Customer Reviews

In the Grip of Grace

5 star:		(56)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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!

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.

I am normally not very fond of those books which dissects the great truth of Bible into story telling and 1-2-3 steps to heaven checklist. I prefer Christian books which provoke people to think and to reflect deeper about the reality of the biblical faith, like those works from Philips Yancey and C.S. Lewis.

This one is an exception. I have never read any book by Max Lucado before. But I definitely will read more after finishing this book. The way he takes the book of Romans and introduces this most profound book about truth to people thru engaging story-telling is simply amazing. I would call this book the modern day introduction to God's grace. Highly recommended, especially good for explaining God's love and salvation plan to people who haven't yet trusted their lifes to Jesus Christ. You would also want to read Philips Yancey's What's So Amazing About Grace after you are done with this one to get a better understanding about God's grace and how to apply it on this fallen planet.

This book is amazing. This is the first Max Lucado book that i have read, but i know it will not be the last. If you are a new christian, or a christian struggling with your spirituality, this book is great. Max Lucado explains "Grace" so perfectly, it seems like every sentence is an eye opening statement, reminding the reader why they are living their life for God. This breaks down all the stupid myths about religion by putting such a huge thing into simple perspectives. Some of the things you read are hard to believe, its hard to comprehend God's love, however, every page is a step towards more understanding. I loved this book because it was real, and simple, and comforting. It was also a page turner, an exciting book i couldnt wait to pick up again and again. I plan on buying many copies of this book for friends, The book says all the things ive always wanted to tell my friends about, but didnt know how to. It brings to life the reasons why his grace, is an Amazing Grace. Please, please read this book, it will change your life ;) God Bless!!

Max Lucado has a knack for explaining the Word of God in such a way that anyone can understand it. People who find C.S. Lewis or Karl Barth a little hard to swallow, love the theology of Lucado simply because they can understand it. Once again, The Grip of Grace proves that Lucado is truly in touch with the human nature of today.

Romans is a tough book for any theologian, pastor or Christian to completely grasp. But Lucado, using the illustrations and stories for which is is known, sheds light on the wonderful, unexplainable gift of God's grace. Unlike his previous works of When God Whispers Your Name, or God Came Near, he refuses to remain content at the surface, and digs deeper into a subject that touches us all--our faults, and how God sees them.

In the introduction, he talks about his own attempt to please God with his righteousness, and how he failed. Suddenly we self-righteously think to ourselves, "Yeah, well, maybe Max does that, but I don't." Then to put us in our places, he give gives us four choices of who we are--three of which live by the concept of "doing great things will please God", and one of which simply lives by grace. Then were are forced to sit back in our chairs, cry (as I did) and admit to ourselves that we do try to live by works, and that falls seriously short of what God wants for us. As we begin the book with our shoulders down, our faults on our mind, Lucado emerges triumphant, showing us that our imperfection matter very little to God, because His grace covers it all.

In a society that says, "good deeds make good people" Lucado puts us in our place and says, "only God can make you good." This is a truly great book by an obviously great man, a man who lives by grace.

God died for us all and by His Grace we are saved.

This is one of the best books that I've read by Mr. Lucado and is based on the book of Romans. Mr. Lucado is knowledgeable and such an excellent teacher, I try to share most of his books with my friends.

In The Grip Of Grace, he reminds us of the extent of God's love towards us. The extent that God will go to, proving his love for us. No psychologist, hypnotherapist, doctor, sweet talker can reach deep down into the pits of our souls and renew us with that sweet and wonderful gift of Grace. This gift that God so willingly offers to this suffering world as we reach out to him burdened with sin.

Thank you Mr. Lucado, this book has changed my way of thinking and it will certainly be read by lots of my friends.
Reviewed by Heather Marshall Negahdar.(SUGAR-CANE)

This book was what I needed to brake the gap! I was the rock builder always thinking I couldn't measure up. Which I can't but now know God can! My sincere thanks for this inspiring book and the life changing lessons I have learned by reading it! I plan to read all of Max's books I can get. God bless!

'In the grip of grace' is a book dedicated to communicating why we are so precious to God and that once you've been taken into the grace of God theres no-one who can drag you out. Using really life stories and modern-day 'parables' or examples Max Lucado paints a pictures of the lengths God will stretch to ensure the safety and security of his children. If you are ever feeling worthless or have committed what you think is the inforgivable sin, read this and you'll realise the truth, that God's on your side!

There should be no other message given to people who don't understand God or are searching for God than God's Grace. His amazing Grace. This book is great for unbelievers. It will wipe out a lot of their questions about Christianity, how you become a Christian, and why anyone would become a Christian. This book walks us through Romans and fully explains Grace. I never understood it so well. Now I am forever thinking of Max Lucado's speeding/accident record he shared with us in this book. How well he ties that into why there must be punishment for sin and how Christ acomplishes it. Max Lucado's books are never very long and if you just read through them you can finish in a few hours. The difference is that with this book (and many others like it) you get more out of it that you could from reading a commentary, and in this case, on Romans.
And just for those of you who don't know, every Max Lucado book has a study guide in the back of it. So you can go through it on your own or with a group. Personally, I like to read first then go through the Bible Study later. I know that this will be a book that I will be rereading at least once a year, if not more. EVERYONE should read this book.