For some time, I’ve been asking myself the following question – “How do I actually share the gospel with people???”
As a teenager, I was dissatisfied with the gospel presentation that begins with the question – “if you died tonight, do you know where you’d go???”… Doesn’t the gospel of Jesus have just as much to do with living as it does with dying??? The four spiritual laws don’t seem to capture the essence of the story of Scripture… How can eternal things be summed up into 4 laws??? And the “Romans Road” is OK… but aren’t those six verses little pieces of longer chapters and more complex thoughts???

Searching For God Knows What has helped me understand the gospel in a way that doesn’t trivialize the fullness of God’s love or minimize the cost of following Jesus…

In a professional world where everything seems to be summed up in formulas, seven step plans, and propositional sales pitches (including our presentation of the gospel), Donald Miller presents a fresh look at the story of man’s brokenness and God’s redemptive plan His people… Using story, analogy, poetry, and narrative, Miller breaks the mold by recapturing the image of a relational God.

*** Side Note - For those who are skeptical of Donald Miller because of his association with the Emerging Church (whatever that is…), please read this book!!! You will find Miller to be quite conservative in his theology, and very well thought out in his systematic theology… Probably Reformed, Calvinists, etc… but he actually has a heart along with a brain… Different from most Calvinists I know…

Especially interesting are chapters 5-8… Perhaps the best human writings that explain the natural brokenness of mankind…

Was William Shakespeare an undercover evangelist??? Was the story of Romeo and Juliet actually the poet’s write of the gospel of Jesus??? After reading the last chapter of this book, you might think so…

So… What is so amazing about grace??? Well, this book pretty much answers that question…

If you’re a Believer that has lived within the legalistic confines of a unloving church, you’ll probably do a little dance after reading this book… You will be exposed to a new picture of God presenting Him as a loving friend as opposed to a angry judge… Philip Yancey assists you in finding the freedom of God’s grace!!!

One of my favorite lines in the book is as follows - “There is nothing we can do to make God love us more. There is nothing we can do to make God love us less.”

Strong Points:
1. Great use of real-life stories that display unimagineable grace…
2. Excellent challenge presented to Christ-followers to extend grace to specific groups that we tend to reject, condemn, or verbally abuse - liberal politicians, homosexuals, pastors that make mistakes, criminals, ethnic groups,
3. Great chapter on legalism - called “Grace Avoidance”
4. Chapter 14 gives a direct admonishment to never abuse grace or use it as a “loophole” for sin…

Weak Points:

*** none that stand out, but I can’t remember every word on every page… So those let the skeptics begin their criticisms… but please remember to show grace… even to authors with whom you disagree… HA!!!

To summarize - definitely a worthwhile read…
Strong Points:
1. lots of humor
2. cartoon illustrations
3. great chapter on repentance/confession
4. great chapter on sexuality
5. great chapter on love
6. closing chapter on Jesus - Miller makes a direct challenge to the reader to experience Jesus for his/herself

Weak Points:
1. continuous sarcasm toward the church
2. unending support of democratic government
3. very postmodern view of Christianity beingj “felt” rather than explained