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So, You Want To Be Like Christ?: Eight Essentials to Get You There

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Inspired by the acts of sacrifice and discipline exemplified by the D-Day generation as well as the current generation of young American soldiers, many Christians today are looking for an obedient, disciplined approach to faith. This user-friendly study guides readers toward a greater understanding of eight spiritual disciplines of the Christian faith-prayer, humility, self-control, sacrifice, submission, solitude, silence, and hope. Each chapter defines and discusses the concept, then provides interactive assignments and suggestions for further study, as well as content summaries and outlines that aid in retention. Activities can be revisited again and again for a new outlook or just for a periodic refresher. Perfect for individual or group or family study, So, You Want to be Like Christ? is just right for anyone desiring to delve deeper into the fundamental elements of Christian life, and essential for all who hunger for authentic faith experiences. It is destined to be a classic text on the practice of Christianity.

208 pages, Paperback

Published March 4, 2007

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About the author

Charles R. Swindoll

965 books835 followers
Charles Swindoll has devoted over four decades to two passions: an unwavering commitment to the practical communication and application of God's Word, and an untiring devotion to seeing lives transformed by God's grace. Chuck graduated magna cum laude from Dallas Theological Seminary and has since been honored with four doctorates. For his teaching on Insight for Living, he has received the Program of the Year award and the Hall of Fame award from the National Religious Broadcasters as well as multiple book awards.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
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May 7, 2012
A number of years ago, I was asked to teach a class on Spiritual Disciplines. I used this book and "A Celebration of Discipline" by Richard Foster. Both books were indispensable in preparing for this class. Every Christian needs to read this book.
Profile Image for Stacy Milacek.
114 reviews1 follower
September 3, 2008
Swindoll is one of Christianities great teachers. He spells out 8 things that Christians need to strive for, not as someone who has reached the goal, but as someone who is still working to be like Christ. A great read for anyone who really wants to know what Christianity, not religion, is.
Profile Image for Tim Chavel.
249 reviews79 followers
June 8, 2014
This a great book for those who wish to learn more about being like Christ. I will let the following quotes from the book speak for itself. I trust they will be a blessing to many.

Christian [godliness] is not moralistic, for it is rooted in the Christ event (1 Timothy 3:16). It is not just outward worship, nor a mere concept of God, nor a virtue, nor an ideal. Over against a [Gnostic philosophy of self-deprivation] that regards creation as bad … true [godliness], born of faith, covers everyday conduct in honoring God as Creator and Redeemer, even though it may expect persecution from the very orders of God, which it respects. ~ Anonymous Scholar

A “godly” person is one who ceases to be self-centered in order to become God-centered. ~ Charles Swindoll

What sets Christian spiritual activity apart from all other religions is that they have knowledge of Christ as their goal; not moral perfection (although you will become more moral), not tranquility 9although your life will be remarkably more peaceful). And because of the grace you have in Christ, the disciplines will do nothing to make you more accepted by the Father. You cannot be more accepted than you already are in Christ, since He has already done it all for you! ~ Charles Swindoll

[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him – that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding [the wonders of His person] more strongly and more clearly, and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers]; and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death. ~Philippians 3:10, The Amplified Bible, Expanded Edition “My determined purpose [perhaps Paul means ‘my focus’] is that I may know Him. ~ Charles Swindoll

When you pray, pray so that you may know Him. When you seek to simplify, do it as a means of knowing Him more. When you surrender, or behave with humility or sacrifice, do it with the sole purpose in mind to know Him. ~ Charles Swindoll

So, you want to be like Christ? Me too. But that kind of godliness won’t just happen by hanging around a church or thinking lofty thoughts three or four times a day or learning a few verses of Scripture. It will take more – much more. Disciplining ourselves will require the same kind of focused thinking and living that our Master modeled during His brief life on earth. ~ Charles Swindoll

Distance from God is a frightening thing. God will never adjust His agenda to fit ours. He will not speed His pace to catch up with ours; we need to slow our pace in order to recover our walk with Him. God will not scream and shout over the noisy clamor; He expects us to seek quietness, where His still, small voice can be heard again. God will not work within the framework of our complicated schedules; we must adapt to His style. We need to conform to His way if our lives are to be characterized by the all-encompassing word godliness. ~ Charles Swindoll

God often does His best work in us when He catches us by surprise and introduces a change that is completely against our own desire. ~ Charles Swindoll

Discipline is training that corrects and perfects our mental faculties or molds our moral character. Discipline is control gained by enforced obedience. It is the deliberate cultivation of inner order. ~ Charles Swindoll

People who are close to God cultivate a personal intimacy with Him like a good gardener cultivates beautiful flowers. ~ Charles Swindoll

Our great tendency in this age is to increase our speed, to run faster, even in the Christian life. In the process our walk with God stays shallow, and our tank runs low on fumes. Intimacy offers a full tank of fuel that can only be found by pulling up closer to God, which requires taking necessary time and going to the effort to make that happen. ~ Charles Swindoll

One ship drives east and another drives west
With the selfsame winds that blow.
‘Tis the set of the sails
And not the gales
Which tells us the way to go.
Like the winds of the sea are the ways of fate,
As we voyage along through life:
‘Tis the set of a soul
That decides its goal,
And not the calm or the strife. ~Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Christlikeness is a journey, not a destination. The joy is in the journey. ~ Charles Swindoll

Next time you’re faced with a credit-purchase decision, wait. Don’t say no necessarily. Just wait. I challenge you to present your need to the Lord before presenting it to a bank, and see what He does with it. ~ Charles Swindoll

Many seducers clutter the simple message of the gospel with legalistic additions, with convoluted attempts to legitimize moral compromise, and with psychological theories that turn churches into relational support groups instead of houses of worship. ~ Charles Swindoll

May not the inadequacy of much of our spiritual experience be traced back to our habit of skipping through the corridors of the Kingdom like children in the market place, chattering about everything, but pausing to learn the value of nothing. ~A.W. Tozer

Former CBS anchor Dan Rather found himself unprepared for a television interview with Mother Teresa several years ago. Ron Mehl described the newsman’s encounter this way:
Somehow, all of his standard approaches and formula questions were inadequate for the task, and the little nun from Calcutta, sitting beside him so sweetly and tranquilly, didn’t seem inclined to make his task easier.
“When you pray,” asked Rather, “what do you say to God?”
“I don’t say anything,” she replied. “I listen.”
Rather tried another tack. “Well, okay … when God speaks to you, then, what does He say?”
“He doesn’t say anything. He listens.”
Rather looked bewildered. For an instant, he didn’t know what to say.
“And if you don’t understand that,” Mother Teresa added, “I can’t explain it to you.”


I do not believe anyone can ever become a deep person without stillness and silence. ~ Charles Swindoll

When grace changes the heart, submission out of fear changes to submission out of love, and true humility is born. ~William Hendriksen

Focusing intently on Christ naturally results in a lifestyle of increasingly greater selflessness. And it has another benefit. Gazing on Christ gives us greater ability to look past life’s trials and remain calm in the midst of what others would call chaos. ~ Charles Swindoll

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face;
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace. ~Helen H. Lemmel

I am convinced that wise planning is good. But plans, like material possessions, must always be held loosely. Yes – always! Plan wisely, but be ready for God to rearrange things and take you along paths that may feel dangerous to you. Don’t sweat it; He knows what He’s doing. And He isn’t obligated to inform you … or request permission to upset your neat little agenda! ~ Charles Swindoll

Part of the thrill of guiding children into adulthood is the release. But it’s also a parent’s greatest act of surrender. Still, you have to let them go. Start now. ~ Charles Swindoll

Peter Marshall, the late chaplain of the United States Senate, concluded a message on anxiety titled, “Sin in the Present Tense,” with this prayer. I leave it with you to make it your prayer today (~ Charles Swindoll)
“Forgive us, O God, for the doubting suspicion with which we regard the heart of God.
We have faith in checks and banks, in trains and airplanes, in cooks, and in strangers who drive us in cabs. Forgive us for our stupidity, that we have faith in people whom we do not know and are so reluctant to have faith in Thee who knowest us altogether.
We are always striving to find a complicated way through life when Thou hast a plan, and we refuse to walk in it. So many of our troubles we bring on ourselves. How silly we are.
Wilt Thou give to us that faith that we can deposit in the bank of Thy love, so that we may receive the dividends and interest that Thou art so willing to give us. We ask it all in the lovely name of Jesus, Our Savior.”

Prayer is listening as well as speaking, receiving as well as asking; and its deepest mood is friendship held in reverence. So the daily prayer should end as it begins – in adoration. ~George A. Buttrick

Prayer is not a natural response; it’s a Spirit response. If we fail to cultivate this discipline, prayer winds up being our last resort rather than our first response. ~Charles Swindoll

It’s not our church; it’s God’s – it’s not our responsibility to run it! ~Charles Swindoll

When each elder or pastor has his will aligned with the Lord’s, we waste no time arguing for our own. Charles Swindoll

Humility must always be the portion of any man who receives acclaim earned in the blood of his followers and the sacrifices of his friends. ~Dwight D. Eisenhower

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. ~Jim Elliot

We know that it was no accident. God performs all things according to the counsel of His own will. The real issues at stake on January 8, 1956, were very far greater than those immediately involved five young men and their families, or this small tribe of naked “savages.” Letters from many countries have told of God’s dealings with hundreds of men and women, through the examples of five who believed literally that “the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. ~Elisabeth Elliot (the wife of one of the men that was killed on the mission field; she stayed and ministered to those same ones who killed her husband)
Profile Image for Tammy.
1 review
January 27, 2014
Great book for all believers. As Christians, the temptation exists to allow for church attendance and its activities to substitute for a personal relationship with Christ. Charles Swindoll quotes Eugene Peterson:

"We live in a society that tries to diminish us to the level of the antheap so that we scurry mindlessly, getting and consuming. It is essential to take counteraction...Every one of us needs to be stretched to live at our best, awakened out of dull moral habits, shaken out of petty and trivial busy-work."

For a relationship with Christ and the desire to be like Him, the book is a great call back to Intimacy, simplicity, silence, surrender, prayer, humility, self-control & sacrifice. As we practice those, we are brought closer to Christ, become more like Him, and then become better servants & better church members.
Profile Image for Ryand Escuban.
11 reviews
July 18, 2024
The eight essentials that Swindoll mentions aren't necessary the only essentials in a Christian walk, rather He emphasizes eight fundamental and foundational aspects a Christian should have as a Christian desires to know Christ and be like Him. A Christian life is a daily discipline in which we are to strive for holiness in every aspect of our lives, having the Spirit guiding us to conform us to the image of the Son. Definitely recommend it, and gives great insight on a lifestyle of a Christian.
Profile Image for Ramarie.
566 reviews
July 13, 2014
Divided into 8 chapters, this book delves into spiritual disciplines. The first four have to do with getting rid of something; there's intimacy, simplicity, silence & solitude and surrender. The last four have to do with authenticity in spiritual walk, and those are prayer, humility, self-control and sacrifice. Swindoll's books are always so readable and real, it's a pleasure to learn from him.
Profile Image for Paul Dawn Jr..
12 reviews9 followers
February 29, 2012
This book is one that I have read at least yearly and every time I come away strengthen in my walk with the Lord.

May need to get a new copy, running out of margins for notes.

Indeed a great read.

The book was a gift to me in 2005 by Coach Hogan, a friend & brother-in-Lord, wrote post about this event!
Profile Image for Beth.
152 reviews
March 25, 2008
I thought this was a decent book. Some of Swindoll's insights are helpful and interesting, others are somewhat obvious or repetitive. The general goal of the book was met, though it could have been more concise in parts. Overall, I enjoyed it. But I recommend borrowing not buying.
Profile Image for Robin.
10 reviews1 follower
August 20, 2008
An excellent book. I had to read it in small chunks so that I could digest it and try to apply it to my life. God seemed to be working on me through this book and the Bible, for as I was doing my Bible daily readings there were so many connections between the two.
Profile Image for Stephen Logan.
25 reviews
May 11, 2018
When I read a book by Chuck Swindoll, I feel like he's right there with me telling it to me. This book is just another well written book, in the "Swindoll" style. You will enjoy it and you will advance in your desire to be more like Christ.
13 reviews
January 9, 2008
Our Church is doing this book as a bible study we are doing a chapter a week. It is loaded with a lot of information and can not be read like other books!
Profile Image for Paul Gunderson.
19 reviews
October 1, 2009
great book with allot of relevant action points. If applied to your life your relationship with God and others will grow in astounding ways
14 reviews1 follower
March 20, 2010
God wants to mould us to Christ-likeness.
Profile Image for Kevin Mulligan.
9 reviews1 follower
August 13, 2013
Simply put a book that will change your life forever as you read it over and over and practice the disciplines the author presents.
Profile Image for John.
20 reviews
December 19, 2013
A great book for new believers and also those who are already in the course of their spiritual journey. This book will change your habits in spiritual disciplines. A must read for everyone.
Profile Image for Gail.
102 reviews3 followers
January 1, 2015
I used this book to create lessons for my adult Sunday School Class.
Profile Image for Iris Long.
Author 5 books13 followers
May 21, 2016
Very insightful and thought provoking. Much truth to be absorbed.
Profile Image for Jennifer Dunbar.
6 reviews2 followers
March 9, 2017
Solid outlines of Spiritual Disciplines, enjoyed. Short but rich.
Profile Image for Brittany Rust.
Author 16 books8 followers
March 25, 2019
A must have in your spiritual toolbox! I read it once a year!
Profile Image for Mason Frierson.
484 reviews36 followers
June 20, 2023
I think this is the first book I have ever read from Swindoll. I just finished it reading a few minutes ago and I have come to the conclusion that this is a book that should be part of every Christian's personal library. Though he mentions "Eight Essentials To Get You There" (there meaning to be like Christ), I think of these essentials as selective ones and not as exhaustive. He is a great writer and this book flows easily from topic to topic. It covers these essentials in a brilliant, straight-forward manner that will make the reader examine his/her own life in contrast with that of Christ.

The only thought I disagree with in this book is found on page 63 where Swindoll states the following: "I do not believe that people today receive audible instructions from God, receiving them directly from somewhere within their spirits. Our only reliable source of communication from God is the sixty-six books of the Bible." If this is so, and if I am understanding correctly what Swindoll is stating, then there are three problems with this assumption or belief; 1) If the Bible is the only reliable source of communication from God to His people, then why did God Himself "gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,"? 2) If the Bible is the only reliable source of communication from God, what would happen when God sends an angel with a message for a particular person as He sent an angel to Cornelius? 3) If the Bible is the only reliable source of communication from God, are we not putting God in a box by refusing to accept that He can choose to speak audibly to whosoever He desires at the time and place of His choosing? By accepting the belief that God cannot audibly speak to His people, are we not stripping Him of His sovereignty? I hope this is not the case. Other than my disagreement mentioned above, I feel this is a great book for helping us to want to be like Christ.
Profile Image for Jeff Bobin.
928 reviews13 followers
June 25, 2023
Swindoll has a way of taking something complex and making it seem so simple. With practical insightful direction on how to experience the Holy Spirit and allow it to use you for the good of the Kingdom there is much to explore here.

Well worth the read for those looking to be challenged and want to grow in their faith in Jesus and allow the Holy Spirit to direct their lives.
4 reviews
November 19, 2022
Extremely insightful. I’d recommend to any Christian wanting to have a deeper understanding of faith.
Profile Image for Artem Kuzmych.
2 reviews5 followers
September 29, 2023
It is an excellent book for those who want to understand the core concepts of Christian virtues and how to apply them in everyday life based on the ultimate human example - Jesus Christ.
1 review
February 6, 2025
This was one of my favorite books. I plan to reread it someday. It would be a great read for a new believer.
Profile Image for Matthew Gasperoni.
169 reviews4 followers
November 29, 2024
Solid book on spiritual disciplines that can strengthen both the new believer and those who have been walking with the LORD for a while. Challenging and encouraging alike, and very well written - good teacher.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews

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