christ has called us together as His people to receive the means of grace. I hope that Christians will come to recognize the ways which God has appointed for us to grow as believers through worshipping together in the local church.

We desperately need to recover the ordinary means of grace in our church's discipleship! This is why I am so excited to recommend Davidson's book. I will regularly be using this book in helping my church and fellow believers understand how Christ gives grace to us for our good and His glory.

[Brian Onstead · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a concise, popular-level book on a very important subject that Baptists and the church at large badly need to recover. Living after the pietist and revivalist movements, the church, by and large, believes her primary means of spiritual growth is in individual spiritual disciplines, extra-biblical programs, and big conferences. This book, however, brings us back to the biblical, historical, and confessional teaching that the primary way Christians grow is through the means of grace that the Lord has ordained and promised to bless. While this book is written for the average church-goer, it does assume that the reader will be somewhat familiar with and already accepting of the Second London Baptist Confession of Faith (1689). Those still coming out of biblicism (the belief that you should "purely" read Scripture without aids: creeds, confessions, historically codified system of doctrine, etc.), might struggle a bit with the appeal to the confession without explanation as to why this is a standard. For those, however, who have embraced or are embracing confessionalism, this book will be a very edifying and informative read.

[Johnny Zacchio jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this! The biblical vision for the local church is seen in these pages. It helpfully points us to the scriptures to stir the church to avail themselves of God’s appointed means of growth in grace and enjoyment of Himself. Great for a small group discipleship relationship or home fellowship as well!

[Josh Hutchinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scriptural, confessional, reformational, and accessible, this book beautifully describes the means of grace in the life of the church and the lives of individual Christians.

[Persis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short book on the ordinary means of grace - preaching, the Lord's supper, baptism, prayer. Learning about these means has changed how I see Sundays and the importance of the gathering of the local church. I'm thankful that my pastor preached these sermons and wrote this book.

[Patrick Porras · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent primer. put this in the hands of new believers. the simple principles laid out here could help cure much of what ails the modern, American church.

[Nathan White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent primer on the ordinary means of grace. This is book I'll be giving to recent converts, those new to historic reformed theology, as well as to members of my church.

I think it's safe to say that, by and large, the western church today is confused about how God grows, nurtures, and strengthens our faith. The church today seems bent on worship as an experience, the Christian life as a list of spiritual disciplines, and personal growth as a subjective and almost mystical process. Here, the author shows from scripture that God has divinely ordained specific means through which He has promised to feed and nourish our faith: through the ministry of the word, baptism, the Lord's Supper, and prayer.

Short and sweet - this book is straightforward, introductory, and non-polemical. My only qualm here is the brevity of this treatment, particularly in light of so many opposing views. Highly recommended.

[Scott Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is excellent in that it packs a hefty amount of wonderful truths in a concise and accessible format.

Ryan Davidson does an excellent job of demonstrating (or reclaiming) the biblical and confessionally Reformed Baptist understanding of the means of grace. While any member of the reformed world would benefit from this book, I believe that Reformed Baptists who hold to the historic confession of faith are reminded of their forefathers and the biblical approach to the ordinances of Jesus Christ.

One of the best parts of the book was how Davidson connects the means of grace with the Lord’s Day. After briefly answering some objections to the Sabbath as a New Covenant mandate, Davidson brilliantly and pastorally connects the ordinary means of grace to The Lord’s specific day set apart for worship and for prayer, preaching and the sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s Supper.

This was a wonderfully needed book in better understanding the robust views on the ordinary means of grace.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really solid primer on the sacrament from a Reformed Baptist perspective!

[Kenneth Clayton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Small and rich book about the ordinary means of grace from a reformed baptist perspective. I will be recommending this to my friends.

[Emily Madison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full of rich theology and scripture to back everything up. This is a great start for believers who want to explore what the means of grace looks like in the real world.

[Angela Slate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent introductory work on the means of grace! I am thoroughly enjoying the Confessional Perspective series from Broken Wharfe. Easy to understand, but very rich in content!

[Troy Nevitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

The ordinary means of grace are commonly overlooked. Not overlooked when we tell new Christians what we should do. Be baptized. Take communion. Read your Bible. Pray. But Davidson takes time to show a greater depth to the ordinary. If you have not considered how God is graciously working through means of grace that we take for granted, and considered common, then take time to read a book like this. There will be things you know, and knew as a new Christian. But there are helpful comments to point even seasoned Christians to see God's workings in ways beyond our initial thoughts.

[Nathaniel Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. I wish I had endless resources to purchase every member of HBC a copy.