Monday, April 6, 2015

Book Review: It is Finished (2015)

It is Finished: 365 Days of Good News. Tullian Tchividjian. 2015. David C. Cook. 368 pages. [Source: Review copy]

I've reviewed three of Tullian Tchividjian's books before. I've reviewed One Way Love, Surprised by Grace,  and Jesus + Nothing = Everything. I loved all of his books, but, I particularly loved, loved, loved Jesus + Nothing = Everything.

His newest book is a devotional book. Tchividjian has in multiple books promoted the idea that Christians should preach the gospel to themselves each and every day. (He's not the only author I read with this belief. Joe Thorn also comes to mind.) This devotional book gives readers 365 days of the gospel.

Some devotional entries were familiar to me. Quotes from the books I've read. But there were plenty of devotionals that were new--at least new to me.

Overall, I thought there were plenty of great entries making this devotional one worth recommending. Some devotionals were great and wonderful. But I didn't love each and every devotional equally. His devotionals draw from theology and doctrine, his own life, books, TV and movies, sports and celebrities.

From January
If the world is ever going to experience the kind of reformation we long for, Christians are going to have to understand we are not called to say many different things about many different subjects but rather the same thing in different ways about every subject. We don't graduate from the gospel, and we shouldn't tire of it. It can and does apply to everything. (January 16, Romans 10:17)
From February
Because Jesus was strong for you, you're free to be weak. Because Jesus was "someone," you're free to be no one. Because Jesus was extraordinary, you're free to be ordinary. Because Jesus succeeded for you, you're free to fail. Because Jesus won for you, you're free to lose. When truly considered, these are remarkably powerful words. They mean true freedom for the hearer. (February 21, Philippians 4:19)
From March
We have to allow God to remind us every day through His Word of Christ's finished work on behalf of sinners in order to stay convinced that the gospel is relevant. (March 12, 1 Corinthians 15:1-2)
From April
There's nothing about the gospel that fixes my eyes on me. Any version of Christianity, therefore, that encourages you to think mostly about you is detrimental to your faith--whether it's your failures or your successes, your good works or your bad works, your strengths or your weaknesses, your obedience or your disobedience. The irony, of course, is that you and I are renewed inwardly to the degree that we focus not on inward renewal but upward worship and outward service. The more you see that the gospel isn't about you, the more spiritual you will become. (April 18, James 2:14-16)
From May
To be truly biblically balanced, then, is to let theology be proportioned by the Bible's radically disproportionate focus on God's saving love for sinners seen and accomplished in the crucified and risen Christ. (May 24, Luke 4:43)
From June
We gather in worship to celebrate God's grip on us, not our grip on God. (June 13, Psalm 95:6)
From July
Someone once said that as our opinion of human ability goes up, our reliance on Jesus goes down. Let's always remember that. A high view of ourselves gives us a low view of Jesus. But it's a low view of ourselves and what we can actually do that promotes a high view of Jesus and what He has done for us. (July 16, Acts 1:8)
From August
Throughout his time in this world, Spurgeon suffered from various physical ailments that eventually took his life prematurely. He longed to be well but he recognized the supreme value of begin sick and he thanked God for it because it was his pain that caused him to desperately draw near to God. (August  27, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
From September
Here's some good news: the gospel is for Christians, too. Jesus has paid for your Christian sins just as completely as He paid for your non-Christian sins. There is no condemnation--none--for those in Christ Jesus. Before God, the righteousness of Christ is all we have. Before God, the righteousness of Christ is all we need. (September 19, Psalm 119:105-107)
From October
All good theology is an exposition of the gospel. (October 7, Colossians 1:6)
From November
The Bible is not a witness to the best people making it up to God; it's a witness to God making it down to the worst people. The Bible is one long story of God meeting our rebellion with His rescue; our sin with His salvation; our failure with His favor; our guilt with His grace; our badness with His goodness. (November 13, John 8:56)
From December
We are not saved from death as much as we are saved through death. The old us, the us that was trying to get out of our situation by our own efforts, must be put to death. (December 5, Psalm 34:17-20)

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

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