God In Slow Motion

by Mike Nappa

Jesus was not in a hurry. He had only three years of public ministry-three years to heal and teach and change the world-but the Bible never tells us he was rushing through them. We are the ones who rush through them. Catching the gist of this parable. Smiling at the punch line in that dialogue. We can race through the Gospels in hours, fully briefed on Christ's life, but hardly changed. Until we sit down with Mike Nappa's God in Slow Motion . Nappa hasn't carved up the Gospels for quick review or sliced them into tiny pieces for academic study. He has taken ten important moments from the life of Christ and reveled in them, chewing on their words, relating them to life, comparing them with modern culture, allowing the Spirit to work, and letting Christ change him.  The result is a rich, personal, and biblical narrative about Jesus and how His purposes unfold, then and now. See how God is sneaky about his glory. How he presents evidence for belief. How he can be comforting and terrifying at once. This is the "good news" in all its many-splendored the life of Christ, frame by frame. And it is worth every minute because it will change you too.

240 pages, Paperback

First published August 13, 2013

About the author

Mike Nappa (M.A.B.T, M.A.E., B.A.C.E.) is an multiple-award-winning novelist, memoirist, and theologian known for writing thought-provoking, fast-paced fiction as well as "coffee-shop theology," inspirational books, and children's books and products.

A prolific author of numerous books and over 1,000 articles, his works have been translated into many languages, with millions of copies sold worldwide. His highlight reel includes VeggieTales Super Comics, the Bible-Smart Q&A commentary, and the award-winning Coffey and Hill series of suspense novels.

Mike is proud to be a person of color (Arab-American) active in the publishing industry. Learn more about Mikey by Googling his name, or checking him out on Amazon or Spotify.

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To contact Mike Nappa, you can ask him a question on Goodreads or use the Contact Form on his website.

Reviews

[Lee Harmon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not the type of book I usually read—it’s more inspirational than educational, more conservative than liberal—but this one is really good. The author promises that through ten “lessons” (events from the New Testament) he will take you on a journey, “traveling the road of Christ’s life in search of the underneath things.” That’s what Nappa means by “God in slow motion;” slowing down the New Testament stories frame-by-frame to catch a glimpse of the real people who came in contact with Jesus.

Many of the ten “lessons” are borderline oxymorons, highlighting the complex simplicity (see, I can do it too!) of God’s nature. Beautiful sorrow, brutal love, insulting greatness. Mysteries, each, and God loves a mystery. Like the mystery of God’s unexplained entrance as a baby rather than a warrior, or the mystery of how things all seem to turn out alright when God is in control.

Do not miss chapter 5, “Stolen Miracles.” The unnamed woman with an issue of blood will earn a special place in your heart, as she tries to steal a miracle. She fights through a crowd to touch the hem of Jesus’ garment, hoping to be healed. The coup succeeds, the getaway doesn’t.

Imagine her fear when Jesus goes looking for her in the crowd. “Virtue” has gone out of him, and he’s determined to find out where it went. But if she is exposed, it will not only bring her embarrassing malady to light; it will inform dozens, maybe more, that she has broken the law and made the crowd unclean by brushing up against them. Yes, she was a legal outcast, required to keep her distance from people. Things are about to get ugly, right?

No. Not with Jesus in control. Nor will it in your journey with Jesus. As Nappa encourages in the last line of his book, “May you always be found holding the nail-scarred hand!”

[Eric Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nappa gives us a book focused on Jesus and the ways He changed the world around Him and showed the mercy and love of God. He delivers these lessons through fitting stories and a readable style. I enjoyed the writing, the wisdom, and the sly wit in these pages.

[Monica Willyard Moen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, wise, and filled with the wonder of Christ’s love.

[Theresa LeBlanc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!

Powerful and encouraging. Uplifting and inspiring. Packed with Scripture and solid Biblical teaching. My first book by this, won’t be my last!

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

There was a lot I enjoyed about Nappa's book. "God in Slow Motion" focuses on 10 different moments in Christ's three year ministry. Nappa takes each moment and slows them down, zeroing in words, feelings, thoughts to draw the reader in to not just reading the moment, but experiencing it. It very much reminded me of the way Pastor Andy Stanley preaches; basically re-telling the story in his own words but teaching and bringing understanding along the way.
I felt the best chapters were the beginning few. The afterword was also awesome. Nappa challenges us to pass this book along after finishing, and while I would love to keep this one for my collection, I just might have too. This book seems to be going under the radar. Heck, I seem to be the 6th person to review it here on Goodreads. It is a book I would recommend to more mature Christians, who feel the need to return their gaze back to Jesus after living a busy, hectic period. Since each chapter focuses on a different story and aspect of the life of Christ, it can be read devotional style as well, as long as you don't mind long devotions!
I can't think of many negatives. It's not an academic study by any means, even the back of the book notes that. I stated I would give it to more mature Christians. Newer Christians might struggle with some of the heady topics and Nappa makes assumptions that we've heard thus story or know that verse.
...seeing as I can hardly state any negatives I just might have to bump my rating from 4 to 5!!

I received this book from Booksneeze on the grounds I would give an honest review.

[Juanita · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is beneficial to slow down and digest the Word of God properly and not to be so eager to devour it within seconds. In Mike Nappa's book, God In Slow Motion, Mike does just that. Mike has given us bite-sized instances of God to slowly digest. Food is meant to be chewed thoroughly before swallowing and then ultimately digesting it. Likewise God's Word as our daily bread is also meant to be gone over thoroughly, studied, and reflected upon before moving on to the next enticing morsel.

At first it was not easy for me to grasp a hold of Mike's writing style and be taken in with it, even though I found it to be quite interesting and appealing to me. However, by the second chapter I was finding it hard to put the book down. There are things which are talked about in Mike's book which give a different view and greater understanding of what was actually occurring in God's Word and message to us.

I found this to be especially true when I was reading Mike's entry concerning the foot washing scene. Mike took me deeper into this scene to help me see what a foot washer's status was really looked at during those times and how Jesus was using this to deliver a message to us.

While reading God In Slow Motion there were many times I had to pause and speak to God for the many things that were being put upon my heart and mind. Thank you, Mike, for writing this book! I highly recommend this book to all readers!

BookSneeze® has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book.

[Loraine Alcorn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was able to read God In slow Motion by Mike Nappa through book sneeze and think its a wonderful book. This book really helped me with its Reflections on Jesus and the 10 Unexpected Lessons You Can See in His Life. I loved the personal testimonies and I learned from them. I love Mikes writing style and he can really get a point across that make him such a great teacher.

I think this is a great book for personal use or even for a study group it gives us a different perspective of some of the teachings of Jesus in a fresh new way. I really am so happy I was selected to review it for Book sneeze. I recommend it to anyone who would be interested in a deeper detailed understanding of the lessons that were taught by Jesus in and very easy to understand book.

God in Slow Motion By Mike Nappa, is uplifting and also so interesting that it will be a blessing to you has it has been for me. I sure hope you give it a try you will learn so much and be happy you read it. Thanks for reading my review :)