What Matters Most by Leonard Sweet

Never before have I been so surprised by a book.

Leonard Sweet has experienced a re-release; What Matters Most used to be titled Out of the Question...Into the Mystery. I was expecting the typical hum-drum faith-based inspirational reading but what I got was punch-in-the-gut awesomeness.

Christianity: a series of truths, or a relationship to be lived out? Maybe both? Sweet attacks this debate from the post-modern worldview and defends the need for relationship with God.

Filled with eight parts, each part containing two sections, Sweet tackles the many areas of this relationship:

1. Faith is a Relationship
2. Our Relationship with God
3. Our Relationship with God's Story
4. Our Relationship with Other People of Faith
5. Our Relationship with Those Outside the Faith
6. Our Relationship with God's Creation
7. Our Relationship with Symbols, Arts
8. Our Relationship with the Spiritual World

I enjoyed Sweet's defining the difference between faith and belief and that maybe we shouldn't call Christians "believers" as we could actually include Satan in this group (as he and the demons believe in God). Faith is the more difficult because it causes an action - a relationship.

Sweet than takes a journey into the story of Abraham and his potential sacrifice of Isaac. His interpretation could cause some people of faith to squirm a bit as he says Abraham both passed and failed God's test. He passed the obedience test but failed the relationship test.

I had to put the book down, open my Bible, and do some study on my own. It's a very interesting take on the sacrifice story and Sweet asks twenty superb questions; such as: Why did God ask him to sacrifice his son but then an angel tell him to stop? Why didn't Abraham argue with God about this scenario like he did about the Sodomites? Did you notice that after this event, God no longer speaks to Abraham? Did you notice that Abraham is alone after he comes back from the mountain?

This early section of the book is worth the entire read.

Later on, Sweet continues his mantra on relationship verses simply having statements of belief and how God desires interaction with his creation more than intellectually concurring with statements . These later sections resonate well with the post-modern mindset and he does an excellent job with the questions for discussion at the end to really bring out deep conversations.

This is a fantastic re-release.

This book was provided for review, at no cost, by WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing.

The Seraph Seal by Leonard Sweet & Lori Wagner

Looking for a Dan Brown-type book about the end of the world? Wishing you could read something that takes more brain power than your typical Christian fiction?

Leonard Sweet and Lori Wagner have teamed up to deliver a knockout: The Seraph Seal.

Historian Paul Binder has received a cryptic message and you journey with him through the many clues and dangers that follow.

You have complex characters, long forgotten, symbolic traditions, plus a love story. You will have a lot of information to process even if they include descriptions and a glossary and the end to keep your imagination flowing toward what could possibly be coming our way.

This story takes a few chapters to get up to speed, but once you're familiar with everyone you will enjoy the rest of the ride.


This book was provided for review, at no cost, by Thomas Nelson Publishing.

Nudge by Leonard Sweet

I opened this latest Sweet book with great anticipation. I loved Jesus Manifesto. So when I began reading Nudge: Awakening Each Other to the God Who's Already There I was hoping for another dose of author-goodness.

Sweet has a way with words. You will read many comments about his use of metaphor. However, this gift of words is my biggest issue with Nudge.
There are too many of them.

While I enjoyed reading about how to reveal a God who is already here, I found it difficult to finish each chapter. There was just so much going on.

Perhaps if some of the ideas were trimmed down, the book would be more readable.

Having said that, you will get a new viewpoint in evangelism. You will appreciate the idea of nudging people.

You'll learn how to use:
Your ears: listening to God
Your stomach: tasting Jesus
Your eyes: seeing the Kingdom
Your hands: touching Jesus
Your nose: breathing Jesus

It's not about taking Jesus to people, as Sweet writes, He's already there. We get to open their eyes to His work.

Bottom line: Lots of words for a refreshing idea.


This book was provided for review by David Cook Publishing

Jesus Manifesto by Leonard Sweet & Frank Viola

Is your pastor preaching on finances? Does he spend 6 weeks on the workplace? Is your church concerned with how to better your life? Sweet and Viola would say that your church is missing the point.

In Jesus Manifesto they explain that the church has moved away from their first love. Many in the church have heard that term before - first love. This refers to our relationship with Jesus Christ. Like the Colossians, some churches are more interested in becoming self-help groups (Which is actually an oxymoron) instead of proclaiming Christ to the world and surrendering our life to the Life of Christ.

Things get a little confusing throughout this book as you read some of the chapters that seem to speak in endless circles. Maybe it's because I don't quite see the problem this book is trying to address.

They believe if you are to preach on topics other than Jesus, you must focus the topic on Christ.

I guess I've always experienced sermons like this.

I'm assuming this book takes a swipe at the Emerging Church and their social justice push. These churches are wisely wanting to be the hands of God, but the forget to bring Him along.

With most of Sweet's books, this is a great read.


This book was provided for review by Thomas Nelson Publishing.