In The Grip Of Grace [Abridged, Audiobook] [Audio Cassette]

Max Lucado (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 12, 1996

Get caught!

Life is full of fumbles and stumbles. Fraught with opportunities to make mistakes, occasions to feel guilty, and the drive to "do it yourself." The pressure to be self-sufficient is high, but it isn't the life God offers.

The way of the world will direct you to try harder and work smarter so that you can take care of yourself and even make yourself successful. But the way of the cross will point toward the place where you stop striving ... stop pushing ... stop every self-initiated effort -- so that you can fall into the boundless, liberating, refreshing grace of God!

Just imagine being love-driven instead of self-propelled. Imagine abandoning your life to Jesus instead of trying to save yourself. Can you imagine exchanging your fears for that peace that passes understanding? Being relaxed and free instead of stressed-out and anxious? If you can imagine enjoying God instead of trying to repay him, then you can imagine grace.

So go ahead! Jump off the cliff of self-sufficiency. Leap out of legalism. Walk off the pier of guilt and condemnation. That's the only way you'll land in the strong arms of the Father who loves you ... the Father who catches you -- every time -- in the grip of his grace.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Popular writer and speaker Lucado here turns his interpretive powers on one of the most popular New Testament writings, the book of Romans, to probe the meaning of grace in Christian life. Using his own considerable storytelling powers, Lucado relates the biblical principles found in Romans to the stories of ordinary people like his father to fashion inspirational interpretations of the book of Romans for everyday life. Admitting that Romans is often difficult for Christians to read because of its focus on God's wrath and God's punishment of human sinfulness, Lucado translates and interprets the biblical texts to demonstrate that God's righteousness and justice are merely indicators of the mercy and lovingkindness inherent in God's grace. Through these readings, Lucado reminds readers of the eternal quality of God's mercy and the gentleness of his love. While Lucado's book is not a compendium of deep theological insights, his graceful style and his thorough exposition of biblical texts will grant rewards to interested readers.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Max Lucado, Minister of Writing and Preaching for the Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas, is the husband of Denalyn and father of Jenna, Andrea, and Sara. He is the author of multiple bestsellers and is America's leading inspirational author. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (August 12, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0849962315
• ISBN-13: 978-0849962318
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (64 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,797,143 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #5 in Books > Books on Cassette > Authors, A-Z > ( L ) > Lucado, Max

More About the Author

In just under two decades of writing, Max Lucado has accomplished more than most writers hope for in a lifetime. Most of his books have appeared on one or more best seller lists, including those published by the "New York Times," "USA Today," "Publishers Weekly," and the Christian Booksellers Association (CBA). Aside from hardcover books, Lucado's writings have also been published as children's books, videos, CD-ROMs, DVDs, music CDs, mass paperback booklets, apparel, giftware, bookmarks, calendars, study Bibles, workbooks, curricula, and plush products. In spring 2003, Hallmark/Dayspring Cards launched a new gift card line featuring excerpts from Lucado's writings--and has already sold more than one million cards.

All this success has drawn more than a little attention to a previously low-profile Texas author and minister. Lucado has been featured in a wide range of media, including "USA Today," "Larry King Live," and "NBC Nightly News." He has spoken at the National Prayer Breakfast before the President of the United States. He has traveled with internationally renowned musicians as a special speaker on their music tours, such as the highly successful "Come Together & Worship Tour" (sponsored by Chevrolet) with Grammy Award-winning artists Michael W. Smith and Third Day.

Journey to the Top
Lucado was born in 1955 in San Angelo, Texas, and raised in Andrews, Texas, the youngest of four children. His father was an Exxon oil field mechanic who, Lucado remembers, always smelled of grease cleaner. "It makes it easy for me to see a God who is loving and kind--because my dad was," he says. His mother was a nurse who grew up working in the cotton fields.

Lucado went through a period of rebellion against his parents' values and their God during his teens and into college. But it wasn't long before he found himself drawn back to his roots, back to God. He married, spent time serving as a missionary in Brazil, and returned to the States, where he began working as a church minister and writing on the side.

Secret to Success
From all accounts, Max Lucado is not a man consumed by sales, awards, and achievements. He often turns down media interviews since they impede on family and ministry commitments. He spends the bulk of his week serving as senior minister at Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas. And he is truly surprised by his own success--more impressed by his one-in-a-million wife and three amazing daughters than by his successful writing career.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gripping book, March 21, 2000

By 

H. Holliday (Liberty, SC United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: In The Grip Of Grace (Hardcover)

This is the first Max Lucado book I have read. It won't be the last. The parable he tells at the beginning was so good, I made my friends read it. They all enjoyed it too. Max runs through the book of Romans to tell of the Grace of God as he refers back to the beginning parable. There are also other relative stories he tells to add color to this book. He teaches in a way that grips the reader like it's a mystery novel or something. I'd recommend it to everyone interested in God's love, mercy and grace. Good for evangalizing, too.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb description of the character of God, December 17, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: In The Grip Of Grace (Hardcover)

This is a great book. I'm usually guilty of reading some dense theology, but reluctantly started this book at the behest of my wife and found it a tremendous breath of fresh air. Lucado does a great job of describing the wonderful grace of God, especially in the first half of the book. I found myself renewed and remembering what brought me into Christianity in the first place - God's great goodness and initiative. My clever Christian friends found it unlikely that I would be reading something "ordinary" like a Max Lucado book, but this gentleman has a homespun and piercing way of presenting a God he really knows. Thanks Max!

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars One of Lucado's Best, June 25, 2001

By 

mjanke - See all my reviews

This review is from: In The Grip Of Grace (Hardcover)

IN THE GRIP OF GRACE tackles one of the most important stakes of the Christian faith, and one that many people have the hardest time truly comprehending and accepting as well. "Can anything separate us from the love Christ has for us," Max Lucado asks. Though we may say that the answer is no, in reality many of us live as though the answer is yes.

Lucado breaks us down into four groups: the hut-building hedonist, the fault-finding judgmentalist, the rock-stacking legalist, and the grace-driven Christian. One disregards God and indulges self, ignoring their need for grace. One tries to distract God by comparing themselves to other "worse" sinners, believing that grace is always needed by someone else. Others try to save themselves, to make themselves right before God by works; thus rejecting grace. But the grace-driven Christian trusts and seeks after God's grace, realizing that there really is nothing we can do to earn our salvation but accept it as a truly free gift.

As is typical of a Max Lucado book, IN THE GRIP OF GRACE is an easy, folksy read. It may tackle a heavy issue, but Lucado never wades too deep into theological discourse, preferring to use illustrations instead. Thus, IN THE GRIP OF GRACE is an excellent read for both new Christians and those who simply desire a book that will help them better understand their position with God. IN THE GRIP OF GRACE never reaches the heights that Philip Yancey's WHAT'S SO AMAZING ABOUT GRACE does, but it stands as one of Max Lucado's best and most universally relevant works. FOUR STARS.