About the book: "Have you been changed by grace?" In this insightful book, Brad Wilcox explores this life-altering question in depth. Christians throughout the centuries have used grace to describe God's favor, goodwill, and love. However, grace is more than a description of God's attributes. It is the help, power, and strength He offers as we choose to engage with Him in striving to attain those attributes. It is the help, power, and strength He offers as we choose to engage with Him in striving to attain those attributes. Grace is different from the Atonement. It is not Christ's suffering, death, and Resurrection. Rather, grace is the power that flows from those sacred moments. Grace is not a priesthood ordinance, but essential ordinances invite greater and greater endowments of grace into our lives. Grace is a divine gift, but like any gift, it must be received.
In this book, Brother Wilcox uses real-life stories and personal experiences to demonstrate how we can choose to receive Christ's grace more fully. In addition to using Paul's teachings in the Bible, Brother Wilcox draws from the scriptures of the Restoration, the teachings of modern prophets, and sacred hymns to explain complex doctrines in simple and memorable ways. This allows us to understand how a covenant relationship with God and Christ can help us and those we love escape the bondage of addictions. he teaches how through the Holy Ghost—the messenger of grace—God can strengthen and save but also transform us.
This book is filled with hope. God's help is not a prize for the righteous. It is the source of righteousness. His grace is not a reward for the worth. It is the source of worthiness. It is not waiting for us once we change. It is the power we need throughout the entire perfecting process.
My review: I loved this book! I loved that it's easy to read. you'll understand what the author is teaching, whether you're the smartest person on the block or just a normal teenager going to high school. This book really is written for a wide audience of readers.
This book is full of personal stories about the author, his family, and people that he's talked to or received letters from. This makes the topic seem to relate to every person who could or would ever read the book.
Grace is a concept that, to me at least, has always seemed pretty abstract. I loved the way the author makes it easier to understand this divine principle and just how it works in our lives. I loved the way it made me think about grace more than I ever have before. Just this morning as I was reading my scriptures, I noticed a verse about grace and learned just a little bit more about it. I think that for me, I've kind of always just ignored grace and focused more on my works. But from now on, I'm planning to look for grace - both in the scriptures and in my own life. And I think that as I look I'll find it and learn more about it a little at a time.
I loved the way the author used not only conference talks and scriptures to teach, but he also uses a lot of hymns. I don't know about anyone else, but I do know that the hymns touch me in a way that nothing else can. I loved that he took the time to include hymns to teach us.
Brad Wilcox is really a master teacher. It's no wonder that he is a popular teacher at EFY and Time Out for Women. Make sure you take the time to read this one, it's amazing!
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Purchase links: Amazon - Deseret Book
About the author: Brad Wilcox is an associate professor in the Department of Ancient Scripture at Brigham Young University where he also enjoys teaching at Campus Education Week and Especially for Youth. He also loves presenting at Time Out for Women events across the country. He is the author of The Continuous Atonement, The Continuous Conversion, and The 7-Day Christian, and the BYU devotional, "His Grace is Sufficient." As a young man, Brad served his mission in Chile and later returned to that country to preside over the Chile Santiago East Mission from 2003 to 2006. He also served as a member of the Sunday School General Board from 2009 to 2014. Brad and his wife, Debi, are the parents of four children and grandparents of five.Labels: Brad Wilcox, Deseret Book, LDS non-fiction
