“And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” (John 17:3 – ESV) This verse, from Jesus’ prayer recorded in the Gospel According to John, describes eternal life as knowing God. Eternal life isn’t just having life forever, going to ‘heaven’, being forgiven, an end to pain or being justified. Eternal life is about relationship. Relationship with God: the Creator of the Universe. Relationship with His Son: the Lord Jesus Christ.
I’ve recently read a book that has an aim of introducing people to God, that they may know him and have relationship with him. I can’t think of a better aim for a book!
Introducing God: Meeting the God who loves us is a fantastic book written by Dominic Steele (with Melinda Chiew). It’s adapted from the popular Introducing God course. The book is clear and easy to understand. Dominic is warm and engaging in his writing style. I thoroughly recommend this book to Christians as a book to read and then give away to non-Christian friends.
As a youth minister, I’d be more than happy to give this book away to senior high students. It could become a great tool for youth evangelism. Although a junior high student could read the book, I will probably continue to give ‘younger’ books to them.
FOUR REASONS WHY I LIKE TO READ BOOKS LIKE THIS ONE:
1) I am forgetful. I need to keep being reminded of the glorious news of the Lord Jesus. Christians need to preach the gospel to themselves daily and ought never grow weary of hearing and believing John 3:16
2) I am prone to self-reliance. Books like these point me to the Bible and my need to continue depending on God.
3) I don’t reinvent wheels. These books always have great illustrations that I can use in talks or classes.
4) I like to know if a book is suitable before I give it away.
Introducing God was great because it 1) Reminded me of the gospel; 2) Pointed me to the Bible and dependence on God; 3) Had great illustrations; 4) And is definitely suitable to give away.
FOUR THINGS IN PARTICULAR I LIKE ABOUT THIS BOOK:
1) It’s based on Two Ways to Live. 2WTL is a brilliant gospel outline that assumes nothing. It clearly explains key doctrines of Creation, Sin, Judgement, Atonement, Resurrection and Belief. This is great for a culture that knows nothing of the Bible and needs to go back to the beginning.
2) The idea of sin can be difficult to explain to a post-modern crowd. Dominic helpfully explains sin in terms of our declaration of autonomy from God. This definition, as well as an illustration about Prince Leonard The Ruler of Hutt River, runs throughout the whole book.
3) At the end of each chapter there is a story about people who have been introduced to God. These stories are great examples of how real people have responded to the God who loves them.
4) The message of the cross is clearly explained.
FOUR WAYS YOU COULD USE THIS BOOK:
1) Read it. Give it to a friend. Talk about it.
2) Read it. Give it to a friend. Talk about it. Invite them to a course (eg. Introducing God)
3) Read it with a friend. Talk about it.
4) Read it to a friend. Talk about it.
Do you get the point? This is a great book to read and a great book to give away. Buy a bucket-full and start giving them away!
You can find the book in a Christian bookshop or online.
Have you read the book? What did you think?
Given it to any friends yet? How did it go?
Tim Roediger and I have started a new youth ministry blog. It’s called The Youth Vanguard: evangelical youth ministry authors collective. You can find it here.
