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Review: From Good to Grace

From Good to Grace book cover on blue background

I've finally finished the first book in the #JesusistheLightoftheWorldReadathon! It's not that this book was a tough slog, but more that I didn't time the Readathon very well with some of the ARCs that I've been working through. A late start, but better late than never! I'm glad that I decided to start with a Christian non-fiction title—From Good to Grace: Letting Go of the Goodness Gospel by Christine Hoover—as it really sets the tone for the theme of Jesus being the light of the world this month and beyond.

Book Synopsis

God is calling you to something greater than good.

So many of us feel as if we do not do enough and, in fact, are not enough. We try hard to be good--a good friend, mom, wife, Christian, employee, or ministry leader--hoping for that "atta-girl" from God, some heavenly assertion that we matter. In the process, we find ourselves living by a lesser gospel: the gospel of goodness. It's a gospel without grace, and in the end, it's good for nothing.

With compelling illustrations from her own life and from Scripture, Christine Hoover helps you start asking, "What does God want for me?" before asking, "What does God want from me?" You'll find yourself breathing a sigh of relief at this powerful message of freedom and hope. Rather than serving God out of obligation or duty, you'll be compelled to love and serve God with great joy.

Source: Amazon

Book Thoughts

This book is excellent at differentiating between the "goodness gospel" that we have become familiar with in our culture versus the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is based on God's grace and not our own goodness in that we feel that we have to measure up. Broken into three sections, the author first identifies what the goodness gospel looks like, what it means to receive grace, and finally, how we should respond as Christians. I most appreciate that this book is written in a gentle but firm tone. There is no condemnation within the pages for having succumbed to the common mentality or practice that goodness is what matters in the Christian faith. Rather, the author takes an empathetic approach where she relays how she has been there and knows the struggles that readers may be facing. At the same time, there are definite calls to Scripture where we can clearly see how grace trumps our notions of how we should be living.

This is the first Christine Hoover book I've read and it did not disappoint. I look forward to the other titles that I have from her, and am encouraged at how solidly biblical her teaching is in From Good to Grace. There are memorable anecdotes that serve as reminders of God's grace in our daily lives, especially when our minds can easily fall into the traps of trying to do things in our own strength, or believing that we have to be on our best behaviour despite our human limitations. Since two-thirds of this book are about God's grace, readers are not left in the miry works-based theology and can instead look to the hope that God gives us in Him. While reading about grace and living it out can be vastly different, this book shows that it is not daunting and that we can look forward to a life that reflects God's love, freedom, and purpose.

Book Summary

  • Format of book: 📖
  • Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
  • Recommendation: 👍
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