I requested Becoming Sage for review knowing it was a nonfiction title, but that fact somehow slipped my mind while it waited on my Kindle. As a result, I assumed it was a novel when I picked it up. Hey, Becoming Sage is a great title for a women’s fiction story!

Once I got over my “oops!” moment, I found Becoming Sage was a book I needed to read.

It’s also a book I suspect many of my friends who have been Christians a long time will benefit from reading.

Becoming Sage walks readers through the life of King David, showing how he went through six distinct stages of life and faith. Van Loon points out that we go through the same six stages as Christians. Unfortunately, most churches focus on the first three stages, which can leave many of us feeling lost and unfulfilled in our church lives because we feel we don’t fit in.

A 2005 study by Willow Creek Community Church in Chicago showed this is common:

"The Reveal study highlighted the fact that the more a person grew in their faith, the less they fit into the life of the church."

This may be a case of Job’s comforters, but I find it comforting to know that I am not alone. I’m not the only person who feels out of place in church. I’m not the only person with a weary soul. And it’s not selfish to want to attend a church that meets our spiritual needs … which might mean changing churches, to find one that ministers to my stage in life.

Van Loon points out that our society emphasises the first three stages. That’s not entirely a surprise: living long enough to get to the later stages is a privilege of our modern lifestyles. But many people “drop out” of Christian life at Stage Four, which Van Loon refers to the “dark night of the soul” in our faith journey.

If you’re feeling a bit “blah” about church and that blah feeling is impacting your faith walk, then I’d recommend checking out Becoming Sage. If you’re feeling burned out in your Christian walk but feeling condemned at the idea of wanting rest, then I’d recommend checking out Becoming Sage. Or if you’re a woman of a certain age who wonders what is next in your spiritual life, then I’d recommend checking out Becoming Sage.

Because you might see yourself in the pages. Because Becoming Sage might answer your unasked question the way it answered mine.

Thanks to Moody Publishers and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

I've read a number of Van Loon's books and this book fits right in line with her passion for helping Christians grow in maturity and understanding. This is an excellent book for group discussion, even including questions at the end of each chapter. Christianity isnt measured in years, it's measured in maturity and Van Loon helps us CD realize how our churches can help with this.

In my fourth decade, I’m discovering the joys and challenges of middle age. This wonderful book affirms, directs, encourages and strengthens you if you are grieving, confused, or weary in your middle years.

I love the focus on how middle-aged women can find new purpose and meaning in this life stage. The author spends a lot of time talking about how the church has not always accommodated middle aged people well, and offers great suggestions for changing this around.

I was originally drawn to this beautiful cover, because I love botanicals. I’m even more drawn to the inner content, which has blessed me with new motivation. It’s full of insightful research and hopeful quotes. I especially enjoyed the breakdown of spiritual stages, which helps me understand myself and others better.

Quotes I’ve Enjoyed:
“Many of us don’t discover how lopsided we are in our [spiritual] formation until we approach or enter midlife.”

“Midlife should unsettle us.”

“Chronological age does not automatically translate into spiritual maturity.”

“As we move into our second adulthood, the shifts that happen in our families can be used by God to reintroduce us to the truth that we’re first and foremost apprentices, not headmasters.”

I received a preview copy of Becoming Sage from Netgalley.

A quick read on becoming sage as you reach your middle age years and beyond. I appreciated her wisdom!

Title: Becoming Sage
Author: Michelle Van Loon
Genre: Nonfiction
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

For the last several decades, Western churches have focused the bulk of their resources on the early stages of discipleship—children’s Sunday school, youth group, college ministry. These are all important, but we’ve neglected spiritual growth in the second half of life. In fact, an outside observer might think that after the growth of the college years, the goal is simply to coast through the rest of your Christian life. The book explores what the unique challenges of midlife can teach us about Jesus and how to think about everything from church, friends, and family, to money, bodies, and meaning.

I found Becoming Sage to be a thought-provoking and intriguing read, and it addresses a topic that seems prevalent in many churches: the focus on family and children that seems to occupy a prominent place in church life. But what about after the children have left home? What then?

Becoming Sage explores the topic in depth, without castigating the church, which I found refreshing and hopeful

Michelle Van loon blogs, writes, and speaks about spiritual life formation. Becoming Sage is her newest book.

(Galley courtesy of Moody Publishers in exchange for an honest review.)

I have been reading a lot about wisdom and when I saw Michelle Van Loon's book on NetGalley, I immediately requested a review copy. While there are many books about wisdom and wise sayings, there are few that actually approach how to become wise, and in this case, how to become wise as you spiritually mature and approach mid-life and beyond. I appreciated the explanations of different levels of spiritual maturity and the breadth of authors and perspectives Van Loon draws upon. She addresses some problems that seem specific to Evangelical Protestant churches, such as congregations whose programming seems focused on youth and young families - I think this is less a problem in churches with a liturgical tradition. Still, it's good for anyone in a church leadership role to be cognizant of the concerns and needs of aging congregation members. It's not just a book for church leadership though, but really for any Christian approaching mid-life. The book includes reflection and discussion questions that make it useful for reading in groups and book clubs.

Excellent book on the stages of faith. Very well thought out and research and engaging to read. It was good to read about the different stages and have what I’ve experienced in my faith journey reinforced

Becoming Sage
Cultivating Meaning, Purpose, and Spirituality in Midlife
by Michelle Van Loon
Moody Publishers

Christian
Pub Date 07 Apr 2020



I am reviewing a copy of Becoming Sage through Moody Publishers and Netgalley:


In this book we are reminded that Maturity isn't a fixed destination but does in fact describe a growth in Christlikeness in every area of life, and through every season of life.


For generations many of us have learned to talk about Church as a destination.  But people growing in Spiritual Maturity realize that Church isn't meant to be a destination but a launch pad towards spiritual maturity, spiritual growth.


This book points out too that Becoming Sage means that we realize we in the body of Christ are not meant to grow alone.


The book points out too that Friendship isn't a reward for our discrimination, or a reward for finding one another out.  It is however the instrument in which God reveals beauty in others.


The author goes on to describe Becoming Sage is a journey away from the mirrors of other people’s perceived expectations about your life and toward the discovery of a true sense of purpose born out of communion with the One who created you.



Becoming Sage reminds us that the ministries geared towards those in the first half of life, atevimportant, more resources need to be placed into Ministeing to those in the second half of life.


I give Becoming Sage five out of five stars!



Happy Reading!

I requested this book for my Mom. When I read the description I told her about it and it intrigued her. She is at the age this book is discussing.
Her thoughts are as followed: It was a good book. Well written and eye opening. However, there were sections that are cynical.

This books gives help on discussing an important topic of how to achieve spiritual maturity after midlife. The Authors defines spiritual maturity in her expression ’becoming sage’ in the first part of her book. While the second part of the book covers all aspects of life in which everyone can foster spiritual growth. For example, by taking care of the body, of friends, of finances and many more.
At the end of each chapters there are questions for individual reflection, which I found very helpful. In addition there are further questions to be discussed as a group.
At the end is not only extensive footnotes but also a helpful list for further reading into the topic.

However, as the author mentions clearly in the foreword, all her writing is based on Christian scripts and her advice is always supported by quotes or stories from the bible. This I found limiting as her observations and advise could be made much broader for all of us in midlife and beyond who strive for spiritual maturity in a more general way.

Becoming Sage by Michelle Van Loon is a book written to focus on spiritual growth in the second half of life. This book explores what the unique challenges of midlife can teach us about Jesus and how to think about everything. It has chapters titled Grow Up, Glorify God With This Body?, From Doing to Being and more. This book teaches the reader that maturity is an on going thing and doesn’t just magically happen at a certain age. I love how this book points the reader to Jesus! I would recommend this book to any woman.

This book had worthwhile, insightful thoughts and points of view. The idea that maturity is not a “given” with age is on point. I was surprised that the book was heavily focused on Christianity and scriptures. I have no problem with that, but I was just unaware of the book being targeted from a religious view.