The Taste of New Wine

by Keith Miller

Great reading

Genres: Christian, Religion, Biography, Theology, Nonfiction, Christianity, Spirituality

140 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1965

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Reviews

[D.J. Maehs · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was written by author, Keith Miller, in the 1960s and was reprinted numerous times in the 1970s. Prior to reading, I wondered if this book’s message would still be relevant today in the 2020s. Although some references or terminology are dated, the original message is still powerful perhaps even more relevant today.

NOTE: This is a book about living a Christian life as a layperson who witnesses to others, not a book about religion.

The author provides insights and practical suggestions to individuals who wish to deepen their connection with God. Many psychological insights are included, not surprising in light of Miller’s pursuit of a Ph.D in psychological counseling.

Told with unflinching honesty and candor, Miller explains the challenges faced by Christians who attempt to be more loving and kind but sometimes fail when egos and pride collide within a church setting. How do we establish a new beginning as followers of Christ when our selfish natures want us to live life our way, rather than God’s way?

I recommend this book for Christians seeking a closer connection with other Christians as well as with God. I took several notes and included these quotes in my personal journal.

[Jenny Sanders · Rating 4 out of 5]

First published in 1965 I expected this to be rather a dry, out of date read. Pleasantly surprised to discover a book with a resonance and relevance to the present.

Keith Miller was a successful man in 'the oil business' who was driven by what he thought that should look like as well as a pre-conception of what a 'good' Christian should look like, including studying theology although he had no genuine desire to enter 'full-time ministry'. What he discovered was the life-altering difference between religion and relationship and what that looked like 24/7 in his marriage, his home, his business and his leisure time. That revelation brought life, authenticity and a new, energised sense of hope and purpose.

Written in an engaging, conversational style dispensing with niceties to get to the root of so much dissatisfaction and unfortunate double standards that still seep into the contemporary church.

[Rich Thornton · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author has a way of blending stories from his life and others with ideas, principles, truths and more that he has learned and is learning along the way. Keith Miller searched for God and discovered a God who had been searching for him.

I first read this book in 1978 and came across this audio version recently where Keith narrates his book himself. He brings to the narration a passion filled with many more years of living this out since he wrote it in the 1960's.

This is so good. So much that speaks to me and will to other listeners and readers. It's a taste of finding God which will lead many, still, to drink again and again from the new wine of God's Spirit.

[Jungsook Chung · Rating 4 out of 5]

In CLC(Christian Life Community) where I belong to, members use spiritual guide books in order to contemplate the verses in the bible. In 'Mission' by Mark Link, S.J. we are going to use from May, 2022, 'The Taste of New Wine' by J. Keith Miller is mentioned and I borrowed the book.

Keith says that God is not a philosopher, or a theologian who tries to explain about God. God is a living artist. He accesses us totally in terribly specific way. God does not want your power or talent. He wants your permission in order to come into your life, your time, and wants to have a loving relationship with you. You will being born again in the new relationship. God is interested in your total life. If you do wrong, accept it and be relaxed, but apologize it, and start again.

Don't try to change people. Love them as they are. Only God can change or convert them(The inner tracking and actual converting could be done only by Holy Spirit).

Don't try to impress people with anything. When there is someone you have difficulty to get along, offer him to God and pray to make you think of him as God thinks of him.

God is not taking away all your problems, but he gives you new sets that you can choose some of them.

Prayers are not a series of the requests to get God help you to do that you need to be done. Prayer is the direction of life focusing one's deepest personal intention God wants to work.

Christian leader must die to the image of his own perfection so that others live. You have to be willing to fail for others.

Listen to others earnestly without changing the topic. While listening to a person, if you think how to convert the person, you are doing spiritual manipulation.

Live and have a loving relationship with God and people. The center of the world is wherever you are in, and that is your home. Make it as holy as possible.

[Marcellous Valentin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing! Keith Miller talks about the human experience and then how we’re all doing the best we can all while trying to honor, serve, and love Jesus with all of ourselves. The last chapter is dope because he talks about the call to bring the Gospel to the ends of the earth but that doesn’t mean the center of the earth is where you are, so you don’t have to go overseas to share the Good News. My favorite book

[Henry Nightingale · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is no better book that has described the life of the devoted layman than this. Highly recommend to anyone who feels weak in their faith, as Keith Miller’s testimony truly is a powerful view of how much God’s work in someone’s life can change not just them, but everyone around them too.

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Faith comes before understanding.

[Hailey Moon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this over the summer. Some things in it were a little out of date as it was written in 1965 but a lot was oddly relevant today. Very interesting read for me, would prob reccomend.

[Mark Young · Rating 3 out of 5]

The county library was discarding this, along with many other books, and I remembered the title from decades back when I was in my high school or early college years. It was generally connected to the Charismatic Movement in some way, but I had never read it nor had anyone tell me about it. I approached it expecting something somewhat Pentecostal--and was pleasantly surprised by something very different.

Miller is a man who at some point decided that his Christian faith was rather shallow, and who began something of a quest for a deeper, closer relationship with God. He became a leader of a lay retreat center focusing on exactly that, and has a great deal of experience both in his own life and in the lives of those he has known over the years. However, he very wisely does not tell us how to do it; rather, he tells us his experience, as it relates to his faith changing his individual life, his marriage, his business life, his social life, and his church life, along with stories from others with similar experience along the way. He thus presents the lessons in ways that are not didactic or preachy.

There was not much I had not heard before, in some context, but there was some, and there were fresh perspectives on much of it. I think it a potentially useful book, and although society has changed significantly (much of what he described of his life seemed to fit the lives of my parents in the sixties and seventies) the essentials are still quite relevant. He talks about bring faith into action in his office, in his home, about finding the mission field where you are instead of far away, and similar ideas. I will probably read this one again in a few years; it seems to be worthwhile.

[Nev · Rating 4 out of 5]

Keith Miller bluntly narrates a normal Christian’s struggles in everyday life at home, office and church. He discusses the dishonesty amongst Christians by appearing holier than they actually are and the fact that we are children at heart, pretending to be grown-ups. There is a strong desire in us to be accepted and loved, and we try to achieve it through different means.
Sadly, the author’s own broken marriage, years after writing this very influential book and having a “successful” ministry, reveals the stark reality of the need to be humble and faithful to the end, to beware of selfishness and to be careful and humble in my daily life.
The final chapters seemed to be oversimplifying the condition of traditional denominational churches and their clergy. Perhaps it is because of the author’s background (or the decades that have gone by) that there are many presuppositions made regarding the attitude of the clergy.

[J. Ewbank · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book by Miller that provides an abundance of thoughtful ideas, concepts, methods, trial and failures of the Christian life. He has really worked with God to be a Christian and it shows. Excellent.

J. Robert Ewbank author "John Wesley, Natural Man, and the Isms" "Wesley's Was" and "To Whom It May Concern"

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written in the mid-sixties, this charts a 'layman' discovering what the Christian life really means; something that apparently was rare in that period. Well-written and interesting, even from a 21st century perspective, if a little dated.

[Betty Ann]

I've read this book over again many times, and it always speaks to my heart in a new way. Every chapter is useful and presents ideas that Christians today need to heed. Even though it was written in the 60s, it continues to be timely.

[Sherry Barber]

Was text for our adult Sunday School class.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome book, but, sadly, Mr Miller has gone from this world. He died in Jan.22nd.

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this after "Habitat of Dragons" before "Hunger for Healing".

[Ann Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Transformative, convicting, honest, classic, must read.. Over and over again

[Henok]

Impressive!

[Michelle Barker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent and honest book on faith. Food for thought: What is the most important thing to me? What do I think about when my mind is not engaged with work or with someone else?