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The Glorious Pursuit: Embracing the Virtues of Christ
The Glorious Pursuit examines how you can experience the long-term change that comes from following Jesus and reveal Him in how you act toward others. By examining the virtues of Christ, you'll be introduced to a new way of experiencing Him that is authentic and gives meaning that lasts.
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
12 people are currently reading
275 people want to read
About the author
Gary L. Thomas
61 books644 followersGary Thomas is a bestselling author and international speaker whose ministry brings people closer to Christ and closer to others. He unites the study of Scripture, church history, and the Christian classics to foster spiritual growth and deeper relationships within the Christian community.
Gary is the author of 20 books, including "Sacred Marriage" and "Cherish", that together have sold over two million copies, have been translated into more than a dozen languages, and won numerous awards . His writings have established him as a thought-leader in the areas of marriage, parenting, and spiritual formation.
Gary holds a B.A. in English Literature from Western Washington University, an MA degree in systematic theology from Regent College (Vancouver, BC), and an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Western Seminary (Portland, OR).
He serves on the teaching team (and as Writer in Residence) at Second Baptist Church, Houston—a congregation with six campuses and 70,000 members—and is an adjunct faculty member at Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon and Houston Theological Seminary in Houston Texas.
Gary’s speaking ministry has led him to speak in 49 states and nine different countries, and on numerous national television and radio programs, including multiple appearances on Focus on the Family and Family Life Today. Gary’s interviews on Focus on the Family have been chosen among the “Best of 2013,” “Best of 2014” and “Best of 2017.” Gary is a lifelong advocate of using the Christian classics to bring people closer to Christ.
Gary enjoys running in his spare time and has completed 14 marathons, including the Boston Marathon three times. He and his wife Lisa have been married for 35 years and they have three adult children and the smartest, cutest, most adorable granddaughter on the planet.
Gary Thomas – Bringing people closer to Christ and closer to others.
Gary is the author of 20 books, including "Sacred Marriage" and "Cherish", that together have sold over two million copies, have been translated into more than a dozen languages, and won numerous awards . His writings have established him as a thought-leader in the areas of marriage, parenting, and spiritual formation.
Gary holds a B.A. in English Literature from Western Washington University, an MA degree in systematic theology from Regent College (Vancouver, BC), and an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Western Seminary (Portland, OR).
He serves on the teaching team (and as Writer in Residence) at Second Baptist Church, Houston—a congregation with six campuses and 70,000 members—and is an adjunct faculty member at Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon and Houston Theological Seminary in Houston Texas.
Gary’s speaking ministry has led him to speak in 49 states and nine different countries, and on numerous national television and radio programs, including multiple appearances on Focus on the Family and Family Life Today. Gary’s interviews on Focus on the Family have been chosen among the “Best of 2013,” “Best of 2014” and “Best of 2017.” Gary is a lifelong advocate of using the Christian classics to bring people closer to Christ.
Gary enjoys running in his spare time and has completed 14 marathons, including the Boston Marathon three times. He and his wife Lisa have been married for 35 years and they have three adult children and the smartest, cutest, most adorable granddaughter on the planet.
Gary Thomas – Bringing people closer to Christ and closer to others.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
March 1, 2025
I really appreciated this book. Solid, practical thoughts and wisdom on the virtues of Christ.
One thing that especially stood out to me was in the chapter on "Gentleness": the author reminded us that this applies in being gentle with ourselves, using an example of mentally beating himself up for watching some TV after a long day. As an over-ambitious person who feels guilty for watching a few YouTube videos after a long day of work, I needed to hear this. I liked how he thought to look at a traditionally outward virtue from an inward perspective.
This is one example of the way the book looked at virtues we may be very familiar with from a new perspective and made them applicable to our day and age.
One thing that especially stood out to me was in the chapter on "Gentleness": the author reminded us that this applies in being gentle with ourselves, using an example of mentally beating himself up for watching some TV after a long day. As an over-ambitious person who feels guilty for watching a few YouTube videos after a long day of work, I needed to hear this. I liked how he thought to look at a traditionally outward virtue from an inward perspective.
This is one example of the way the book looked at virtues we may be very familiar with from a new perspective and made them applicable to our day and age.
May 8, 2023
This is an excellent source for practical application of the virtues of Christ. I listened to the audiobook read by the author himself, and I highly recommend it. His basic premises are that change can happen and that these virtues are to be practiced not to become. The list of virtues in this book is not exhaustive but a good beginning point. This book is definitely one to reread or relisten to on a regular basis.
December 28, 2017
Thomas has linked spiritual growth with pursuing the characteristics/virtues of Christlikeness. This is an easy to read, insightful book for every Christian to read through occasionally as the years pass.
February 21, 2020
Amazing.
January 10, 2014
This book was just incredible.
The author says in his Afterword that writing this book changed his life and was one of the greatest spiritual journeys of his life. Well i can say that I'm glad he wrote this, as he brought me along one of my greatest spiritual growth periods of my life.
Thomas is an incredibly passionate writer. And he is very gentle in his approach. not normally my style, but perhaps that's why I needed to read this book. His two- part chapter on the virtue of humility was perhaps my favorite. I felt like I ran a marathon after reading it, because of how spiritually exhausting it was.
I highly recommend this book for anyone seeking to become more Christlike. I especially recommend this to people who are suffering in any capacity. I've found that much relational suffering is due to our own pride, just as the author points out
5 stars
The author says in his Afterword that writing this book changed his life and was one of the greatest spiritual journeys of his life. Well i can say that I'm glad he wrote this, as he brought me along one of my greatest spiritual growth periods of my life.
Thomas is an incredibly passionate writer. And he is very gentle in his approach. not normally my style, but perhaps that's why I needed to read this book. His two- part chapter on the virtue of humility was perhaps my favorite. I felt like I ran a marathon after reading it, because of how spiritually exhausting it was.
I highly recommend this book for anyone seeking to become more Christlike. I especially recommend this to people who are suffering in any capacity. I've found that much relational suffering is due to our own pride, just as the author points out
5 stars
April 4, 2018
This years battle with the "Funk Monster", the winter blahs, the whatever they call it seasonal disorder has been especially brutal, and this book proved to be a powerful lifeline. The author guides you through a wonderful practice of focusing on the virtues of Christ such that you start living more like Christ. So for me, for now, it was enough to allow me to survive another winter. For another, or for me in a different season, I believe this could guide someone from merely surviving to thriving. Highly recommend this read.
November 12, 2022
am I supposed to be rating a Christian book HAHAHA
the content and lessons are valuable but sometimes it’s repetitive; i guess in Christian teaching everything really does boil down to just trusting God and loving God so I suppose the repetitiveness is expected. writing style was not my taste and it felt boring a lot of the time but at the end of the day I learned things that I know will make me a better Christian so I still give a thumbs up for this book.
Some virtues I noted I need to work on:
generosity
gentleness
fortitude
the content and lessons are valuable but sometimes it’s repetitive; i guess in Christian teaching everything really does boil down to just trusting God and loving God so I suppose the repetitiveness is expected. writing style was not my taste and it felt boring a lot of the time but at the end of the day I learned things that I know will make me a better Christian so I still give a thumbs up for this book.
Some virtues I noted I need to work on:
generosity
gentleness
fortitude
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 14, 2023
Sanctification
February 29, 2024
This book was phenomenal and worth reading-reading in the future. I was taking notes and adding to my prayers with every chapter. Gary Thomas is excellent at explaining Scripture.
July 14, 2015
I have now read three books by Gary Thomas and I feel like I have the identical experience with each one. I'm skeptical when I pick the book up(the last 2 have been assigned to me), but then as I read I realize I'm enjoying it more than my cynicism would allow. The Glorious Pursuit sees Thomas walk readers through fourteen virtues of Christ in order to experience a deeper relationship with Christ.
Thomas' greatest strength is his storytelling. He excels at exposing illustrations in seemingly everything he does. Whether he's traveling, at home with family or in books and movies, it feels like there's always a nugget of truth or a challenge in the stories he tells.
One question I have is why 14 virtues? Apparently this list came from John Climacus, who Thomas quotes heavily in the book. I see them all in scripture, but am less sure that they are all equally represented or all deserve full chapters. It's a small point. The larger frustration I had was it was light on scripture. For someone like Thomas who is especially good at noticing truth in life, I wanted to see more of that when he interacted with the Bible. I'm also less of a fan of the mystics, but if you are, then you'll probably enjoy seeing that here and in his other books.
Personally, this book was helpful to me as I read through some of the virtues that I tend to overlook. Particularly helpful were the chapters on humility and thankfulness.
Thomas' greatest strength is his storytelling. He excels at exposing illustrations in seemingly everything he does. Whether he's traveling, at home with family or in books and movies, it feels like there's always a nugget of truth or a challenge in the stories he tells.
One question I have is why 14 virtues? Apparently this list came from John Climacus, who Thomas quotes heavily in the book. I see them all in scripture, but am less sure that they are all equally represented or all deserve full chapters. It's a small point. The larger frustration I had was it was light on scripture. For someone like Thomas who is especially good at noticing truth in life, I wanted to see more of that when he interacted with the Bible. I'm also less of a fan of the mystics, but if you are, then you'll probably enjoy seeing that here and in his other books.
Personally, this book was helpful to me as I read through some of the virtues that I tend to overlook. Particularly helpful were the chapters on humility and thankfulness.
April 2, 2012
I have appreciated Gary Thomas's writing in the past and may not have given this book a fair shake. I started this book midstream, in a church small group with his discussion of Love. I was underwhelmed. After love, we jumped around a bit and I finished the book on my own. Some helpful discussions and will happily hold on to this book, but I think I have better books on the virtues than this and think his appropriation of the Christian tradition is a little limited.
January 8, 2016
Filled with practical tips and suggestions for practicing Christian virtues, Mr. Thomas makes it all seem so doable. Though difficult to live out the virtues, he writes in a way that makes it seem possible rather than an impossible stretch like some writers are wont to do. This book reads easily and smoothly and is worth visiting again down the road.
April 29, 2009
this is a transformative book.
August 11, 2011
Hands down, the best book I've read on spiritual disciplines and virtues. Very pleased.
July 29, 2012
One of my FAVORITES! A Must Read!
April 5, 2019
Incredible. This will be my go-to recommendation for a book on spiritual formation.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews