A Brief Book Notice from Books At a Glance
by Fred G. Zaspel
Please pardon my bluntness, but I have to say this: you need this book. Okay, so do I. For a wide variety of reasons we tend to shy away from discussions of sin and virtue. Maybe we fear that such a focus would smacks of legalism and lack an appreciation of the freeness of God’s grace. But we all know that the biblical writers consistently press God’s demand of practical godliness.
Dan Doriani and his team reflect that biblical emphasis in one very important way: their goal is not merely to expose specific sins but to encourage corresponding virtues. Instead of pride, they encourage humility. Instead of greed, generosity. Instead of anger, graciousness. Instead of envy, contentedness. Instead of sloth, diligence. Instead of gluttony, thanksgiving. And instead of lust, love.
An always needed and always relevant topic, and Doriani and friends address it in most helpful ways. Discussion questions at the end of each chapter serve as an aid to personal reflection and group discussion. Your next Sunday School series of lessons perhaps!
Highly recommended. Watch for our Author Interview, coming soon!
Table of Contents
- The Pursuit of Virtue (Daniel M. Doriani)
- The Paths to Virtue (Daniel M. Doriani)
- Virtue and Vice in Christian Thought (Robbie Griggs)
- From Pride to Humility (Dustin Messer)
- From Greed to Generosity (Philip Graham Ryken)
- From Anger to Graciousness (Michael J. Kruger)
- From Envy to Contentment (Melissa B. Kruger)
- From Sloth to Diligence (Trent Casto)
- From Gluttony to Thanksgiving (Daniel M. Doriani)
- From Lust to Love (Christine Gordon)
- Building Godly Character (Jen Pollock Michel)
Endorsements
Robert W. Yarbrough
This compelling book features a distinguished cast of authors, men and women, digging deeply into human sin and God’s remedies. The theme is not rebuke but restoration. The tone is not punitive but positive. Designed for either personal or small-group study, the book draws on sages and especially Scripture through the centuries to serve up heartening fare that will nourish the drive to do what we say that we believe to be right. Savor these studies in virtue for a boost in overcoming your internal vices with God’s life-changing good.
Ligon Duncan
I have often been helped by John Newton and Sinclair Ferguson in thinking through these things. Now I will add to my shelf this book by Dan Doriani and friends. It is not only a study of deadly vices and their corresponding virtues, but also a reliable guide that explains how our union with Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit enable us to review copy pursue conformity to the one in whom all goodness and virtue reside.
Buy the books
THE DEATH OF THE DEADLY SINS: EMBRACING THE VIRTUES THAT TRANSFORM LIVES, edited by Daniel M. Doriani