R. Kent Hughes. Disciplines of a Godly Man. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, January 10th 2006. 304 pp.
4 out of 5
Purchase: Westminster |Amazon
Are you looking for a book on biblical manhood? By biblical manhood I want to emphasize “biblical,” and not something weird that’s all about beating one’s chest and following after some kind of cultural stereotype of what a man should be. If so this book is one you should consider picking up and reading; or purchasing for someone as a gift. This is a Christian classic that many in my church have read through and used extensively by previous pastors before me. My most recent reading of this book was in the last two years as I slowly went over it with some of the high school young men in my church.
After the introduction the book that talks about the importance of discipline of godliness author R. Kent Hughes goes over seventeen disciplines that a godly man should cultivate as a Christian man. These disciplines are grouped under four heading with the first being relationships, second being the soul, third being character and fourth being ministry. Some of the disciplines include purity, marriage, and the discipline of the mind, discipline of devotion, integrity, work and discipline of giving and discipline of ministry. The final chapter is about the relationship of God’s grace to discipline which I kind of wished was the first chapter of the book instead of the end.
Each chapter looks at the discipline being discussed by follow by a section titled “Food for Thought” that has great discussion questions and there’s also an application/response section following that.
Among my favorite chapters in the book in clue the chapter on fatherhood, work, church and witness. I felt the author’s most passionate chapter was the chapter on witnessing and I was quite encouraged by the author’s own example of making the most out of evangelistic opportunities. While I enjoyed the chapter on fatherhood is because today we have a crisis in society of fathers not being the fathers God has called them to be. Thee chapter on prayer was also personally convicting and edifying as that’s something I can work on more to improve.
The appendix of the book should not be skipped over by the readers as there’s incredible resources in these pages. For instance there’s various Bible reading plans presented to the readers, a personal reading survey in which Kent Hughes asks various Christian leaders what are their five favorite books (secular or sacred) and what’s their spiritual ones that’s their favorite, etc.
The Domain for Truth 
Thanks for the excellent review. Very helpful.
absolutely right Michael
This looks like a good book. Thanks for the review! Men are bludgeoned into passivism by society and I’m grateful for a resource like this that upholds God’s plan for Christian men.
This has helped many of our church guys for decades and I read this both as a young man being discipled by my pastor and also now as a pastor discipling young men. I saw online there’s an updated version this year which Is good since there’s a lot of outdated references lol. One thing that disturbed me was when the author asked many Christian leaders what is their favorite books beside the Bible it’s astounding how many liked CS Lewis…
Thanks for the additional info about the book. Sad to see so many are enamored with C.S. Lewis. I think there’s a “group think” herd mentality in operation went it comes to Lewis. Everybody want to be associated with the witty Oxford academician/intellectual without actually examining his theology. Lewis disqualifies himself by his belief in purgatory, belief in auricular confession, ecumenism with Rome, denial of penal substitutionary atonement, and Universalism. He had more beliefs in common with the pope than Bible-believing evangelicals. Sorry. It doesn’t take much to get me revved up about evangelicals’ infatuation with Lewis.
Interesting book, Jim! This is a good guidance resource to read and to recommend to my nephews. I’ll save this info for now. Thank you for the review. GOD bless!
Thanks this is something I would recommend to young men like your nephews. If you were In the States I would offer to even order you a copy as I have done with some of the people on WordPress in the past. Thank you also for taking the time to read this review and commenting brother!
You’re welcome and thank you too, Jim. Yes, we do have a different set/format of zip codes. Thank you for the thought.
I like how there’s a study guide within the book. Does sound really good for discipleship.
oh yes. well said Shruti
Thank you.
You’re welcome and thank you for reading this review Bonnie! Hope you have a blessed upcoming week Maw Maw!
To you also.
I just purchased it on Amazon. I shoul
I should have started this book in the beginning of the quarantine. Better late than never!
Such a great book! I read it a couple of years ago:)
Thank you for sharing your review Mitchell
Thanks for this review, Jim. Sounds like a book anyone could learn from.
Amazing post.
Really loved it how the topic is explained in a simple and a lucid way.
Keep writing and inspiring us.
By the way i write as well.
Check me out.
https://unfcukwithable.wordpress.com/2020/06/05/how-to-overcome-fear-of-failure/