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Jesus Loves You...This I Know
The constant noise of contemporary life makes it easy to miss the most profound message the world has ever known: Jesus loves you. Innovative teachers Craig Gross and Jason Harper will separate the religious from the real as they show how this simple truth is worth our undivided attention. The authors weave Jesus' narrative with their own stories of serving among the "least of these" in this inspiring summons to world-changing faith. Join them as they encounter shut-ins, drunks, inmates, porn stars, and others while striving to follow Christ in their daily lives. Christian and non-Christian readers alike will experience God's love and be challenged to take seriously the call of Jesus. Individuals, small groups, congregations, and church classes will find the companion DVD an indispensable resource for learning about the world-changing love of Jesus through captivating stories and interviews. In these four films, viewers will meet face-to-face with some of the folks they encounter in the book Jesus Loves You . . . This I Know. Each film is three to five minutes long and is followed by questions for groups that wish to use the films as discussion starters. Also ideal for use in sermons.
196 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
February 28, 2021
This is an exceptional book. Remarkable and excellent! I admire the author of this helpful book, Pastor Jason and Pastor Craig for their dedication, love and compassion for everyone. They made a great and good impact to this world. Thank you for changing my perspective of who God really is. I created a book summary of this in Notion, here's the link https://www.notion.so/Jesus-Loves-You...
June 9, 2013
Great book. Gross and Harper tell of their experiences reaching out to those who the church and the world sometimes see as unlovable. They talk of the need for God's people to show His love to those who need it most. They write about how Jesus loves the disconnected, broken, forgotten, the skeptic, the glutton, the crook, the outcast, the porn star, and yes, even the religious. To anyone feeling like they are on the "outside," this book is full of encouragement.
In loving those outside the church, the authors have often received hateful criticism from people within the church. Their last chapter deals with their struggle to love the religious, considering what they have experienced. I understand where they are coming from. However, the one thing I would disagree with is Gross's view of religion. He loves God, but says he hates religion. He defines religion as a set of rules, which divides rather than unites. While this is so often true, I would suggest that Jesus didn't hate religion - he hated false religion. He hated religion that does exactly what Gross is talking about here - emphasizes rules rather than relationships, is exclusive rather than inclusive. I love how it is stated in the book, Desire of Ages, in the chapter on the good Samaritan: "In the story of the good Samaritan, Christ illustrates the nature of true religion. He shows that it consists not in systems, creeds, or rites, but in the performance of loving deeds, in bringing the greatest good to others, in genuine goodness." I hope that Gross and Harper see that they are showing through their lives what true religion can and should be. Thank you, gentlemen, for this book, and for your ministries.
In loving those outside the church, the authors have often received hateful criticism from people within the church. Their last chapter deals with their struggle to love the religious, considering what they have experienced. I understand where they are coming from. However, the one thing I would disagree with is Gross's view of religion. He loves God, but says he hates religion. He defines religion as a set of rules, which divides rather than unites. While this is so often true, I would suggest that Jesus didn't hate religion - he hated false religion. He hated religion that does exactly what Gross is talking about here - emphasizes rules rather than relationships, is exclusive rather than inclusive. I love how it is stated in the book, Desire of Ages, in the chapter on the good Samaritan: "In the story of the good Samaritan, Christ illustrates the nature of true religion. He shows that it consists not in systems, creeds, or rites, but in the performance of loving deeds, in bringing the greatest good to others, in genuine goodness." I hope that Gross and Harper see that they are showing through their lives what true religion can and should be. Thank you, gentlemen, for this book, and for your ministries.
July 23, 2010
A book by the guys who brought the Internet XXXchurch.com!
The authors shine when they provide examples of how they and people they know have reached out to the unlikeliest people in the way they believe Jesus would and found their efforts surprisingly rewarding. One of the authors, a pastor, tells how he took a part-time job as a collections agent for a cable company and found an elderly, isolated, alcoholic man who was being financially exploited by a neighbor (and who was behind on his cable bill) whose life he and his friends transformed. The other author tells of his unlikely friendship with Ron Jeremy. Some of the stories come off as a little cliched or melodramatic; their engagement with the LGBT community might have been radical anywhere in the US 15 or 20 years ago, though it's unexceptional today (at least in New England... maybe still in Alabama). But they're always surprising and heartfelt. You get the sense that these guys are totally sold out on the message of Jesus and have given their lives to loving other people the way he would.
Unfortunately, the writing isn't great, even in the storytelling. It's a quick read and was probably designed to be so (visually and textually), and as such their discussions of faith are pretty superficial. The message might probably be novel to those outside the evangelical mainstream and - one hopes - fresh and captivating to the intended audience, those totally outside the church and fundamentalists. But totally worth reading for the stories.
The authors shine when they provide examples of how they and people they know have reached out to the unlikeliest people in the way they believe Jesus would and found their efforts surprisingly rewarding. One of the authors, a pastor, tells how he took a part-time job as a collections agent for a cable company and found an elderly, isolated, alcoholic man who was being financially exploited by a neighbor (and who was behind on his cable bill) whose life he and his friends transformed. The other author tells of his unlikely friendship with Ron Jeremy. Some of the stories come off as a little cliched or melodramatic; their engagement with the LGBT community might have been radical anywhere in the US 15 or 20 years ago, though it's unexceptional today (at least in New England... maybe still in Alabama). But they're always surprising and heartfelt. You get the sense that these guys are totally sold out on the message of Jesus and have given their lives to loving other people the way he would.
Unfortunately, the writing isn't great, even in the storytelling. It's a quick read and was probably designed to be so (visually and textually), and as such their discussions of faith are pretty superficial. The message might probably be novel to those outside the evangelical mainstream and - one hopes - fresh and captivating to the intended audience, those totally outside the church and fundamentalists. But totally worth reading for the stories.
February 9, 2010
the compelling stories in this book are what makes it special. harper and gross alternate writing about how Jesus loves: outcasts, broken people, the forgotten, skeptics, gluttons, crooks, porn stars and even religious folk. their stories and experiences are so genuinely molded that i couldn't help but feel like i was a part of their story, too.
it was easy to be drawn in.
both authors make great points that should compel one to strive to be like Jesus and love like Jesus.
chapter four, written by Craig, was by far great story telling. this chapter was titled 'the forgotten' and spoke of how sometimes the community of believers inadvertently leaves some behind... alone... forgotten.
the most interesting segments came at the end when both authors write about their experiences befriending and dialoging with porn star Ron Jeremy.
i would recommend this book to any and all. it's not a difficult read at all. great stories. practical. honest. real. what more could you ask for?
it was easy to be drawn in.
both authors make great points that should compel one to strive to be like Jesus and love like Jesus.
chapter four, written by Craig, was by far great story telling. this chapter was titled 'the forgotten' and spoke of how sometimes the community of believers inadvertently leaves some behind... alone... forgotten.
the most interesting segments came at the end when both authors write about their experiences befriending and dialoging with porn star Ron Jeremy.
i would recommend this book to any and all. it's not a difficult read at all. great stories. practical. honest. real. what more could you ask for?
September 24, 2016
This book was a great one, because it is a simple book with a powerful message: the LOVE of Jesus! Craig Gross and Jason Harper speak about the love with which Jesus loves the people no matter who they are or what they've done. I really liked to see how much time and effort they spend interacting with people, whoever they might be: the bitter and betrayed, the disconnected, the broken, the forgotten, the skeptic, the glutton, the crook, the outcast, the porn star and the religious...
I received this book from a friend and I was happy when I saw the title: Jesus Loves You, this I Know! As I read it, I thought about the children's song with the same title. To be honestly this book provoked me in many ways... I realized how far Jesus' love would go to reach out to those who are lost.
I received this book from a friend and I was happy when I saw the title: Jesus Loves You, this I Know! As I read it, I thought about the children's song with the same title. To be honestly this book provoked me in many ways... I realized how far Jesus' love would go to reach out to those who are lost.
July 7, 2010
Flows very well, telling true stories to illustrate Jesus's love of the bitter & betrayed, the disconnected, the broken, the forgotten, the skeptic, the glutton, the crook, the outcast, the porn star, and the religious (each is a chapter). Having heard both authors preach in person, I can see how authentic their stories are and wish everyone could experience that, too. It's quick to read and all about love and inclusion (which all too often gets ignored by organized religion today). Great read for those who believe, and those who don't.
November 8, 2011
The Love of Jesus was not the "love" we're shown by the Church nowadays. Love goes deeper. It's embracing, it accepts. Jesus actually loves sinners.
This incredible book is a call to accept Jesus' love, no matter who we are, what we're done or what roads we've walked.
This book is also a call to love the way He does. Jesus loves the disconnected, the broken, the forgotten, the skeptic, the glutoon, the crook, the outcast. Jesus loves the porn stars as much as He loves the religious. Are we loving them as well?
This incredible book is a call to accept Jesus' love, no matter who we are, what we're done or what roads we've walked.
This book is also a call to love the way He does. Jesus loves the disconnected, the broken, the forgotten, the skeptic, the glutoon, the crook, the outcast. Jesus loves the porn stars as much as He loves the religious. Are we loving them as well?
January 1, 2010
The highlights for me were the many compelling stories of how these two authors apply their faith. The theme of Jesus' love resonates loudly with me. I would draw more boundaries than these two, or perhaps different boundaries, but have to agree that God's love expressed through Jesus has incalcable power.
April 8, 2010
This book takes an important message (possibly the most import message ever) and uses incredible stories to teach it. The message: Jesus loves everyone in the world and there is nothing you can do or be that will ever change His love for you. This book addresses big issues and answer an array of controversial questions. EVERYONE in this world should read this book.
May 17, 2012
This is a religious book. It is a non denominational kind of reading. It's enlightening and just truthful. It is based on one fact of who God is. Love. I would have to say it was inspiring and definitely worth reading and keeping. If you pass it on, you will do so because you know it will be a help for someone else that needs to understand.
March 11, 2010
This book challenged me to think about the way I am loving people every day. Am I loving the people I meet on a daily basis as God loves them? It gave me some new perspective - new "shades" with which to view the world - as Jesus Christ does.
July 21, 2010
Not very well written. Typical chapter: Story, application, criticisms of those who aren't as loving as us.
Yet, the content of the book was warm and encouraging. I like Craig and his ministry. This book takes Christ's love where others aren't always willing to take it.
Yet, the content of the book was warm and encouraging. I like Craig and his ministry. This book takes Christ's love where others aren't always willing to take it.
July 24, 2011
The book was good, not great. It was more individual experiences than a dissertation upon the subject. The last chapter was the best. The online videos of the author are much more attention getting and thought provoking.
February 27, 2012
The overall presentation of the book is awesome. The authors use very simple english which helps the reader to understand how Jesus loves everyone of us. Recommended for everyone including non-believers!
July 23, 2015
This book made me want to love people the way Jesus loves people. Full of great inspiring stories.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews