The Essential Means of Grace

by Paul Washer

Too often, Christians wait for some extraordinary move of the Spirit to correct all their spiritual ills. Although such a revival is possible, it is not the way God ordinarily grows His church. In The Essential Means of Grace, Paul Washer considers the three prominent gifts God provided for growth in the Scriptures, prayer, and participation in the life and ministry of the local church. Our desire for the extraordinary should never lead us to neglect the ordinary. Rather, let us devote ourselves to these ordinary means of grace in dependence upon the Spirit for an extraordinary conformity and usefulness to Christ. Table of The Means of Grace The Scriptures Prayer Repentance and Confession The Church In Defense of Simplicity Author Paul Washer ministered as a missionary in Peru for ten years, during which time he founded the HeartCry Missionary Society to support Peruvian church planters. Paul now serves as one of the laborers with the HeartCry Missionary Society (www.heartcrymissionary.com). He and his wife Charo have four Ian, Evan, Rowan, and Bronwyn. Endorsement “Every page of this book found a warm echo in my heart. Briefly and clearly, directly and forcefully, earnestly and winsomely, God’s appointed way of real and sustained spiritual vitality is set forth. The testimony of my Bible, of my experience, and of my conscience, is that Paul Washer has put his finger on the simple remedies for so many of our spiritual maladies. I need these reminders for the good of my soul; I want them for the good of the souls of the people whom I love, and for the glory of God in His church. I believe that you need them and should want them too.” — Jeremy Walker, pastor of Maidenbower Baptist Church

Genres: Theology, Christian Living, Christian, Religion, Nonfiction, Christianity, Audiobook

45 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 22, 2020

About the author

Paul David Washer became a believer while studying at the University of Texas. He completed his undergraduate studies and enrolled at Southwestern Theological Seminary, where he received his Master of Divinity degree. After graduating, he moved to Peru and served there as a missionary.

Paul ministered as a missionary in Peru for 10 years, during which time he founded the HeartCry Missionary Society to support Peruvian church planters. HeartCry's work now supports over 165 indigenous missionaries in over 26 countries throughout Eastern Europe, South America, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.

Paul now serves as one of the laborers with the HeartCry Missionary Society (www.heartcrymissionary.com). He and his wife Charo have three children: Ian, Evan, and Rowan.

Reviews

[Cory · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is phenomenal. I think it will be my new top recommendation on spiritual disciplines. Plus, it is as short as it is good. An ideal for the basics of Christian growth for a newer believer though I benefited greatly as well!

[Mykaël Arsenault · Rating 5 out of 5]

Comme tous les livre de Paul Washer, celui-ci est excellent! Très pertinent pour l’Église d’aujourd’hui, ce livre nous ramène à la simplicité et l’efficacité des moyens de grâces simples et ordinaires, tels que la Parole, la prière et l’Église. Ce court livre donne un amour pour ces moyens de grâce et un désir de les utiliser dans notre vie quotidienne. Un livre à ne pas manquer!

[Chris Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard medicine, no quick elixirs.

[Jimmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Are you looking for a book that helps you walk in the Lord and pursue a life that is holy? If so this book by Paul Washer is a must read. It is a short book that cover what are God-given ordinary means of grace, what throughout church history has been called Media gratiae. The means of grace basically means the methods that God gives for spiritual help to grow in conformity to Christ. I love the fact that this book is short and simple and yet spiritually profound and helpful and practical and God-centered. I love that it is short since most Christians can read this. I also appreciate that this is simple and yet beautifully deep. I read this book with someone younger in the faith from church; I think through that experience I felt no matter where you are at with your walk with God readers can benefit from this book. It is one of those rare books that I might actually read it more than once. I love the green cover and the size of this book; it’s a book that I like to also have in my physical library!
The book begins with a chapter on the means of grace as an introduction before the next five chapters explore each means of grace. The second chapter looks at the Scripture, the third covers prayer, the fourth is on repentance and confession together and chapter five is on the church and chapter six is titled “In defense of Simplicity.”
Reading this book and the chapters made me appreciate each means of grace God has given us; and to not see them as chores and mere duties but truly as God’s grace in our lives. Of the chapters by far my favorite is chapter four on repentance and confession. Paul Washer is so pastoral here and given so many people misunderstands repentance and what confession is, I appreciate what he’s doing in the chapter to define them biblically and draw truths and application from the Bible on these means of grace. Chapter six while short is also one that I enjoyed: It offers a three prong response to those who object that this book is too simplistic. I thought Paul Washer did a good job addressing that issue; in fact I thought it was so good I think it should have been the second chapter of the book rather than in the end! If it was the second chapter it would have early on dealt with any reader that want to put this book down and say “easy, not for me!”
Overall a good book. I wished Paul Washer would write more books like this size. This work was extremely helpful and I give this a five out of five.

[Lindsey Finton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent! We enjoyed Washer’s direct biblical writing. Very convicting while also very short!

[Jonathan Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Paul Washer! And this was a good book! “So why the four stars?” You may ask. Well, this was not your usual Washer book in that it was not as punchy as I have come to expect from him. It was still full of truth and clear teaching but I really love it when Washer comes in and kicks my butt. This one didn’t have it. But still better than most other books out there. Maybe I should go back and change this to five stars…

[Jonathan Agudelo Usuga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pareciera un simple libro más acerca de disciplinas espirituales pero definitivamente no lo es. Más bien tenemos acá una maravillosa herramienta de discipulado bíblico.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Instructive and refreshing! Brother Paul Washer remains one of my greatest heroes of the faith.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very challenging book written by a very challenging preacher. Brother Paul Washer is a beacon of light in the Christian literature these days. He is only one of the few that really writes about the struggles of wanting to be like Jesus through the power of the Spirit. If you want to Live your best life now this is not your book... but if you want to suffer for the person who gave everything for you this book may point you to ways in which you can mortifying your flesh and carry your cross joyfully.

[Russell Threet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Washer Never Disappoints!

This little book is a great reminder of the treasure got has given us in His Word, through prayer, and in the church. Washer reminds us that we have got to stop waiting in some extraordinary happening to bring revival and instead look to the wonderful ordinary means of grace that God uses to grow His church consistently through the ages.

[Michaël St-Amour · Rating 5 out of 5]

Une lecture absolument non négligeable pour les croyants aujourd'hui. Alors que nous cherchons constamment des révélations et des grâces spéciales, Paul Washer nous ramène aux moyens de grâce essentiels; la prière, la confession, la repentance et l'église.
Exprimant l'importance de ces réalités, l'auteur nous accompagne dans un renouvellement de notre compréhension des moyens de grâce biblique.

[Manuel Marbun · Rating 1 out of 5]

After reading this, you must try to learn Lutheranism and compare it with your position.

[Jeanette · Rating 5 out of 5]

i accidentally borrowed this again on hoopla, so i listened to it again. good stuff, folks.

[João Paulo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Primeiro livro de Paul Washer que leio e posso dizer que gostei bastante. Esse livreto abordou 3 meios de graça (media gratiae): oração, leitura Bíblia e comunhão com a igreja visível local. O cerne do livro é expor que esses meios de graça são meios ordinários (no sentido de "comum") que Deus concedeu ao Seu povo santo para que cresçam na fé cristã saudável. Esperar por um avivamento sobrenatural e extraordinário é salutar e desejável, entretanto, se nós cristãos não estamos buscando os meios ordinários, por que esperar o extraordinário?

Além disso, Washer aponta bem que seria uma absurda arrogância qualquer cristão dizer que exauriu esses meios, afinal, o próprio Senhor Jesus, enquanto em Seu ministério terreno, foi claramente um homem de oração, por exemplo, ou seja, Ele valeu-se desse meio ordinário e não deu sinais de que o tivesse exaurido.

Enfim, é uma leitura rápida e capaz de trazer graves reflexões para ponderarmos e buscarmos melhorar em nossa vida cotidiana cristã.

[Kelli Emge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paul Washer is just on point, as always. This is a short book on the Christian life, and how to behave so as to grow in maturity. The essential means of grace are introduced in the first chapter, then each are detailed in following chapters on the local Church, scripture, prayer, repentance and confession. Final notes in the last chapter are on the simplicity of the Christian life. No, it is not complicated. Reject the gnosticism that teaches you can’t understand your faith, you have misunderstood it all, the church is all wrong on everything, all that garbage is gnosticism and worldly philosophy that seeks to defraud you of your full inheritance as sons and daughters of the living God. If you have Christ, you have the fullness of all his wisdom. This is not passive- embrace the spiritual disciplines- but do not add a burden of extra duty to scripture. Simplicity embraces the freedom for which Christ has set us free.
This book is pure gospel encouragement. Go, walk with him.

[Rachel ✿ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paul Washer já é um dos gigantes para a igreja reformada atual, assim como referência em missões. Mas acredito que, com o tempo, será dado o merecido valor. Ele ainda é alvo de muitas críticas e, muitas delas, sem sentido.
O foco dele sempre foi em missões e não é muito diferente nesse livro. Apesar de tratar alguns pontos no individual, ele analisa no ponto de vista coletivo, da igreja.
Se você já conhece e acompanha o ministério de Washer não há novidade aqui, mas é sempre um tempo muito bem aproveitado ler qualquer coisa que ele escreva.
(Ouvi através do serviço One: https://oneaudiobooks.app/ )

[Suzana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Direto, prático e necessário.Neste livro, Paul nos lembra sobre a importância dos meios de graça, instrumentos que o próprio Deus nos concede para fortalecer a fé, nutrir o coração e conduzir-nos no caminho da santificação. Práticas como a oração, a leitura da Palavra, a comunhão dos santos e a participação nas ordenanças, são bênçãos do Senhor para sustentar o Seu povo.

Que não sejamos negligentes nem indiferentes a esses meios tão preciosos, mas que, com sabedoria e gratidão, os aproveitemos plenamente, reconhecendo que é por meio deles que Deus nos molda à imagem de Cristo e nos faz perseverar em Sua graça.

[S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, small book! Paul Washer packs so much into this book about the means of graces. He writes as he speaks, very directly & it can be hard to read at times. It is a short read that could be read in a day, but it’s so rich in depth that I took my time reading & pondering. As he ends the book he prays for revival & I believe we should truly pray for revival of biblical truth, biblical men to lead us, and that the church be reinstated as the Bride of Christ once again. We have strayed too far from what Jesus commanded of His church. Let’s get back to real Church.

[Thomas Mcpherson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very simple, easy to read. If you want a book to give to friend who doesn't understand the simplicity of Gods given means to grow us spiritually, this is a great pick.

I used to be quite into the spiritual formation stream of thinking, realised it was ineffective at what it promised and wasnt in line with teachings of scripture concerning Sanctification.

The ordinary means of grace was the antidote to the spiritual fog spiritual formation gurus created for me.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is easy to read, and about theology, but in simple words with explanation, it is very useful for those who have just begun to delve into Christianity. A clear structure of the means of grace with the explanation "what is it?", "why is it so important?" And "can it be missed?", which gives a complete picture of the means of Christianity and why they are so important in our daily lives💓

[Steven Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The basics of Christian practice and doctrine are the means of grace for the Believer. This short book highlights the church’s need to simply do the basics. When church is all flash and no depth it leads to carnal baby Christians, or worse yet, folks who think they are regenerate and are actually unsaved.

[Dan Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great little primer on the means of grace. Suffers from an anemic view of the nature of the "ordinances", but excellent otherwise.

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent.

[Dominic Woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never anything bad to say about Paul Washer! Passionate man of God! Great quick read!

[Wilma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, succinct, simple, straightforward!
I like it!

[Benjamin Spanos · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to read it. I own a copy. But people keep borrowing it and letting it impact their worldview before I can get a chance.

[Tyna · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Latin phrase media gratiae translates to English as means of grace.

The following explanation by Paul Washer succinctly and correctly expounds the definition of media gratiae:

" For centuries the church has employed this little phrase to describe those means or gifts that the Lord Jesus Christ has given to the church for its ongoing sanctification or growth in holiness. The most prominent and essential of these means are the study of Scriptures, devotion to prayer, and participation in the life and ministry of the local church. These means are not works that must be accomplished in order to earn or merit salvation, but they are gifts in the salvation that he or she has received by grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ."

Brother Washer goes on to heartfully expand the above orthodox principle. I found this book a beautiful companion to The Preeminence of Christ, which I read last year.


*2nd Reading I particularly enjoyed Chapter 2 The Scriptures this time around.

[Amanda Pierson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paul Washer, one of my favorite theologians and speakers, discusses the essential means of grace that we are given to practice every day: Reading of God’s Holy Word, Prayer to our Divine God, and involvement and investment into the local church.

[Anete Ābola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Basics of christianity.