GOD’S OUTRAGEOUS CLAIMS
Discover what they mean for you
By Lee Strobel. Zondervan. 268 pages. £7.99
ISBN 978-0-31022-561-4
In Lee Strobel’s newest book, God’s outrageous claims, he challenges the reader to explore 13 of ‘God’s phenomenal claims’ that can be ‘the trajectory’ of life itself.
With a refreshing boldness, Strobel brings the truths of Scripture to bear on such subjects as forgiveness, kindness, sex and eternity in a relevant way. Furthermore, he engages the reader at a deeply practical level with the way he structures each chapter to answer a question such as ‘You can survive the Rat Race without becoming a Rat’.
His book seems to be directed at American Christians, who might have slipped a little, at a spiritual level, and need their confidence renewed through the application of God’s Word to the contemporary situations. In my work as a minister and evangelist, I have found this book useful to give to people as an introduction to Christian living or as an apologetic to interested seekers who need a specific answer to a certain question. The author’s arguments are easy to remember and recall in conversation or prayer, which, let us face it, is important in our Christian mission to be equipped and prepared. I think reading a chapter a day, along with your usual Bible notes, would enrich any believer’s way with the Lord.
Above all, I believe this book, and books like it, are helpful because they celebrate the uniqueness of original Christian living and keep Christians [like me] from watering down the radical outworking of their faith among their families, friends, work colleagues and neighbours. The final chapter, ‘Playing it safe is the most dangerous way to live’ is a well-written gospel call to the unconverted.
Trevor Lewis,
Lindfield Evangelical Free Church, Lindfield, Haywards Heath, West Sussex
