The Grace of God: The Gift We Don't Deserve, The Love We Can't Believe

Andy Stanley is one of America's best known and most beloved pastors. He leads North Point Community Church in the Atlanta Area and more than 20,000 people attend weekend worship services he leads. Personally, Andy's writings have challenged me, encouraged me, and served to train me in areas of ministry and leadership. In many ways, he has served as a mentor and friend from a distance. While he wouldn't know me from anyone else, I certainly have been positively influenced by his teaching and training.In this book, Andy reaches into the heart of the biblical message and displays the grace of God. Through stories from both the Old and New Testament, Andy shows that God's grace has been and continues to be the way He deals with people throughout all of history...not just the last 2,000 years.The message of grace is convicting and challenging...since it is something that no person can control. Man is comfortable with rules and flow charts and scientific "cause-effect relationships," but he is uncomfortable being at the total mercy of One who is superior in every way. What is clear though...Grace is the message of the Bible and "The church is most appealing when the message of grace is most apparent" (xiv). "Grace is inviting to the unrighteous and threatening to the self-righteous" (p. 140).When grace is properly understood and accepted, then the church (God's people who have been saved by God's grace alone...through faith alone) becomes a welcoming, warm, safe, and helpful environment for those looking for hope, help, and healing in their lives.I recommend this book to those who have experienced the grace of God. I also recommend it to those who have an idea in their minds that God is all about the "thou shalt nots" of life...as if He were a "cosmic killjoy." This perspective that Andy shares will enlighten one to see and understand all of how God has operated in the world...even in the establishing of the Law of "thou shalts" and "thou shalt nots." Andy casts light on the motives of God when He steps into human history and gives guidance/directives/commands.This is not a deep theological manual. It is a book that communicates in everyday language the characteristic of God that we most desperately need and is most difficult for us to define.

I always enjoy reading Andy Stanley's books as well as listenning to his numerous podcasts from North Point current series, archives and leadership talks. As such I know that when Andy writes his ideas and quotable sentences, it is most likely carefully crafted piece of well thought art, and it is a well of wisdom for other leaders and speakers like me.The Grace of God is different book than other Andy's work. While normally he would write the book based on one series he would have in North Point Church (such as It Came From Within; How Good is Good Enough; The Princliple of Path; Choosing to Cheat), this is actually based on several different series that Andy spoke, such as last year Christmas series, Loosing my Religion, and so on, but (as he says in the beginning of the book), he point out from these messages subject of grace even when his original message was about something else. As I was reading the book, I remembered the messages where I heard these stories and principles, however, it was all quite fresh because of this until now hidden underlying link of God's grace. As such, the book felt very different.If I am not mistaken, Andy normally writes either principle based books on life or leadership books, but this could be easily considered his first ever book on theological matter, even though it is still written in fresh, conversational and practical Andy's signature style. If more of this would follow, I can't honestly wait to get them and read them!

Of all the Christian books I've read (besides the bible itself), this is one that I very much would recommend to anyone. It is truly a in-depth look at grace. Please read if you get the chance. Life changing.

I would highly recommend Andy Stanley's "The Grace of God." I was fortunate enough to be provided a copy in a special pre-release directly from the publisher for review purposes. You can purchase a paperback copy for under $11 at Amazon.com ([...]) or directly from the publisher at [...].My favorite chapter was the one dedicated to the life of David which was titled, "Sustained by Grace." Stanley suggests, "The grace of God has no load limits" (90). He goes on to propose, "Fortunately for us who have been given much and are thus responsible for much, there is much grace" (91).The Bible reads, "Nathan said to David, 'You are the man! Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul. And I gave you your master's house and your master's wives into your arms and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And if this were too little, I would add to you as much more. Why have you despised the word of the Lord, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and have taken his wife to be your wife and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife. Thus says the Lord, Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house. And I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun.' David said to Nathan, 'I have sinned against the Lord.' And Nathan said to David, 'The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die. Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the Lord,t the child who is born to you shall die'" (2 Samuel 12:7-14, ESV).Official Book Description: With more than 100,000 copies sold, How to Write a Book Proposal has been the go-to resource for getting your work published for almost 25 years. This Writer's Digest classic from literary agent Michael Larsen outlines in a clear step-by-step manner how to create an effective nonfiction book proposal. The 4th edition of the book features information about recent changes in the publishing industry, updated trend information, new sample proposals, a completely updated resources section, and a new chapter on online promotion.Why is it that God did not remove the crown from David's lineage as he had previously with Saul? Is it that the Salvation Story would not go on without him? Isn't God bigger than one family tree? But as for the Davidic Covenant, "that promise would stand. For it was not anchored by the behavior of the recipient, but by the grace of the One who had made the promise" (97). After all, David was not the strongest, fastest, or even the best looking from his own family. He wasn't even the firstborn. And yet, God chose him.The most surprising part of the narrative - David failed. Yes, he repented. But he still failed. He sinned with Bathsheba...and he often was passive as a father. Those sins would have great consequences. Stanley writes, "Grace and discipline are not mutually exclusive. One does not preclude the other. Discipline is often an expression of grace" (99).Even though we know that David was a man after God's own heart...we also know that he was anything but flawless. Stanley points out, "If grace had limits, David's behavior would have exposed them...[but] if David's story is any indication, grace has no end" (102-103).Official Book Description: Learn how God's grace can and will transform you. None of us deserves what God offers, a life free from sin and hope for a glorious future, but unbelievably it's ours for the taking. Why? Because of God's grace. The unmerited favor, the lavish love and kindness he pours out on us, and has, since Creation. But if it's so available then why do we live a graceless life? Why are our churches filled with disillusioned Christians, weary of religion's demands, struggling with personal defeat because of issues or behaviors?Join pastor Andy Stanley as he traces grace through the Old and New Testaments, observing God's grace at work in the lives of some of the best--and worst--characters. He also uses personal stories from his own life to reveal how grace is not a natural response but is the most essential one. Together these stories unravel the mystery of grace and tell of its transforming power to set us free.Official Author Biography: Andy Stanley serves as senior pastor of the campuses of North Point Ministries, including North Point Community Church in Alpharetta, Georgia; Buckhead Church in Atlanta, Georgia; and Browns Bridge Community Church in Cumming, Georgia. Each Sunday, more than twenty thousand attend one of these NPM campuses. Andy is the bestselling author of Visioneering, The Next Generation Leader, It Came from Within!, and How Good Is Good Enough? Andy and his wife, Sandra, have two sons and a daughter.

By providing a clear history of Gods Grace given to the characters of the Old & New Testament , written in a simple story line gave me a new understanding of just how important Grace is for us to receive and give.

I bought an audio book "ASK IT" of Andy Stanley. I played it zillion times. I still played the CD because I've left in the car. This lead me to buy this book "THE GRACE OF GOD". I've a lot of reach on the Grace of God since my Bible school and Theological seminary days. Andy's illustrative exposition of God's Grace has satisfactorily ended my research to understand more. Very clear explanation and very clear to understand. I enjoy reading the book with audio support. God bless.

The first book I read by Andy Stanley was "The Grace of God" - as he explored 'grace' through the Old and New Testament - I was impacted and hooked on Andy Stanley as a writer. Oscar Wilde said this and I quote: "If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again - there is no use in reading it at all". I know it is a book I'll read many times - but this time I'm reading it on Kindle.A. J. Diener

Great book, author knows what he writes. Great for new, older christians and atheists willing to keep an open mind.

This book is best I've read, concerning God and who he really is. I'm so blessed to know God will love me regardless of what I do. His loving kindness is according to His standard not my fluctuating behaviour.