What are the main sections of *Note to Self*?

The book divides into three parts: * **The Gospel & God**: How the gospel redefines understanding of God’s character. * **The Gospel & Others**: Implications for relationships and community. * **The Gospel & You**: Personal application in areas like repentance, humility, and waiting for Christ.

What key quotes define *Note to Self*?

* **On guilt**: “Amassing feelings of guilt becomes a perverted penance… your guilt isn’t a means of getting clean”. * **On joy**: “Your heart is divided, and your interests spread thin”. * **On self-preaching**: “You need to preach truth to yourself, not just listen to others preach”.

Note to Self

Q: What is *Note to Self* by Joe Thorn about?

*Note to Self* is a practical guide to preaching the gospel to oneself, offering 48 short chapters modeled as personal exhortations. It focuses on applying biblical truths to daily struggles like pride, guilt, and spiritual complacency, emphasizing how self-directed gospel preaching reshapes hearts and actions. Thorn blends direct challenges with grace, urging readers to confront sin and embrace Christ-centered transformation.

Q: Is *Note to Self* worth reading?

Yes, *Note to Self* is highly recommended for its unique approach to personal sanctification. Reviewers praise its "stinging yet gracious" tone and practicality, calling it a "must-read" for those wanting to bridge theological knowledge and daily obedience. The 2-3 page chapters make it accessible for daily devotions.

Q: How does *Note to Self* compare to other Christian living books?

Unlike theoretical discipleship guides, *Note to Self* offers actionable, first-person exhortations. It complements Jerry Bridges’ *The Discipline of Grace* but stands out for its “note” format, mimicking self-directed preaching.

the discipline of preaching to yourself

Joe Thorn

4.2 (1421 Reviews)

Visão geral de Note to Self

In "Note to Self," Joe Thorn revolutionizes personal devotion through 50 powerful self-sermons. Endorsed by Christian leaders like Ed Stetzer, this compact spiritual guide teaches what Justin Buzzard calls "a skill that will permanently change your life" - the transformative practice of preaching to yourself.

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Intro

Resumo de Note to Self

1
Speaking Truth to Your Soul: The Ancient Practice Renewed
00:00
00:00
Have you ever noticed how the most important conversations are often the ones we have with ourselves? In "Note to Self," Joe Thorn revives the ancient Christian practice of "preaching to yourself" - a discipline embraced by spiritual giants from Augustine to C.S. Lewis. This isn't mere positive self-talk; it's the deliberate application of God's truth to your own heart. In a world where we're bombarded with external voices telling us who we are and what we need, Thorn reminds us that the most transformative dialogue happens within. This forgotten art might be exactly what our distracted, externally-validated souls are missing. The practice of preaching to yourself - applying both law and gospel to your heart daily - isn't just another spiritual discipline. It's the fundamental way we appropriate the truths we claim to believe. By speaking God's truth to our own souls, we move from intellectual assent to transformative experience. Like Israel of old, we tend to forget the most basic and important things. We need constant reminders of our former slavery to sin, our new identity in Christ, our purpose for God's glory, and our mission to make disciples. Without these reminders, we lose humility, gratitude, purpose, and connection.
2
The Gospel's Double Edge: Law and Grace in Daily Life
Preaching to yourself requires wielding both law and gospel precisely. God's law functions as a window revealing His perfect standard and a mirror reflecting our failure to meet it. It shows what's right, wrong, and needed. The law alone would crush us, which is why the gospel must follow. Jesus offers three transformative gifts: His righteousness becoming ours, His death securing forgiveness, and His resurrection guaranteeing victory. When preaching this gospel to yourself, you remind your soul that in Christ, you are righteous despite failings, forgiven despite guilt, and victorious despite struggles. Neither law nor gospel can stand alone. The law reveals brokenness; the gospel provides redemption. This creates a cycle where guilt gives way to grace, producing joyful, free obedience. What once felt burdensome becomes delightful when motivated by gratitude rather than fear.
3
Rediscovering God's Character and Pursuing Worship
Our view of Jesus tends to shrink over time. We focus on one aspect until we forget the rest, resulting in a diminished Christ easily eclipsed by idols and ego - explaining why we sometimes lack passion for eternal things while overflowing with enthusiasm for the temporal. Jesus is bigger than you think - the perfect revelation of God, the radiance of His glory, Creator and Sustainer of everything. Everything belongs to Him and exists for Him. When this reality captures your imagination, competing idols lose their power. This expanded view transforms our spiritual disciplines. Singing becomes a high expression of joy and natural response to grace. Gratitude shifts from occasional sentiment to the humble response of a transformed heart. Fear evolves from earthly anxiety to holy reverence that produces awe and careful living. Your theology remains incomplete until articulated for others. God revealed Himself so you could both know Him and make Him known. Don't treat your daily work as separate from God's purposes - your work glorifies Him when done in faith, thankfulness, and godliness, reflecting His beauty to those around you.
Capítulo 4
The Gospel in Relationships and Community
The gospel transforms how we relate to others. Stop judging others-you won't until you cease seeing yourself as the measure of righteousness. "Judge not" doesn't mean abandoning discernment but releasing hypercritical, condemning attitudes. Your experience of grace should drive you to show mercy. Consider how you treat those with opposing beliefs or political views. Even your tipping habits reveal your heart-generous tipping despite poor service demonstrates grace that won't go unnoticed. The gospel frees us from pretending. We all present good faces when things aren't well, but this superficial persona stems from pride and prevents authentic connection. When you lack transparency, you deny others the chance to speak truth into your life. The gospel creates space for honesty about being both sinners and saints. You can't follow Jesus faithfully alone. God's declaration that "It is not good for man to be alone" addresses our fundamental need for community. You need to both hear and speak biblical truth in relationships. God places people in your life to encourage and correct you, yet often we expect Him to speak only through Scripture or prayer. What many miss is that God primarily answers prayers for wisdom through other people.
Capítulo 5
Waging War Against Sin Through Heart-Keeping
In your pursuit of Christ-like love, remember that true love for God naturally creates abhorrence for all that opposes Him. Do you hate sin itself, not just its consequences? Complacency often stems from insufficient passion in both love and hatred. Like Paul, you need hatred for sin and love for the Savior to effectively war against the flesh while hoping in Jesus. You may maintain good conduct while neglecting your heart. Without internal work, external behavior has little value and may collapse when tested. While religious people focus on appearances, God is concerned with your heart - when you keep that, everything else follows. Heart-keeping means maintaining communion with God and pursuing transformation through worship, Scripture, prayer, and church fellowship. You'll never be done with repentance until death or Christ's return. It demands daily intentionality: revulsion for sin, resolution to walk in righteousness, and repetition of this cycle.
Capítulo 6
Living All of Life as Worship
Public worship isn't just spiritual refueling or entertainment. While gathering with believers encourages you, its primary purpose is glorifying God. Come prepared to offer your entire self to the God who rescued you. Though gathered worship may be the week's highlight, it's sustained by ongoing private worship beyond mere "quiet time." Limiting Scripture and prayer to brief morning sessions creates isolated spiritual moments followed by essentially atheistic days. True private worship connects daily experiences to spontaneous prayers and praise. Despite its imperfections, the church remains essential to God's mission and your spiritual growth. You cannot thrive on weekly services, podcasts, and books alone. Approach your faith community not as a consumer but as a vital member of a body. Hebrews warns that mutual encouragement protects believers from sin's hardening effect. Without it, your heart becomes less sensitive to the Spirit and increasingly blind to your own corruption.
Capítulo 7
Finding Grace in Suffering
God doesn't promise a life without affliction but offers grace to suffer well and discover the gospel's riches through pain. While asking for relief is natural, what matters more is trusting God's promise to use trials for his glory and our good. Suffering reveals our true dependence and shapes our identity. The depth of your repentance impacts your faith's vibrancy - not because you repent well, but because in repenting you recognize both your sin's darkness and the magnificent grace that overcomes it. When we preach to ourselves, we're reshaping our desires and realigning our lives with God. In our distracted world, this practice of speaking truth to ourselves may be more essential than ever. What truth does your soul most need to hear today?

Temas principais em Note to Self

preaching to yourself
gospel centered living
spiritual self-talk
law and gospel
biblical meditation

Citações de Note to Self

The most important conversation may be the one we have with ourselves.
A good teacher or evangelist is first a good preacher to himself.
We only love God because He loved us first.
Gratitude is a test of your faith.
A small Jesus doesn't inspire.

Personagens de Note to Self

Joe ThornAuthor and practitioner of self-preaching
AugustineHistorical spiritual figure and practitioner

Sobre o Autor

Joe Thorn is the author of Note to Self: The Discipline of Preaching to Yourself and a pastor-theologian known for his practical applications of Reformed theology.

As the founding and lead pastor of Redeemer Fellowship in St. Charles, Illinois, Thorn combines his academic training—a Master of Divinity from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary—with decades of pastoral experience to address themes of spiritual discipline, self-preaching, and grace-centered living.

His writing, including contributions to The Story ESV Bible and The Mission of God Study Bible, reflects a commitment to making deep theological truths accessible to everyday believers. Thorn also co-hosts the Doctrine and Devotion Podcast and actively shares insights through his blog at JoeThorn.net. His follow-up work, Experiencing the Trinity: The Grace of God for the People of God, further explores the intersection of doctrine and devotion.

Note to Self has become a staple in Reformed circles, praised for its concise, gospel-driven approach to personal sanctification and its endorsement by prominent evangelical leaders.

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Perguntas Frequentes Sobre Este Livro

Note to Self is a practical guide to preaching the gospel to oneself, offering 48 short chapters modeled as personal exhortations. It focuses on applying biblical truths to daily struggles like pride, guilt, and spiritual complacency, emphasizing how self-directed gospel preaching reshapes hearts and actions. Thorn blends direct challenges with grace, urging readers to confront sin and embrace Christ-centered transformation.

This book is ideal for Christians seeking to deepen their personal spiritual discipline, pastors looking for models of gospel-centered counseling, or anyone battling self-deception, insecurity, or legalism. Its concise format appeals to busy readers needing bite-sized theological reflection.

Yes, Note to Self is highly recommended for its unique approach to personal sanctification. Reviewers praise its "stinging yet gracious" tone and practicality, calling it a "must-read" for those wanting to bridge theological knowledge and daily obedience. The 2-3 page chapters make it accessible for daily devotions.

The book divides into three parts:

The Gospel & God: How the gospel redefines understanding of God’s character.
The Gospel & Others: Implications for relationships and community.
The Gospel & You: Personal application in areas like repentance, humility, and waiting for Christ.

On guilt: “Amassing feelings of guilt becomes a perverted penance… your guilt isn’t a means of getting clean”.
On joy: “Your heart is divided, and your interests spread thin”.
On self-preaching: “You need to preach truth to yourself, not just listen to others preach”.

Thorn confronts pride by exposing comparison-driven self-righteousness and the idolatry of personal achievement. He argues that recognizing one’s need for grace dismantles arrogance, urging readers to replace self-exaltation with gospel humility.

Some readers note the brevity of chapters limits deeper theological exploration, and the direct tone may feel confrontational to those unfamiliar with Reformed theology. However, most praise its balance of conviction and encouragement.

Unlike theoretical discipleship guides, Note to Self offers actionable, first-person exhortations. It complements Jerry Bridges’ The Discipline of Grace but stands out for its “note” format, mimicking self-directed preaching.

Thorn models how to:

Diagnose sin patterns through honest self-talk.
Apply specific Scriptures to struggles like anxiety or unforgiveness.
Respond to failure with repentance, not self-condemnation.

The book tackles complacency by linking joylessness to divided loyalties (world vs. Christ) and offering gospel reminders to reorient desires. Thorn writes, “You don’t eagerly wait for Jesus because you love the world more than His kingdom”.

Its emphasis on internalizing truth counters modern distractions and performative spirituality. In an age of superficial self-help, Thorn’s call to sustained, gospel-driven introspection remains vital.

Thorn wrote Experiencing the Trinity and contributed to study Bibles like The Mission of God Study Bible. His works consistently focus on making doctrine actionable, contrasting with Note to Self’s devotional tone.

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Note to Self

Visão geral de Note to Self

Resumo de Note to Self

Speaking Truth to Your Soul: The Ancient Practice Renewed

The Gospel's Double Edge: Law and Grace in Daily Life

Rediscovering God's Character and Pursuing Worship

The Gospel in Relationships and Community

Waging War Against Sin Through Heart-Keeping

Living All of Life as Worship

Finding Grace in Suffering

Temas principais em Note to Self

Citações de Note to Self

Personagens de Note to Self

Sobre o Autor

Baixar resumo de Note to Self

Usuários também gostaram

Perguntas Frequentes Sobre Este Livro

What is Note to Self by Joe Thorn about?

Who should read Note to Self by Joe Thorn?

Is Note to Self worth reading?

What are the main sections of Note to Self?

What key quotes define Note to Self?

How does Note to Self address pride?

What critiques exist about Note to Self?

How does Note to Self compare to other Christian living books?

What practical frameworks does Joe Thorn provide?

How does Note to Self help with spiritual dryness?

Why is Note to Self relevant in 2025?

What other works has Joe Thorn authored?

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Explore Seu Jeito de Aprender

Modo Resumo Rápido

Leia ou ouça o resumo de Note to Self em 8 minutos

Modo Divertido

Lições de Note to Self Contadas em Histórias de 21 Min

Modo Personalizar

Experimente Note to Self no seu próprio estilo de aprendizagem

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Resumo de Note to Self

Speaking Truth to Your Soul: The Ancient Practice Renewed

The Gospel's Double Edge: Law and Grace in Daily Life

Rediscovering God's Character and Pursuing Worship

The Gospel in Relationships and Community

Waging War Against Sin Through Heart-Keeping

Living All of Life as Worship

Finding Grace in Suffering

Usuários também gostaram

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