Do I Know God?: Finding Certainty in Life's Most Important Relationship [Hardcover]

Tullian Tchividjian (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 21, 2007

As the grandson of Billy and Ruth Bell Graham, Tullian Tchividjian grew up hearing the Christian faith preached to millions. Yet he struggled to come to faith personally. His first book, Do I Know God? captures the sincerity and intensity of his own spiritual quest, and shows the way for a new generation of seekers.

Combining careful thinking, warm personal story, and an exceptional grounding in biblical truths, Tullian delivers trustworthy answers to the questions you’ve been asking:

·Is it really possible to know God?
·Is being “spiritual” or “religious” the same thing as having a relationship with God?
·What is the relationship between saving faith and good works?
·How does believing God’s promises assure me of salvation?
·How do my feelings for God affect my relationship with him?
·How can I trust that God is present when I feel only his absence?
·Can a relationship with God assure me of a future with him in eternity?


Do I Know God? was written with a wide range of readers in mind: those outside the Christian faith, newer Christ followers who feel confused about their relationship with God, and long-time Christians who have never gotten clarity on key questions like eternal security and assurance of salvation, faith and works.

Tullian shows readers how to discover a genuine, vibrant and enduring relationship with God. And it all begins with the vital question: Do I Know God?

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Apart from the Bible, this may be the most important book you could ever read because it will help you answer the most important question you could ever ask: Do I know God?”
–From the foreword by Billy Graham


“To know that you know God and God knows you is life’s greatest source of peace, joy, and strength for the journey. Tullian takes strugglers by the hand and leads them with sure steps towards this certainty. Here is a book to be trusted and treasured.”
–J.I. Packer, author of Knowing God

“With wisdom, grace, and transparency, Tullian helps clear the sometimes uncertain path of knowing and following after God. I am thrilled to endorse this thoughtful work and trust you will find it equally engaging and helpful.”
–Ravi Zacharias, author of Can Man Live Without God

“Warm, fresh, and helpful, Tullian’s insightful answer to the question ‘Do I know God?’ will be a guide and an encouragement to many.”
–Os Guinness, author of The Call

About the Author

William Graham Tullian Tchividjian is the grandson of Ruth and Billy Graham. As a teenager he rebelled and ran from God, but in 1993 God radically saved him and he’s never looked back. A graduate of Columbia International University and Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, Florida, he has served on the pastoral staff of three churches. In 2003 he moved back home to start New City Presbyterian Church in south Florida. He is a popular conference speaker, Bible teacher, radio preacher, and the author of The Kingdom of God. An avid surfer, Tullian and his wife, Kim, have three children and live in Coconut Creek, Florida.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Multnomah Books (August 21, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590529367
• ISBN-13: 978-1590529362
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.9 x 7.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,011,821 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

William Graham Tullian Tchividjian (pronounced cha-vi-jin) is the Senior Pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. A Florida native, Tullian is also the grandson of Billy and Ruth Graham, a visiting professor of theology at Reformed Theological Seminary, and a contributing editor to Leadership Journal.

A graduate of Columbia International University (philosophy) and Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando (M.Div.), Tullian has authored a number of books including Jesus + Nothing = Everything (Crossway). He travels extensively, speaking at conferences throughout the U.S., and his sermons are broadcast daily on the radio program LIBERATE. As a respected pastor, author, and speaker, Tullian is singularly and passionately devoted to seeing people set free by the radical, amazing power of God's grace.

When he is not reading, studying, preaching, or writing, Tullian enjoys being with people and relaxing with his wife, Kim, and their three children--Gabe, Nate, and Genna. He loves the beach, loves to exercise, and when he has time, he loves to surf.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Biblical and Pastoral, December 10, 2007

By 

Tim Challies (Oakville, Ontario) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Do I Know God?: Finding Certainty in Life's Most Important Relationship (Hardcover)

There can be no question more important to a person than this one: "Do I know God?" Those who do know Him have the privilege of being adopted into the family of God and being assured of an eternity in His presence. Those who do not have no such privilege and no such hope. In America the vast majority of people claim to be Christians and claim to know God, but so many lives simply do not bear this out. People may know about God, but they do not know God as He is. And so many will perish, going to the grave with some kind of false assurance, thinking they know God when really they do not. It does us all good to ask not once but throughout life, "Do I know God?"

God wants us to know Him and not only that, He wants us to know that we know Him. He wants us to be able to find certainty in this most important relationship. This certainty, the certainty that allows us to have confidence that we are saved and that God loves and will preserve us, is the subject of Do I Know God? by Tullian Tchividjian. Though not a household name, his full name provides some important context: William Graham Tullian Tchividjian is the grandson of Ruth and Billy Graham. As a young man he rebelled and ran from the faith, but was radically saved in 1993 and has since entered the pastoral ministry having first graduated from Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, Florida. In 2003 he founded New City Presbyterian Church in Florida where he serves as pastor.

Tchividjian wrote this book to show that we can have assurance of our salvation and to teach the reader how we can have this kind of certainty. "The Bible makes it clear that if you're confused about which group [those who know God and those who don't] you belong to, you don't have to remain confused. If you do have a relationship with God, he wants you to know it. And if you don't have a relationship with God, he wants you to know it."

This book, then, is his attempt to give credible answers to any sincere spiritual seeker who may be asking that all-important question." Of course we live at a time when doubt is the highest absolute. We can believe what we want, but we always need to maintain a "healthy" doubt, admitting that we could be (and perhaps probably are) wrong. God's assurance flies in the face of this doubt.

The format of the book is as follows. Tchividjian first looks at what a relationship to God actually means and how we are to enter into one that is genuine. He identifies six ways that people deceive themselves into thinking they know God when in fact they do not and then seeks to assist the reader to examine himself through a kind of rigorous personal inventory. The purpose of such an examination is to determine if the reader really is showing the traits of one who believes. And finally, he suggests three practical spiritual disciplines that maintain the relationship with God and cause it to flourish.

The book is pastoral in its tone and is laced with stories and anecdotes from Tchividjian's pastoral ministry and from his own testimony. The endnotes show who has guided Tchividjian in his understanding of this most important theology: Packer, Sproul, Stott, Piper, Ryle and others all make appearances. The book closes with a Study Guide suitable for personal or group use. Tchividjian is a capable writer and one who makes a good personal connection with the reader. The book is suitable for any audience.

Do I Know God? is a helpful and biblical response to that all-important question. With the answers grounded in the character of God and built upon the testimony of Scripture, this book will serve anyone who may be wondering or wavering. I'm glad to recommend it.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Solidly Biblical and very pastoral book on Assurance, November 25, 2007

By 

John Patrick Sullivan (ithaca, ny) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Do I Know God?: Finding Certainty in Life's Most Important Relationship (Hardcover)

I just read this book over thanksgiving weekend. great book. Tullian does a great job explaining how praying the sinner's prayer, making a decision, being religious, being spiritual, doing good works, and having 'faith' all don't necessarily imply that you really KNOW Jesus. He makes the point that desiring Him in your heart, living a changed life, and trusting in His faithfulness are 3 key areas that we look for assurance that we've really been born again.

But the best and most helpful chapter in the book is probably chapter 10 - "Knowing God in the dark night." It's all about those 'dry' seasons where we just don't feel His presence (and sometimes begin to wonder if we really know Him). Tullian makes the great pt that if you ache for His presence, that's an evidence that we DO have a relationship with Him.

overall great book for anyone struggling with assurance. I wasn't even struggling with assurance when I picked it up and it still helped tremendously. Praise be to God for His saving and assuring Grace.

23 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars To the amazed "many" who will hear Jesus say, "I never knew you, depart from Me.", August 27, 2007

By 

Samuel G. Oates - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Do I Know God?: Finding Certainty in Life's Most Important Relationship (Hardcover)

Everyone who has agonized over Matthew 7:22ff, (where Jesus predicts that many will say to Him, in that Day, that they were certainly expecting His welcome, but were wrong), will want to read Tullian's careful Biblical study of the question, "Do I Know God.?"
Hopefully many of those that answer that question with an emphatic affirmative will read the book. The presentation is interesting; relying on personal anecdotes making the profound exposition most readable. The footnoted quotations, supporting the logical progression of Tullian's ideas will be invaluable to those asked by others for help with this question.
The strong endorsements of J.I. Packer, Ravi Zacharias, Os Guiness, and Tullian's grandfather, Billy Graham commend this book to all of us that care about our personal answer to the Title question.