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Limitless Life: You Are More Than Your Past When God Holds Your Future
Afraid. Failure. Addict. Orphan. Damaged Goods. Purposeless. We all pick up labels that define us. But most aren’t true and put false limits on our lives. Thankfully, Jesus came to remove these labels and allow us to see ourselves as God does. In this transformational message, Pastor Derwin Gray reveals the amazing freedom we can find in Christ and the new labels he Grace-covered. Courageous. Free. Purposeful. Faithful. "Absolutely phenomenal.… Growing up with so many false labels put on me―unloved, fatherless, etc.― Limitless Life was water to my soul.” ―Jefferson Bethke, author, Jesus > Religion "Derwin Gray writes like a madman on a mission―a mission to trumpet the truth about who we really are in spite of the labels and lies some have succumbed to.... Full of biblical insight and wisdom, Limitless Life offers answers for living the limitless life in Christ.” ―Judah Smith, pastor, City Church; author, Jesus Is ______. "As you read this book, God will stretch the limits of your life. You’ll never be the same again!” ―Rick Warren, author, The Purpose Driven Life "My friend Derwin Gray graciously opens the doors for all and invites us to courageously remove labels, step out of the world of judgment and self-condemnation and into the abundant, fulfilling, limitless life God has planned for us all.” ―Marshall Faulk, pro football Hall of Fame inductee and Super Bowl champion
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First published September 3, 2013
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About the author
Derwin L. Gray
26 books69 followersDerwin L. Gray is the founding and lead Pastor of Transformation Church, a multi-ethnic, multi-generational, mission-shaped community with two campuses in South Carolina (Indian Land and Rock Hill), both just south of Charlotte, North Carolina. Transformation Church (TC) was recognized as the 2nd fastest-growing church by percentage in America for 2010 by Outreach magazine. In 2011 and 2012, TC was again recognized again as one of the top 100 fastest-growing churches in America.
Pastor Derwin and his wife, Vicki, have been married for 21 years and have two children: a daughter, Presley, and a son, Jeremiah.
After graduating from Brigham Young University, Pastor Derwin played professional football in the NFL for five years with the Indianapolis Colts (1993-1997) and one year with the Carolina Panthers (1998). During that time, he and Vicki began their journey with Christ and experienced God's faithfulness and direction as He moved their hearts to know Him and make Him known. Click HERE to find out about the "Naked Preacher" who told him about Jesus!
Pastor Derwin and Vicki began an itinerant speaking ministry in 1999-One Heart At A Time Ministries-and Pastor Derwin went on to graduate magna cum laude from Southern Evangelical Seminary with a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree, with a concentration in Apologetics. But following God's call on their lives and their desire to shepherd people towards transforming their world through the mission of Christ, the Lord transitioned Derwin from his primary role of itinerant speaker to being the Lead Pastor of Transformation Church in January of 2010. Coupling his dynamic speaking style with a shepherd's heart, his intense passion for seeing lives and culture transformed is both contagious and inspiring.
In addition to his role at Transformation Church, Pastor Derwin speaks at conferences nationwide and is recognized by many as the "Evangelism Linebacker." He is the author of Hero: Unleashing God's Power in a Man's Heart, published in 2010, and Limitless Life: You Are More Than Your Past When God Holds Your Future, to be released September 3, 2013.
Pastor Derwin and his wife, Vicki, have been married for 21 years and have two children: a daughter, Presley, and a son, Jeremiah.
After graduating from Brigham Young University, Pastor Derwin played professional football in the NFL for five years with the Indianapolis Colts (1993-1997) and one year with the Carolina Panthers (1998). During that time, he and Vicki began their journey with Christ and experienced God's faithfulness and direction as He moved their hearts to know Him and make Him known. Click HERE to find out about the "Naked Preacher" who told him about Jesus!
Pastor Derwin and Vicki began an itinerant speaking ministry in 1999-One Heart At A Time Ministries-and Pastor Derwin went on to graduate magna cum laude from Southern Evangelical Seminary with a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree, with a concentration in Apologetics. But following God's call on their lives and their desire to shepherd people towards transforming their world through the mission of Christ, the Lord transitioned Derwin from his primary role of itinerant speaker to being the Lead Pastor of Transformation Church in January of 2010. Coupling his dynamic speaking style with a shepherd's heart, his intense passion for seeing lives and culture transformed is both contagious and inspiring.
In addition to his role at Transformation Church, Pastor Derwin speaks at conferences nationwide and is recognized by many as the "Evangelism Linebacker." He is the author of Hero: Unleashing God's Power in a Man's Heart, published in 2010, and Limitless Life: You Are More Than Your Past When God Holds Your Future, to be released September 3, 2013.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
June 25, 2014
If I could give it 10 stars I would! Really great book.
January 31, 2014
Everyone goes through life and has labels put on them. Some of these labels are given to ourselves by ourselves. Other labels are learned or picked up through the relationships we have with family and friends.
The problem with these labels are that most of them are detrimental to our well-being. These labels are negative and do more to hurt us then to help us.
We unintentionally allow these labels to define us. We wrestle with not letting the labels control us or influence the way we live and make decisions but we either lose or give up in the struggle.
Derwin Gray does a phenomenal job at showing us through Limitless Life that these labels trap us. They cause our world to implode leaving us surrounded and swallowed up by self-condemnation, judgment, shame, and guilt.
These labels can leave scars that mark us. Labels such as: addict, afraid, failure, purposeless, orphan, damaged goods, and mess are what we tend to relate to when we allow our past to define us.
Gray works to show us in each chapter that we are more than our past. He compares the labels that we allow to define us with the labels that God wants to adorn us with. God doesn’t want us to stay locked into those damaging labels. God wants to change our labels.
Because Jesus came, we now have the opportunity as followers of Jesus to see ourselves the way God sees us. When you see things the way God sees them, you begin to see from a different perspective.
Limitless Life tells us that there will be seasons of pain that we must deal with. This pain or hurt is because Jesus must do work in us. Jesus wants to rip and remove the old labels that have attached themselves and sewn themselves into the very fabric of our identity and being.
Jesus wants to not just remove the labels but wants us to know that He is our label. We are not defined by labels. We are defined by and find our identity in who Jesus says we are.
When you see that Jesus is your everything and Jesus is enough, when you are ready to embrace how Jesus sees you and start to see yourself the way Jesus sees you, you are ready to begin living a Limitless Life.
The problem with these labels are that most of them are detrimental to our well-being. These labels are negative and do more to hurt us then to help us.
We unintentionally allow these labels to define us. We wrestle with not letting the labels control us or influence the way we live and make decisions but we either lose or give up in the struggle.
Derwin Gray does a phenomenal job at showing us through Limitless Life that these labels trap us. They cause our world to implode leaving us surrounded and swallowed up by self-condemnation, judgment, shame, and guilt.
These labels can leave scars that mark us. Labels such as: addict, afraid, failure, purposeless, orphan, damaged goods, and mess are what we tend to relate to when we allow our past to define us.
Gray works to show us in each chapter that we are more than our past. He compares the labels that we allow to define us with the labels that God wants to adorn us with. God doesn’t want us to stay locked into those damaging labels. God wants to change our labels.
Because Jesus came, we now have the opportunity as followers of Jesus to see ourselves the way God sees us. When you see things the way God sees them, you begin to see from a different perspective.
Limitless Life tells us that there will be seasons of pain that we must deal with. This pain or hurt is because Jesus must do work in us. Jesus wants to rip and remove the old labels that have attached themselves and sewn themselves into the very fabric of our identity and being.
Jesus wants to not just remove the labels but wants us to know that He is our label. We are not defined by labels. We are defined by and find our identity in who Jesus says we are.
When you see that Jesus is your everything and Jesus is enough, when you are ready to embrace how Jesus sees you and start to see yourself the way Jesus sees you, you are ready to begin living a Limitless Life.
June 25, 2014
i really needed this book right now, while sorting through the labels that have been placed on me by others and myself, i had let go of the definitions that were used to describe me a few months ago coming to grips with the reality of who i was in God, this book confirmed that release and helped me to free myself from any remaining labels that were untrue, that didn't describe who God made me to be. i recommend this book to anyone who deals with being called names and being labelled something negative and desires to be freed from that, desiring to be redefined by God Himself
October 4, 2015
I really liked it. Very personal. Felt like he was just talking to me. I particularly enjoyed the stories weaved throughout the book.
June 29, 2025
Derwin Gray is a pastor-writer, not much better than the gist, meaning it is a lot of the similar feel you get as reading him as reading much else - and that is totally ok, bringing his inspirational ideas and experiences into book form. What is different is his background in a multietnicalchurch that he allures to, as well as his background experience from the NFL. There is much that can be learned from here of limitless life, of being free from things that hold us back, and look at life in a different light.
May 10, 2020
God gives us a new label. We no longer have to carry names that hold us back and keep us in bondage. We are limitless because of the One who has no limits. Our paths are destined to make impact as we understand who we are and the work each of us is called to.
Derwin, unpacks his story within the framework of God’s story. He keeps the reader within the story of God but He helps us learn more of our own story. You won’t be disappointed with this book.
Grab a pen and a friend!
Derwin, unpacks his story within the framework of God’s story. He keeps the reader within the story of God but He helps us learn more of our own story. You won’t be disappointed with this book.
Grab a pen and a friend!
September 5, 2020
First few chapters had me thinking this was yet another superficial, inspirational book with bits of scripture woven throughout. But man, chapter 5 and 6 hit HARD. I love how upfront Ps Gray is about his opinion on “Christianity” in America today. He makes a key distinction between “religion” and “grace.” If you are in search of a pastor who is gospel-centered and not religious, he is the one for you!
May 15, 2023
I enjoyed this overall. The "labels" and "limitless" parts seemed forced and didn't help get the message across. That said, there are a lot of great truths explained well here. Chapter 7 on being a contributor rather than a consumer was especially great. I also enjoyed the sprinkling of stories and personal testimonies throughout the book.
July 6, 2017
Great Book!
I learned a lot from reading this book. It is well written and easy to follow. I enjoyed the anecdotal parts and how well they tied in to the Scripture and application. Recommend.
I learned a lot from reading this book. It is well written and easy to follow. I enjoyed the anecdotal parts and how well they tied in to the Scripture and application. Recommend.
January 20, 2018
Recommend this one.
July 24, 2013
Derwin Gray. I've heard of his church, Transformation Church, but never really heard much about it beyond the name. I've never heard of him by name (probably because I'm not a big sports fan) but Derwin played football for the Indianapolis Colts and the Carolina Panthers until an accident took him out of the game forever. What seemed like a terrible thing at the time, soon proved to be one of the best things that ever happened to him. He was launched into his incredible career as a pastor with an incredibly diverse church.
Gray is a fresh voice. He's got a different style than most other Christian books I've read. They're usually all the same song and dance, the same tone and the same message. Gray is having none of that. He's got a gift and he's not afraid to use it.
Limitless Life addresses the issue of LABELS. In our society, labels are all we know. We are labeled the second we're born and on through life it goes: black, white, tan, tall, short, skinny, fat, ugly, pretty, failure, loser, popular, orphan, abandoned, etc. This book addresses some of the deeper and more prominent labels our culture issues freely.
Gray starts with Afraid. He addresses the label of fear and how God can remove that deeply embedded label from our hearts. Our hearts have healed around the label, accepting the once foreign object into our most vital organ. But it doesn't have to be that way. Gray explains how the hurt can heal and Jesus peels back the label and replaces it with the one that belongs there: COURAGE.
The next label addressed is addict. We all suffer from addictions whether it's porn, alcohol, drugs, social media (yes, I'm looking at you, facebook!), food, sex, human attention, etc. The biggest reason our battles are wearing us down, according to Gray, is that we're fighting something only Jesus can take care of. Stop fighting, stop focusing on the addiction and focus on God. He can take care of everything else.
Gray covers other labels like ORPHAN, FAILURE, RELIGIOUS, and PURPOSELESS in such a fresh voice that you can't help but hang on to every word. Gray also ends each chapter with a "Transformation Moment." He gives us a quick recap and helps us apply the message of the chapter to our minds, our hearts, and our hands.
What an incredible read. I highly recommend this book.
Gray is a fresh voice. He's got a different style than most other Christian books I've read. They're usually all the same song and dance, the same tone and the same message. Gray is having none of that. He's got a gift and he's not afraid to use it.
Limitless Life addresses the issue of LABELS. In our society, labels are all we know. We are labeled the second we're born and on through life it goes: black, white, tan, tall, short, skinny, fat, ugly, pretty, failure, loser, popular, orphan, abandoned, etc. This book addresses some of the deeper and more prominent labels our culture issues freely.
Gray starts with Afraid. He addresses the label of fear and how God can remove that deeply embedded label from our hearts. Our hearts have healed around the label, accepting the once foreign object into our most vital organ. But it doesn't have to be that way. Gray explains how the hurt can heal and Jesus peels back the label and replaces it with the one that belongs there: COURAGE.
The next label addressed is addict. We all suffer from addictions whether it's porn, alcohol, drugs, social media (yes, I'm looking at you, facebook!), food, sex, human attention, etc. The biggest reason our battles are wearing us down, according to Gray, is that we're fighting something only Jesus can take care of. Stop fighting, stop focusing on the addiction and focus on God. He can take care of everything else.
Gray covers other labels like ORPHAN, FAILURE, RELIGIOUS, and PURPOSELESS in such a fresh voice that you can't help but hang on to every word. Gray also ends each chapter with a "Transformation Moment." He gives us a quick recap and helps us apply the message of the chapter to our minds, our hearts, and our hands.
What an incredible read. I highly recommend this book.
September 11, 2013
This book combines wonderful teaching, relevant scripture, and personal stories to show us the depth of our Father's love, mercy and grace.
I love the relevant stories coupled with powerful scripture and how the two allow us to see that our story today is the Lord's Story. The book is easy to read and yet very powerful and liberating. We all have things we struggle with and things that have been imparted in our souls to hurt us. This book will help you say goodbye to all of it, and fall in love with the beautiful person God created you to be.
The beginning chapter, "From Afraid to Courageous" sets the journey to free you from the labels that once held you captive. This book shows us how God can set our lives free from this and take all limits off.
Now is the time to begin your own journey to a limitless life.
I love the relevant stories coupled with powerful scripture and how the two allow us to see that our story today is the Lord's Story. The book is easy to read and yet very powerful and liberating. We all have things we struggle with and things that have been imparted in our souls to hurt us. This book will help you say goodbye to all of it, and fall in love with the beautiful person God created you to be.
The beginning chapter, "From Afraid to Courageous" sets the journey to free you from the labels that once held you captive. This book shows us how God can set our lives free from this and take all limits off.
Now is the time to begin your own journey to a limitless life.
August 11, 2014
Pastor Gray is the lead pastor of Transformation church, the largest multiethnic church in America. He is a former football player turned pastor.
Limitless Life takes us through the labels that we carry that keep us from reaching our "limitless life" in God. Labels such as Divorced, Molested, Abandoned, Fatherless, Ugly, Fat, Fearful. Each chapter has personal stories and practical applications at the end of the chapter for next steps.
I did enjoy this book, it is at the opposite end of "Not a Fan" the last christian book I read. I thought his two strongest chapters were the one on being an addict (Chapter 2) and being a Contributor (Chapter 7).
Not the best Christian book, I've read, but one could do much worse. Gray is faithful to the gospel and obviously has a talent for writing.
Limitless Life takes us through the labels that we carry that keep us from reaching our "limitless life" in God. Labels such as Divorced, Molested, Abandoned, Fatherless, Ugly, Fat, Fearful. Each chapter has personal stories and practical applications at the end of the chapter for next steps.
I did enjoy this book, it is at the opposite end of "Not a Fan" the last christian book I read. I thought his two strongest chapters were the one on being an addict (Chapter 2) and being a Contributor (Chapter 7).
Not the best Christian book, I've read, but one could do much worse. Gray is faithful to the gospel and obviously has a talent for writing.
June 28, 2014
I really enjoyed this book! The message was clear and Pastor Gray has a smooth, easy to follow, writing style. It also brought about some real deep searching of the labels that others or ourselves place on us and how to get rid of them.
Read
July 5, 2014this book was a life charger for me. even though I had to deal with somethings from my past. This was a must read for me and I am so glad Proverbs 31 di this as a bible study. It was great reading and even greater I didn't have to go through the journey by myself.
June 25, 2014
This book is amazing and I would recommended it to anyone who has ever looked at themselves in a negative way. It shows you the labels you give yourself are not true and what you can do to change your thinking.
July 13, 2014
I loved this book!! Highly recommend this for anyone!! I was so inspired by Derwin Gray's simplicity of how to obtain the Limitless Life. To take your past and use it to inspire your future, well as Derwin says, "Marinate on that"!
March 2, 2016
I liked the casual way he presented the information and the use of the NLT translation. Lots of different perspectives on the life and identity we can have with Jesus. Recommend for seasoned or new followers.
July 29, 2014
This is a helpful book from a Gray on living from our identity in Christ. It is humble, honest and encouraging. Unlike other "victorious" books, Gray puts the praise, purpose and power solely in Christ. Because it is finished, we can no live, the limitless life!
December 24, 2014
Transformative, convicting, inspiring, motivating, life-changing. I need to read this one again and again. Possibly the best spiritual/biblical book I've ever read. This guy knows Truth with a capital "T!"
May 31, 2016
Very readable and relatable. Derwin Gray's passion bleeds into his writing and you can't help but be energized by this book. I especially like the way he constantly integrated scripture into the writing.
May 13, 2014
My pastor, my friend, my mentor. This book got me through the roughest stretch of my life and brought me to Christ.
June 30, 2014
really good read. Will have to revisit again.
June 27, 2014
Closer to 3.5 stars.
June 22, 2014
It was good. Made me think a little.. Not a great one for me though.
July 3, 2014
I enjoyed reading through this as I studied along with the Proverbs 31 online study. I learned a lot about letting go of preconceived labels and replacing them with the word of God.
Read
November 29, 2014This book was amazing. I did it as part of an onlne Bible study through Proverbs 31 Ministries.
January 2, 2015
Powerful
July 8, 2014
This is one of those books that begs to be revisited!!! So much insight into God's plan for us!!
May 30, 2015
The concept was great and I loved it at the beginning, but I got bored in this book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews