Customer Reviews

Sword of the Spirit: A Beginner's Guide to St. Paul

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I picked this book up for my teenagers and decided to read it first to see what they would be encountering. I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! It is such a wonderful explanation of St. Paul's message to all mankind. I really appreciate the way the book is organized and the inclusion of so many references to the Catechism. I also especially appreciated the way simple and interesting explanations were given before the more difficult quote from St. Paul was shown in its more complete form. How useful this was to me! I am going to recommend it to my adult friends who may not normally have the opportunity for bible studies. It will make for a great book club discussion! While reading this book I was fully inspired to become more aware of God's presence in my life. It is clearly written with the Catholic in mind, however, it may be a great way for our Protestant brothers and sisters to see how our Catechism is biblically founded. The buyer should know that it is written with the beginner in mind and that as the authors say, they primarily use the book of Romans to help the reader come to understand St. Paul. Thank you Mr. Cuddy and Mr. Hart. May the Holy Spirit continue to inspire you as He most certainly did on this work. CMM.

Sword of the Spirit is a great introduction of the works of St. Paul! Mark Hart and Christopher Cuddy present St. Paul's writings in a clear and easy-to-understand manner. Using the Letter to the Romans as the guide to explaining St. Paul's teachings, the authors break down the Scripture in to simpler, more modern explanations. This is a great read for teens looking to understand Scripture, but who may find it hard to understand St. Paul's writing. Make no mistake, the authors do not sugarcoat St. Paul's message, but rather, they drive home the important points he makes in his letters. They also encourage the reader not only to understand the words, but to live them as well. Every explanation is backed up by citations from the Bible or Catechism. They take the actual words of St. Paul and make them relevant to the modern reader. The conclusion is one of the best parts of the book. After explaining the message of St. Paul, the authors challenge each of us to see "how far we are willing to go for God." They present 10 questions designed to lead all of us closer to Christ, and then present practical ways to answer the questions with a resounding YES! And this is the heart of the book. The authors genuinely want the reader to draw closer to Christ, and they use the words of St. Paul, to help cultivate that relationship.

I enjoyed this book because it challenges you to think about the message of St. Paul, but it never overwhelms you. The authors skillfully guide you on the path of discovery, making the understanding of this saint and his writings both educational and enjoyable!

Well written. Easy to read book that helps you learn about St. Paul's ministry. I read this book during the Year of St. Paul and it was a huge boost in my faith and inspired me to read more of St. Paul's books of the Bible. Bought 20-30 books as gifts! Great for the youth. Can't put it down. I still use this book as a resource for talks.

I was shipped the wrong/incorrect book: I ordered "Sword of the Spirit" by Christopher Cuddy & Mark Hart but received "The Sword of the Spirits" by John Christopher - A childrens Tale of Spirts. I am going to return it for the correct one.
James L. Taylor