Godliness Through Discipline

by Jay E. Adams

Book by Adams, Jay Edward

Genres: Counselling, Christian Living, Christian, Theology, Discipleship, God, Parenting

16 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1972

About the author

Jay Edward Adams is a Reformed Christian author. He has written over 100 books and these have been published in sixteen languages.
He received a Bachelor of Divinity from Reformed Episcopal Seminary, a Bachelor of Arts in Classics from Johns Hopkins University,a Masters in Sacred Theology from Temple University, and a PhD in Speech from the University of Missouri.
Adams' book Competent to Counsel launched the nouthetic counseling movement, a movement whose aim was to use strictly biblical counseling methods. He is the founder of the Intitute for Nothetic Studies.

Reviews

[Frank · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good short booklet on the issue of discipline. Jay Adams demonstrates that godliness does not happen overnight, anymore more than you can learn to master a musical instrument with a few minutes of effort. Godliness takes persistent daily effort and discipline. He provides some practical insights to help you grow in godliness through daily discipline.

[Andrea G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Godliness doesn’t just happen. It takes disciplined work; and we too often have a hard time with the “discipline” part. This little booklet is such an encouragement and challenge to believers! The encouragement is that we CAN grow in godliness; the challenge is that it does take work. We need to put the effort in by regularly soaking in Gods Word and applying what it says!

[Kyle Buck · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful little book giving practical advice on cultivating discipline and godliness in one's life. " Here, then, is your answer: regularly read the Scriptures, prayerfully do as they say, according to schedule, regardless of how you feel."

In seasons I don't take the time to schedule prayer or the reading of God's word. But we must for it is to our great benefit. Adams remarks "you probably didn't feel like getting up this morning...After you were up and around awhile you began to feel different, and you were glad that you acted against your feelings. "

Act against your feelings (that of sloth) and read the holy word of God, you will be glad that you acted against those sinful feelings of sloth & sleep.

[Olivia Schutt · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars ?? Really helpful on identifying the root issue: a lack of discipline and willingness to endure. However, at the beginning he promised practical help but did not really provide. It’s a short little booklet so I didn’t expect much in the tangible help department, but it did get my head in the right place about the Spirit’s sanctifying work through the means of discipline & pumped me up to go find practical ways to be more disciplined 😂

[Joseph Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short booklet on a powerful truth!

[Jimmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

They say don't judge a book by it's cover--and I say also it's size. Worthwhile booklet to read in striving for godliness. I enjoy the author's effort in communicating the biblical truth of how to be godly involves discipline. Jay Adams, the father of biblical counseling, have written other works that have edified me and given me tremendous hope and paradigm shift when it comes to sanctification, living to please God and solving one's problem with the power of Christ. I recommend that pastors and Biblical counselors use this work--as I have been using it recently with differnt memebers in our church.

[Mandy J. Hoffman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Does discipline sound like something really hard, or at least something you really don't want to learn about?

Jay Adams gives a short, yet powerful overview and in depth look at how we can grow in godliness through discipline. It's through God's grace in our lives that produces the desire to learn to grow.

This short booklet will encourage you to keep on keeping on, to keep trying, to keep working, knowing that each time you try and work at it you get a little bit better. God uses the simple things in life to grow us.

[S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Will be reading this one again & again.

Some main takeaways for me:
- if you don’t start with the gospel (5, 24) & who you are in Christ, trying to grow in godliness is stressful, despairing, & ineffective because you are striving through your own power/flesh. Good news: rely on God’s grace & power; it’s theeee ONLY way to grow/change

…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (Philippians 2:12-13)

- growing in godliness, putting off bad habits, putting on the new man is a PROCESS. That’s why Titus says God’s grace trains us. We need to be disciplined with our time & using the means of grace (word&prayer primarily). God disciplines us lovingly when we stray to grow us. We need to persevere in “godliness until you do in fact become godly” (24).

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age (Titus 2:11)

- being disciplined is hard and requires a strong commitment to obedience rather than a reliance on/waiting for feelings (23-24). Obey God’s commands out of love to grow toward holiness/godliness. Do not live a feeling-oriented/motivated life of lust & sin that brings you to self instead of to Christ.

[Doug · Rating 3 out of 5]

It makes many good points, but I think an incautious read of it can lead to slightly skewed conclusions. The book isn't really about the disciplines of the Christian life or the "means of grace". Rather it's main message is that godliness doesn't come cheap and trivially, but requires focus and effort. This is true, but perhaps in trying to exhort the human reader toward human effort a little balance is lost in terms of where the power for transformation truly comes -- to be sure, he mentions this, but I suppose I feel that the emphasis on human effort in this book is easily misunderstood.

[Josh Staggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have enjoyed every book that I have read so far by Dr. Adam’s. This by far is the most practical book on acquiring godliness that has been written. It is such a small (25 pages) book to be so enlightening! He basically lays out that godliness comes through self-discipline and exegetes that from the Scripture. Although it is practical, Dr. Adam’s points out that it is not easy to do. Overall I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who would think about reading it.

[Shaun Marksbury · Rating 5 out of 5]

This excellent little book introduces the reader to the importance of discipline in his spiritual walk. The Christian walk doesn't come from mysterious promptings, but by putting one foot in front of the other. The Holy Spirit energizes each step, but we have to walk in faith, obeying His Word. Recommended for young Christians and those who may have a hole in their sanctification in this area.

[crashqueen73 · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little, easy to read booklet (only 25 pages) with some good little nuggets. A good place to start in a study of discipline but I will need to dig deeper from here.

One negative was his comment about yo-yos and girls which wasn’t necessary and felt derogatory.

Otherwise a solid little starter.

[Dylan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short, practical, and helpful guide on how to grow in sanctification through discipline. What I appreciate about this pamphlet is that Adams unpacks the relationship between our personal responsibility and the Holy Spirit's changing power. I read this as much for my own personal edification as I did my counseling training and loved it.

[Tingting Zhang · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent booklet on godliness and discipline. So true that we need to daily say no to our flesh and yes to Christ. This put off and put on practice is daily practice until it becomes our second nature. Habit is powerful. And Christian life is a process of continual change, through God’s Word and His Spirit!

[Isaac Craft · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helpful, insightful booklet on living and training yourself toward Godliness through Holy Spirit directed discipline.

[Emily Hembree · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good, brief booklet on some very practical truth.

[Katie Koppin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helpful booklet on change. We must lead a disciplined life in order to be godly.

[Erin Pitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Living according to feeling is the greatest hindrance to godliness that we face. Godly, commandment-oriented living comes only from biblical structure and discipline.” Good, quick read.

[Frances · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heavy on discipline, short on grace.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, solid Biblical intentions from an author I respect. The Gospel, as I understand it, is more focused on grace. Adams focuses on human responsibility, and so I appreciate the admonition toward discipline. I have found, however, that I need to go further and deeper to the root causes of my sin to repent more fully.

[Amy Hornek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very simple booklet concerning the importance of Discipline in the Christian relationship. I use this with many of my counselees as it teaches them how to be discplined according to the plan of Christ.

[Dahyana · Rating 5 out of 5]

The notion of discipline is a lost mastery for many and yet any athlete success is based on just that. This book allows the reader to understand our soul must mean more than any sport, therefor discipline is the key to the same success.

[Douglas Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good.

[Andy]

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[Seth Channell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great reminder of my responsibilty for spiritual growth: Trust God but also discipline myself.

[Kristin Cochran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short booklet-- great! Highly recommend this one to jump start your personal walk again.

[Emmyakins · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think this is very good