A must read and a fascinating look at the grace of God. ( )

Pastor Andy Stanley of the fast-growing North Point Community Church in Atlanta gives us a biblical overview of the message of God’s grace. Stanley believes in this message, and it is this foundational concept that he has used to start and grow his churches. He believes that all Christian churches should be doing the same in order to share the true message of Jesus Christ. But he doesn’t get to that until the last chapter, although it is a powerful chapter, backed up by all of the biblical exegesis throughout the rest of the book and a conviction and a hope to preachers everywhere looking for revitalization in The Christian Church.

However, this book is first and foremost written to the average person, not just the Christian, but also the nonbeliever, and most of all, to the sinner. Stanley begins at the beginning with Adam and Eve. I struggled a bit to meet with Stanley on his analysis of grace in the fall and the calling of Abraham. I worried that I just wouldn’t get it. The book is written in plain and simple language for the common reader, and I felt I needed more. The book became more relatable in the story of Joseph, and then Stanley knocked me off my feet with grace and the Ten Commandments. That’s right, grace and the Ten Commandments. After that, Stanley continued to turn the standard view of God’s rules and regulations on its head and demonstrate the power of God’s grace over and over again. The power of forgiveness over sin. The power of faith over self-righteousness.

The power of the message of grace increased with every chapter in the stories of Rahab, David, and Jonah. We are more than halfway through the book and he hasn’t even gotten to the New Testament! Stanley concretely shows that grace was God’s plan from the beginning, and it was fully realized – “it was finished” – in the life and death of His son, Jesus Christ. Stanley continues analyzing the message of grace in the life stories of Matthew, Nicodemus, the Samaritan women at the well, and the criminal hung on the cross, but now, we get the words of Jesus, the words of the Lord, and we clearly see His intention to bring the message of grace to all. Stanley uses scripture and also the parables of the workers and the prodigal son to leave no doubt that grace is what it’s all about.

This book would make an excellent bible study for a small group. Discussion questions can be downloaded online. Read the biblical story, then read Stanley’s interpretation, and you may wonder why you had never seen it that way before. Stanley provides a summary sentence about grace at the beginning of each of the 13 chapters and key ideas are bolded throughout the text. The book is also an excellent personal read for new believers, nonbelievers, and longtime believers who may have become like the Pharisees and been so caught up in following the rules that they forgot about the message of grace. Stanley even addresses the issue of fairness and reminds us that we are all in need of God’s grace and that it is freely available to all who believe. ( )

Often the grace of God is seen as a New Testament idea - with "the god of the Old Testament" being one of wrath and judgment. Stanley, a master storyteller, clears up such misunderstands by drawing out the depths of God's grace throughout the Bible; from creation to the early church, the message of the Bible is saturated with God's grace. Stanley unpacks the primacy of God's grace in several familiar Old Testament stories (e.g. Adam & Eve, Abraham & Sarah, the giving of the law, and more) and in Jesus' own life and teaching (e.g. Matthew's genealogy, the Samaritan woman, and more). Overall, this work provides a well-told reminder of the necessity and centrality of God's grace. A ( )

I had not read any books by Andy Stanley previous to this one (I've since gone back and picked up two of his earlier books). I happened to just by chance pick it up one day while killing some time between appointments for work read the cover and thought hmm maybe this could help with some questions that always run thorugh my mind. While I was reading this book and long after I was done I could only think of two words "Wow and Thank you". I Highly Recommend this book. I really never understood the whole aspect of "Grace" until reading this very easy to read plainly written book. The one thing we all so desperately want is the one thing we do not deserve and yet it's the one thing that is available to all of us if we will just ask. ( )

**I received this complimentary copy through Booksneeze.com. All the opinions expressed are my own.**

This was an amazing read and well worth the time spent reading it. Andy Stanley did a masterful job on communicating the grace of God. By showing how man does not deserve God's grace, how God has extended his grace a plethora of times, and why grace is a great gift of God.

Mr. Stanley does not try to persuade the reader to his understanding of grace but tries to inform the reader of what the grace of God is. By doing this, he allows the reader to come to their own conclusions. After all, grace is something not easily understood by mankind, something Mr. Stanley readily admits in this book.

Another plus for this read is the way in which Mr. Stanley weaves the story of grace exhibited. By using Biblical history, Mr. Stanley shows that some of the greatest Biblical character had much grace extended to them and how such grace is still available today. God has not changed; neither is the grace He gives.

I would highly recommend that this book be put on your "must read" list. Mr. Stanley is an amazing communicator and his style, with this subject, work wonderful in tandem. The beauty of grace was revealed with such passion and candor that I found myself stopping several to review what I had just read. A six star book when only five stars are given. ( )