Disciplines of a Godly Man by R. Kent Hughes: a Book Review

Being a manly man who leads, sacrifices, and loves is becoming a lost art. Our culture’s production of boys who can shave is at an all time high. The numbers show that male leaders in the church are diminishing and it seems that discipleship for men is at a low.

There is no better time than now for the Updated Edition of R. Kent Hughes’s Disciplines of a Godly Man to be released. This is not just a good book for men, it is the book men need. This book is packed full of wisdom. It is a valuable tool for discipling men. With updated references and new suggested resources, this book is fresh and relevant. Whether you’re a new Christian or having been walking with Christ for quite sometime, this book will challenge you.

R. Kent Hughes is senior pastor emeritus of College Church in Wheaton, Illinois and former professor of practical theology at Westminster Theological Seminary. He is also the founder of Charles Simeon Trust, which conducts expository preaching conferences worldwide. He is the author or coauthor of many books. He and his wife, Barbara, live in Wyncote, Pennsylvania, and have four children and many grandchildren.

This was my first encounter with Disciplines of a Godly Man, but I can tell you it certainly won’t be my last. Hughes challenges men within every page of this book. He speaks to men directly, but with grace. In this book, he challenges men to be men, which is exactly the message we need in an age that is increasingly confused.

Hughes lays out the stakes for Christian men at the beginning of the book. "Therefore, as children of grace, our spiritual discipline is everything—everything! I repeat: discipline is everything!" (Kindle; Loc 203). Later he says, "Understanding this, we now get down to the reason for this book, which is that in today’s world and church, Christian men who are disciplined are the exception, not the rule" (Loc 221,231). In the book, men will find the challenge to take up discipline in all areas of their lives. Hughes provides excellent illustrations, direct points of application, questions for reflection, and more resources to read further on a topic.

Every single chapter in this book is filled with things that we men need to hear and apply. I especially loved Hughes’s chapter on leadership. Hughes takes the reader through "seven unique experiences that endowed Joshua with the qualities necessary to succeed Moses as the leader of God’s people" (Loc 3815). Hughes calls this "the ‘textbook’ for learning the qualities essential for spiritual leadership." These seven qualities challenged me and fueled me to want to be better in my leadership. They are incredibly valuable to keep in front of you.

This book is truly filled with a wealth of information for men. It’s not just a good read, it’s a manual that should be consulted over and over. We will never master everything, which is why Hughes’s empahsis on grace should be the continual megaphone in your head as you read this. He also includes a wealth of resources in the back including resources for spiritual growth, a survey of what books have made big impacts on well known Christian leaders, selected Proverbs regarding the tongue, a list of hymns for personal praise and adoration, and much more.

Disciplines of a Godly Man is now my go to recommendation for men’s discipleship. It would be great to walk through with other men and as I said, it is really a manual and not just a book. R. Kent Hughes has given Christian men a great gift by writing this work.

You can get your copy of Disciplines of a Godly Man on Amazon.

Disclaimer: I received a free digital copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.