The Book Blog

Crazy Love
Francis Chan
Cook
Published in 2008
ISBN 9781434768513

Review by Kevin Stern

Crazy Love by Francis Chan may be my favorite read this year. Chan has cut to the heart of the Christian life – God is amazing and we are here to serve him. You will want to read the first few chapters a second time. Chapter one gives a look at a big God. For a sample, visit here and look at the “Awe Factor” video. It’s tough not to be moved by thinking of a God so amazing, who cares for us in a small corner of his universe. Each chapter has a mini video to introduce that chapter. The second chapter, “You Might Not Finish This Chapter,” talks about our human frailty. The third chapter talks about God’s love for us.

The remainder of the book is a look at how all this impacts your life. Let me warn you, though: This is not for the faint-hearted. Chan doesn’t pull any punches in the quest to have you examine your life. He leads by example in pastoring a church that gives over half its budget to helping the poor.

Crazy Love was a quick read with short chapters and an engaging style, but it will be working on me for a long time to come.

Experiencing God’s Story of Life and Hope
J. Scott Duvall
Kregel
Published in 2008
ISBN 9780825425387

Review by Kevin Stern

J. Scott Duvall has produced a really good spiritual formation workbook in Experiencing God’s Story of Life and Hope. The book guides people through a process of belief, behavior, and becoming on a road to spiritual maturity. His approach walks through a doctrine that needs to be believed, followed by behavior that needs to be practiced, and finally creating character qualities in your life. For example, believing the authority of the Bible leadds to the habit of studying the Bible which in turn leads to living a truthful life.

The book walks us through a short systematic theology. What really caught my attention, though, was the Bible-study-methods style of unlocking the Biblical passage presented in each chapter. This isn’t a flat one-question, one verse study. Instead, the book teaches how to study Bible passages as part of the process. This would be great to follow up new believers or for somall groups wanting to grow deeper.

Each chapter of the book is filled with quotes, cross-references, and a bibliography for further study. I like the approach. I like the execution. I highly recommend this book for helping Christians grow deeper.