A Life for Christ: What the Normal Christian Life Should Look Like by Dwight L. Moody

A Life for Christ: What the Normal Christian Life Should Look Like Reviews

• 
  Melody Laila

  Beautiful. Basic. Raw Christianity as it should be. Taught by one of the Masters. Took my time reading it. Assimilating it. Absolutely recommend you read it and internalise it's message.
• 
  Adrienne Morris

  I loved this book!
  
  Now I know why DL Moody was is so loved. While his words are challenging his love for humanity comes through on every page. I feel so encouraged and plan to read more of his writings.
• 
  John Yelverton

  Whereas I do not agree with all of the author's conclusions, only someone with a heart of stone would not tear up at the stories the author relates on people's devotion to a life for Christ.
• 
  Nathan Albright

  [Note: This book was provided free of charge by Aneko Press. All thoughts and opinions are my own.]
  
  This is the second book by the author I have read [1] and is part of its publisher's Christian Classic series [2]. My thoughts on the book are somewhat complicated because although the subtitle of the book suggests that the book deals with the way a normal Christian's life should look like, the book as a whole as the feel that it was written by a minister for others in the ministry, or to ordinary believers about the ministry. This by no means makes it a bad book, but rather gives it a different focus than I was personally expecting when I started reading it. Given this pastoral perspective, the book is written with a greater interest in how congregations and ministers behave than what a Christian life looks like, unless by a Christian life one means the institutional life of a Christian, an area of considerable interest to many of us as believers with a certain focus on churches and congregations.
  
  This is a short book, around 130 pages or so in length, and consists of nine chapters. The first looks at the power of regeneration through the resurrection, the second looks at issues of love, motive, and power with regards to service, the third looks at faith and courage, the fourth looks at the reward of faith, the fifth looks at enthusiasm, and the sixth looks at the power of little things. The last three chapters are extended discussions of Gospel passages dealing with doing what we can, who is our neighbor, and being the light of the world. Throughout the volume as a whole, there is a consistent mixture of personal stories, biblical exegesis, and a resort to the lives of famous leaders of the Protestant Reformation like Luther, Knox, and Wesley. Indeed, Moody seems to use the lives of these famous reformers in a sense similar to that of a Catholic view of the lives of the saints, which is a striking phenomenon to be sure, especially for his time. For those authors unfamiliar with Moody and his thinking, this book is certainly a fair introduction to the way he thinks and writes and is a worthwhile Christian classic.
  
  In reading this book, one gets a fair idea o the concerns that Moody has as a speaker and a writer. For one, he seems to have a particular fondness for melodrama, as evidenced by one story in the book about a young boy beaten by his parents for associating with an angelic missionary girl who ended up dying when a train ran over his legs while he was begging at a railway station. Indeed, overall he seems particularly concerned with issues of missionary focus, and this is the source of much of the book's humor. For example, in one passage the author contrasts the example of a missionary and a big game hunter, both of whom found what they were looking for in India--one of them souls to win and the other tigers to shoot. This is a book whose points are made more through rhetorical attempts at persuasive appeal than through logic, and those whose turn of mind is different than the author's are likely to find some of his reasoning more than a little bit strange and puzzling. That is not to say, though, that this is by any means a bad book. Indeed, even for those whose perspective on the Christian life can have much to gain by becoming familiar with such works that help us see how previous generations viewed such matters. And that use of reading older books as a way of acquiring an understanding and empathy for the people of the past is part of what helps classics like this one endure and remain relevant.
  
  [1] See, for example:
  
  
  https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
  
  [2] See, for example:
  
  
  https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2015...
  
  
  https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...
  
  
  https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...
  
  
  https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...
  
  
  https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...
• 
  Rebekah Palmer

  Dwight L. Moody's style of writing in A Life For Christ is most reminiscent of modern preaching and is often used in today's post modern world. By this I mean he uses many personal experiences and emotional stories familiar to his audience in which he relates many Scriptural passages. I have often heard similar stories by preachers in Baptist churches in my lifetime. I didn't realize a lot of them came from this 19th century man of God.
  
  Moody's biggest theme throughout his book is lifestyle evangelism: living a life so dedicated to the work of Christ that others will be so constrained by our love for God that they become converted. He emphasizes much the telling of the Gospel to our neighbors, which includes the whole human race no matter how desolate a soul they may be. His best chapters deal with Scripture on the woman, Mary, and her alabaster box as well as the Good Samaritan.
  
  The only criticism I feel should be mentioned is some of the language in use like "inquiry room". I am not sure what this is as churches don't have a labeled room like this anymore. I assumed it was a visitation alter or pastor's office. As a younger person active in 21st century race relations, I also balked at the translation using the word "slaves" for servants of Christ. It didn't bring up images of a dedicated love in the service of her/his Savior, but a negative image of misuse at the hands of a cruel Master. I'm not sure everyone will get that impression, but as an older millennial, I did.
• 
  Nightshade

  I felt like the title was a little misleading. The majority of the book seemed to me to just be Moody complaining. Mostly about people going to the pub instead of being Christians and those that are Christian are not doing it 'right' or 'well enough'. I found it so interesting to see how things have changed since this book was written. I think Moody would despair if he saw the world as it is today!
  It was amazing how many anecdotes were packed into this relatively short e-book.
  Overall I'm not sure this book gives a particularly good view of 'what the normal Christian life should look like' although I guess it depends upon your specific branch of Christianity. But basically it seems to read that if you aren't out there trying to convert people to Christianity every single day, then you shouldn't call yourself a Christian and God won't be pleased that you didn't try to save anyone else's soul.
• 
  Kacey

  I really wish they hadn't re-titled this book. I probably would've read it anyway if it kept the original title, but this change is very misleading. Which isn't to say going out and telling the world about Christ isn't part of a normal Christian life, but that's all this book focused on. I was expecting more about different aspects of life where a person could live for Christ.
  
  That being said, this book does make some very valid points, and I can tell that Moody's heart is for Christ. We as Christians definitely do need to act more like we are Christians in our daily lives, and we do need to be more bold about telling the good news to others. I just feel like some of his examples don't really age well.
  
  It's still a good book. It will light the fire in your heart and make you more open to opportunities to share the gospel-- either through your life and actions or actually talking about it with someone else-- but the title needs to be changed back so it isn't so misleading.
• 
  Chloe

  Zeal for the sharing of the gospel
  
  This Christian classic has stood the test of time for a reason; by no means are Moody's thoughts to be dismissed as outdated or irrelevant. The issues of the American Christian in the late 19th century are, interestingly enough, not so different from those of today. Moody preaches zeal for reaching the lost and offers remarkable encouragement for doing whatever little you can toward that end.
• 
  Cary

  I gave it 4 stars because it is compelling written, but man, can you see the current crop of unlovely Christianity coming.
  
  Mr. Moody was a man on fire, looking for the second coming with all his heart but he tells a couple of stories of him being unkind like they were something to be proud of.
  
  I'm sure he did good work, but I think I'm too currently traumatized to give this book a fair report.
• 
  William

  This book is well-written, evocative, and convicting. Those passages that are most dated are only more convicting today, such as when Moody expresses the remarkable ministry opportunities available thanks to the advent of the printing press and trains. If you read ebooks, you can even buy the kindle edition for free, so even cost should not stop you.
• 
  Karrel Buck

  So influential-still alive in Spirit
  
  As Moody says tell one person about Jesus every day for 365 days and see how life changes. Bring one person to know our Savior and watch as that one touches 100, etc. The true Law of Reciprocity. If you only read one book this year, read this one.
• 
  Rachel

  This was a reasonably good nonfiction book to encourage Christians to work for Christ, to serve and share as my church would put it today. There were a lot rambling anecdotes in this book, but there were several really good insightful quotes and illustrations as well. Some people might find the old-fashioned language to be hard to read, but I just found it amusing.
• 
  Sheila Myers

  Although written in the 1800s, the lessons in this book apply to Christians today. Dwight Moody did a wonderful job supplying examples from the Bible and day to day life to make his points and teach the lessons.
• 
  Justine Peroni

  A very thought provoking read
  
  Being in somewhat need of something different and closer to the heart, this book called out to me. It really helped me in my hour of need and turning to Christ and the scriptures was a blessing.
• 
  Shanice Kok

  Leaving a legacy behind
  
  Helps once see Gods hand in our daily life and that he will never leave us nor forsake us. Making a difference as an individual is more than enough to lead other to christ
• 
  Ben Rogers

  One Of The Best Books On Christian Life
  
  A book on living for Christ.
  
  This was a very good book.
  
  Some truly amazing stories about how Jeus has changed lives and communities.
  
  Great Christian living read.
  
  Would recommend!
  
  4.5/5
• 
  Linda Klager

  An excellent book to read. Mr. Moody gives all kinds of examples and Scriptures from the Holy Bible to help each person live an abundant life for Jesus Christ.
• 
  Sandirae

  Food for thought.
• 
  Bonnie

  "By this they will know us..."
• 
  Christine Proulx

  Surprisingly contemporary
• 
  David Toma

  A fantastic book for stirring up evangelistic passion!