GOD WON'T DO YOUR JOB IN THE PURSUIT OF HOLINESS But are you trying to do His? We never outgrow our need for grace. It is every bit as important for growing spiritually as it is for becoming a Christian. But what role does grace play when you are working out your faith? How does it fit in with striving after holiness?
Jerry Bridges' book The Discipline of Grace tackles these questions. "The pursuit of holiness," writes Bridges, "must be anchored in the grace of God; otherwise it is doomed to failure." Grace is at the heart of the gospel, and without a clear understanding of the gospel and grace it's easy for us to slip into legalism and a performance-based lifestyle that bears little resemblance to what the gospel offers us. What we often fail to grasp is that it is also God's grace that disciplines us and directs us toward holiness. Discipline, far from being a harsh, "pull yourself up by the bootstraps" requirement, is a natural outworking of God's gracious nature. Understanding this is an important key to true spiritual growth.
This study guide is designed to be used with the book or by itself. It will help you unlock the mystery of what God does in bringing you to maturity in Christ and help you understand what your responsibility is. Each session in the guide contains an excerpt from the book along with probing questions for personal study and group discussion.
If you've ever struggled with what your role is and what role God takes in your growth as a Christian, this material will provide comfort and insight as you learn to rest in Christ while vigorously pursuing a life of holiness.
