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

Finding the Good Life through the Sermon on the Mount

James Bryan Smith argues that we've bought into false ideas of happiness and success, pushing us toward self-centered decisions that fuel destructive vices like anger, lying, and judging. Building from Jesus' teachings in the Sermon on the Mount, this compelling follow-up to The Good and Beautiful God invites us to replace these false beliefs with the transformative teachings of Jesus about life in God's kingdom.

Through Biblical teaching and practical exercises, Smith equips readers to confront our failings, inviting us to replace them with practices taught by Jesus, helping to form his character in us. Thought-provoking and deeply spiritual, this book offers a roadmap for turning away from harmful beliefs and living a life rooted in the vibrant and renewing kingdom of God.

In The Good and Beautiful Life, you'll find chapters like

• Learning to Live Without Worry
• Learning to Bless Those Who Curse Us
• Living in the Kingdom Day by Day

You'll also gain practical insights through "soul training" activities like

• Writing a letter to God
• Practicing disciplines like silence and prayer
• Fasting from media
• Living one day devotionally
• and more!

If you're ready to discover a deeper, more meaningful way to live, The Good and Beautiful Life is the guide you've been waiting for. This book offers tools to shape your heart to become more like Christ. Begin your journey toward truly living in the kingdom of God.

About the Series

The Good and Beautiful Series includes four essential discipleship books from James Bryan Smith. Work through these proven Bible study resources individually or with a group to learn who God is, what it means to be a Christian, how to live in community, and how to address toxic self-narratives that hinder spiritual growth.

James Bryan Smith is a theology professor at Friends University in Wichita, Kansas, as well as the director of the Christian Spiritual Formation Institute there. A writer and speaker in the area of Christian spiritual formation, Jim Smith is a founding board member of Renovar#233. Smith is an ordained United Methodist Church minister and has served in various capacities in local churches. He is also the author of A Spiritual Formation Workbook, Devotional Classics (with Richard Foster), Embracing the Love of God, Rich Mullins: An Arrow Pointing to Heaven and Room of Marvels.