Customer Reviews

Cast of Characters: Common People in the Hands of an Uncommon God

5 star:		(63)
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3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Max Lucado is one of my favorite Christian inspirational authors, and his latest book Cast of Characters: Common People in the Hands of an Uncommon God continues to reinforce that opinion. Max has a gift of taking a character or story from the Bible, resetting it in an unusual environment, and then drawing out the application and message. It's wonderful to encounter a common passage and see it in a whole new light.

Contents:
Joseph - Joseph's Prayer; Matthew - Friends of Flops; Woman Who Washed Jesus' Feet - The 7:47 Principle; Mephibosheth - The Privilege of Paupers; Samaritan Woman - Two Tombstones; Mary, Martha, and Lazarus - Your Place in God's Band; Abigail - Barbaric Behavior; Paralyzed Man - Bright Lights on Dark Nights; John - I Can Turn Your Tradegy into Triumph; Paul - Hidden Heroes; Two Criminals - I Will Let You Choose; Moses - The Voice from the Mop Bucket; Joseph - When Crickets Make You Cranky; David - Facing Your Giants; Esther - Touching the King's Heart; Job - Where Man Covers His Mouth; Nicodemus - The Most Famous Conversion in the Bible; Jairus - The Sparkle from Eternity; Rich Young Ruler - The Affluent Poor; Sarah, Peter, and Paul - The Kingdom of the Absurd; Lazarus - The Final Witness; Peter - The Gospel of the Second Chance; Conclusion - Cast of Characters; Notes; Sources

It's tempting to look at Biblical characters and attribute spiritual qualities to them, to "clean them up" to fit the way God used them. But the reality is that most of them were common people who were deeply flawed in many ways. Despite their failures, God used them in ways that made a huge impact. For instance, Moses was used to lead an entire nation to a land promised to them by God. But he spent many years hiding out in the desert, trying to escape an act of murder he committed. Peter turned his back on Jesus when he was being led to His death, yet he was used to spread the gospel to many nations. And Paul... an avowed enemy of Christianity who became an evangelist after a close encounter with God on a road in Damascus. Thought-out the book, you see that your background and status is irrelevant in terms of how God wants to use you.

On top of his inspirational messages, Lucado does an exceptional job in resetting the stories in ways that make you stop and think. Moses and the burning bush becomes Henry the janitor and the glowing mop bucket. Matthew the tax collector is living the life of a organized crime member, complete with all the bling. Jairus the rabbi becomes Wallace the high ranking official of a religious denomination. Even though the trappings of the story change, the underlying truth remains the same. Each chapter ends with a series of questions for reflection and discussion, so it can easily be used for personal devotions or small group discussions.

This is one of those books that you'll read and reread a number of times depending on whatever particular crisis you might be experiencing. And each time, you'll see facets of God's character that you never noticed or understood before...

There's a strange phenomenon that sometimes occurs when we read a book, watch a movie, or have an experience in the course of our daily lives. This phenomenon is often referred to as déjà vu. Déjà vu is the sense that you've been here, seen this, or had this experience before. It may be hard to put your finger on it, but there is a sense of the familiar. As I stated earlier, there are times we all encounter this when reading a book, especially in the pages of our Bibles. As the stories of Joseph, Job, Peter, Paul, and others Biblical persons unfold, we may relate to their experiences, personality, and character traits. Our life experiences, personality, and character traits that intersect with those of the Biblical persons draw us into their stories and make us feel like we're a part of them. The reason we can so easily relate to them is that they were normal ordinary people like you and me. Like us, they had many faults and flaws. In spite of this, God used them to change the world. This is precisely what Max Lucado is trying to communicate in his new book Cast of Characters.

Max unfolds the stories of various Biblical persons over the course of twenty three chapters. Each chapter has three parts: scripture passage, explanation of the Biblical person(s) in the scripture passage, and study questions. As Max helps the reader relate to the Biblical persons, he offers a message of hope in a God who is able to transform the direction of people's lives, just as He did with and through these Biblical persons who live so many years ago.

It's been quite some time since I've read a Max Lucado title. His work tends to be a departure from the more technical and reference type books that I'm drawn to. I was happy to find that I enjoy Max's writing style just as much as I did many years ago. The strength I see in this book is that he goes to great length to help the reader get inside the minds of these Biblical persons. I felt like I came away from reading this book with a better grasp of the heart and mind of David, Matthew, Lazarus, and others.

The layout of the book makes it ideal for a small group setting or for personal devotional reading. If you've enjoyed other books by Max Lucado, I'm confident you will find this new title to be enjoyable as well. This book would be a perfect gift for the Max Lucado reader in your life during the upcoming Christmas season.

Max Lucado is Minister of Writing and Preaching at Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas. He is married to Danalyn and they have three daughters. Max is the author of numerous bestselling books. Learn more about Max Lucado and his writings at [...].

It has been a long time since a book has drawn me in as this book has. Max Lucado has done it again. Cast of Characters gives a great down-to-earth characterization of many well known--and not so well known Bible characters.

What was the woman at the well thinking when Jesus asked her for some water? How would a Samaritan woman react to being approached by a Jew during those times? Max Lucado takes these classic Bible stories and adds his own personal spin based on the historical details of the times. He includes people like David, Abigail, John and Paul.

I truly enjoyed this book in it's entirety. Each chapter ends in thought-provoking discussion questions that are truly meant to be shared. I highly recommend that you share this book with your spouse, a close friend, a or a Sunday school group. This book was not meant to be read alone, but to be used as a wonderful study and discussion tool.

This is a fabulous addition to your personal library or a great holiday gift for a friend. I give it 5 stars--hands down!

2 Corinthians 12:9 My power shows up best in weak people.

Common Sense....Common Courtesy....Common Good
These are phrases that I have heard all my life. What does it mean to be common?
One of Webster's definitions is "occurring or appearing frequently; familiar."
I think that is fair because I believe we can see something of ourselves in the characters of Lucado's book, Cast of Characters.

Some of his characters are famous, like Matthew and Paul and Moses. Some of his characters are less known, like Abigail and Mephibosheth. However, famous or not, we can relate to the 'common folk' of the Bible and that gives me hope that our lives count in the eyes of a loving God.

I love how Max Lucado takes a biblical principle and makes it simple yet profound! Through this book, I see 1 Cor. 13 in a new light; you know, 'the love chapter.' He says, "Many people tell us to love. Only God gives us the power to do so." We cannot live out a love that 'is not proud' or 'does not boast' unless we have surrendered our heart to the God who calls us to love like that!

My favorite chapter is on Job, though. I've read the book of the Bible, I've heard the sermons preached, I've sat in Bible study and thought I had picked Job's life apart...until now. "Before he heard God, Job couldn't speak enough. After he heard God, he couldn't speak at all." Oh, the power of Almighty God!

If you have ever wondered if you would be able to be one of God's chosen in life...for a mission trip, a Sunday school teacher, or maybe even just to speak into someone else's life, then I would encourage you to read this book!

Near the end of the book, Mr. Lucado writes about the common bond between Sarah, Peter and Paul and how Uncommon God changed their minds about Him. I love one particular sentence used in this chapter and feel it sums up the point he is trying to make. "...when they gave up, God stepped in, and the result was a roller-coaster ride straight into the kingdom."

I want to be ready to give up and truly give it all to God and let Him make my very common life uncommon for His glory!

Book Review for the paperback titled:
Cast of Characters
by Max Lucado

This is an honest review of my impression of this book. I volunteered to read and review Cast of Characters, because I'm a seroius student of the bible, and thought this would be an addition to my knowledge about bible characters. Unfortunately,
I didn't like this book at all, and here's why:
Lucado attempts to intertwine the events and outcomes of some of the people, with reactions and thoughts he supposes you and I would have, in similar situations.
His purpose was to uplift and inspire, I'm sure, but, his style of writing left me
climbing the wall and laying the book down in disgust several times.
For instance; Lucado uses short sentences, and he repeats the same words over and over. Like: what do you say we have a chat about graveclothes?...no one likes graveclothes, burial garments,no one discusses graveclothes...burial garments, don't discuss graveclothes....
OK ! I GET IT!
The short sentences are maddening: 2, three, and four word sentences are so numerous one begins to think they're reproducing on their own.
Another sore point with me, is, his use of the New Century Version of the bible, which so distorts and muddles the beauty of the bible.
I give this book one star, and only that, because of the author's original intent, which I believe was, he was actually hoping to inspire Christians.
I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their [...] - book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 [...] : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising

Definitely a Max Attack! & Hilarious at times, too!!! Max Lucado at his best! "Cast of Characters: Common People in the Hands of an Uncommon God" takes you on a Bible ride you would have never expected. I highly recommend this for all....especially for those you have strayed away from the Bible because it may be too hard for them to comprehend. Max takes some of the stories from the Bible & turns them into our every day lives, every day situations, for us...the "Common People". Read some of the excerpts from the book and you'll feel right at home!!

How many times have you read the Bible, and wished there was a way to make some of the stories seem more relevant to the times you live in? Have you wished for a deeper connection to the lessons available in the Scriptures? Max Lucado writes about some key Bible players in a way that is new and fresh, opening up doors of understanding like never before.

Having been familiar with a few of Lucado's past works, I was thrilled about having the opportunity to review Cast of Characters. And I can honestly say, it surpassed even my highest expectations. Lucado writes about key Biblical figures in a way that makes their stories so incredibly relatable, we can easily see the same lessons playing out in our own lives.

The book is peaceful and reflective, but also very very humorous, and I think that is a quality many theological writers greatly under appreciate. I truly believe that Lucado has a gift to make the Scripture live and breathe to people who would normally be put off my too many thees and thous.

Each chapter focuses on a particular story or lesson theme, and ends with questions for reflection. This book would be perfect for small group discussions or Bible study supplements. I think that this book would also be great for youth groups, to help them see these lessons in a way that makes more sense to them. Overall, I was completely enraptured by the book, but not at all surprised at the wisdom and heart Lucado shares with readers. It is simply what I have come to expect from him.

Max Lucado is clearly one of the most influential and accomplished Christian authors in years and this book shows why that is.

He has a writing style that just draws you in. This is a great book about the stories of perfectly normal people that were used in amazing ways by a totally perfect God. It is a book that is great for any seasoned or new Lucado fan. I came away from this book being encouraged by the type of people that God has chosen to use.

The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book or advanced reading copy through BookSneeze®

Max Lucado is a prolific writer who has the wonderful ability to remind his readers that stories from the Bible aren't old, out-of-date, stuffy, or irrelevant. The people written about in the Bible were people just like you and me: ordinary, flesh and blood, flawed, messed-up people; (that is, all except Jesus, who was God incarnate.) Max examines the lives of about 20 people from the Bible and shows how they are just like us today. He paints great word pictures and I could easily see each story in my mind's eye. The bottom line: God can and will do extra-ordinary things in the lives of ordinary people who follow Him. I read this book originally last summer and picked it up again to read and review. So often, we think that God only works in the lives of "good" people. Yet the Bible tells us that no one is "good" and then repeatedly shares with us the lives of people that we wouldn't consider to be "good", yet God worked in their lives in mighty ways. David and Moses were both murderers, but God worked in their lives to accomplish mighty things. Max takes stories like David and Moses and helps his reader see how they weren't much different from you and me. God desires to have a personal relationship with each of us and this book gives about 20 different examples from the Bible, showing how God loves us and wants us to love Him. The book was easy to read and was a great summer read.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Max Lucado has really set the stage for a God experience with his book Cast of Characters. The book goes through several well-known, and some not so well known characters in the greatest book of all-time, the Bible. I absolutely love Lucado's use of making the Biblical characters relatable, even bringing some of them in to our time.


One of my favorite passages throughout the book is the chapter entitled, "The Privilege of Paupers". This passage gives the example of a being a bachelor at potlucks. Then it relates the experience to a Biblical character named Mephibosheth. I love how the book mentioned in this chapter how "fear not" is listed in EVERY book of the Bible.
This book takes you on an amazing journey and I would encourage any Biblical scholar or anyone who has a hard time relating the Bible to our time to pick this book up and try it out for yourself. There are plenty of great characters to get a spin on and learn more about. There are scripture examples and so much more. I do not think you will be disappointed, and you may learn a thing or two about yourself and God. This book by Lucado is truly a page turner.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com [...] book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 [...] : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising