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Loved this book. Definitely something we can aspire to try and live in grace!
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The Grace Awakening
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The Grace Awakening calls all Christians to wake up and reject living in such legalistic, performance-oriented bondage. The God of the universe has given us an amazing, revolutionary gift of grace and freedom. This freedom and grace set us apart from every other "religion" on the face of the earth.
In this best-selling classic, Charles Swindoll urges you not to miss living a grace-filled life. Freedom and joy-not lists and demands and duties-await all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.
In this best-selling classic, Charles Swindoll urges you not to miss living a grace-filled life. Freedom and joy-not lists and demands and duties-await all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.
306 pages, Paperback
First published January 1,1990
This edition
- Format
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306 pages, Paperback
- Published
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November 19, 2006 by Thomas Nelson
- ISBN
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9780849911880
- ASIN
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0849911885
- Language
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English
About the author
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Charles Swindoll has devoted over four decades to two passions: an unwavering commitment to the practical communication and application of God's Word, and an untiring devotion to seeing lives transformed by God's grace. Chuck graduated magna cum laude from Dallas Theological Seminary and has since been honored with four doctorates. For his teaching on Insight for Living, he has received the Program of the Year award and the Hall of Fame award from the National Religious Broadcasters as well as multiple book awards.
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Wow! I usually don't like when people use the term "life-changing" while describing a book, speech, conference, or film because it is usually only "life-changing" for a day or two after the experience before the feelings finally fade. However, The Grace Awakening was life-changing for me. I would urge the reader of this book to also spend the extra money and purchase the companion radio broadcast series with the same title by Charles Swindoll from the Insight for Living Ministry. I actually listened to each broadcast after reading each chapter.
I love Swindoll's down-to-earth humble style of teaching, coupled with his infectious joy and GRACE! This book was a renewing fresh breath of air! Read it... You won't be disappointed!
I love Swindoll's down-to-earth humble style of teaching, coupled with his infectious joy and GRACE! This book was a renewing fresh breath of air! Read it... You won't be disappointed!
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This is a somewhat updated edition with a 31 day devotional at the back, and this is a reread, so I'm not sure if this link it the one showing here or not, but I'll shelve the one I added to GR for the reread since it would only let me switch existing editions since someone has put them altogether, even though that is wrong due to added material, new introduction and updated examples, etc.
This is the best book I've ever read on the sometimes elusive Grace preached in the Bible. So many people want to take that and turn it into a strict set of extra rules (legalism) or use it as a license to do whatever they feel like it, regardless (license to sin). But grace is neither; on the one hand it comes freely and with forgiveness, but on the other it's not to be abused.
Swindoll examines what grace is and how accepting and showing it leads to healthier lives, relationships and impact. Given my very busy week, I have had to read over half of this deep book in the past 24 hours among sleeping and life's tasks, so it's hard to write an elaborate review as my brain needs time to rest. Nevertheless, it was worth the reread.
This is the best book I've ever read on the sometimes elusive Grace preached in the Bible. So many people want to take that and turn it into a strict set of extra rules (legalism) or use it as a license to do whatever they feel like it, regardless (license to sin). But grace is neither; on the one hand it comes freely and with forgiveness, but on the other it's not to be abused.
Swindoll examines what grace is and how accepting and showing it leads to healthier lives, relationships and impact. Given my very busy week, I have had to read over half of this deep book in the past 24 hours among sleeping and life's tasks, so it's hard to write an elaborate review as my brain needs time to rest. Nevertheless, it was worth the reread.
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I love this book and have reread it multiple times. What a freeing description of the grace and liberty that is bestowed on believers through Christ! Swindoll combines straightforward explanations and real-life examples with a thorough exegesis of the amazing truths of Galatians and Romans. My only wish is that it could have used the KJV, but all of the points are thoroughly scripture-based nonetheless. What an amazing God we serve, and what a relief to know we are free to serve Him as He leads us and not as others dictate.
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This book gave me a lot of new ways to think about grace and how it impacts every area of our lives. It reminded me of how much grace is extended to me daily, by God and by people, and how much I am in a position to give others. I enjoyed it.
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Chuck Swindoll's The Grace Awakening is a book that I highly recommend to any Christian. But even more than that, I think it would be an interesting read for non-Christians, too. The reason I say that is that Swindoll presents an excellent picture of what the Christian life should look like. It cuts through the muddle of doctrinal and behavioral disputes and focuses simply on the life of grace and freedom that ought to characterize Christianity wherever it's found. Christians should be known to be people full of joy and grace, not people who argue with each other, who generate long lists of prohibited activities, who look scornfully at the rest of the world. When I read Swindoll, in this book and others by him, I think, "What a fantastic example of how attractive and joyful a Christian should be!"
I think a lot of evangelical Christian pastors are uncomfortable with ambiguity and mystery. Swindoll gives a different approach that I really appreciate:
As this book points out, a lot of our problems in living out a life of grace come down to our desire to compare ourselves with others, and our desire to control others. This fearful life is hardly what Jesus meant when he said, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10). But it's where a lot of us stall out, and the lesser kind of life we end up living then becomes the rest of the world's impression of what it means to follow Jesus. The Grace Awakening suggests another way to live, and it's a kind of life that I yearn for. Swindoll covers tough questions, such as disagreements with other Christians, strife within marriage, worries about finances, and other everyday challenges to grace. Our goal is clear, but our habits and fears hinder us. May we all find the freedom that Swindoll writes about!
I'm grateful for this clear, winsome reminder of how I should be seeing life. Books like this help jolt me out of my own obsessively analytical mind and skewed perspective. I need that—pretty regularly, actually.
I think a lot of evangelical Christian pastors are uncomfortable with ambiguity and mystery. Swindoll gives a different approach that I really appreciate:
Someone on our staff at our Insight for Living office informed me several months ago that a woman had called the ministry office to find out what my "official position" was on a certain gray area. When she was told that it's not my policy to make "official" public statements on such issues, she was bewildered . . . actually, a little irritated. She asked, "How are we to know what to decide on this issue if Chuck doesn't tell us?" Some may find her question amusing. Frankly, I find it a little frightening. I thought, Have we created that kind of Christian, where the minister must make statements in areas that are a matter of personal preference? There is a fine line between responsible leadership and dogmatic control. All risks notwithstanding, people need to be informed and then released to come to their own convictions. Why must a minister continually issue public edicts and decrees? . . . Have we wandered that far from grace?In a time when, in my opinion, Christian ministers sometimes overstep their sphere of influence in making comments about politics, I find this attitude very trusting and refreshing.You will never grow up as long as you must get your lists and form most of your opinions from me or some Christian leader. (44)
As this book points out, a lot of our problems in living out a life of grace come down to our desire to compare ourselves with others, and our desire to control others. This fearful life is hardly what Jesus meant when he said, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10). But it's where a lot of us stall out, and the lesser kind of life we end up living then becomes the rest of the world's impression of what it means to follow Jesus. The Grace Awakening suggests another way to live, and it's a kind of life that I yearn for. Swindoll covers tough questions, such as disagreements with other Christians, strife within marriage, worries about finances, and other everyday challenges to grace. Our goal is clear, but our habits and fears hinder us. May we all find the freedom that Swindoll writes about!
I'm grateful for this clear, winsome reminder of how I should be seeing life. Books like this help jolt me out of my own obsessively analytical mind and skewed perspective. I need that—pretty regularly, actually.
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I appreciate the thought-provoking nature of this book. I really like some aspects of "Grace Awakening", but had some disagreements with Swindoll as well. First of all, I enjoy Swindoll's writing style. His books are always simple and easy to understand, I'm sure even for a new Christian. I think it's great to dwell on the truths of grace. Where Swindoll shines is his explanation of grace as it relates to our relationship with God. There is nothing we can do to deserve salvation or to please God through our own abilities and actions. Everything we have, from our salvation to victory in Christian living, is a gift of God's grace. This book is a needed reminder that the Christian life isn't a checklist, it's a relationship with Christ.
Where I disagree with Swindoll is in his definition and explanation of what I would call interpersonal grace, grace as seen in relationships between believers. First, he uses the term "legalism" in describing those who believe that Christian should follow a checklist in order to please God and try to push their moral code onto others. Legalism, strictly speaking, refers to those who believe that good works are necessary for salvation. A better term might be "self-righteousness"; thinking that you are better than others because of the good things that you do. This is certainly a problem in many churches today. More concerning to me is this: Swindoll seems to say that grace in regards to other believers means letting them do whatever they want without even trying to advise or help them, that grace means that other people's actions are only between them and God and that we have no business judging OR trying to help them grow. He implies that grace means that we have to let people just grow at their own pace, and that it's not our business to be concerned with the actions of others at all. I agree that we should be very careful about judging others or comparing ourselves to others in our actions, but I believe that grace involves seeking the highest good of others. Sometimes this may involve rebuking or correcting, sometimes encouraging others. I think that grace is practical love, love at work. Treating others with grace means wanting what is best for others and helping them to grow closer to God.
On a separate note, there is an aspect of church life where accountability must be exercised. A church should show grace, but it also has other responsibilities like discipleship and even occasionally church discipline. Grace in a church certainly doesn't mean dumping all standards of Christian living.
I agree that in our relationship with God, we need to recognize our constant need for grace. In our dealings with others, we should show grace. But while that doesn't involve imposing a checklist of standards on other people, it may involve conversations that help people to think through these issues and deal with them personally.
I don't intend to convey a negative attitude about this book through this review. Taken as a whole, "Grace Awakening" is a valuable resource on the topic of grace. I enjoyed it and can recommend it, but with these reservations.
Where I disagree with Swindoll is in his definition and explanation of what I would call interpersonal grace, grace as seen in relationships between believers. First, he uses the term "legalism" in describing those who believe that Christian should follow a checklist in order to please God and try to push their moral code onto others. Legalism, strictly speaking, refers to those who believe that good works are necessary for salvation. A better term might be "self-righteousness"; thinking that you are better than others because of the good things that you do. This is certainly a problem in many churches today. More concerning to me is this: Swindoll seems to say that grace in regards to other believers means letting them do whatever they want without even trying to advise or help them, that grace means that other people's actions are only between them and God and that we have no business judging OR trying to help them grow. He implies that grace means that we have to let people just grow at their own pace, and that it's not our business to be concerned with the actions of others at all. I agree that we should be very careful about judging others or comparing ourselves to others in our actions, but I believe that grace involves seeking the highest good of others. Sometimes this may involve rebuking or correcting, sometimes encouraging others. I think that grace is practical love, love at work. Treating others with grace means wanting what is best for others and helping them to grow closer to God.
On a separate note, there is an aspect of church life where accountability must be exercised. A church should show grace, but it also has other responsibilities like discipleship and even occasionally church discipline. Grace in a church certainly doesn't mean dumping all standards of Christian living.
I agree that in our relationship with God, we need to recognize our constant need for grace. In our dealings with others, we should show grace. But while that doesn't involve imposing a checklist of standards on other people, it may involve conversations that help people to think through these issues and deal with them personally.
I don't intend to convey a negative attitude about this book through this review. Taken as a whole, "Grace Awakening" is a valuable resource on the topic of grace. I enjoyed it and can recommend it, but with these reservations.
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I bought this book when I was in college, but I didn't read it until a few years ago. I was researching the concept of grace for a piece of fiction I was writing. Then, in the middle of reading it, I realized that I had forgotten why I was reading it. Why, oh, why isn't the concept of grace talked about more in our lives? Swindoll makes his point over and over again that if we fully understood grace, it would change everything about us. I was changed in reading this and the book I was writing changed too.
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