The Good and Beautiful Life: Putting on the Character of Christ

In this review of The Good and Beautiful Life: Putting on the Character of Christ, the reviewer finds a thoughtful companion for anyone serious about reshaping spiritual habits and understanding Kingdom living. James Bryan Smith guides readers through the Sermon on the Mount to replace cultural myths of success with Jesus' narratives, and the book's weekly exercises make it practical rather than merely theoretical. This is best for readers seeking spiritual formation and group discussion material, and its clear emphasis on practice is the single biggest reason to consider it.

Key Features

• Sermon on the Mount focus: The book traces Jesus' teachings chapter by chapter to clarify how kingdom values counter common cultural assumptions about happiness and success.
• Practical soul practices: Weekly exercises and reflective practices help readers actually retrain thinking patterns rather than just read theology.
• Follow-up structure: As a sequel to an earlier volume, it builds on prior themes and deepens formation with orderly, progressive content.
• Group study suitability: Discussion prompts and clear sections make it easy to use in small groups or church studies, including men's groups highlighted by readers.
• Theological grounding: The text connects narrative reflection with biblical authenticity, helping readers apply Gospel principles to daily life.

Who It's For

Readers who want deliberate, practice-oriented spiritual formation will find this book especially helpful; it suits people who prefer learning through weekly disciplines and those leading Bible study groups looking for reliable discussion material. The book's focus on the Sermon on the Mount makes it a strong choice for anyone wanting to see how Jesus' teachings reshape ordinary assumptions about success.

Those looking for a quick devotional or a purely academic commentary should look elsewhere, as this volume assumes a willingness to engage in sustained reflection and implements formation exercises rather than offering short, passing readings.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Enlightening approach that helps readers replace false beliefs with biblical narratives about life in the kingdom.
• Weekly soul-developing practices that reviewers say are extremely beneficial for changing habits.
• Well suited for group study and discussion, with content that leaders can adapt to small groups.
• Clear, pastoral writing that connects theology to everyday living and the fruit of the Spirit.

Cons

• Not ideal for readers seeking a quick devotional; it requires regular engagement with practices to gain full benefit.
• As a follow-up work, some readers may prefer to read the earlier volume first for full context.

Specifications

Title	The Good and Beautiful Life: Putting on the Character of Christ
Author	James Bryan Smith
Series	The Apprentice Series
Focus	Sermon on the Mount and Kingdom living
Use	Individual formation and group study
Recommended by	Renovare and Willow Creek Resource

Our Verdict

The Good and Beautiful Life is a thoughtful, practice-oriented guide for readers committed to spiritual growth and authentic Kingdom living. It delivers strong value for study groups and individuals willing to work through weekly practices, offering clear, applicable insights that help replace cultural myths with Jesus' narrative about life.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this book a practical guide or theological treatise?
The book is practice-oriented, offering weekly soul practices alongside theological reflection to help readers form new habits.

Can this be used in a group study?
Yes; the structure and discussion-friendly content make it well suited for small groups and church study settings.

Do I need the previous book to read this?
It builds on themes from an earlier volume, but readers can still benefit from this book on its own if willing to engage the practices.