Member Reviews
"God-Soaked Life" was a touching work that primarily focused on God's formation of a loving community, His kingdom on earth. There are many aspects of God's kingdom community that make life both rewarding and challenging, and the author does a good job outlining the Christian's responsibility in both. While I didn't agree with every little thing the author wrote and wasn't completely engaged by the book, I still thought it was well-written and particularly enjoyed exploring the topics of human nature and "heart hospitality" through the author's explanations.
Chris Webb’s book , God-Soaked Life, begins with an engaging prologue that sets the tone for his book, imagining ourselves into a kingdom ruled by God. Then he gently draws us to the reality that we already live in this kingdom. The rest of the book hangs from this prologue. While most of the concepts are not new, Chris Webb presents his ideas in a poetic, layered way, providing a fresh viewpoint on what it means to live in God’s Kingdom. His writing is positive and encouraging, with the final epilogue (a fitting bookend to the prologue) issuing us with a challenge to “explore, to learn, to grow, to change, to live.”
this is a good book to help understand Spiritual Formation. He gives an aspect of this each week with thoughtful verses and questions at the end of each. I appreciate his insight and Scriptural inserts.
I received this book free from the publisher for the purpose of review.
God-Soaked Life
Discovering a Kingdom Spirituality
by Chris Webb
InterVarsity Press
IVP Books
Christian , Religion & Spirituality
Pub Date 11 Sep 2017
I am reviewing a copy of God-Soaked Life through Intervarsity Press and Netgalley:
In this book author and Anglican Priest Chris Webb reminds us of the delight God finds when his children are drawn to him. We are reminded too that God takes us as we are.
The author points out too that he will renew our heart if only we ask him too. We are reminded too that God is love, and he wants us to seek out that love.
We are reminded too of the importance of growing closer to God's heart.
I give God-Soaked Life five out of five stars!
Happy Reading!
It's so easy to feel that you're not doing enough, or not living properly, or that you're not the person whom God intended you to be; disappointing everyone in your life, including God. This book invites you to take part in a God-soaked creation; one where you are not a disappointment, and where 'not good enough' is merely a perception to be let go of. Within a community of broken people, we can all begin to forge new relationships in which 'church' is truly a whole way of living.
Chris Webb’s God-Soaked Life: Discovering a Kingdom Spirituality is a beautiful and encouraging reminder to live with eyes to see and ears to hear the reality of the kingdom of God right now. Disciples of Jesus are not called to wait until they “fly away” somewhere; they are called to live in the kingdom now until we are fully united with God in the new heavens and new earth. What does that mean? Living and acting now in such a way that embodies the future kingdom that is “already among [us]” (Luke 17:21) and “not from this world” (John 18:36)—a kingdom and worldview that originated in God, not a human mind or institution. This way of love is not merely a suggestion; it’s a command. But if all we’re being are rule followers, then we’ve missed the entire point of loving God and neighbor—the kingdom.
Webb presents perspective on and life in the kingdom of God in practical and accessible ways. The book is divided into seven sections (The Invitation, Heart Renewal, Fearless Honesty, Close to the Father’s Heart, God in Everyday Life, Creating Community, and The Politics of Love), each containing three substantial chapters followed by a concluding fourth, which includes seven helpful and introspective questions based on particular readings of scripture. These questions may be pondered and answered all at once or, as suggested, taken a day at a time for a week’s worth of introspection and devotional time.
I will be recommending this book to my students, as well as many others (including you!). If it were scheduled to be published a month earlier, I would have had it on a reading list. Alas, it will be released too late, but never too late to recommend!
Grace and Peace to you all, and may you have eyes to see and ears to hear the kingdom of God in which we already live!
*I received a temporary, unpublished digital copy (hence no page numbers for included quotations) for review from InterVarsity Press via NetGalley.