Book Review: Just Like Us by Stef Liston
Stef Liston is a regular preacher at Newday where his anointed, dynamic and passionate preaching impacts many young people. He is currently planting Revelation Church in London.
'Just Like Us' is his first book, and takes a look at many characters throughout scripture to see what lessons we can learn from them. Stef draws out how they are just like us, and yet points to the incredible ways they walk with God.
His book is both encouraging and very challenging. It is very accessible, with short, punchy chapters that end with a summary and questions for further reflection. I'm not sure if this book is aimed more towards young people, but the theology certainly isn't lightweight and the engaging writing style and succinct chapter structure really enabled the message of each chapter to hit home each time.
The chapters, and things that spoke to me, are outlined below:
- Jacob: Persevering in wrestling with God unlocks a change in us, and God's blessing.
- Moses: Successful intercession is based upon knowledge of the character and promises of God.
- Gideon: Enquiring of God reveals more about the reality of the situation.
- Hannah: Suffering and desperation connect us with God, teach us about our need, and give God a door to demonstrate his glory and goodness.
- Solomon: God loves to answer prayers based upon his already promised favour.
- Elijah: He was just like us; he was a servant of God; He knew who he was; he persevered in prayer in what God had called him.
- Elisha: Prayer unlocks revelation.
- Mary: Prayers of surrender remind us it's God we serve and attack roots of unbelief in our lives.
- The Other Mary: God loves silence before him, so he can speak.
- Jesus: Faith is a gift from God when we ask him for it.
- Jesus: Unforgiveness opposes intimacy with God.
- The Early Church: There is power in corporate prayer.
- Paul & Silas: Our praise and prayer during pain reveal where we are really at.
- The Martyrs: God will judge in his time.
- John: The heart of the Christian life is "Come, Lord Jesus."
Overall, I'd sum up the books message as this: prayer effectiveness and intimacy with Jesus are interwoven.
I recommend this book wholeheartedly to anyone of any age who wants to be challenged to grow in prayer and walk with Jesus.
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8 Comments:
I am glad this book has not been "targeted" towards young people and is therefore not age specific.
The Bible is not laid out like that so IMHO (well, fairly humble, work in progress and all that) neither should instructional books like this.
I am all for simplifying Bible stories for very young children and increasing the detail and depth as they increase in awareness, but by the time they are counted as "youth" they should feeding on the same strong meat as those who pass for adults....sorry, are adults :-)
Another great preacher sells out and writes a book eh?
Thats exactly why I've never written a book
This book sounds great. I think it sounds exactly right for a newer Christian (not v young) friend who was bemoaning her lack of bible knowledge recently. (And I like the sound of the chapter about Mary; being silent before God. Hmmm!)
(Thanks for your encouraging comment t'other day on my blog btw. It took long enough to edit/re-write I have to be honest. But it's been linked on the other (Ungrind) site now so I can't leave this comment on mine!)
I think you meant "that's". Have you not been reading El's posts?
:P
Okay, I have now bought and read my own copy of this book....and I think it is a book that anyone could benefit from reading.
Personally, I repeat, personally I would have liked it to have been a bit thicker and therefore have provided space for some more detail.
Although some of the writing style was in fact targeted at the so called 'youth', fortunately Stef did keep the meat in its rightful place...up front and centre
I'll never grasp the sorcery of punctuation and grammar.....
*sad*
The sorcery of punctuation and grammar?
That's good. That's very good. I'll have to use it sometime.
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