Do you want your life to be "effective" and "productive"? Do you want your life's impact to be felt over future generations? If you discovered you only had three years left to live, what might you do differently to make sure this happens?
These questions led Dr. Drew M. Christian to "The Ladder of Virtues," found in 2 Peter, which escapulates the characteristics Jesus displayed during His three years of ministry. Regardless of what you believe about Jesus, His short life was certainly "effective" and "productive," leaving an impact still felt two thousand years after His death and still transforming lives today.
"For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ." -2 Peter 1:5-8
Drew believed that the virtues listed in 2 Peter 1:5-8, and displayed by Jesus over three years of ministry, would be a good place to start if one wanted to make sure one's life was effective and productive in the time they had left.
This led Drew to ask, "If I made an intentional effort to climb "The Ladder of Virtues" over the next three years, what difference might I make and how might I affect generations after me? How might it affect my leadership, my work, my family, and my community?"
This journey, along with a study guide for individuals and small groups, is recorded in the book. The book challenges the reader to consider climbing the ladder of virtues, choosing to practice each rung of the ladder, and shows how this can lead to a life of purpose and impact.
