Real Change

Becoming More Like Jesus in Everyday Life

This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.
Buy on Amazon Buy on BN.com Buy on Bookshop.org
*This page contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.
Send NetGalley books directly to your Kindle or Kindle app

1
To read on a Kindle or Kindle app, please add kindle@netgalley.com as an approved email address to receive files in your Amazon account. Click here for step-by-step instructions.
2
Also find your Kindle email address within your Amazon account, and enter it here.
Pub Date 22 Oct 2018 | Archive Date 23 Feb 2019

Talking about this book? Use #RealChange #NetGalley. More hashtag tips!


Description

Every honest Christian knows the need for change. But how to get there? How do you move forward from struggles both big and small? And how does our faith in God impact our everyday thoughts, feelings, and actions? This six-session small group resource gives participants an opportunity to reflect on one particular area in their lives and then to learn more about how God changes us to become more like Jesus. All of us struggle to love God and those around us, but God has promised to keep working on us. And God always keeps his promises. The change that his gospel produces will make your life and your relationships truly beautiful. This self-contained resource with Leader’s Notes will encourage small group participants to understand and apply a biblical view of change to their lives and relationships.


Real Change: Becoming More Like Jesus in Everyday Life is based on the CCEF model of change from David Powlison’s course, Dynamics of Biblical Change. The easy-to-use six lesson format and included leader’s guide encourages participants toward an honest discussion of their own struggles while providing an understanding of how a relationship with Christ brings change. Topics addressed include understanding how we typically respond to trouble, how the cross of Christ brings comfort, help, and change, and how we can grow to be like Christ in the hardest circumstances.

Every honest Christian knows the need for change. But how to get there? How do you move forward from struggles both big and small? And how does our faith in God impact our everyday thoughts...


Advance Praise

"Real Change is an excellent short course for applying the truth of the Bible to the struggles of everyday life. Not only is it thoroughly Biblical in its content, it is inescapably applied to the ordinary growth of the Christian life. If you want to be challenged to grow in godliness, it's a terrific resource."

-Dan Wells, Vicar of Holy Trinity Church, Richmond, UK


"Do you have a tricky colleague at work? Are you worrying about Christmas with the family? Real Change enables you to connect the gospel of Jesus Christ to the real situations in your life. To see how your heart is responding to your situation, to learn what God is teaching you through your circumstances and to interact with Him as He changes you."

-Zena Schofield, Biblical Counselling Coordinator, Beeston Free Church; consultant psychiatrist, National Health Service


"Having taken CCEF's Dynamics of Biblical Change course as a student and having it taught several times as a Recitation Instructor for CCEF and for our church, I've long known that the material is tremendously beneficial for helping people know the God of the Bible better and understand how biblical change works. However, answering the question, 'how do we get this information more widely disseminated among the people at our church‰, especially through our small groups?' has been elusive to me. Real Change is just the resource I've been looking for! Andrew Nichols and Helen Thorne have created an effective tool for introducing more people to the basics of how the process of being changed more and more into the image of Christ over time works in the life of a Christian. It's short in duration (six sessions), making it ideal for a Sunday school or small group curriculum. And yet it is faithful to communicate the essence of David Powlison's Dynamics course. I am eager to commend and utilize this new tool for creating more discipleship opportunities in our church."

-Bryan Pickering, Pastor for Care & Counseling, Bethlehem Baptist Church Downtown Campus


"I am so excited by this book, which is so badly needed in our churches. Real Change provides an engaging, manageable, and thoroughly biblical exploration of spiritual growth. It helps us to do change as God intends, in community. It helps us apply the power of the gospel to the detail of our lives. It helps us help one another. I'm looking forward to making Real Change courses a regular part of the life of our church."

-Steve Midgley, Executive Director, Biblical Counselling UK; senior minister, Christ Church, Cambridge

"Real Change is an excellent short course for applying the truth of the Bible to the struggles of everyday life. Not only is it thoroughly Biblical in its content, it is inescapably applied to the...


Marketing Plan

For more information, contact: audra@newgrowthpress.com.

For more information, contact: audra@newgrowthpress.com.


Available Editions

EDITION Paperback
ISBN 9781948130035
PRICE $12.99 (USD)

Average rating from 4 members


Featured Reviews

What is going on in your heart when you sin. What are your loving? What are your seeking, aiming for and pursuing. Where are your putting your hope. What are you fearing. What do you not want. What do you worry about. Where are you looking for refuge, safety and comfort. What or whom are you trusting that is not of the Lord. Whose performance or control is making life work for you. Whose opinion of you counts the most. Whom do you desire approval and fear rejection what is making you feel rich, secure and prosperous. Whose victory or success are you hoping will make your life happy? What are you thinking is your right. What do you feel entitled to. What are your praying for. What are you thinking the most. What are you obsessed with. what is important to you. What attitudes are you communicating. How your spending your time. What are your priorities. Where do you find your identity.

These questions you are faced with when it comes to dealing what is in your heart. It is only by identifying these heart conditions where change can begin. It seems like change may not be possible when we have been on the same treadmill for so long. How do we begin with real change that is for a lifetime. Change that will help us to be better in community. The change that will be in response to the love of God and to serve others purely without selfish reasons.

The study comes in two parts and it is meant to be done with others. It does not need to be done in a big group but with one other for accountability and to see growth spiritually. The first part is the study itself. Each chapter begins with an aim summary and reading exercise. A time to reflect and the context of the change. Scripture reading to discuss with questions to help in the discussion.

Each chapter deals with why do we respond the way we do and how being in Christ brings transformation A key words in this study is the Heat. These are situations we face that we respond to sinfully or in the spirit which leads to the next - The Root/Heart- this is the decision making center of who we are. How we respond to God. The next key word is Thorns- These are God-dishonoring self focused ways we respond to the heat of life. The next is Reap- These are the negative consequences of our choices. Which affects those around us. The next is Lifegiving Spirit. This is the stream of living water, the Holy Spirit. Where we meet God in our sinfulness. The next word is the Cross that represents all the promises of God's mercy and grace. The next word is Good Root where repentance and faith is the process of change. The next word is Good Fruit. These are the God-honoring ways we can respond to our circumstances and what we reap from them.

The second part is the leader's guide which was very helpful. Change is possible with intentionality, community, prayer and the holy spirit. God loves us to much to leave us in our sin but loves enough to see that there is something better. His presence. This book is not one and done but one to come back to and do a heart check. Highly recommend.

A Special Thank you to New Growth Press and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

This is a good, solid, basic curriculum appropriate for adults wanting to make changes in their lives in a Christian context. It is fairly sparse, though, with bare bones material for six small group sessions and a leader's guide in the back. This book would be good for twelve step type programs or for counseling groups. It is focused solely on groups connected with churches and for adults actively participating in churches.

Was this review helpful?

This book is a six week study focusing on biblical change, This book focused on a model of change originally developed by CCEF and taught from David Powlisons course, Dynamics of Biblical Change. What I enjoyed about this book was the clear and concise way they modeled biblical change. Each session ended with thought provoking questions to work through with a mentor or small group of 2 or 3 people. I read through each session and toke detailed notes on the questions, and as I did, I I found myself learning about some areas I struggle in and some key concepts to help me grow and change in those areas. Although this is a rather small book, this is not a book to read in a weekend. This is a book that needs to be worked through slowly with a mentor or trusted friend. To truly benefit from this book; I recommend taking the time to answer the questions and keep your Bible handy.

Was this review helpful?

I decided to read this book because I was familiar with the authors and the material that they were writing about. Real Change takes some of the basis of counseling from CCEF and puts it in a workbook format. In some ways, it was a review of what I had known. I read the book with my notebook to reflect on the truths and write down my own responses.
This is one book that I have read that is on my list of books to buy probably a physical book so I can flip through it and mark it up.
If you are looking for a book that will challenge you and help you dig to the real heart issues, this is one book that I recommend. It is easy to read but has so many deep truths that will help you change and Real Change.

Was this review helpful?

Readers who liked this book also liked: