Thriving in Grace: Twelve Ways the Puritans Fuel Spiritual Growth

by Joel R. Beeke, Brian G. Hedges

Using the Puritan writings judiciously, Joel R. Beeke and Brian G. Hedges provide twelve fascinating chapters on how the Puritans help us in a variety of ways, such as shaping our lives by the Scriptures, convicting our consciences of the subtlety and sinfulness of sin, opening for us the beauty and loveliness of Christ, and much more. Let this book transform your daily Christian life and move you to read the Puritan treasures for yourself. Table of 1. The Puritans Shape Our Lives by the Authoritative Scriptures 2. The Puritans Lift Our Gaze to the Greatness and Glory of Our Triune God 3. The Puritans Convict Our Consciences of the Subtlety and Sinfulness of Sin 4. The Puritans Open Our Eyes to the Beauty and Loveliness of Christ 5. The Puritans Liberate Our Hearts with the Freedom and Power of Grace 6. The Puritans Engage Our Wills in the Practical Pursuit of Holiness 7. The Puritans Equip the Saints in the Battle against the World, the Flesh, and the Devil 8. The Puritans Inspire Our Hearts to Seek God’s Face in Prayer 9. The Puritans Sustain Us in Suffering with the Sovereign Providence of God 10. The Puritans Search Our Souls with Profound Psychological Insight 11. The Puritans Set Our Sights on Eternal Realities 12. The Puritans Fill Us with Sacrificial Zeal for God and His Truth Reading the Puritans Authors Joel R. Beeke is president of Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary and a pastor of the Heritage Reformed Congregation in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Brian G. Hedges serves as lead pastor of Redeemer Church in Niles, Michigan. He is the author of several books, including The Story of His Glory, Active Spirituality, and Recovering a Lost Spiritual Discipline. Endorsements “If there is a better short book on the strength and orderliness of the Puritans’ teaching on the lifestyle of the Christian, I have not yet read it. Thriving in Grace is the spiritual equivalent of what a taster meal in a Michelin-starred restaurant must be the work of a skilled chef who has a mastery of both his ingredients and the insight—usually only gained from decades of experience—into what will stimulate the taste buds of the guests. And Chefs Beeke and Hedges know how to season and garnish all twelve taster courses here with quotations that simply add to the experience of a meal that will linger long on the spiritual palate of every reader. A book indeed to ‘read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest’!” — Sinclair B. Ferguson, Ligonier teaching fellow and Chancellor’s Professor of Systematic Theology at Reformed Theological Seminary “All Christians have periods of spiritual dryness. For that reason, Thriving in Grace is nothing less than a work of compassionate service to the people of God. Here, Joel Beeke and Brian Hedges take us back to the Puritans to show us, through the Puritans, the glory of God, the steadfastness of His word, and the blessedness of life as His people. These are the meditations that make weak knees strong and that make water to break forth in the desert. I pray this book will comfort many souls the way that it has comforted mine.” — Stephen Myers, associate professor of historical theology, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary

Genres: Christian Living, Christian, Theology

227 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 20, 2020

About the author

Dr. Joel R. Beeke serves as President and Professor of Systematic Theology, Church History, and Homiletics at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary. He has been in the ministry since 1978 and has served as a pastor of his current church, Heritage Reformed Congregation, since 1986. He is also editor of the Banner of Sovereign Grace Truth, editorial director of Reformation Heritage Books, president of Inheritance Publishers, and vice-president of the Dutch Reformed Translation Society. He has written, co-authored, or edited fifty books and contributed over fifteen hundred articles to Reformed books, journals, periodicals, and encyclopedias. His Ph.D. (1988) from Westminster Theological Seminary is in Reformation and Post-Reformation Theology. He is frequently called upon to lecture at Reformed seminaries and to speak at conferences around the world. He and his wife, Mary, have three children: Calvin, Esther, and Lydia.

Reviews

[Michael Beck · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great little book on how to read and learn from the Puritans. Read this little book, then read the Puritans. You will be blessed by both.

[Jimmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Want to grow in your Christian life with deliberate meditation on God as He has revealed Himself in a way that is practical and worshipful? This book is a must read. It is a practical and spiritual introduction to the Puritans, but it isn’t done in a way that makes readers feel it is an academic historical theology lecture; rather it is quite devotional and made me want to yearn to read more of the Puritans to minister to my soul, to search my own heart and to grow in Christ with greater holiness and sanctification.
As the subtitle of the book indicates the book covers twelve ways reading the Puritan fuels spiritual growth and each chapter covers one of the ways. The book first look at the Purtian's high view of the authority of the Scriptures with chapter two meditating on the Glory of the Triune God. Next is a chapter on the Puritan’s view of the sinfulness of sin, a chapter on the loveliness of Christ and a chapter titled "The Puritans Liberate Our Hearts with the Freedom and Power of Grace." Chapter six is on engaging the will in pursuit of practical holiness, followed by a chapter on the spiritual battle against the flesh, the devil and the world. Chapters eight and nine is on pray and providence trailed by a chapter on the Puritan's insight into human psychology. The last two chapters cover the Puritan's sight of eternity and their zeal for God.
Beeke’s organization of the book is excellent and I like how the first chapter on the authority of God’s Word lays the foundation for what else is to follow. Furthermore I love how the book is laid out to give the Gospel with the bad news of sin first followed by the Good News of God’s grace for salvation and sanctification.
There’s a lot that warm my heart towards the Triune God as a result of reading this book. I thought the author gave a good analogy of how we need the right diagnosis of our problem with sin, just as his own son needed the right diagnosis of his health problems when he was young and the doctors at first didn’t realize he had diabetes. Classic Joel Beeke with his practical and everyday illustration from life. The discussion about the danger of small sins was also very good in the book and from the Puritans Beeke made the point that sometimes small sins makes us think we are ok and that we do not repent to God as we should compared to “big sins.” Morever Puritans have also noted how people sometime with dealing with small sins start having a warp view of God where they think God is strifling! The Puritans were truly insightful to our heart’s condition. There’s many books and authors I do want to read as a result of this book’s spiritual introduction to the readers, and this include the various works by John Own and also the book The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment by Jeremiah Burroughs, to name a few. There were many great pithy sayings in this book and I’m delighted to see how quotable the Puritans were and some of what they say I can see would go viral on social media today but without the superficiality often plaguing social media contents today. For example Thomas Watson beautifully stated “God’s rod is a pencil to draw Christ’s image more distinctly on us” which Beeke quoted in the book. How do one not like this book and grow to love God more and yearn to read more of the Puritans if one is a believer in the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

[Lone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect book for getting to know the puritans and sound theology. And for adding great works to a reading list.
Puritan writing is thankfully being read by more and more Christians. Praise the Lord for rising men who speaks and write the word. No matter what time and age.

[Becky Pliego · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect introduction to some of the wonderful ways in which the Puritan writings help us grow in grace.

[Julian Seibel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hat mir sehr gut gefallen. Die Autoren haben das Leben der Puritaner in zwölf Gewohnheiten zusammengefasst. Das Buch ist somit auch eine kurze Zusammenfassung über das Leben der Puritaner. Jedes Kapitel enthält tolle Zitate, die den Inhalt eines Kapitel toll unterstreichen. Außerdem bekommt man in jedem Kapitel weiter Buchvorschläge mitgeteilt, um sich ausgiebiger mit einzelnen Themen zu beschäftigen. Mir gefällt die Idee, das Leben der Puritaner in zwölf Gewohnheiten zusammenfassen. Dieses Buch ist auch sehr relevant für uns heute. Viele Gewohnheiten der Puritaner sind in unserer Zeit untergegangen. Dieses Buch erinnert uns somit daran, worauf es wirklich ankommt. Da die Kapitel nicht allzu lang sind, eignet es sich auch perfekt dafür, einzelne Gewohnheiten nachzuschlagen und darüber nachzudenken. Man sollte von diesem Buch nicht erwarten, dass es Dir für deinen Alltag ganz konkrete Anwendungen gibt, die du dir zu Gewohnheiten machen solltest. Es ist vielmehr eine Zusammenfassung, wofür die Puritaner standen. Z.B. geht es im ersten Kapitel um die Autorität der Schrift. In diesem Kapitel wird dargelegt, wie wichtig für die Puritaner die Bibel war und wie sie ihr Leben nach der Schrift ausrichteten. Daraus sollte dann der Leser für sich mitnehmen, die Autorität der Schrift in seinem persönlichen Leben hochzuhalten. Weitere Themen sind Heiligung, Kampf gegen Sünde, Eifer für Gott, Gebet oder Größe Gottes. Diese Buch eignet sich sehr gut dafür, die Puritaner kennenzulernen. Wer aber die Puritaner bereits kennt, sollte dieses Buch ebenso lesen, weil es eine schöne Zusammenfassung ihres Lebens ist.

[Josiah Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent book on why we should study what the puritans wrote, not only because they were so smart and knowledgeable about theology and pious living, but because by studying them and what they wrote can be an excellent means of grace to spur us towards that same end.

[Wilson Porte Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Um excelente livro sobre como os puritanos nos ajudam a ler o mundo. Conta com diversas citações de textos puritanos.

[Sophie Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I lovedddd this book. So rich and helpful. Would serve as a great intro to the Puritans.

[Amber Thiessen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’d only been vaguely familiar with the writings of the Puritans, and who they are. This book helped me to understand the values of the Puritans as they relate to our spiritual maturity. I was humbled and deeply challenged by their sincerity, and desire to bring theology into the practical experiences in the life of the believer. The Word of God was central to their ministry, their zeal evident as they sought to live intentionality. The conclusion provides helpful tips for beginners in reading the works of the Puritans. I really enjoyed it!

[Nick Prodromou · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is great.
I listened as an audiobook, but I want to pick up a physical copy because there's so much wealth here to keep coming back to.

I would recommend this as an introduction to the puritan's work, as a more digestible introduction than something like Packer's A Quest For Godliness. If this doesn't get someone interested in diving deeper into puritan works i'm not sure what else would.

[Timothy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent treatment of the teachings of the Puritans.

It is an introduction but sweeps through all areas of Christian living.
I would highly recommend this to anyone who has not read any Puritan literature or wants to make their way into the Puritans but doesn't know where to start.

Highly practical and experiential.

[Phil Sessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent resource spot see the spiritual disciplines of the early puritans and how their practice should impact ours.

[Brandi Breezee · Rating 4 out of 5]

There’s something about those who’ve come before. And there’s something about the Puritans. This book is worth the read.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

(I listened to this on audiobook.)

[Matt Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing primer on the work of the Puritans! Couldn’t recommend highly enough.

[Benjamin Cervantes · Rating 3 out of 5]

You. Yeah, you reading this. Stop reading books about the puritans and start actually reading the puritans. They're not a hard bunch.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Primer. For Spiritual Growth

This book is packed with information on the Puritans. It also has many applicable information on how to grow as a Christian.

[Connor Longaphie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Basically a systematic quote mine copy paste of puritans out of context. Useful for some things, surely. But, not what I was hoping it would have been

[Kristin Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

so good!!!