The World's Best Book Summaries
How do you form a Christ-like character? What tools does God use? One of the purposes of your life is to be like Jesus more and more by taking on his values and character. Because you were created in the image of God, you innately have a Christ-like character in you, but it hasn’t been shaped yet. That’s the work that God does over your lifetime if you invite him to do so. Read more to learn how God develops a Christ-like character in you.
What is a decision group? How can it strengthen your decision-making skills? Thinking in Bets author Annie Duke cites decision groups as a key part of her growth as a poker player, especially when she was first starting out. Having a group of people to help you make better decisions is important, and Duke shares how you can find and engage with such a group. Read more to learn about decision groups.
Do you want to get into investing but aren’t sure where to start? Do you need professional financial help to get started? Investing doesn’t have to be complex. People selling investments profit by making them complicated—they convince you that you need professional help to get started with investing. Yet the actively managed funds they sell are costly and underperform index funds. According to financial blogger J.L. Collins, getting started with investing only requires answering three questions and applying three wealth-building tools (stocks, bonds, and cash). We’ll consider Collins’s three questions for beginner investors and the wealth-building tools below.
Do you know how to make God happy? What are the various acts of worship that please God? In The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren identifies and explains five practical acts of worship that bring pleasure to God and connect you to him. They bring you joy, as well. Read more to learn how to make God happy with these five acts of worship.
Do you want to get into investing? What factors should you consider as you decide what to do with your investment money? How much risk should you incur? Two stages in your investing life determine the mix of assets in your portfolio: the wealth accumulation stage, and the wealth preservation stage. According to financial blogger J. L. Collins, if you are young, you should focus on accumulating wealth. When you are approaching the retirement age, you should focus on preserving it so you can continue to live on it. Once you’ve determined your investment stage and allocated the desired percentages
It seems like everybody is talking about mindfulness these days, but what really is Mindfulness? Mindfulness is the practice of being fully present in the moment and aware of what you’re doing. And, as it turns out, the benefits of mindfulness are both mental and physical. Not only does practicing mindfulness reduce anxiety, depression, and stress, but it’s also been shown to improve your sleep, boost immune functions, assist in weight loss, and lower blood pressure. Additionally, practicing mindfulness is also known to increase your focus at work and school and to improve relationships. If one practice is known to
What are the elements of worship that should be present whenever and however you worship God? How can you practice worship as a lifestyle? Worship is bringing pleasure to God and connecting with him relationally. Since we are to worship God at all times, worship can’t just be singing or showing up at a church service. Those are acts of worship. It’s important to understand the elements of worship that should be present in all acts of worship. Read more to learn about the four elements of worship.
What are the five purposes in The Purpose-Driven Life? How do you keep them all in balance? The purpose-driven life is what God planned for you. When you live out his five purposes, you experience the abundant life he promised. Once you identify how you can live out each purpose, you must learn how to keep all of them in balance throughout your life. Keep reading to learn more about The Purpose-Driven Life.
What do you do when God seems distant? How can you feel his presence again? When you experience difficult circumstances, you may feel that God has abandoned or forgotten you in some way. Bringing him pleasure will likely be the last thing on your mind. However, it’s vital to continue your worship in the hard moments when God seems distant—because this is when God is testing your character most. Read more to learn four things you can do when God seems distant.
What is said about complacency in the bible? How can you manage complacency? In her book Get Out of Your Head, Jennie Allen argues that complacency leads to a useless and ultimately soul-killing life of self-indulgence and mediocrity. Here are some key complacency bible scriptures and some tips for managing complacency. Keep reading for examples of complacency in the bible.