Why Faith Makes Sense: Reasons You Can Believe God Is Real [Paperback]

Will Davis Jr. (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2008

EXCERPT FROM CATALOG
It happened again just the other day. I was leading a Bible study for a mixed group of people. By "mixed" I mean that the attendees weren't all Christians. In fact, I marketed the Bible study as being primarily for skeptics and the spiritually curious. It was well attended from the first day, with a good number of believers and the spiritually unconvinced regularly showing up. In about the sixth or seventh meeting, a young woman attended for the first time. She was in her late twenties, and though she had been raised in church, she was now married to an agnostic and was genuinely unsure of how to classify herself spiritually. However, she remained curious about the validity of the Christian faith. She was attending the Bible study, in her words, "to see if you really had to stop thinking to be a Christian." Now, I know that this woman meant nothing offensive by her comment. I know that she was merely reciting what she had no doubt heard countless times from the culture in which she lives--that Christianity is for dummies. I smiled politely at her as she spoke, inside I ached. I can't even begin to count the number of times I've heard that sentiment. Somewhere along the line, Christians have been labeled as gullible; and, more importantly, the Christian faith has been tagged as for the mentally dull.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

I think, therefore I believe

Christians are often made to feel stupid, gullible, even irrational for their beliefs. After all, isn't the Bible for uneducated people? Hasn't science eliminated the need for God?

Not even close...

Why Faith Makes Sense shows that believing isn't foolish at all. It counters common objections and encourages your faith by examining:

why the Bible is a trustworthy source
six holes in the evolutionary theory
the problem with Humanism
how faith and reason fit together
the undeniable evidence for God

Ignorance of God produces unbelief; knowledge of God increases faith. Why Faith Makes Sense invites you to a new level of thought where you will discover that faith is not only reasonable, it's the only logical choice.

About the Author

Will Davis Jr. (DMin, Southwestern Seminary) is the founding and senior pastor of Austin Christian Fellowship, a nondenominational church in Austin, Texas. He is the author of Pray Big, Pray Big for Your Marriage, Pray Big for Your Child, Why Faith Makes Sense, and 10 Things Jesus Never Said. An avid hiker, mountain-biker, and water-skier, Davis and his wife, Susie, have three children and live in Austin, Texas. For more information about Will and his blog, visit http://willdavisjr.com.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Revell (October 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0800732480
• ISBN-13: 978-0800732486
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #824,194 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Hi, My name is Will Davis Jr.(Learn more at willdavisjr.com.) I was born in Austin January 6, 1962 (you can do the math). I have been a serious follower of Christ since 1978 and have been in Christian ministry since 1980.

I married the lovely Susie Gerrie on June 1, 1985 (Susie was 6 at the time. It was an arranged marriage). Susie and I have three awesome kids--Will 3, Emily and Sara.

Besides my faith and family, I'm passionate about . . . .


. . . my hometown of Austin. I love Austin's beauty, quirkiness and rich cultural diversity.

. . . . Austin Christian Fellowship. Susie and I helped start ACF in May of 1993. It's been our great joy to serve our city with such high-caliber Christian people.

. . . . prayer. I was blessed growing up to have some great mentors in prayer. I love prayer and I know it works. I've written four books on prayer and hope to write more.

. . . . mountains. I grew up hiking in the Colorado Rockies and I had my first real God encounter alone on a mountain at age 12. I'm a Texas kid, but some of my best memories are in the Rockies.

. . . . missions. You will frequently find me serving in a third world country.

. . . . and yes, the Doobie Brothers! I've been a Doobie fan since I was a kid and yes, I did inhale.

The Fine Print: Will holds a BA in History from Baylor University, and a Master's of Divinity and a Doctor of Ministry from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. Will was named a Baylor University Outstanding Young Alumni in 2001 and an Honorary Alumnus of Baylor's Truett Seminary in 2003.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Readers will appreciate Davis's skillful handling of the faith and belief issues, March 4, 2009

By 

FaithfulReader.com (New York, New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Why Faith Makes Sense: Reasons You Can Believe God Is Real (Paperback)

As a Christian, author and pastor Will Davis Jr. tells readers that he has made a rational, volitional and spiritual decision to follow Jesus Christ. Davis has researched, studied and sought-after evidence to believe in Christ's deity, miraculous powers and resurrection from the dead. He has wrestled hard with difficult faith-related issues and questions, and has used his mind to do so. Rather than checking his intelligence at the door of faith, he spends chapter upon chapter explaining why Christians must engage their intellect as believers (it's not an option).

To start, Davis offers a thoughtfully presented section on how God has made contact with humanity throughout the ages. "When God speaks, acts, works, creates, and reveals, it's always deliberate." God never launches an eternal truth toward humans randomly; He always has a specific target (a person) in mind. In the same way, God always has a desired outcome, and when He makes contact, that person will be required to use his mind to decipher the message. "For God, the mind is the port of entry to the human soul. When He establishes a contact, He uses thoughts, words, concepts, and ideas."

Building upon this premise, Davis shares how God has met with biblical characters from the very beginning of recorded history. God spoke to Jacob through a dream, and when he awoke, Jacob was required to use his intellect to interpret the meaning. God mysteriously communicated to Noah that He was going to destroy the world by a flood and instructed him to build the ark. Noah somehow understood. Moses was told to return to Egypt through a burning bush and spoke words Moses could understand. In every case, God revealed Himself to humans using their minds and abilities to consider.

Davis details how societies as whole entities rely on God to survive. The implications are that people who embrace the reality of revelation must also embrace the reality of a revealer. Revelation is critical because it implies there is ultimate accountability and that humans are pre-programmed to receive messages from God. Thus, those who argue that Christianity is for non-thinkers are incorrect. God always reveals Himself via a mental component; most people discover Him by thinking about Him first.

Davis's foundational premise on thinking and revelation then expand to other required hot topics: understanding the Bible as a trustworthy source, the six holes of the theory of evolution, the problems with humanism, how faith and reason fit neatly together, and the undeniable evidence for God. Readers will appreciate Davis's skillful handling of the faith and belief issues, and individuals from both camps certainly will be given much food for thought.

--- Reviewed by Michele Howe

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent apologetics title,,consider buying, January 15, 2009

By 

colossal "1stpal" (Spokane WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Why Faith Makes Sense: Reasons You Can Believe God Is Real (Paperback)

Title: Why Faith makes sense: reason you can believe God is real
Author: Will Davis Jr.
Publisher: Revell Year 2008 Pgs. 189 Price $13.00
ISBN: 978-0-8007-3248-6

Will Davis, did a fine job of linking significant intellectual processes in your brain with faith in God. It you think this sounds like a heavy book, it is not. Will is the senior pastor of Austin Christian Fellowship in Texas and the 10 chapters of this apologetics book continue humor, good Biblical lessons and a very readable exploration into faith. In his final words " Time is on the side of truth, and truth is on the side of God". Next time someone tells you they don't believe in God, ask them to explain why and make sure you have lots of time to listen and share.

The notes and books used to present his case for faith, were excellent. Robert Jastrow and Blaise Pascal and Greg Boyd were just a few. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and I think you will find this book speaking in a very modern, non-preachy tone that has excellent points to consider.