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Gospel: Recovering the Power that Made Christianity Revolutionary
Could the gospel be lost in evangelical churches? In this book, J.D. Greear shows how moralism and legalism have often eclipsed the gospel, even in conservative churches. Gospel cuts through the superficiality of religion and reacquaints you with the revolutionary truth of God's gracious acceptance of us in Christ. The gospel is the power of God, and the only true source of joy, freedom, radical generosity, and audacious faith. The gospel produces in us what religion never a heart that desires God.
The book’s core is a “gospel prayer” by which you can saturate yourself in the gospel daily. Dwelling on the gospel will release in you new depths of passion for God and take you to new heights of obedience to Him. Gospel gives you an applicable, exciting vision of how God will use you to bring His healing to the world.
The book’s core is a “gospel prayer” by which you can saturate yourself in the gospel daily. Dwelling on the gospel will release in you new depths of passion for God and take you to new heights of obedience to Him. Gospel gives you an applicable, exciting vision of how God will use you to bring His healing to the world.
266 pages, Paperback
First published September 13, 2011
373 people are currently reading
2173 people want to read
About the author
J.D. Greear
69 books223 followersJ.D. Greear, Ph.D., did his degree work in Christian and Islamic theology at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, NC. He is Lead Pastor of The Summit Church in Raleigh-Durham, NC. The Summit’s vision is to plant 1,000 churches in by the year 2040. Currently, they have planted 11 and have several church planting teams stationed around the world.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 175 reviews
October 30, 2011
Much of Gospel is unoriginal, and J.D. Greear proudly claims so. Often written like a Greatest Hits Album from a cross-section of the best preachers today, Gospel works largely because of its sincerity and straightforward simplicity. It's like a quadruple espresso shot of Bible truth aiming for the heart of the matter: namely, your heart. It will especially revive those who are frustrated or flailing in their Christian walk.
With endorsements by Tim Keller, Matt Chandler, David Platt, Albert Mohler, Daniel Akin, Johnny Hunt, and Steven Furtick, the book had a lot to live up to. And it does. It's an instant classic, not because it has anything new to say, but because it says it so well. It's almost like an old work by John Stott or C.S. Lewis made for the contemporary Christian.
Honestly, this book came at the perfect time. I'm currently in that place of spiritual disillusionment, and J.D. Greear explodes with grace in the opening chapters that flips over common Christianity. You know: serve, change, serve, change -- exhaustion. While hundreds of books have tackled legalism and its utter drainage, J.D. exposes the core of legalism and thrusts forth the gripping truth of the Gospel as the cure-all to spiritual sleepwalking.
You would think that repeating "gospel" over and over would get boring, but J.D. is so passionate and plain in his writing that he makes the Gospel new all over again: which is exactly the point of the Gospel in our lives everyday. Marriage problems, money problems, anger, lust, anxiety, pride -- these are all Gospel issues. When we hold these up to the "size of the cross," we see how much God's grace truly speaks to these struggles.
Mainly though, I finished the book with a fearless peace that God loves me despite everything, and that such a truth motivates me to obedience. Many Christians are motivated towards God's acceptance, but the Gospel says we flow from His acceptance. This powerful distinction changes every motive, every action, and our very axis.
J.D. readily admits that Tim Keller is a huge influence in his life. That's not a bad thing. Keller's work is most obvious in the chapters about idolatry and God's unconditional acceptance. And J.D. drives it further when he applies this to our daily lives by asking pointed questions.
The structure of the book is composed around four main Gospel prayers. I found this a bit gimmicky and at times pushed a bit too hard. Near the end the book drags a little and loses some focus, as if Greear keeps adding more to the sermon. Fortunately Greear is a strong writer and has some great one-liners strewn throughout. And the Gospel prayer is actually worth praying.
Bottom Line: Get this book. If you are just plain tired of the Christian life, J.D. Greear may reveal the source of that exhaustion and reawaken you to the Spirit's active work in your life. The book will also motivate you to dig deeper into the Gospel and embrace its endless wonder for all it is. I look forward to more from Greear, but more importantly, look forward to seek more from the Gospel truth.
With endorsements by Tim Keller, Matt Chandler, David Platt, Albert Mohler, Daniel Akin, Johnny Hunt, and Steven Furtick, the book had a lot to live up to. And it does. It's an instant classic, not because it has anything new to say, but because it says it so well. It's almost like an old work by John Stott or C.S. Lewis made for the contemporary Christian.
Honestly, this book came at the perfect time. I'm currently in that place of spiritual disillusionment, and J.D. Greear explodes with grace in the opening chapters that flips over common Christianity. You know: serve, change, serve, change -- exhaustion. While hundreds of books have tackled legalism and its utter drainage, J.D. exposes the core of legalism and thrusts forth the gripping truth of the Gospel as the cure-all to spiritual sleepwalking.
You would think that repeating "gospel" over and over would get boring, but J.D. is so passionate and plain in his writing that he makes the Gospel new all over again: which is exactly the point of the Gospel in our lives everyday. Marriage problems, money problems, anger, lust, anxiety, pride -- these are all Gospel issues. When we hold these up to the "size of the cross," we see how much God's grace truly speaks to these struggles.
Mainly though, I finished the book with a fearless peace that God loves me despite everything, and that such a truth motivates me to obedience. Many Christians are motivated towards God's acceptance, but the Gospel says we flow from His acceptance. This powerful distinction changes every motive, every action, and our very axis.
J.D. readily admits that Tim Keller is a huge influence in his life. That's not a bad thing. Keller's work is most obvious in the chapters about idolatry and God's unconditional acceptance. And J.D. drives it further when he applies this to our daily lives by asking pointed questions.
The structure of the book is composed around four main Gospel prayers. I found this a bit gimmicky and at times pushed a bit too hard. Near the end the book drags a little and loses some focus, as if Greear keeps adding more to the sermon. Fortunately Greear is a strong writer and has some great one-liners strewn throughout. And the Gospel prayer is actually worth praying.
Bottom Line: Get this book. If you are just plain tired of the Christian life, J.D. Greear may reveal the source of that exhaustion and reawaken you to the Spirit's active work in your life. The book will also motivate you to dig deeper into the Gospel and embrace its endless wonder for all it is. I look forward to more from Greear, but more importantly, look forward to seek more from the Gospel truth.
July 22, 2024
5 stars — I thought this was great.
Greear reminds us that we cannot earn God’s acceptance through our own obedience. We are first accepted by God, and then obedience follows—out of love and gratitude. But too often we may find that we are doing the right things for the wrong reasons—guilt, fear of either temporal or eternal punishment, self-righteousness (pride), or a desire to fit into a Christian culture. But what is actually important is our hearts, because that’s what God looks at. So how do we change our hearts? Of course we can’t. That’s the job of the Holy Spirit, but we all need to immerse ourselves deeper in the good news of the gospel. Just “working harder” doesn’t work:
“Why religious change doesn’t work:
1. Religious activities fail to address the “root“ idolatries that drive our sin.
2.When our acceptance is based on our performance, we exacerbate two root sins in our heart: pride and fear.
3. The insecurity of always wondering if we’ve done enough to be accepted causes resentment of God, not love for him.”
“True love for God cannot grow when we are unsure about his feelings for us. All of our service for God will be done with an eye to elevating our status before Him. Ultimately, this is not love for God—it’s love for ourselves.”
In his own life, Greear found it helpful to daily remind himself of the amazing grace and good news of the gospel by praying what he now calls the Gospel Prayer:
1. "In Christ, there is nothing I can do that would make You love me more, and nothing I have done that makes You love me less."
2. "Your presence and approval are all I need for everlasting joy."
3. "As You have been to me, so I will be to others."
4. "As I pray, I'll measure Your compassion by the cross and Your power by the resurrection."
Here’s a summary quote:
“Living a life centered on the gospel is not about praying the sinner's prayer to make sure you're going to heaven and then learning a bunch of new principles to master the Christian life. Gospel-centeredness is about saturating your heart in the good news of Jesus—letting it so remake your mind that you see everything about yourself and your life through its lens.
“Growth in Christ is not going beyond the gospel, but deeper into it.”
Greear reminds us that we cannot earn God’s acceptance through our own obedience. We are first accepted by God, and then obedience follows—out of love and gratitude. But too often we may find that we are doing the right things for the wrong reasons—guilt, fear of either temporal or eternal punishment, self-righteousness (pride), or a desire to fit into a Christian culture. But what is actually important is our hearts, because that’s what God looks at. So how do we change our hearts? Of course we can’t. That’s the job of the Holy Spirit, but we all need to immerse ourselves deeper in the good news of the gospel. Just “working harder” doesn’t work:
“Why religious change doesn’t work:
1. Religious activities fail to address the “root“ idolatries that drive our sin.
2.When our acceptance is based on our performance, we exacerbate two root sins in our heart: pride and fear.
3. The insecurity of always wondering if we’ve done enough to be accepted causes resentment of God, not love for him.”
“True love for God cannot grow when we are unsure about his feelings for us. All of our service for God will be done with an eye to elevating our status before Him. Ultimately, this is not love for God—it’s love for ourselves.”
In his own life, Greear found it helpful to daily remind himself of the amazing grace and good news of the gospel by praying what he now calls the Gospel Prayer:
1. "In Christ, there is nothing I can do that would make You love me more, and nothing I have done that makes You love me less."
2. "Your presence and approval are all I need for everlasting joy."
3. "As You have been to me, so I will be to others."
4. "As I pray, I'll measure Your compassion by the cross and Your power by the resurrection."
Here’s a summary quote:
“Living a life centered on the gospel is not about praying the sinner's prayer to make sure you're going to heaven and then learning a bunch of new principles to master the Christian life. Gospel-centeredness is about saturating your heart in the good news of Jesus—letting it so remake your mind that you see everything about yourself and your life through its lens.
“Growth in Christ is not going beyond the gospel, but deeper into it.”
October 6, 2020
Très von livre pour se centrer sur l'Évangile. C'est la deuxième fois que je le lis et ce ne sera pas la dernière. Fixons nos yeux sur l'oeuvre de notre Sauveur et la vie qu'Il nous appelle à vivre en découlera.
March 26, 2017
A fabulous look at what true Christian life is.
March 26, 2022
Époustouflant ! Mon âme est triste de l'avoir terminé. Quel livre ! Quel Jésus nous servons. Si j'avais pu, j'aurais donné 6 étoiles.
August 4, 2015
(The first thing I note is for Kindle readers: For some reason, Amazon isn't saving/displaying my highlights for this book as with other books, so I don't have location references with the quotes below. I'm not sure where the fault is here, it simply does not appear on the Your_Highlights page, the history skips over this book for some reason.)
My church went through the video and study guide series version (Gospel Revolution), but I missed out on most of it so I read the book instead. This book has a good intent and message, but Greear unfortunately follows in the footsteps of many putting out books in the perish-or-publish mentality today, writing as if he's had an epiphany no one else has had and ignoring the works of countless Christians who have written on the subject before. There is some value in writing using modern humor and terminology, but in Greear's critique of churches today and telling of personal anecdotes really takes the focus off of the magnitude and infinite worth of God, which is definitely not his intent.
For example, This is a quote from Greear that is something Piper has written volumes on, and Piper quotes Jonathan Edwards and Augustine:
"Learning to be satisfied in Jesus will free you to enjoy everything else. Being fulfilled in Christ means that you no longer depend on other things for life and happiness. That means you can enjoy them, because you are no longer enslaved by them. The prospect of losing them doesn’t terrorize you. And you can say 'no' to them when they are not God’s will."
I recommend the reader instead check out other works like A. W. Tozer's Attributes of God (compiled from Tozer's sermons) and John Pipers' Desiring God and Future Grace as a much more powerful look at how awesome God and the Gospel are. Those books do a much better job at magnifying God, in my opinion. In contrast, Greear's book leaves one with the sense of "am I doing this right? Maybe I should try harder." Grear quotes his "BFF" Tim Keller a lot, partially attributing his epiphany to Keller's sermons and writing. So, I'd recommend the Keller works and sermons referenced over this book as well.
Grear's audience is basically churches in the Southern Baptist Convention. Grear grew up in the SBC, lived for two years as a Journeyman with the IMB in SE Asia, but apparently did not really discover the Gospel until afterwards when apparently he was exposed to the teaching of Tim Keller. His intention is to help individuals and the local church give up their tendencies towards working for God's approval and recognize that it is already given, and can only come from, Christ's sacrifice.
"True religion is when you serve God to get nothing else but more of God."
"God could not love me any more than He does right now, because God could not love and accept Christ any more than He does, and God sees me in Christ...'Neither do I condemn you' precedes 'go and sin no more.' We almost always try to reverse those. We say, 'If you can manage to go and sin no more, then God will accept you.'"
He is now pastor of the The Summit Church in NC, and his description of the giving and service-oriented nature of his congregation make it sound truly unique; Raleigh gives Greear a public service award in the book because his church members are found "everywhere" there is a need in the city. I do wonder, however, how stratified his church is across racial and income lines.
I found Grear's chapter on idolotry to be good, it really summed up the message of Brad Bigney's Gospel Treason well. It also quotes heavily from David Powlison, as did Bigney.
"You worship whatever it is you deem most essential for life and happiness."
There is also a chapter responding to what Greear sees as the imbalance of those pursuing a give-it-all-away lifestyle after reading David Platt's Radical (he sent the chapter to Platt, who dialogued with him about it, before publishing). Greear notes that looking at the NT as a whole, it's hard to come up with hard-and-fast rules for tithing, income level, going overseas, etc.
"The New Testament goes to meticulous lengths to avoid prescribing an amount believers should give. For example, in the gospel of Luke, at least three times Jesus commends a different amount."
He shares six principles about money that "we should hold in reverent tension," including that God delights in our enjoyment of His gifts and that Jesus' radical generosity is both model and motivation for us to do likewise. Nonetheless, wealth-building can be wise. I found these chapters to be mostly void of a theology of work.
My biggest concern was that he ignores the role of the church community in making decisions on personal financial matters. The church should be a safe place to talk about financial matters. If you're not sure if the house you're building is too big or whether you should sell or donate your old goods, then you should be able to talk to your small group or pastor about it. The Church in Acts modeled generosity and "sharing all things in common" required some transparency about what they had. That aspect is absent from most SBC churches, in my observation, and is missing from Greear's book as well. Likewise, we should not just preach the gospel to ourselves, as Greear recommends, but to each other as well.
Another concern is on the "commandments" chapter. Greear writes that we are obedient out of gratitude for what Christ has done for us, but Piper argues strongly in Future Grace that this is not enough. We can't just run our cars on yesterday's gas, we have to keep filling up by understanding what God is doing and is going to do for us in Christ Jesus.
He closes a book with a "fear" that it might contribute to a growing "self-righteousness among younger theologians who feel like understanding gospel-centeredness makes them more special in the eyes of God (oh, the irony!). I don't mean to come across that way in this review, I just wish people would spend time with older, wiser theologians who wrote long ago rather than try to reinvent the wheel.
I give it 3 stars out of 5.
My church went through the video and study guide series version (Gospel Revolution), but I missed out on most of it so I read the book instead. This book has a good intent and message, but Greear unfortunately follows in the footsteps of many putting out books in the perish-or-publish mentality today, writing as if he's had an epiphany no one else has had and ignoring the works of countless Christians who have written on the subject before. There is some value in writing using modern humor and terminology, but in Greear's critique of churches today and telling of personal anecdotes really takes the focus off of the magnitude and infinite worth of God, which is definitely not his intent.
For example, This is a quote from Greear that is something Piper has written volumes on, and Piper quotes Jonathan Edwards and Augustine:
"Learning to be satisfied in Jesus will free you to enjoy everything else. Being fulfilled in Christ means that you no longer depend on other things for life and happiness. That means you can enjoy them, because you are no longer enslaved by them. The prospect of losing them doesn’t terrorize you. And you can say 'no' to them when they are not God’s will."
I recommend the reader instead check out other works like A. W. Tozer's Attributes of God (compiled from Tozer's sermons) and John Pipers' Desiring God and Future Grace as a much more powerful look at how awesome God and the Gospel are. Those books do a much better job at magnifying God, in my opinion. In contrast, Greear's book leaves one with the sense of "am I doing this right? Maybe I should try harder." Grear quotes his "BFF" Tim Keller a lot, partially attributing his epiphany to Keller's sermons and writing. So, I'd recommend the Keller works and sermons referenced over this book as well.
Grear's audience is basically churches in the Southern Baptist Convention. Grear grew up in the SBC, lived for two years as a Journeyman with the IMB in SE Asia, but apparently did not really discover the Gospel until afterwards when apparently he was exposed to the teaching of Tim Keller. His intention is to help individuals and the local church give up their tendencies towards working for God's approval and recognize that it is already given, and can only come from, Christ's sacrifice.
"True religion is when you serve God to get nothing else but more of God."
"God could not love me any more than He does right now, because God could not love and accept Christ any more than He does, and God sees me in Christ...'Neither do I condemn you' precedes 'go and sin no more.' We almost always try to reverse those. We say, 'If you can manage to go and sin no more, then God will accept you.'"
He is now pastor of the The Summit Church in NC, and his description of the giving and service-oriented nature of his congregation make it sound truly unique; Raleigh gives Greear a public service award in the book because his church members are found "everywhere" there is a need in the city. I do wonder, however, how stratified his church is across racial and income lines.
I found Grear's chapter on idolotry to be good, it really summed up the message of Brad Bigney's Gospel Treason well. It also quotes heavily from David Powlison, as did Bigney.
"You worship whatever it is you deem most essential for life and happiness."
There is also a chapter responding to what Greear sees as the imbalance of those pursuing a give-it-all-away lifestyle after reading David Platt's Radical (he sent the chapter to Platt, who dialogued with him about it, before publishing). Greear notes that looking at the NT as a whole, it's hard to come up with hard-and-fast rules for tithing, income level, going overseas, etc.
"The New Testament goes to meticulous lengths to avoid prescribing an amount believers should give. For example, in the gospel of Luke, at least three times Jesus commends a different amount."
He shares six principles about money that "we should hold in reverent tension," including that God delights in our enjoyment of His gifts and that Jesus' radical generosity is both model and motivation for us to do likewise. Nonetheless, wealth-building can be wise. I found these chapters to be mostly void of a theology of work.
My biggest concern was that he ignores the role of the church community in making decisions on personal financial matters. The church should be a safe place to talk about financial matters. If you're not sure if the house you're building is too big or whether you should sell or donate your old goods, then you should be able to talk to your small group or pastor about it. The Church in Acts modeled generosity and "sharing all things in common" required some transparency about what they had. That aspect is absent from most SBC churches, in my observation, and is missing from Greear's book as well. Likewise, we should not just preach the gospel to ourselves, as Greear recommends, but to each other as well.
Another concern is on the "commandments" chapter. Greear writes that we are obedient out of gratitude for what Christ has done for us, but Piper argues strongly in Future Grace that this is not enough. We can't just run our cars on yesterday's gas, we have to keep filling up by understanding what God is doing and is going to do for us in Christ Jesus.
He closes a book with a "fear" that it might contribute to a growing "self-righteousness among younger theologians who feel like understanding gospel-centeredness makes them more special in the eyes of God (oh, the irony!). I don't mean to come across that way in this review, I just wish people would spend time with older, wiser theologians who wrote long ago rather than try to reinvent the wheel.
I give it 3 stars out of 5.
March 7, 2013
Given the book's premise, I was eager to read it and wanted to really like it. Mostly I did with only a couple of complaints. First, this book is very practical and that is both good and bad. The point was to be practical and that was good, but at times the reader would have been better served by going a little deeper into the text of Scripture and providing solid foundation for the practical application. Second, some of the jokes and cultural references felt a little forced and distracting. This is mostly a stylistic issue that just didn't work well for me. The aim of the book would have been better served without them.
So much for the grumpy Trueman-esque critique, let's get to what was good about Greear's book. The assertion that the Gospel is lost to many today is insightful. My experience concurs with the missionary observation that we are not dealing with Gospel hardness but rather Gospel ignorance today. That almost seems impossible. To talk about the Gospel and use terms such as Gospel-centered is trendy right now. Just look at the Christian books being published and major conferences being held where Gospel is almost always in the title. It seems we are saturated with the Gospel. Talking about the Gospel and knowing, understanding, and preaching the Gospel are not the same things. Greear acknowledges and deals with this well.
This book is not just a word to broader Christendom though. Greear has much to say to the individual Christian and our ongoing need for the Gospel. Greear's Gospel prayer at first seemed formulaic and potentially kitschy, but as he goes through the phrases and explains them in terms of the Gospel, it is quite helpful. Whether you actually use it as a prayer or not, it will help you think about the Gospel practically.
So much for the grumpy Trueman-esque critique, let's get to what was good about Greear's book. The assertion that the Gospel is lost to many today is insightful. My experience concurs with the missionary observation that we are not dealing with Gospel hardness but rather Gospel ignorance today. That almost seems impossible. To talk about the Gospel and use terms such as Gospel-centered is trendy right now. Just look at the Christian books being published and major conferences being held where Gospel is almost always in the title. It seems we are saturated with the Gospel. Talking about the Gospel and knowing, understanding, and preaching the Gospel are not the same things. Greear acknowledges and deals with this well.
This book is not just a word to broader Christendom though. Greear has much to say to the individual Christian and our ongoing need for the Gospel. Greear's Gospel prayer at first seemed formulaic and potentially kitschy, but as he goes through the phrases and explains them in terms of the Gospel, it is quite helpful. Whether you actually use it as a prayer or not, it will help you think about the Gospel practically.
September 19, 2018
“Gospel” is one of those words used often by Christians but not fully understood. Pastors routinely throw around the world without explicitly explaining its meaning or its implications. In this book, Greear explains what the gospel is (“that Jesus is Lord and that He has won the battle for your salvation” – in other words, the gospel is about the person and work of Christ); and more importantly, he explains what impact a firm grasp of the gospel has on one’s life. The book uses a “Gospel prayer” to frame much of this discussion. This prayer is something Greear recites first thing every morning to center himself on the gospel, and consists of statements focusing on the different aspects of the gospel. So the book expands on each part of this gospel prayer and relates it to all the parts of our lives that ought to be impacted by gospel living – our marriages, our relationships, our giving, our use of time, et al. Greear does an especially great job of explaining how churches teach behavior changes absent the gospel and why that doesn’t work; and then explains why a gospel frame does work and what that looks like. As a whole, this book is one of the best resources for understanding the gospel. The prose is very readable, with a balance of Bible stories and passages, present-day anecdotes, and Greear’s personal life stories. Recommended for all believers and unbelievers looking for a deeper and truer understanding of the gospel.
May 8, 2020
I have a feeling that this going to be a book that I read and reread
May 20, 2021
Realy good. Like reeeeaaaalllyyy good. I feel like reading this with a group of people would help me retain it better, but it's still enjoyable when read alone!
January 10, 2020
Great topic & content. Encouraging, challenging, uplifting - not really my preferred writing style but worth reading.
September 20, 2024
Best book I’ve read in a long time. I cannot even put into words what this book has done for my soul and how it pointed me back to Jesus. This is a book that you must take time reading to grasp it. It’s also a book that I would love to read over and over again.
June 30, 2021
Such a good reminder of what a relationship with Christ should be built on. The gospel is the core and everything else merely flows from the truth of that. We should strive to go deeper into the gospel, not past it, as we seek to know Christ better. I would highly recommend!
March 19, 2022
I really like this book for an introduction to the gospel. Greear explains theological nuances in simple and direct language, and connects it to the redemptive mission of God. more than that, he wants the truths he writes about to capture the hearts of his readers, and his appeal backs an emotional and volitional punch. This would be a great read for relatively new Christians, and a great refresher and encouragers for more seasoned believers like me. I'd love to run a small group through this book.
April 2, 2012
The Gospel - JD Greear
January 28, 2012
I enjoyed these points of the book:
1. p4 - Jonathan Edwards likened his reawakening to the gospel to a man who had known, in his head, that honey was sweet, but for the first time had that sweetness burst alive in his mouth.
2. p52 - Satan starts with what you did, and tears down who you are. The Holy Spirit starts with what Christ has declared over you, and helps you rebuild what you did.
3. p63 - Most preachers think that preaching the law (exclusively) in some way is how we change our congregations. Preaching the law only produces Pharisees. God does not want Pharisees. He wants people who overflow with the joy of serving Jesus.
4. p75 - St. Augustine said that things like worry, fear, sadness, and deep depression are “smoke from the fires” rising from the altars of our idolatry. Follow the trail of that smoke and you’ll see where you have substituted something for God.
5. p114 - When you really believe the gospel, you see that you are first a sinner and only secondarily sinned against.
6. p193 - “God’s love provides the motivation for obedience, while God’s laws provide the direction for the biblical expressions of love.” Jerry Bridges
7. p254 - My mind has often burned hotter with the latest theological trend than it has passion for the God who gave Himself up for me at the cross. Knowledge that does not lead, ultimately, to love and humility is “worthless.”
I had questions/concerns with these parts of the book:
1. p173 - If God really is as willing and able to save as the gospel indicates He is, and a key reason He doesn’t pour out that power is because you and I never ask Him to, doesn’t that make us responsible, in part for, the blood of millions who might have been saved, but weren’t, because we never asked?
2. p194 - We obey the commandments even when we don’t feel like it because we don’t want to see our sinful desires bring forth death in our lives or the lives of others.
3. p195 - Disciplining ourselves to do what we don’t always want to do helps us learn to love the things we should love.
4. p199 - A gospel centered approach to reading the Bible means that you discipline yourself to read the Bible even when you don’t feel like it.
5. p223 - Have you ever heard that statement (attributed to Francis of Assisi), “Preach the gospel. If necessary use words.” How do you explain he gospel without using words? That’s like saying, “Tell me your phone number. If necessary, use digits.” Your phone number is digits. The gospel is the words announcing what Christ has done. People can’t look at our lives and know the story of Christ. They may see glimpses of the kindness of Christ, but expecting them to get the gospel just by watching us would be like trying to gather information from a newscast with the sound turned off.
January 28, 2012
I enjoyed these points of the book:
1. p4 - Jonathan Edwards likened his reawakening to the gospel to a man who had known, in his head, that honey was sweet, but for the first time had that sweetness burst alive in his mouth.
2. p52 - Satan starts with what you did, and tears down who you are. The Holy Spirit starts with what Christ has declared over you, and helps you rebuild what you did.
3. p63 - Most preachers think that preaching the law (exclusively) in some way is how we change our congregations. Preaching the law only produces Pharisees. God does not want Pharisees. He wants people who overflow with the joy of serving Jesus.
4. p75 - St. Augustine said that things like worry, fear, sadness, and deep depression are “smoke from the fires” rising from the altars of our idolatry. Follow the trail of that smoke and you’ll see where you have substituted something for God.
5. p114 - When you really believe the gospel, you see that you are first a sinner and only secondarily sinned against.
6. p193 - “God’s love provides the motivation for obedience, while God’s laws provide the direction for the biblical expressions of love.” Jerry Bridges
7. p254 - My mind has often burned hotter with the latest theological trend than it has passion for the God who gave Himself up for me at the cross. Knowledge that does not lead, ultimately, to love and humility is “worthless.”
I had questions/concerns with these parts of the book:
1. p173 - If God really is as willing and able to save as the gospel indicates He is, and a key reason He doesn’t pour out that power is because you and I never ask Him to, doesn’t that make us responsible, in part for, the blood of millions who might have been saved, but weren’t, because we never asked?
2. p194 - We obey the commandments even when we don’t feel like it because we don’t want to see our sinful desires bring forth death in our lives or the lives of others.
3. p195 - Disciplining ourselves to do what we don’t always want to do helps us learn to love the things we should love.
4. p199 - A gospel centered approach to reading the Bible means that you discipline yourself to read the Bible even when you don’t feel like it.
5. p223 - Have you ever heard that statement (attributed to Francis of Assisi), “Preach the gospel. If necessary use words.” How do you explain he gospel without using words? That’s like saying, “Tell me your phone number. If necessary, use digits.” Your phone number is digits. The gospel is the words announcing what Christ has done. People can’t look at our lives and know the story of Christ. They may see glimpses of the kindness of Christ, but expecting them to get the gospel just by watching us would be like trying to gather information from a newscast with the sound turned off.
August 18, 2012
Overall a good read. Repetitive in parts (for the sake of internalization, not clumsy redundancy), but a quick, insightful, non-judgmental look at what the Church is supposed to be. It revealed some truths along the way that I simply would rather pretend weren't true. Like for example when the author criticizes the quote attributed to St. Francis ("Preach the Gospel at all times. If necessary use words) by saying that people will not hear the Gospel unless we use words. While I agree that the tone and timing of those words matter incredibly, just being a good person and treating others well is not the Gospel in its entirety. I'm a big believer in earning the right to be heard and everything, but this book made me confront the fact that my rejection of certain self-righteous tendencies of the church may simply be another form of self-righteousness or even simple laziness.
In any case, Greear's take home message is the Gospel Prayer:
"In Christ, there is nothing I have done that will make you love me less and nothing I can do to make you love me more. Your presence and acceptance are all I need for everlasting peace and joy. As you have been to me, so I will be to others. I will measure your compassion by the cross and your power by the resurrection."
The author claims that praying that prayer will center us in the Gospel and that that will make all the difference. I'm trying. My spirit is willing, my flesh is weak. I'm coming to see that balancing who I am (a Christian, liberal, free-thinking, rationalist, mainstream scientist with fairly 'traditional' personal values) is really not all that hard or stressful or contradictory if I keep myself centered in the above message.
In any case, Greear's take home message is the Gospel Prayer:
"In Christ, there is nothing I have done that will make you love me less and nothing I can do to make you love me more. Your presence and acceptance are all I need for everlasting peace and joy. As you have been to me, so I will be to others. I will measure your compassion by the cross and your power by the resurrection."
The author claims that praying that prayer will center us in the Gospel and that that will make all the difference. I'm trying. My spirit is willing, my flesh is weak. I'm coming to see that balancing who I am (a Christian, liberal, free-thinking, rationalist, mainstream scientist with fairly 'traditional' personal values) is really not all that hard or stressful or contradictory if I keep myself centered in the above message.
July 7, 2012
J.D. offers a prayer in this book which I like:
"In Christ, there is nothing I can do that would make You love me more, and nothing I have done that makes You love me less.
Your presence and approval are all I need for everlasting joy.
As you have been to me, so I will be to others.
As I pray, I'll measure your compassion by the cross and Your power by the resurrection."
Gospel change is the Spirit of God using the story of God to make the beauty of God come alive in our hearts.
Most of the miracles in the Bible did not happen because someone was acting on a direct, spoken command from God. Most happened because somebody perceived what God probably wanted to do in a particular situation and asked Him to do it. The initiative for the miracle started with them.
Expect great things from God and attempt great things for God.
"In Christ, there is nothing I can do that would make You love me more, and nothing I have done that makes You love me less.
Your presence and approval are all I need for everlasting joy.
As you have been to me, so I will be to others.
As I pray, I'll measure your compassion by the cross and Your power by the resurrection."
Gospel change is the Spirit of God using the story of God to make the beauty of God come alive in our hearts.
Most of the miracles in the Bible did not happen because someone was acting on a direct, spoken command from God. Most happened because somebody perceived what God probably wanted to do in a particular situation and asked Him to do it. The initiative for the miracle started with them.
Expect great things from God and attempt great things for God.
October 5, 2012
This book I could not put down. And so often I feel as Christians we get caught up in the bible laws and passages that we forget that the bible was a history of events that led to the crucifixion of Christ, he's resurrection and the beginning of the Church as we know it.
Focus as Christians today should be placed on Christ the bearer of our sins. His teachings are found throughout the Gospel.
This book highlights why we as Christians should focus on the teachings of the Gospel for true redemption is found within it and in Jesus Christ our savior.
Focus as Christians today should be placed on Christ the bearer of our sins. His teachings are found throughout the Gospel.
This book highlights why we as Christians should focus on the teachings of the Gospel for true redemption is found within it and in Jesus Christ our savior.
July 16, 2012
Absolutely a clear and inspiring read and reminder of the power of the gospel of Jesus! Easy to read, Greear is witty, illustrative, and thorough! It is the gospel that saves, and grows the believer in faith! Well worth the time!
January 25, 2016
One of the best books I've read on gospel application!!
April 10, 2020
This is the first book I've read by J.D. Greear; I had no idea he could write like this. I'll definitely be reading more of his books in the near future. It's an easy read, yet contains an incredible amount of information. It's a serious book, but not so serious that it feels like a depressing lecture. Nor is it so lighthearted that you feel as though you can't take anything the author is saying seriously. Along with discussing pretty big topics, there's elements of humor and sarcasm thrown in as well. Gotta love that.
There's a fine line between super serious and lighthearted & funny. This book is the perfect balance between the two. Some of my favorite books are incredibly serious, so much so that you basically have to read a chapter, comprehend it for a day or two, and continue the cycle. I find that this one contains the same amount of power and depth, yet it is a much easier read. It by no means falls short. J.D. Greear portrays the beauty, truth, and power of the gospel in the most amazing and unfiltered way. This book made me laugh, cry a couple times, and reminded me of what's really important.
All throughout Gospel, J.D. Greear is constantly pointing to Christ and exalting Him. He writes about our God in such a beautiful way that you can't help but be in awe. Lots of times when reading a book discussing heavy topics (many times that the author is against), it seems like straight legalism. I will say it now, legalism is non-existent in this book. The author has found a way of writing about these things that is not legalistic, Christ exalting, and truly amazing. I've learned so much from this book, it is definitely worth anyone's time.
There's a fine line between super serious and lighthearted & funny. This book is the perfect balance between the two. Some of my favorite books are incredibly serious, so much so that you basically have to read a chapter, comprehend it for a day or two, and continue the cycle. I find that this one contains the same amount of power and depth, yet it is a much easier read. It by no means falls short. J.D. Greear portrays the beauty, truth, and power of the gospel in the most amazing and unfiltered way. This book made me laugh, cry a couple times, and reminded me of what's really important.
All throughout Gospel, J.D. Greear is constantly pointing to Christ and exalting Him. He writes about our God in such a beautiful way that you can't help but be in awe. Lots of times when reading a book discussing heavy topics (many times that the author is against), it seems like straight legalism. I will say it now, legalism is non-existent in this book. The author has found a way of writing about these things that is not legalistic, Christ exalting, and truly amazing. I've learned so much from this book, it is definitely worth anyone's time.
February 7, 2024
Gospel
By JD Greear
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was a book I had to read for work but it definitely wasn’t a “had to” sort of read. It was so good! So many good reminders of the meaning of the gospel and gospel-centeredness.
There were so many good quotes.
Here are a few:
- “True religion is when you serve God to get nothing else but more of God”
- “Our hearts are hardwired for ’works-righteousness’”
- Satan’s most effective weapon is to take our eyes off of what God has declared over us in the gospel.”
- “When Satan takes our eyes off of the declaration spoken over us at the gospel, we lose the security and satisfaction we have in the loving approval of our Heavenly Father.”
- “In Christianity we will do things for God. But what we do will be a grateful response to what He’s done for us, not because He needs our help.”
- “The gospel is not good advice about how to live; it is good news about what God has done.”
By JD Greear
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was a book I had to read for work but it definitely wasn’t a “had to” sort of read. It was so good! So many good reminders of the meaning of the gospel and gospel-centeredness.
There were so many good quotes.
Here are a few:
- “True religion is when you serve God to get nothing else but more of God”
- “Our hearts are hardwired for ’works-righteousness’”
- Satan’s most effective weapon is to take our eyes off of what God has declared over us in the gospel.”
- “When Satan takes our eyes off of the declaration spoken over us at the gospel, we lose the security and satisfaction we have in the loving approval of our Heavenly Father.”
- “In Christianity we will do things for God. But what we do will be a grateful response to what He’s done for us, not because He needs our help.”
- “The gospel is not good advice about how to live; it is good news about what God has done.”
December 7, 2017
I thought this book was just what I needed. It's primary focus is on the gospel. Most people think we must DO something for approval from God, when in reality we must BELIEVE in the gospel and everything else will follow.
J D Greear has a quote in this book that I really held on to...
"You might never really know Jesus is all that you need until He is all that you have."
And one by Charles Spurgeon...
"How could those of us who have known Jesus and failed to take Him to those who have not heard, possibly be saved?"
How powerful is that last quote?! Reading this book really caused me to look at my life and question whether it is a reflection of Jesus.
J D Greear has a quote in this book that I really held on to...
"You might never really know Jesus is all that you need until He is all that you have."
And one by Charles Spurgeon...
"How could those of us who have known Jesus and failed to take Him to those who have not heard, possibly be saved?"
How powerful is that last quote?! Reading this book really caused me to look at my life and question whether it is a reflection of Jesus.
February 5, 2019
The Gospel' is a timely reminder of how to choose to let Christ's sacrificial love take up His residence in me, so that I love others with that same love. I gave the book three stars because at places I felt as though J.D. Greear was speaking condescendingly and self-righteously to me. Also there was quite a-bit of redundancy with the use of the 'highlight boxes.' The gem of good news of the book? The (para-)phrase, ' There is nothing you can screw-up on that will cause God to love you less; nothing you can do to impress Him to love you more. He just flat-out loves you and gave His life for you'
June 4, 2019
After reading this book, I just can't help but worship Jesus.
I've heard and understood the gospel of Jesus dying on the cross for my sins and resurrecting on the third day but going deeper in the gospel has given me abundance of joy in Him that I never experienced in years of my religion-based faith
Indeed, the gospel has done in my heart what religion never could
Hebrews 12:2 Who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross
To have a glimpse of how despite His loss, He endured the cross by the joy of what He was gaining: US
In the same way, Jesus is the treasure worth leaving everything for
So I'm also inviting you to let go and allow yourself to dive deeper in the gospel 😊
I've heard and understood the gospel of Jesus dying on the cross for my sins and resurrecting on the third day but going deeper in the gospel has given me abundance of joy in Him that I never experienced in years of my religion-based faith
Indeed, the gospel has done in my heart what religion never could
Hebrews 12:2 Who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross
To have a glimpse of how despite His loss, He endured the cross by the joy of what He was gaining: US
In the same way, Jesus is the treasure worth leaving everything for
So I'm also inviting you to let go and allow yourself to dive deeper in the gospel 😊
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 10, 2021
Nothing in here is groundbreaking, and I struggled at first with feeling like it was meant to be trendy and the author was trying too hard to be cool, but I’m glad I kept reading. The author is authentic, he loves Jesus, and you’ll want more of Jesus as you read. We’re never above the Gospel, or above diving into truth. I found myself praising God, feeling convicted of my arrogance and ungratefulness, and rejoicing in our position in Christ throughout the work. Greear constantly points back to God, and I can’t help but feel his joy and celebrate Jesus with him. Anytime someone makes it all about Jesus and pointing to His greatness, I can’t help but be onboard.
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January 23, 2025I wanted to like this book, because I think I need it and it came recommended from a few different people. It seemed that the main purpose of the book was that we need to saturate ourselves in the gospel instead of being 'religious' or letting the status quo of Christian living rule our lives. This is something I agree with in theory, but I didn't connect well with the book in practice. For me, it lacked depth. It didn't describe adequately what the gospel is, and spent a great deal of time describing how our lives, our churches, and everything will change from being gospel centered. It felt reactionary.
July 11, 2019
Love this book. It's simple yet so helpful for Christian living. This is an amazing book on the transforming power of the Gospel. He gets transparent at times in this one. This book helps those that fight against legalism and that inner strive for perfection. He helps remind us that we don't have to earn God's favor. He reminds us that what Jesus did on the cross was enough to bring us in right relationship with God. That God's grace is a gift. Tand that this gospel message is one we will have to come back to constantly. Love his emphasis of returning to the gospel in this book.
The gospel prayer at the end of the book is phenomenal! I would recommend.
The gospel prayer at the end of the book is phenomenal! I would recommend.
June 26, 2025
Este libro ha sido una revelación, un verdadero parteaguas en mi comprensión del evangelio de Jesús. Es profundamente bíblico, cada afirmación anclada en las Escrituras, lo que le da una autoridad innegable. El autor presenta las verdades de una manera tan clara y poderosa que es imposible no sentirse transformado. No es solo un libro más sobre teología; es una experiencia que redefine la fe. Lo recomiendo absolutamente a cualquiera que busque ir más allá de lo superficial y entender el verdadero corazón del mensaje de Jesús.
February 25, 2017
How should the gospel of Jesus Christ impact your life, family, church, and community? Greear uses accurate biblical exegesis to give the answer. Practical, applicable, easy to read, and useful, this book is motivated by Greear's live for Christ's gospel. Greear uses a brief prayer as a model to teach how Christians are to biblically manifest the gospel in their lives. I will use the information I learned in this book in my personal life, home, work, church, and community.
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