"The Gospel of Yes" by Mike Glenn

Book Description:

God would like a word with you

What you believe about God affects the way you approach life—often in ways you don’t realize. Are you convinced that God limits you, or liberates you? Is he more interested in correcting you or connecting with you? And when you hit a rough spot and start looking for help, do you believe God is against you or on your side?
 
In The Gospel of Yes, Mike Glenn reveals God’s most powerful word, which opens our eyes to everything he does. That word is YES. God said “yes” to creating a world for us to live in and “yes” to inviting us into a relationship with him. No matter what we face in life, the best way to live is captured in one word: yes.
 
When you live in God’s “yes” you find your identity, your true value, and your unique purpose on earth. You can stop trying to be someone else and enjoy being yourself as you join with God in doing the work of his kingdom. When God looks at you he always says “yes.” It’s time to live like you know it.

My Thoughts:

When I received The Gospel of Yes by Mike Glenn, I wasn't sure what to expect. The forward was written by Scot McKnight, a theologian I respect immensely, which surprised me. A book called the The Gospel of Yes has the ring of a fluffy Christian Living book like Everyday A Friday or Eat the Cookies, Buy the Shoes. (Both are real Christian Living book titles by authors I actually enjoy...no hard feelings haha) The book is written by Mike Glenn who is Pastor of Brentwood Baptist Church in Tennessee. The book is one of many books published in the past few years explaining the Gospel and it's implications for the Christian. Glenn seeks to remind Christians that because of what Jesus Christ has accomplished for us on the cross, every promise of God is yes and amen! And that response changes the very nature of our existence. The "yes" of God transforms our identity and the very mission and way we view the world we live. Glenn outlines, in detail, the implications of the yes of God in many of the various aspects of our life- identity, destiny, relationships, simplicity, forgiveness and many other areas of life. Mike Glenns writings are very encouraging and help shed light on many areas of our lives that we often keep the "Yes" of the Gospel away from and calls us to imagine a life dominated by the power of the Gospel.

My only critique of the book is that it does take on a very "Christian Liviningy" tone throughout most of the writing. Mike has simplified a lot of concepts and skipped over some of the deeper theological truths that are contained therein. So it's mostly an "application" book that takes very little deep thought and yet a lot of personal reflection. But that's my bias- I love theology and read very little outside of the "theological" genre.

Overall, I give The Gospel of Yes a 3.5 out of 5 Stars. A good read for new Christians and the average church goer, but not substantial enough for those who may be more "mature" in their faith. A good primer and reminder!