How Does God Change Us?

By Dane Ortlund

"Abide in my love." —John 15:9
As followers of Christ, we long to grow in godliness, but we often find ourselves stuck. Sin runs deep, we continue to fail, and we are easily tempted to give up. It doesn't have to be that way.
In How Does God Change Us?, Dane Ortlund explains how those united to Jesus Christ do not need to look anywhere but to Christ himself for real growth. We change by going deeper into the same truths that saved us in the first place. With timeless counsel from historical Christian figures, Ortlund shows you how to get traction in your spiritual walk, experience real change, and live out your invincible identity in Christ.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Crossway Books
• Release date: Aug 25, 2021
• ISBN: 9781433574054

Dane Ortlund

Dane C. Ortlund (PhD, Wheaton College) serves as senior pastor of Naperville Presbyterian Church in Naperville, Illinois. He is the author of Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers and Deeper: Real Change for Real Sinners. Dane and his wife, Stacey, have five children.

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This lovely, easy-to-read primer by Dane Ortlund grounds our discipleship in the glowing center of Christianity—our Lord Jesus. It’s easy to think that as we grow as Christians, we move on to ‘higher things’ (whatever that means!), when in fact we simply need to learn the beauty and depth of Jesus and all that he’s done for us. That’s what Ortlund helps us do here. This book will bless you!

Paul E. Miller, author, A Praying Life and J-Curve: Dying and Rising with Jesus in Everyday Life

"That angst in your soul for more is a part of the growing process—a gift of hunger and thirst that Jesus, the inexhaustible well, will fill. In How Does God Change Us?, Dane Ortlund reminds us that the angst is satisfied not by behavioral modification or some quick fix but by the beauty of friendship with Jesus and the peace more deeply accepted in our souls. If you are hungry and thirsty for more life, more joy, more peace, and more Jesus, this is a book for you."

Matt Chandler, Lead Pastor, The Village Church, Dallas, Texas; President, Acts 29 Church Planting Network; author, The Mingling of Souls and The Explicit Gospel

Jesus said that our greatest ‘work’ is to believe. As much as any living author, Dane Ortlund has helped me to believe again by reacquainting me with the stunning tenderness and beauty of Jesus. As I read his words, I can sense my heart growing in trust, devotion, and godly affections, grounded in the Savior’s love for me. In this incredibly helpful, pastoral book, Dane works out the implications of that vision of Jesus for personal growth, showing us how the key to going further with Jesus is going deeper in his finished work.

J. D. Greear, Lead Pastor, The Summit Church, Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina

How does God change us as his beloved daughters and sons? Think less of climbing a mountain and more of swimming in a deep ocean of the always-more-ness of Jesus. If you’ve ever wondered what the Bible really means by ‘fixing our gaze on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith,’ this should be the next book you spend time with. Dane helps us understand that the gospel is more of a person to adore and know than theological propositions and categories to master.

Scotty Smith, Pastor Emeritus, Christ Community Church, Franklin, Tennessee; Teacher in Residence, West End Community Church, Nashville, Tennessee

How Does God Change Us?

Union

A book series edited by Michael Reeves

Rejoice and Tremble: The Surprising Good News of the Fear of the Lord, Michael Reeves (2021)

What Does It Mean to Fear the Lord?, Michael Reeves (2021, concise version of Rejoice and Tremble)

Deeper: Real Change for Real Sinners, Dane C. Ortlund (2021)

How Does God Change Us?, Dane C. Ortlund (2021, concise version of Deeper)

How Does God Change Us?

Dane C. Ortlund

How Does God Change Us?

Copyright © 2021 by Dane C. Ortlund

Published by Crossway

1300 Crescent Street

Wheaton, Illinois 60187

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher, except as provided for by USA copyright law. Crossway® is a registered trademark in the United States of America.

Cover design: Jordan Singer

Cover image: Museum Purchase, Gallery Fund / Bridgeman Images

First printing 2021

Printed in the United States of America

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Trade paperback ISBN: 978-1-4335-7403-0

ePub ISBN: 978-1-4335-7405-4

PDF ISBN: 978-1-4335-7404-7

Mobipocket ISBN: 978-1-4335-7406-1

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Ortlund, Dane Calvin, author.

Title: How does God change us? / Dane C. Ortlund.

Description: Wheaton, Illinois : Crossway, [2021] | Series: Union | Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2021002413 (print) | LCCN 2021002414 (ebook) | ISBN 9781433574030 (trade paperback) | ISBN

Reviews for How Does God Change Us?

[Christine Ford · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Such a beautiful way to inspire a deeper relationship with Jesus.