Broken-Down House: Living Productively in a World Gone Bad

by Paul David Tripp

Sin has ravaged the house that God created. This world sits slumped, disheveled, and in pain, groaning for the restoration that can only be accomplished by the hands of him who built it in the first place. The bad news is that you and I are living right in the middle of the restoration process. The good news is that the divine Builder will not relent until everything about his house is made totally new again. Emmanuel lives here with us, and he is at work returning his house to its former beauty.
Someday you will live forever in a fully restored house, but right now you are called to live with peace, joy, and productivity in a place damaged by sin. How can you be an active part of the restoration at the heart of God s plan? The book in your hands will teach you to live productively in the here and now.

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

223 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2009

About the author

Paul was born in Toledo, Ohio to Bob and Fae Tripp on November 12, 1950. Paul spent all of his growing years in Toledo until his college years when his parents moved to Southern California.
At Columbia Bible College from 1968-1972, (now Columbia International University) Paul majored in Bible and Christian Education. Although he had planned to be there for only two years and then to study journalism, Paul more and more felt like there was so much of the theology of Scripture that he did not understand, so he decided to go to seminary. Paul met Luella Jackson at College and they married in 1971. In 1971, Paul took his first pastoral position and has had a heart for the local church ever since. After college, Paul completed his Master of Divinity degree at the Reformed Episcopal Seminary (now known as Philadelphia Theological Seminary) in Philadelphia (1972-1975). It was during these days that Paul’s commitment to ministry solidified. After seminary, Paul was involved in planting a church in Scranton, Pennsylvania (1977-1987) where he also founded a Christian School. During the years in Scranton, Paul became involved in music, traveling with a band and writing worship songs. In Scranton, Paul became interested in biblical counseling and decided to enroll in the D.Min program in Biblical Counseling at Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia. Paul then became a faculty member of the Christian Counseling and Education Foundation (CCEF) and a lecturer in biblical counseling at Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia. Paul has also served as Visiting Professor at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky.
In 2009, Paul joined the faculty of Redeemer Seminary (daughter school of Westminster) in Dallas, Texas as Professor of Pastoral Life and Care.[1]
Beginning in June, 2006, Paul became the President of Paul Tripp Ministries, a non-profit organization, whose mission statement is "Connecting the transforming power of Jesus Christ to everyday life." In addition to his current role as President of Paul Tripp Ministries, on January 1, 2007, Paul also became part of the pastoral staff at Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, PA where he preached every Sunday evening and lead the Ministry to Center City through March, 2011 when he resigned due to the expanding time commitments needed at Paul Tripp Ministries.
Paul, Luella, and their four children moved to Philadelphia in 1987 and have lived there ever since. Paul is a prolific author and has written twelve books on Christian living which are sold internationally. Luella manages a large commercial art gallery in the city and Paul is very dedicated to painting as an avocation.[2] Paul’s driving passion is to help people understand how the gospel of the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ really does speak with practical hope into all the things they will face in this broken world. Paul is a pastor with a pastor’s heart, a gifted speaker, his journey taking him all over the world, an author of numerous books on practical Christian living, and a man who is hopelessly in love with Luella.

Reviews

[landr · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read "Broken Down House" one chapter at a time on Sunday afternoon over the course of the last 3 months and can honestly say that this is one of those books that is both entirely enjoyable and deeply edifying. "Broken Down House" succeeds in both providing practical, real-life wisdom while at the same time rooting this wisdom in truly Biblical theology regarding the nature of God, man and the world. Paul is clearly both a gifted pastor and counselor and you can almost here him speaking this whole book to you. Each chapter provided enough Biblical truth to give me something to meditate on for the following week while at the same time providing enough practical application to motivate me to want to make immediate change in my life, by the Power of God at work within me. In the end, I felt as if this book helped me to take one more small step in the right direction... growing in love for God and others. I don't usually read books more than once but I will probably make an exception for this one.

Speaking of edification, this is the second time that I have written this review. The first time it was lost because our internet connection "flickered" as it so frequently does here in Tanzania. In that moment I was reminded of Tripp's reminder to "never grow weary of doing good." Thanks Paul, if it weren't for you this review would never have been written... and that is true on many levels.

[Linore · Rating 4 out of 5]

You don't get far into this book without realizing that Tripp is a guy who really gets it. He understands what life is like for modern Christians and he nails issues on the head with keen precision. You'll find yourself saying, "Yes! Right!" as well as "Ouch. That's me." My (church) small group is systematically studying each chapter together and there is no shortage of thought-provoking, cogent material. This is a must-read for every believer who wants to live a productively God-honoring life, and perhaps especially for those who think they already are. Tripp's knack for framing an argument in startling ways that ring true will nudge you to take a fresh look at yourself and your life with new perspective. I can't recommend this book highly enough.

[Gareth Davies · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was superb. A challenging read about what it means to live as a Christian in a world that is broken. Many parts were very convicting but the chapters on resisting spirituality and listening to eternity were a highlight. I fall short in many ways but what a great God we have - who enables me by his grace to live productively in a world gone bad. Much to ponder and much to change.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent Bible Study book on living in this crazy world. Paul Tripp shows that even though Christians remain broken people living in a broken world, God has equipped us to become his agents of renewal. Lots of biblical wisdom.

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book, it is a clearly written, informative, theologically sound, helpful and challenging book. Most of all, it is about the God of Grace!

[Nathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paul Tripp asks one simple question: "What does it look like to live productively in a world that is broken-down by sin?" Throughout the book he returns to this theme, providing practical, Biblical hope for the weary. He deals with aspects of life that seem overwhelmingly difficult, and he guides the reader to increasingly rely on God's Spirit, read the Bible, the relate to the church. Tripp avoids formulas, steps, and cliches by wrestling through real life examples. This is where Tripp's experience as a counselor brings the book into clear focus. He breaks down ordinary life and reveals the unspoken values that too often eclipse God and lead to despair. Then, he shows how to courageously press deeper into the gospel and restore Godly confidence.

Broken-Down House makes a great devotional. The chapters average ten pages in length, and they are accessible to a wide range of readers. It would probably be best to put the book into the hands of an adult Christian who feels the tensions of living in a sin-cursed world. It would also be useful for a married couple to work through as they align their lives, marriage, and family around God's values. Once again Tripp serves his readers with a thoughtful tome that equips Christians to live in light of the Gospel.

[Shelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a thought-provoking read, and he makes it impossible for you not to see yourself in the scenarios. Paul Tripp is very good at getting right to the heart, making things understandable, and helping us to move forward in our desire to change to be more like Christ and represent Him well in the world in which we now live. Very encouraging read!!!

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic set of reflections on what it means to live out the gospel in a broken world.

[Kathleen Negrete · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re looking for a book that explains “Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people?” and other related questions, this is the book for you. In the next month I’m going to purchase several more copies to give to my family members.

This is honestly one of the best “life books” I’ve ever read in my life. Paul David Tripp uses nothing but the Bible as a reference throughout the entirety of the book, and breaks down the biblical text to reveal solutions to some of the toughest situations out for any person in any stage of life.

If you’re a believer trying to figure out how to properly navigate through life, this would be a perfect addition to reading the Bible. If you’re not a Christian and wondering what being a true Christian ACTUALLY entails, then this is 100% for you. If you were a solid Christian and have strayed from the Word, this is a reminder of how you should be living in this world.

Bottom line is we are ALL sinners and this world we live in is BROKEN by sin. No matter how great our sin, no sin is “too big” for God and it is not too late to start fresh, whether you’re 10 or 92. God does have a plan for all of us on this world and will restore this broken-down house someday soon.

[Greg Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is often said that you cannot judge a book by its cover. The cover for “Broken-Down House” is one of the best looking covers I have ever seen. The creative team at Tobias’ Outerwear for Books has once again designed an eye-catcher. To have the inside of this book worthy of the outside, author Paul David Tripp had his work cut out for him.

Paul Tripp is the president of Paul Tripp Ministries and is on the pastoral staff of Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia. Previously he was a counselor at the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation (Glenside, PA) and is an Adjunct Professor at Westminster Theological Seminary (Philadelphia, PA). He is not to be confused with his brother Tedd Tripp, also an author of note.

It wasn’t only the cover that attracted me to this book. I had just read Tripp’s “War of Words” which I found particularly edifying. Soon, I will be using his “What Did You Expect” marriage curriculum in a Sunday School class. I appreciate his “down to earth” style. A style suited for a book on a sin cursed earth, or as he calls it a “Broken-Down House.” However, it is not just this world that is broken, we are too. This book encourages us to cooperate with what the Master Carpenter is doing to restore the brokenness.

This book is divided into two parts. Part One is “Knowing” (chapters 1-10) and Part Two is “Doing” (chapters 11-16).

What must we know? “Sin has left this world in a sorry condition. You see it everywhere you look” (p. 17). Because of this at “every point and every moment, your life is messier and more complicated than it really ought to be because everything is so much more difficult in such a terribly broken world” (p. 17). In spite of this, “God calls us to live productively in a world gone bad” (p. 21).

To live productively we must know where we are (chapter 2) and who we are (chapter 3). We also must understand God’s sovereignty (chapter 4) and our limitations (chapter 5). We must forsake human wisdom and trust God’s wisdom (chapter 6). We must be careful not to confuse “spirituality” with true conversion (chapter 7). We must focus on eternity (chapter 8), actively wait (chapter 9) and get angry at sin (chapter 10).

After knowing comes doing. According to Tripp, we should get involved in renewing this broken-down world (chapter 11). We need to pursue biblical community (chapter 12) and love others (chapter 13). We must celebrate grace (chapter 14) and see our total life as ministry (chapter 15). Finally, we should take steps to insure that we leave a strong spiritual legacy (chapter 16).

The key to this book is chapter three. Every Christian has two identities, sinner and saint (“child of grace”). As a sinner, we are not as good as we think we are. The Bible, however, serves as “the world’s best diagnostic tool” (p. 36). Even though we live in a broken-down world, our environment is not the problem. We are the problem. Our spouse, children, job, church, government, etc. is not our biggest problem. I am a sinner, that’s my biggest problem.

But we are more than sinners. As a child of grace we are better than we can imagine. “It is only the person who is deeply aware of his sin who gets excited about grace, and it is only grace that can give you the courage to humbly face the enormity of your sin” (p. 42). “Grace will put you in your place without ever putting you down” (p. 42). Where sin leaves us unable, grace enables us. Grace will inevitably and finally deliver us. We are loved by a “dissatisfied Redeemer” (p. 46).

One area that Tripp revisits is how this sinful condition affects marriage and family. It starts with “our western culture” concept of dating, which he likens to “used-car sales” (p. 25). The idea is to sell yourself. “The last thing you want is for the other person to really get to know you. Consequently, a man who doesn’t like to shop will suddenly be saying things like ‘Sure, honey, I would love to go to another twelve stores to look for those special shoes you have in mind.’ A woman who doesn’t appreciate sports will find herself volunteering to watch sports with her date and his buddies for hour upon endless grueling hour” (p. 25). The problem is, forgetting we live in a broken world, they each believe they have found the perfect mate. “Six months after the wedding, the wife is crying and saying, ‘This is not the man I married!’ But of course, he is. He is precisely the man she married. It’s the guy she dated who was the fake!” (p. 25-26).

Tripp believes that even Christians often marry out of love for self, not love for the other person. The one believes that the other will meet a need in his or her own life. “They think they love one another, but in the biblical sense they really don’t. What they love is what the other person appears to offer them. What they have actually married is their dream. In an act of narcissism, they have made a lifelong vow to an aspect of themselves” (p. 198).

Concerning how this broken down world affects child rearing, he writes, “It amazes me how often parents are actually irritated at the amount of parenting their children seem to need” (p. 194). “We are easily satisfied with raising children who learn to jump through our behavioral hoops, but don’t really have hearts for God” (p. 197).

The remedy to all this is what Tripp calls sharing our “Redeemer’s dissatisfaction.” Our “dissatisfied Redeemer” will “not rest until every microbe of sin has been eradicated from every cell of the hearts of every one of his children” (p. 196). We must be as dissatisfied as God is about our problems. We must be the tools He uses to restore this world gone bad.

Although this book is thoroughly biblical, the author could have used more scripture to support his propositions. As a premillennialist, I would have liked to see some reference to the second coming as the ultimate answer to a broken-down world. In spite of these reservations, I heartily recommend this book.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not a book that I could sit and read in one sitting because there is so much to chew on ... but bites every day will encourage your faith to grow. I suggest to read it like a devotional. Paul Tripp has a beautiful way with words and explains things in such a picturesque way. I highly recommend this book - this author.

[Sage · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a solid 3.5 but since I didn't have that option I went with a 4 as I did get a lot from the book. I found it very encouraging, reminding me not to worry that I'm imperfect, weak and don't have all the answers. God does, I am safe with him, he will never leave me and in him I am safe.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book for 2020.

[Chloe Lawrence · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good analogy, but probably could have been a pamphlet.

[Katie Deale · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very wide but as deep as a puddle. Not as thought provoking or convicting as Tripp’s other books.

[Claire Gutierrez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really encouraging book about having an eternal perspective even in a world that is so broken by sin and creates so many distractions. God has promised restoration and we should not forget that!

[Ginni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Actually more of a 4.5 because of the poetry.

[Bryan Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so full of wisdom for me. It reminds me of Jack Miller's line: "Cheer up you're a lot worse off than you think you are. But cheer up God's grace is bigger than you could ever imagine." So many valuable insights. Here were some of my favorites:

May 16, 2012

1. p36 - Productive living is always rooted in a humble sense of personal neediness. This neediness only comes when you begin to understand and accept what the Bible has to say about sin, and daily reach out for the help that can only be found through the Lord Jesus Christ.
2. p37 - No matter what I face in this fallen world, my greatest problem in life exists inside of me and not outside of me.
3. p47 - It is only when I humbly admit my identity as a sinner that I live as a consumer of the grace of God, and it is only when I am comforted by my identity as a child of grace that I will be able to look at the magnitude of my sin.
4. p61 - Isn’t it wonderful to know that no matter how difficult and confusing life may be, no matter how unexpected and alarming your circumstance may be, there is rest to be found in knowing the One who rules it all is your Father.
5. p65 - When we attempt to do God’s job and change someone’s heart, we only cause frustration to ourselves and pain to the other person.
6. p71 - Ultimately, you don’t get wisdom by experience and research; you get wisdom by relationship with Christ through the Holy Spirit and his Word.
7. p90 - True spirituality is not about doing a bunch of new things (although that will happen). True spirituality is about doing everything we do for a new purpose, and because of this new purpose, in a new way.
8. p114 - So much of our daily comfort comes from the fact that we are able to make sense of our circumstances. Being able to wrap our minds around a situation makes us feel as if we can control it, or at least that control is possible.
9. p124 - I am angry because I want to be in control . I am angry because people and things get in my way. So, I cry out for Your help. I seek your rescue, not that I would be anger free, but that I would be good and angry at the same time.
11. p159 - I was not created and then recreated to live on my own. I must admit to my constant tendency to minimize both the grace I have been given and the sin that is the reason I need it so. I must face the fact that many times I simply forget who I am.
12. p165 - The question is not, “When will we get what we are waiting for?” but “What will we become as we wait?”
13. p179 - A life-shaping celebration of God’s grace is only ever born out of one thing: a deep sense of profound personal need.
14. p215 - In our performance based culture we will be so obsessed with what we want to do that we will have little time to consider who we should be. But here’s the dilemma: unless we are what we are supposed to be, we cannot possibly do what we have been called to.
16. p223 - His loving face will always be toward you and, because of the cross, you will never see the back of his head.

[Mark Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been reading this book for the Emmanuel Book Group. The thrust of this book is first of all to convince us that the world we live in is not OK. We so regularly accept things going on as if they are fine and normal, without really engaging with the biblical view that we live in a world tainted by sin and not at all what it was created to be. More than that, we fail to see how this doctrine is evident in whatever we look at - the world shows signs of good created purpose but are frustrated or simply frustrating. We need to first of all realise that we live in a world that is being remade into God's purposes, but is still far from being right. Once we grasp that, Tripp encourages not to satisfy ourselves with accepting or surviving life, but by God's grace to seek to be part of the remaking of this world, hence the subtitle "Living productively in a world gone bad". Passivity is not an option, and we need to begin to think redemptively. This is a book that has challenged my view of the world around me and how God has called me to live in it, and I pray will fire me up to change in the light of it. Thoroughly recommended.

[Jeremy Winafeld · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would give it a 4.5

As I read through this book, I realized the depth that Paul David Tripp writes with.

He begins with the conflict of a broken down world...

And writes solutions on how we can become tools of restoration for it.

This book contained gems that I haven't seen in many books on how to live productively in a broken world.

An example would be acknowledging that we have limits and that only God can change hearts.

I found that the section regarding marriage problems was helpful, since my Parents are currently battling the thoughts of having a divorce.

Pros:
Very Encouraging and thought provoking
Easy Read

Cons:
I would have enjoyed maybe using parts of the house as a structure for the book (for example: the kitchen could stand for relationships that could be heated or put on hold or even a basement which could point to the problems that we want to hide in our broken down world)


What I love most is that the book presents a situation at each chapter and gives thought provoking encouraging statements to how we can become a helper in the restoration

I recommend this as an interesting read!

[Jason Kanz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished reading Paul Tripp's Broken Down House (2009), a book that addresses life in this world mired by sin. In the book, Tripp seeks to show how the world in which we live has been affected, infected by sinfulness and that it is only the grace of God that will provide any response to this sin. In his typical style, Tripp uses a number of engaging vignettes to make his points about the importance of living with grace in the knowledge of God's sovereignty. He specifically shows how living with a gospel mindset has implications for marriage, parenting, work, and so forth. It is a great worldview book that is made stronger by his inter-chapter poems. Not my favorite work of his, but definitely a good book.

[Catherine Gillespie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always get a lot out of Paul David Tripp’s books (if you haven’t read his book on marriage, stop now and go read it because it’s phenomenal) so I wasn’t surprised to find Broken-Down House: Living Productively in a World Gone Bad insightful and helpful. It took me a while to get into it because I thought the opening section on the house metaphor was a little long, but once I got to the meat of the book I gleaned a lot of great thoughts about theology and life. Tripp’s writing is deep and wise, but accessible, and his section on dealing with waiting through difficulties was hands down the best explanation of how to handle suffering that I have ever read.

{Read my full review here}

[Peter Krol · Rating 4 out of 5]

We live in a fallen, broken place. Sometimes it hurts. Sometimes I don't like it. I get tired, confused, disillusioned, and angry. Sometimes I just give up and become apathetic, so as to distance myself from the pain.

Yet our Redeemer is not yet satisfied. He is repairing this place and making it new, and he gives us the opportunity to join him. What a wonderful calling and reminder.

I don't like house projects. I don't enjoy remodeling. I don't sit around thinking about all the ways we could improve our home (like my wife does). But this book got me excited about God's widespread and perpetual remodeling process on earth. Highly recommended to all.

[IrenesBookReviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Broken-Down House, Living Productively in A World Gone Bad, is written by Paul David Tripp. This book uses the example of a broken down house and relates it our lives as Christians. It is the way the author writes this book that makes it so easy to understand and apply. I have heard this analogy before but this author does excellent at using examples and scripture to reiterate the principles he is teaching. You will learn how to live for Christ and be a productive Christian for Him here on earth.

I would like to thank ChristianReviewofBooks.com and the publisher for the copy of this book I enjoyed reading. I gave an honest review based solely on my opinion of what I read.

[Darrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first Paul Tripp book I've read...I'll be looking for more now.Honestly, the title wasn't a strong draw for me but once he set up the analogy you see that it's a perfect choice.

A line from the movie "Apollo 13" kept coming to mind. As engineers chatter about all that's not working on the crippled spacecraft, the flight director cuts them off, demanding to know what DOES work. Christians live in a fallen, sinful world that is not our home, yet this is our temporary home. Tripp lays out the basics of what we should expect here, both from the world and from ourselves, and then gives solid advice and direction on how we can make a difference.

An excellent read.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually read this book years ago and thought it was excellent. Paul David Tripp does not sugar coat anything and addresses behaviors and topics I have questioned often. This book gave me realistic answers and provided tools to work with in choosing how to react in situations. I recently recommended this book to someone so I pulled it back off the bookshelf, dusted it off and began reading it again. It is full of highlights and comments I added. I realize this is one of those books you should re-read now and then. It helps me keep things in perspective.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tripp uses the metaphor of a broken house. Sin has ravaged it (the world). The theme of the book is how to live a productive life in a world that is broken down. God is in the business of restoration and He has chosen us to be His tools. He encourages us to find our identity in Christ. Our spirituality is devotion to Christ and serving Him daily.
There are many good ideas and great teaching in the book.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would have given it four stars, but it had a lot of stories. For many people that is probably a plus, but I am not big on that style of writing. I also found myself coming away with more unanswered questions than answered, which is probably to be expected, but I still found it disappointing. I read it as part of a ladies group and they all liked it a lot more than I did, so odds are you would too.

[Jason Grubbs · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author made an interesting analogy to life here in a fallen world being like living in a broken down house under repair. He challenged the reader to restore the fallen world by their good works. I am not so sure I agree with all the philosophy of this book, but Tripp is an inspiring writer. I enjoyed his book "Dangerous Calling" much more than this one.

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yes we are broken down because of sin. But....grace is at work. God is making us Christlike! Others may see a broken down house, but God sees Christ in us. We do have this hope of glory and we can share our hope with each other too. Sometimes the power of God's grace is so much more than I can wrap my head around.