Book Reviews

Book Review: “Grace” by Max Lucado

Chris

Grace_MaxLucadoHave you ever picked up what you thought was a new book by one of your favorite authors, only to be disappointed because it was just a repackage of a book you already own and love? When I had the chance to read Grace: More than We Deserve, Greater than We Imagine by Max Lucado, I was afraid it was just that. After all, “grace” comes packaged with Max Lucado’s name on it many ways.

What I was not expecting is the gut-wrenching that I had reading the book. As a pastor, I try to walk the line between grace and what comes after. It is a paradox throughout Scripture. Reading about the depths of grace only serves to convince me of its necessity, not just in communicating the Gospel, but in living every day.

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Bible

Choosing Between Two Lives (Hebrews 11:24-27)

Chris

Moses is a key figure of both Jewish and Christian history. If it were not for Moses, the people of God would have remained slaves until God brought in another deliverer. When it comes to Moses’ work as the one who rescued Israel from slavery in Egypt, we often think first of the burning bush. There Moses encountered God and heard God’s call to save His people from Pharaoh.

But long before the burning bush Moses had made a key decision. If he were to face this choice and choose differently, Moses would not have led the people out of Egypt to the Promised Land. Thankfully, Moses chose the path he did.

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Church Life, Ministry

Are You A Leader?

Chris

It is a topic we hear about almost incessantly. Churches are seeking, developing and empowering leaders. Your boss at work is looking for a leader on the team.

Many of us decide whether to read a book or an article, to download a podcast or to have our ears open at all based on whether we believe we are leaders. Our answer to the question, “Am I a/the leader?” is powerful. And it has more impact on our lives other than which section to browse through at the bookstore.

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Bible, Ministry

New FREE Resource: “See”

Chris

Our church began studying the Seven Churches of Revelation in the Spring of this year. The study has grown and continued with great discussion, enthusiasm and interest. In fact, we are still studying the first three chapters of Revelation.

The first part of our study was a look into the vision of Jesus in Revelation One. Too often we jump straight to Chapters Two and Three when we talk about the churches. Jesus’ appearance in Chapter One was meant to impact the readers of the letters, showing Him in power and position at the right hand of the Father’s throne.

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Book Reviews

Book Review: “The Power of the Prophetic Blessing”

Chris

Who doesn’t want more blessings in their lives? We all hope for more of them, even pray for more of them. Yet we find in a Scripture a powerful truth that we can be the voice of blessing, stirring God’s hand to bless.

In “The Power of the Prophetic Blessing,” Pastor John Hagee promises to reveal the power of blessings, not just from God and His promises, but from His people to others. It has “the power to revolutionize your life, and the lives of your children and grandchildren” (4). But you almost forget that the book is supposed to be about how you prophetically speak blessing into the lives of others because He spends so much time talking generically about blessings.

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Bible

Eyes to See (Hebrews 11:23)

Chris

One of the greatest people in the history of Israel is Moses. Through him God delivered His chosen people of Israel out of slavery in Egypt. He led them through the desert, gave them the Ten Commandments and all the laws of God.

But Moses’ life almost ended long before God could have done any of these through him. When he was born there was a law in Egypt to kill the male children born to Hebrew women. Moses should have died after he was born. Hebrews 11 tells us how Moses was spared the death that waited for him.

By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. (Hebrews 11:23)

It was the faith of Moses’ parents that saved him. They trusted God more than they feared the laws of Egypt. Before that, their faith gave them a gift that we should learn to use in our own lives.

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