Book Review: The Grace of God by Andy Stanley

The Grace of God by Andy Stanley
ISBN: 978-0849947162
Paperback, 240 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson

None of us deserves what God offers, a life free from sin and hope for a glorious future, but unbelievably it's ours for the taking. Why? Because of God's grace. The unmerited favor, the lavish love and kindness he pours out on us, and has, since Creation.

But if it's so available then why do we live a graceless life? Why are our churches filled with disillusioned Christians, weary of religion's demands, struggling with personal defeat because of issues or behaviors?

Join pastor Andy Stanley as he traces grace through the Old and New Testaments, observing God's grace at work in the lives of some of the best—and worst—characters. He also uses personal stories from his own life to reveal how grace is not a natural response but is the most essential one. Together these stories unravel the mystery of grace and tell of its transforming power to set us free (from Booksneeze).

This is a very interesting book. It often has me stumped why God would offer us grace…and sometimes I forget that He has offered it. Being human, perhaps I forget because it is difficult to extend grace myself to others. I try to remember that God is so much more awesome than any human could ever imagine or strive to be.

This book goes through different accounts from the Bible to help show that God’s grace is extended to us, those who look to Him and try to serve Him. But it isn’t because of what we have done (or will ever do). It is because He loves us.

Each chapter is a different view of grace:

• Chosen
• Surprised
• Redeemed
• Ruled
• Rescued
• Sustained
• Puzzled
• Accepted
• Reborn
• Filled
• Saved
• Commissioned

I enjoyed this book and will reread it, I think. It touches on so much that I’d not thought of before. God doesn’t have to give us anything. And yet He does give us grace. There were definitely interjections of the author's opinion (when there isn't a specific statement in the Bible, such as about how God feels [such as boredom]) but Stanley points to the Bible's passages in every chapter of this book and dealing with the grace of God.

I received this from BookSneeze in exchange for an honest review.