PROOF: Finding Freedom through the Intoxicating Joy of Irresistible Grace
224
PROOF: Finding Freedom through the Intoxicating Joy of Irresistible Grace
224eBook
Related collections and offers
Overview
It’s time to open your eyes to the freeing power of authentic grace—grace that releases us from trying to earn God's favor, grace that enables us to rest in the finished work of Christ, grace that liberates from the tyranny of trying to please others.
That's what the theology of Martin Luther and John Calvin did in their own day for the people around them. Time magazine recently dubbed Calvinism as one of the top ten ideas changing the world right now. And yet most of these discussions center on the issue of predestination or on whether particular people agree with the five points of Calvinism. Daniel Montgomery and Timothy Paul Jones think it's time to rescue the theology of the Reformers from such stale scholasticizing and to declare anew the dangerous and intoxicating joy of the gospel that theyproclaimed.PROOF stands for planned grace, resurrecting grace, outrageous grace, overcoming grace, and forever grace. The authors offer proof of God’s grace upon which people can stand against the attacks of legalism that have led many of God's people to lose sight of the freedom and joy of the gospel. And this proof is intoxicating—it’s like a 200-proof drink that will leave you spiritually staggering at its effect on your life. God’s grace not only declares us “not guilty!” in his presence, it changes our relationship with God—forever.?
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9780310513902 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Zondervan |
| Publication date: | 05/27/2014 |
| Sold by: | HarperCollins Publishing |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 224 |
| File size: | 1 MB |
| Age Range: | 18 Years |
About the Author
Daniel Montgomery is the founder and CEO of Leadership Reality, a learning and development agency. Daniel founded and led Sojourn Community Church for over seventeen years and is the founder of Sojourn Network, a church planting network in North America. He coaches, writes, and consults on the topic of leadership, theology, and mission for businesses and churches around the world.
Timothy Paul Jones serves as professor of leadership at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and works in the SojournKids children's ministry at Sojourn Community Church. Before coming to Louisville, Timothy led churches in Missouri and Oklahoma as a pastor and an associate pastor. He has been widely recognized as a leading writer and researcher in the fields of apologetics, church history, and family ministry. He has authored or contributed to more than a dozen books, including Misquoting Truth (InterVarsity, 2007), Christian History Made Easy (Rose, 2010), and the CBA bestseller The Da Vinci Codebreaker (Bethany House, 2005).
Table of Contents
Introduction: The Dangerous Delight of Divine Grace Human hopes falter and fail. Asked to tell a story in only six words, one novelist responded with these words: “For sale: Baby shoes. Never worn.” Human hopes can fall to pieces. But here is a beautiful bit of good news when we consider how often our plans can fall apart: This never happens to God. God knows all things, past, present, and future–so nothing happens that he cannot predict. God is powerful above and beyond all things–so no challenge ever arises that he can’t stop. That’s good news for believers in Jesus Christ. If you’ve trusted Jesus, it’s not because you planned out your life in your fleeting and faulty wis-dom. It’s because God set his heart on you from eternity past; God made this choice knowing eve-rything about you–past, present, and future! As a result, nothing can change his choice to pour out his grace on you. Not your sin. Not your fears. Not the darkness that gnaws at your heart that no one else knows about. Nothing in your future. Nothing in your past. Nothing in all creation can sep-arate you from God’s love. Nothing. God proved his love for you once and for all through the cross of Jesus and the empty tomb–and nothing can change that determination to save you by his grace. His grace was… PLANNED from all eternity, knowing that he would RESURRECT your lifeless soul to lavish grace into your life that is OUTRAGEOUS because it doesn’t depend on what you’ve done and OVERCOMING because it transforms your desires so that you long for Jesus. Because this grace depends on what God has already determined and done, it lasts FOREVER. Together, that spells “PROOF,” which is precisely what God has provided in Jesus and poured out into our lives through the gospel: Proof of grace that will never let us go because it never depended on us in the first place; it depends instead on a God who is greater than anything we could ask or imagine. Chapter One: Planned Grace Chapter Two: Resurrecting Grace Chapter Three: Outrageous Grace Chapter Four: Overcoming Grace Chapter Five: Forever Grace Chapter Six: PROOF in Action Conclusion: The Beautiful ParadoxWhat People are Saying About This
Sadly, the doctrines of grace have often been used to score theological points. But PROOF shows how grace changes lives and brings joy. — Tim Chester, Associate Director, Porterbrook Seminary
This book demonstrates a wealth of reflection on both modern and ancient sources, helping us rediscover the scandal of the gospel,… the central fountain of the Christian life. — J. D. Greear, Ph.D., author of Stop Asking Jesus into Your Heart
A book on the doctrines of grace that delights as much as it challenges? That exhilarates as much as it informs? That entertains as it enlightens? Be still my beating heart. . . . PROOF is a rare breed indeed. Get it, savor it, let it bowl you over with the spectacular grace of God. — Jared Wilson, author of The Storytelling God
PROOF is a fresh, new approach to the historical doctrines of grace. It will refresh and encourage the veteran learner and provide substance without the complicated jargon for the novice. — Trillia Newbell, author of United: Captured by God’s Vision for Diversity
PROOF contrasts true grace with our typical perception of grace in a way that will drive souls to experience freedom, joy, and worship. — Rebekah Hannah, Columbia University Christian Union Ministry Fellow, editor of Gospel Taboo.com
Pastorally wise and academically rigorous, . . . PROOF will pull you into the conversation and press you to consider afresh the biblical text and your own experience of God’s grace. — J. Michael Thigpen, Executive Director, Evangelical Theological Society
At the end of PROOF you will walk away with a comprehensive knowledge of grace, and even more importantly, with a heart of worship for the Grace-Giver. — Flame, Grammy-nominated hip-hop artist, Clear Sight Music.com
If predestination has often felt stodgy and stifling, this book’s for you. PROOF is not your standard portrayal of Reformed theology. It’s unlike anything I’ve come across before. The style is engaging, the stories are captivating, the logic is compelling, and best of all the theology is rock solid and biblically faithful. Trust me, you’ll love this book (even when you don’t agree with it!). — Sam Storms, Lead Pastor, Bridgeway Church
Daniel Montgomery doesn’t just understand grace … no, grace arrested him, then grace tutored him, and now grace compels him to help others stand amazed. — Dave Harvey, Pastor, Four Oaks Community Church
PROOF is biblical, forceful, winsome, and clear about who God is, how God works, and what God wants. Daniel and Timothy have given us a treasure! — Darrin Patrick, Pastor, The Journey
13
14
15