God the Prize: The Key to Grasping the Gospel

by Jake Each

How would you describe the gospel? And what is the most important part?

To think rightly about the gospel, we need to start in the right place. Like buttoning a shirt–if you get the first button wrong, the buttons are wrong all the way down. So, what is the “first button” of the gospel? In this book, pastor Jake Each describes how starting with God as the prize uncovers the full, life-changing power of the gospel.

Whether you've heard the gospel many times, or are hearing it for the first time, this powerful message should change your life. The gospel promises many things–forgiveness of sins, eternal life, lasting contentment–but none of these is the true prize. The most amazing part about the gospel is that through Jesus Christ, we get God. He is the prize.

Genres: Christian

130 pages, Paperback

Published August 20, 2024

Reviews

[Grant Chlystun · Rating 5 out of 5]

So pastoral, convicting, and delivered humbly. Jake’s love for Jesus and personal conviction shines through this and I already can’t wait to read it again! Also a great audiobook!

[Moses Each · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not biased at all…

[Elly Hamby · Rating 5 out of 5]

may we truly prize God together! what a sweet, simple read!

[Jamie Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

So fun to read a book written by your pastor to his people!

[Danielle Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such clarity and truth! A very easy and quick read that I want to come back to regularly. Jake is one of my favorite teachers and this book is the reason why. His sermons are always taught with this clear gospel understanding: to turn from sin we have to know that God is so much better! Who wants to settle for less when God is offering us Himself?! He is the prize! We get GOD!

[Abby Voss · Rating 5 out of 5]

A simple book for a simple truth. Often I get caught up in unnecessary complexities that I create for myself and forget that God is the prize. Thankful for this reminder and pray I treasure God himself more as I continue walking with him.

[Mia Knapp · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a refreshing view of the Gospel! Viewing God as the prize of my life is something I know but often forget. My favorite part was about how a life with God is the end goal of salvation, not forgiveness or an escape from hell, and if I forget this, I can look to Jesus for forgiveness but other places for salvation. Jake writes in such a conversational tone that this book was so fun and easy to read!

[Andrew Hager · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing! I have been personally and profoundly shaped by Jake’s teaching for years now, and this book adds tremendously to that. No one is better at taking immense truths about God and the gospel and giving them so clear and digestible. I was blessed by this book and will be a better pastor because of it!

[Holli Becker · Rating 5 out of 5]

God is our prize. Every Christian should read this to be reminded of the joy the gospel brings in our lives. With this book, we are able to cultivate ways to look to Christ’s return, instead of living for this life that is full of toxicity and woke culture.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book not only breaks down the reason for being a follower of God and Jesus Christ and making Him the treasure and prize of your life, but it also tells you how. Pastor Jake takes verses in the Bible and spells them out in easy to understand explanations…sometimes relating them humorously to his own life. The one paragraph that spoke volumes to me and has become a staple on my wall as a daily reminder is found on page 14, “The treasuring of God sets the trajectory for everything else in life. When God is your prize, you are not looking for other things to satisfy you like only God can. When God is your prize, you are not crushing other people with the expectation for them to satisfy you in a way that only God can. When God is your prize, you are not devastated when other things and people let you down. You aren’t ruined because your fulfillment doesn’t rest there. Treasuring God sets the right future path for all of life.” Amen.

[Julia Fiance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Praise God for Jake Each and his heart for our Savior. I love that I get to have this book to share with others: a key to a fruitful life glorifying God, and in true Jake fashion, a blunt and convicting way to remind us where our priorities are and where they should be. Learning to see God as the prize has been absolutely revolutionary in my walk with Christ and how I have been able to understand and live for Him. Thankful for this pathway of the Gospel and thankful that the Lord has given us the gift of Jake! Read this book!

[Johnnie Each · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever talked to someone who can recite they’re a sinner and Jesus died for their sins, but you still feel like they’re missing something about the gospel? Or maybe that you, deep down, are still not getting some central piece of Christianity?

Read this book.

It’s perfect to aid conversation, to give to your C-group or D-Group, to just read, brand new to the church, or been a Christian 50 years. We never graduate from the gospel, and this book is a clear, God-centered and succinct reminder of why, exactly, is the gospel good news.

[Sarah Solt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one took me a bit to read not because of its length or how engaging it was but because I was reading along with two other studies this year…

Incredibly encouraged by this 100 page book. One that I think should be a frequent reread for believers. I know it will be for me. Due to reading it in chunks every time I stepped back into this book it spurred on rich conversations within coach group, community group about the gospel and sin. 5/5 would recommend.

[Kyle Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

"What if your Christianity is more about trying than treasuring? You are trying so hard to overcome your struggles and be better, but you are never just treasuring God. Your struggles and self-improvement plans are all about you, but you are missing the higher act of treasuring - which is all about God."

Inject this book into my veins for the rest of my life.

[Alyssa Borwick · Rating 5 out of 5]

“So, should I believe in Jesus or love Him? Yes! To believe in Him is to love Him. To love Him is to believe in Him. To believe in Him is to receive Him for who He is, the true prize of life. The satisfier of souls. The source of joy. Saving faith is treasuring Jesus, and treasuring Jesus comes by a work of God through the word of God” (pg 58).

🤯

Would recommend to everyone!!!

[Jenna Kent · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book felt like having the core of every sermon I’ve ever heard at Veritas summed up into one book, and I am so encouraged by it. I want to mail it to all my friends and read it with every person I disciple.

[Annalise Herman · Rating 5 out of 5]

“If we don’t understand the full extent of Jesus’s salvation, we will look to Jesus for forgiveness, but elsewhere for salvation.”

“Holiness is not about just saying “no” to sin, but about being increasingly captives by God.”

[Chrisyatesbookguy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book! Very centering for one’s faith.

[Leatha A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book on the gospel. Clear, engaging.

[Peyton Roose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Light easy read that refreshed my soul. God truly is the prize and what a sweet reminder this book is. Hit me up if you want to read it!

[Michael Guinane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly rich, easy to read, and lots to chew on. Love the explanation of the best part of the Gospel is that we get God.

If you haven't picked up a copy, go now!

[Lauri Carr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful Read

Easy, quick and motivational! And, so very true!! God is our prize! Personally and corporately. He is our reason for life.