Not a Fan: Becoming a Completely Committed Follower of Jesus is the first book written by Kyle Idleman, teaching pastor at Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, KY. His second book, Gods at War, previously was blogged and annotated on this site. Pastor Idleman begins Chapter 1 (“D. T. R.”) of Not a Fan with what […]
Grace (Thomas Nelson, 2012) The full title of this book by Max Lucado is Grace: More Than We Deserve, Greater Than We Imagine. Pastor Lucado begins with the assertion that God answers the messes of life with one word: grace. He then defines grace as “the voice that calls us to change and then gives […]
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age.”- Titus 2:11-12 “Grace is the gift of feeling sure that our future, even our dying, is going to turn out more splendidly than […]
“In love he predestined us for adoption as sons, through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the beloved.”- Ephesians 1:5-6 “He meant us to see Him and live with Him and draw our life from His smile.”- A. […]
“Freely you have received, freely give.”- Mathew 10:8 (NIV) “Grace must find expression in life, otherwise it is not grace.”- Karl Barth In Chapter 9 (“Unscrooged Hearts”) of Grace, Max Lucado tells how bridal shop owner Amy Wells gave grace to a dying man. That man, Jack Autry, had been hospitalized because he was in […]
“Cry for help and you’ll find it’s grace and more grace. The moment he hears, he’ll answer.”- Isaiah 30:19 (The Message) “[God] never gives a thorn without this added grace, He takes the thorn to pin aside the veil which hides His face.”- Martha Snell Nicholson Chapter 8 (“Fear Dethroned”) of Grace begins with the […]
“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”- 1 John 1:8-9 “The confession of evil works is the first beginning of good works.”- Augustine In […]
“Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a redeemer.”- Ruth 4:14 (ESV) “Lord, I crawled across the barrenness to you with my empty cup. . . . If I had only known you better, I’d have come running with a bucket.”- Nancy Spiegelberg Max Lucado bases Chapter 6 (“Grace on […]
“Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.”- John 13:14-15 “If you do not transform your pain, you surely will transmit it.”- Richard Rohr In Chapter 5 (“Wet Feet”) […]
“God’s promise arrives as a pure gift. That’s the only way everyone can be sure to get in on it.”- Romans 4:16 (The Message) “A man whose hands are full of parcels can’t receive a gift.”- C. S. Lewis Max Lucado opens Chapter 4 (“You Can Rest Now”) of Grace with a commentary on how […]
“We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”- Isaiah 53:6 “Christianity is not the sacrifice we make, but the sacrifice we trust.”- P T. Forsyth In Chapter 3 (“O Sweet Exchange”) of Grace, author Max […]
“We will be confident when we stand before the Lord, even if our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.”- 1 John 3:19-20 (New Living Translation) ” . . . we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”- 1 John 2:1 As Max Lucado concludes […]