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Disciplines of a Godly Man

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Our churches and homes need men willing to follow the path of godliness no matter what the cost. This inspiring, popular book has been speaking to the hearts of men for the past 10 years, and its words are still relevant. Using engaging illustrations, scriptural wisdom, practical suggestions and study questions, Kent Hughes offers a frank biblical discussion on major areas of Christian manhood: family, godliness, leadership, ministry and more. This newly revised edition is for every man who wants to know what it means to be a Christian in today's world.

304 pages, Paperback

First published June 30, 1991

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About the author

R. Kent Hughes

96 books64 followers
R. Kent Hughes (DMin, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) is senior pastor emeritus of College Church in Wheaton, Illinois, and a visiting professor of practical theology at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Hughes is also a founder of the Charles Simeon Trust, which conducts expository preaching conferences throughout North America and worldwide. He and his wife, Barbara, have four children and an ever-increasing number of grandchildren.

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5 stars
2,135 (44%)
4 stars
1,676 (34%)
3 stars
744 (15%)
2 stars
201 (4%)
1 star
95 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 337 reviews
Profile Image for John Boyne.
110 reviews9 followers
April 29, 2019
R. Kent Hughes' book, Disciplines of a Godly Man, should be required reading for men of all ages and one that is picked up again and reread every few years. Hughes does an excellent job of breaking down the various types of discipline that are severally lacking in masculinity today and provides simple steps to practice to improve yourself and make yourself a more Christ honoring man. Highly recommended!
Profile Image for Gabe Bruner.
25 reviews3 followers
August 24, 2022
Man, I am glad that I read Deeper by Dane Ortlund in tandem with this book. Hughes definitely has an expansive heart for men in the American church and rightly assesses that the disciplines are some of the primary means by which men can actually start to develop a real spiritual fervor in their lives. This book is rich with resources for further reading and a lot of great practical tips for the disciplines. So, why give it more of an average rating? Because I think Hughes misses the mark in appropriating the spiritual disciplines within the context of God’s grace to His people in Christ. To be fair, he spends the last 6 pages or so speaking on the disciplines in the context of grace and warning against legalism. But through a vast majority of the writing it comes across as though he is making a long spiritual to-do list that causes more burden than freedom, which is what the disciplines are really for. I think this is a serviceable introduction to the disciplines but readers should approach it with the Gospel firmly in their heart and mind.
Profile Image for Bill Forgeard.
788 reviews87 followers
April 18, 2017
Rigorous and relentless! A helpful challenge for me to live up the biblical commands for Christian men across the whole of life. A good mix of cultural commentary, biblical exposition and practical wisdom. At times I wished Mr R. Kent Hughes had mixed a little more gospel encouragement in amidst the brutal exhortations.
Profile Image for Zach Lewis.
17 reviews1 follower
March 4, 2024
This book stabbed me in the front in the best way. Practical, powerful, wonderful.
Profile Image for Grant Chlystun.
28 reviews
February 12, 2024
I’ve worked slowly through this with my d group this year and it has been such a gift. Hughes has so much wisdom for men that are practical for every season of life. Even the chapters like marriage and fatherhood that are less pertinent for me are still full of so much practical wisdom for today. Where legalism is man-centered, discipline is God-centered and this book felt like a holy kick in the butt. We are the recipients of divine mercy, the greatest grace we could ever know and that propels us to pursue holiness. Everything ultimately comes back to the Gospel and I can’t recommend this book enough for other men.
Profile Image for Daniel.
72 reviews
August 5, 2016
Update: When I originally read this book, it was a book I thought would be beneficial to re-read every 2 years. Well, it's taken me over 4 to come back to it, but it once again was a great challenge, full of practical insight, and covering a broad range of life. About 2/3rd of the way through, it was hard to keep going - perhaps because it offers so much to work on that it feels a bit overwhelming. But, reading it regularly and taking a few things at a time to work on I think is very much merited and beneficial.

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Original Review: Feb 24, 2012

There are some books on what it means to be a Christian man that feel more like they are fueled by popular movies and books (such books shall remain unnamed. :-) Hughes' call to men is something entirely different. He takes both the essential aspects of what it means to follow God (prayer, Scripture, etc.) and also takes the practical calls of our lives (fatherhood, relationships, thinking) and in both bases the call to discipline (or "holy sweat" - it's not discipline if you're not sweating as you work to develop it in your live) in God's words in Scripture and then practically applies it to live, giving challenging, yet appropriate, ways of developing these key disciplines in our lives as we seek to love God and those he has put us in relationship with here on earth. I really enjoyed Hughes' blend of Scripture, practical, personal examples and literature, poetry and other stories from the culture around us.

In one of the Amazon reviews of this book, a reviewer mentions that he comes back to the book every year as a "check up". I don't know if I'll return to it every year, but I do know it's one I expect to return to frequently over the course of my life - and one I see myself sharing with other guys and using as a starting place in bible studies and mentoring.
Profile Image for Mitchell Dixon.
134 reviews11 followers
September 7, 2021
The best part is the personal reading survey done of major pastors/theologians. This book is good but I think where it excels is as a reference guide for further reading.
June 14, 2023
Hughes lays out quite the daunting challenge of living a disciplined Christian life with his 16 specific areas of discipline for the Christian man to live by. Each discipline is backed by Scripture and related to everyday life. I recommend reading the book with a friend or a small group like I did, as having others to go along with you helps keep you motivated. Some chapters are a bit repetitive and some of the examples are outdated, but overall this was a solid book and I would recommend to anyone.
Profile Image for Joshua Dawsey.
11 reviews
June 21, 2023
Loved this book! Kent Hughes does a great job of breaking down what it looks like to be a Godly Man and how men can apply these disciplines to our lives. He constantly references scripture throughout the book, to provide examples of men in the Bible living out the disciplines. This book was not only encouraging but also convicting, providing insight on how we tend to approach different situations, people, and God’s word. My main problem with the book was that some of the passages did get a little repetitive but that’s okay because it showed how the disciplines feed into one another. I highly encourage other Christian men to read this book!
Profile Image for Cale Fauver.
57 reviews2 followers
January 22, 2024
One of the most practical books with loads of application and resources for help/encouragement.
Profile Image for Regan Smith.
9 reviews
December 30, 2022
Full of great resources. Although I don’t think I agree with everything in the book, would probably recommend to most young Christian men.
Profile Image for Danny Deaubé.
Author 0 books28 followers
September 21, 2020
This book by Kent Hughes, literally changed my life of prayer and and daily scripture reading. It has been over six months since I began reading this book in a men's bible study group. I have prayed and read daily since I began this study, and I have grown so much closer to God and the Lord Jesus Christ! I recommend this book on discipline to any man who wants to break out from the norm and truly worship God through a consistent prayer life and and a closer understanding of the word of God.
Profile Image for Shawn McCool.
7 reviews1 follower
February 24, 2024
I really liked this book overall. I do think his ideas dragged through most chapters and made them harder to finish. But they were great ideas that challenge me to train myself for godliness! I would’ve given 3 stars, but the last chapter talked about grace, and refuting passivity and legalism. “God is not counting our failures against us, and we are not building a treasury of merit with our successes.” Also, “It is God’s grace that energized us to live out the disciplines of a godly man. There is always more grace.” Thank you, Jesus!
Profile Image for Jared Smith.
31 reviews1 follower
June 1, 2023
This is a great systematic approach of combatting besetting sins as well as putting on the disciplines that conform men to the image of Christ through the Holy Spirit. Convicting and encouraging. Highly recommended.
Profile Image for Jacob Hood.
36 reviews1 follower
January 21, 2024
Not a fan. Quite legalistic and filled with more opinions than truth
Profile Image for Jonathan.
24 reviews
August 24, 2021
Incredible resource, I highly recommend this to every Christian male, and even Christian females to know what to look for in a guy! Rich in practical advice and practical wisdom, full of Biblical examples and how they relate to maturing spiritually, and the author does an excellent job laying out basic principles and simple straightforward steps any person can take to grow in their relationship with Christ. Such a good book! I went through this book with other men together and every single chapter there was stuff that convicted us and encouraged us. There will be something for everyone in this book to learn from, no matter your age.
Profile Image for Stuart.
39 reviews4 followers
July 12, 2019
Excellent. Read the last chapter first ;)
Profile Image for Ian McManus.
15 reviews
Currently reading
December 22, 2022
Profile Image for Jimmy.
1,078 reviews43 followers
August 10, 2020
Are you looking for a book on biblical manhood? By biblical manhood I want to emphasize “biblical,” and not something weird that’s all about beating one’s chest and following after some kind of cultural stereotype of what a man should be. If so this book is one you should consider picking up and reading; or purchasing for someone as a gift. This is a Christian classic that many in my church have read through and used extensively by previous pastors before me. My most recent reading of this book was in the last two years as I slowly went over it with some of the high school young men in my church.
After the introduction the book that talks about the importance of discipline of godliness author R. Kent Hughes goes over seventeen disciplines that a godly man should cultivate as a Christian man. These disciplines are grouped under four heading with the first being relationships, second being the soul, third being character and fourth being ministry. Some of the disciplines include purity, marriage, and the discipline of the mind, discipline of devotion, integrity, work and discipline of giving and discipline of ministry. The final chapter is about the relationship of God’s grace to discipline which I kind of wished was the first chapter of the book instead of the end.
Each chapter looks at the discipline being discussed by follow by a section titled “Food for Thought” that has great discussion questions and there’s also an application/response section following that.
Among my favorite chapters in the book in clue the chapter on fatherhood, work, church and witness. I felt the author’s most passionate chapter was the chapter on witnessing and I was quite encouraged by the author’s own example of making the most out of evangelistic opportunities. While I enjoyed the chapter on fatherhood is because today we have a crisis in society of fathers not being the fathers God has called them to be. Thee chapter on prayer was also personally convicting and edifying as that’s something I can work on more to improve.
The appendix of the book should not be skipped over by the readers as there’s incredible resources in these pages. For instance there’s various Bible reading plans presented to the readers, a personal reading survey in which Kent Hughes asks various Christian leaders what are their five favorite books (secular or sacred) and what’s their spiritual ones that’s their favorite, etc.
Profile Image for Daniel Lynch.
7 reviews
December 16, 2023
This book was incredibly useful in helping me understand that spiritual discipline is essential to godliness and that discipline is essential to accomplish anything in this life.

It pointed out many areas in my life where I have lacked spiritual discipline and has provided many useful resources and tips which I will be definitely referring back to (sections on prayer, worship, devotion and giving I found very helpful in particular).

This book is an excellent guide for men who seek to reflect God’s glory in their lives and want to follow the biblical call to ‘spiritually sweat.’
“Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness.”
-1 Timothy 4:7

“It is by God’s grace that energises us to live out the disciplines of a a Godly man.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done;
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources,
Our father’s full giving is only begun.
His love has no limits, his grace has no measure,
His power has no boundary known unto men;
For out of his infinite riches in Jesus,
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.

Brothers, when we attempt to do His will, He always gives more grace.”
Profile Image for Hudson Christmas.
239 reviews12 followers
February 15, 2018
In today's culture, discipline is an art form that is rarely seen in the modern man. As Kent Hughes explains in the beginning of his book, Disciplines of a Godly Man, in today's culture there is an alarming lack of spiritual leadership in today's evangelical churches. In his book, Kent Hughes seeks to address this problem at its starting point, the area of spiritual discipline for the average Christian man. Through a series of short, yet accurate chapters on a variety of areas that pertain to Christian men, Hughes drives home the point that spiritual discipline is a necessary part of the believer's life. To grow spiritually requires hard work, and men are not to withdraw from it.
This book was incredible to read. Convicting, yet encouraging in the best ways, Hughes' book is a war cry for the Christian man. So many helpful pieces of advice, delivered in a way that feels personal, but also rings with spiritual and Biblical truth; Disciplines of a Godly Man is a powerful book, and one that every Christian male should read as they seek to grow more like Christ and honor Him.
Profile Image for Ty Lukasiewicz.
55 reviews18 followers
May 24, 2019
really great book!
Disciplines of a Godly man reaches out and grabs you by the shirt collar, looks directly in your eyes and tells you the Godly truth all men need to hear.

The book is separated int0 different sections, which include relationships, soul, character, ministry and discipline. Each section has multiple topics that relate to the section. All of which speak about disciplines a Godly man and what a Godly man should pursue. Each chapter starts with the hard, failed, truth of humanity and the state of man. Hughes pulls you in and reminds us all why we as men must discipline ourselves in a Godly manner.

This book is very helpful for all ages no matter where you are at in you walk with Jesus. while writing, Hughes points to scripture for all of his disciplines. He is very helpful and speaks to you as if you were both sitting down for a cup of coffee at the barista. I think I'll read this book again in the next few years to revisit his great points on the disciplines of a Godly man.

I would so recommend this book. five stars.
Profile Image for Brian Parks.
12 reviews2 followers
August 1, 2022
This book is an excellent overview of the practices that Christian men should work to incorporate into all aspects of their lives.
As someone who has attended church, Bible studies, and retreats for most of my life, I’ll admit that the content is mostly information that I have heard in the past. However, Hughes’ writing style is loving yet relentless in pointing out areas that we all struggle. I felt as if I was being poured into by one of My faith mentors and I am encouraged to continue growing in those disciplines in which I fall short.
I also appreciate the book recommendations near the end of each chapter and Those given by many of the pillars of our faith near the end of the book. These works, both classic and contemporary are a great resource that I will draw from in the future.
Profile Image for Josiah Richardson.
1,213 reviews18 followers
July 24, 2023
Very good. These are all disciplines that a father should teach his son. Thankfully I had such a father and so the book wasn't as groundbreaking for me as it has been for some of my friends. For someone who didn't have a father to invest this type of Godly influence into their lives, this book would probably be invaluable at an early age. This book is Probably best for men ages 15-21 as they begin to form their understanding of what it means to be a man and how to take on the necessary responsibilities in life and the church.
Profile Image for Bo Cogbill.
38 reviews4 followers
December 6, 2019
Good Premise, Awkward Execution

First off, I want to say I hate giving less than three stars. Often authors, especially the qualified ones like Dr. Hughes, dedicate their life to the topics on which they write, and writing anything well is hard, time consuming work, so I don't want a less than average rating to indicate a lack of appreciation for the man.

That being said, a few men in our congregation went through this book together, and I think that's probably the best approach for a few reasons:

- DoaGM put an unnecessary amount of guilt on one with a tender conscience, so the group was able to remind one another that we are disciplined by grace and out of grace.
- The applications of the principles seemed unnecessarily wooden, so the group was able to wrestle with how to apply each discipline with wisdom.
- References to Jesus and His people's role in all of these disciplines were largely absent, so the group was able to point one another to Christ and remind one another we're in this together, for the long haul.

So, while I appreciate Dr. Hughes and think these dispciplines are admirable, and I'm glad we went through the book together, I was still left wanting.
Profile Image for David Vitelariu.
5 reviews1 follower
December 15, 2022
It is a really good book . It is for all men at any age. The beauty of this book is that it has a point at every chapter and discipline presented. It has resources at the end as well. It is a very practical as well as it is a very powerful book to read and it prepares you, as man, for life in many (I can say all) of the aspects of life. It is a must-read guide for a man conduct.
Profile Image for Evan Olson.
6 reviews
November 29, 2023
This is a great book for new/lukewarm Christian men in need of fundamental Godly advice. The knowledge it presents is necessary to live a fruitful, Godly life. It is rich in biblical guidance, applicable instruction, and comprehensible anecdotes that allow the reader to better understand the book and the Bible itself.
1 review2 followers
May 15, 2021
A lot of scripture. Great book with a lot of practical steps and applications to put in to action and how to do it. Centered around God’s grace and that grace is the motivation for discipline in our lives.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 337 reviews

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