Bridges, Jerry and Bob Bevington. The Bookends of the Christian Life. Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2009. 160 pp. $14.99. Purchase at Westminster Books for $9.89.

Introduction

Bevington and Bridges have teamed up once again to bring Christendom a Christ-saturated book. Their first collaboration was The Great Exchange which discussed in some detail the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ for those who believe. Bookends offers pastoral counsel in living a life of victory.

Perhaps the least known fact about these two authors is that Jerry Bridges is Bob Bevington’s mentor. This is evident in their writings as you get the feel of two men who are discussing how they can better walk in the ways of their Lord and Savior.

Synopsis

With a title like The Bookends it only makes sense that this book is divided into two sections. The first bookend is the righteousness of Christ. The second bookend is the work and power of the Holy Spirit. No, the chapters in between are not the books. The books are actually representative of your life—spiritual and temporal.

In discussing the righteousness of Christ they explain the greatest problem most Christians face is that all too often they start to believe that God does or does not bless according to how well we are obeying Him at the moment. After discussing what Christ’s righteousness means for the believer, they list two enemies to the gospel that clash specifically with this first bookend.

The first enemy is self-righteousness. This enemy ensnares many Christians when they think that they are “good enough” to be saved or have been “good enough” to be blessed by God. However, in my opinion, it is the second enemy that traps the believer without his even being aware of it—perhaps this is because I saw myself on the pages. The second enemy is persistent guilt—feeling as though you are not good enough for what God has done for you (or is doing for you).

As mentioned above, the second bookend is the power of the Holy Spirit. They detail the importance of the work of they Holy Spirit and how we work with Him (synergism) and how He works alone (monergism) in the life of the believer. After discussing the Spirit’s work, they introduce the third enemy to the gospel—the first specifically for the second bookend. This enemy is self-reliance in which we depend not on God but ourselves.

They close each half of the book with a chapter sharing how we can and should lean on each of the bookends. The last chapter challenges the reader to take these two bookends and use them as the basis for one’s personal worldview.

Recommendation

As I stated above, I found myself, quite unexpectedly, on the pages of this book. The good news though is still the good news. That is what makes this book so great. You are pointed to the cross page after page and instructed to put all of your trust in Christ’s righteousness. As though that were not enough, you are then pointed to trust in the work of the Holy Spirit who continues to work in and with you as you grow in Christ.

The accompanying website, TheBookendsBook.com, is an excellent resource as you seek to make the bookends your worldview. At that site you can download an excellent study guide to use for group and personal discussion. You may want to consider purchasing this book for your small group studies or even your own accountability group. This book was a great encouragement to my soul and one that I will add to my yearly reading list. You would do well to read it for yourself.

Bridges, Jerry. Respectable Sins: Confronting the Sins We Tolerate. Colorado Springs: NavPress, 2007. 190 pp. $18.99. Purchase at Westminster or direct from the publisher at NavPress.

Warning

Do not read this book if you cannot face reality.  Do not read this book if you are not willing to take a cold-hard look at yourself.  Do not read this book if you cannot handle the truth. However, if you are of a humble spirit and you want to be more like Christ, then by all means, you need to read this book. 

Introduction

Jerry Bridges cuts through the forest of sin in order too enable us to see the individual trees.  The forest is all of the sin, especially the “major” sins we see every day like pornography and covetousness.  The trees are the individual sins that comprise the forest.  In Respectable Sins, Jerry Bridges speaks some hard truths to the believer regarding the “minor sins” we commit.  Dr. Bridges does a magnificent job of performing surgery on the heart of the believer.

Synopsis of Respectable Sins

This book can be split into two major sections.  The first section lays the foundation for which Dr. Bridges will ultimately use to break and re-mold his readers.  Chapters one and two  explain what the Bible says about saints and how sin has disappeared from the American culture.  Three, four, and five explain the sinfulness of sin and the cure.

Chapter six is what I am calling the fulcrum chapter of the entire book because it is on this chapter that the entire book hinges.  Before, Dr. Bridges pours the foundation in which I referred to earlier.  After, Dr. Bridges uses that foundation as a wall to lovingly drive you through with blow after blow.

Chapters seven through twenty provide those blows.  It is in these chapters that Dr. Bridges deals with the sins that most Christians (I could easily say that we all struggle with at one point or another) struggle with at various times.  The list of “respectable sins” includes:

• Ungodliness (he argues, convincingly, that this is the root of all sin)
• Anxiety and Frustration
• Discontentment
• Unthankfulness
• Pride
• Selfishness
• Lack of Self-Control
• Impatience and Irritability
• Anger
• Judgmentalism
• Envy and Jealousy
• Sins of the Tongue
• Worldliness

Chapter 21 concludes with a look at what to do with what was just read.

Recommendation (Highly)

With a pastors heart, Dr. Bridges leads you to a frightening realization that you are way more sinful than you imagined.  Page after page, I found myself realizing more and more how dark my heart could be at times.  Yes, I have wept over my sins and I have seen the sinfulness of my sin, but Dr. Bridges took me, thankfully, where very few men have–to the end of myself.  It was there that the comforts of the cross were gently applied time and time again throughout the book.

Dr. Bridges writes with honesty and clarity that many strive for but few find.  He proclaims over and over that the gospel is for sinners and shows us how we are those sinners.  He lovingly proclaims the gospel to the reader as though he knows (I am sure he speaks from his own experiences) the brokeness being experienced.

Personally, there were times I did want to throw the book across the room (he said I might).  There were times I was shocked to see myself on some of the pages.  I mean, impatience and selfishness were no surprise to me, but ungodliness?  C’mon!

This book is a must read for anyone who calls upon the name of Christ.  The study guide is an excellent resource for a men’s and women’s study.  Any Sunday School class would do well to study this book.