Maximum Possible Life

by Dave Shaw, Mermaid Publishers (Editor)

In John 10:10, Jesus said, The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. Jesus is telling us that Satan’s goal is to limit our lives and keep us from having the abundant life that He, Jesus, died to provide us with. He does this by not only tempting us to actively choose sinful things, but also by attempting to get us to settle for passivity and mediocrity in our lives.

What Jesus wants for us, in contrast, is that we would be actively pursuing all that He has for us in both the way that we relate to Him as well as the way we live out our lives so that we will be able to fulfill our destiny for this life and experience abundant life or, as I like to express it, maximum possible life!

233 pages, Paperback

Published May 13, 2025

About the author

Dave began in the ministry in 1972 when he joined the staff of Youth for Christ. His journey from that point led him to positions as Youth Pastor, Associate Pastor, and then as a church planting pastor, founding a thriving church in Silicon Valley, out of which he planted three other churches. He was an honored history scholar at the University of California and attended Fuller Seminary. He was ordained in 1979 and spent his whole adult life in pastoral ministry. After retiring in 2014 and moving to Yelm, Washington, the church he was attending, Crossroads Community Covenant Church invited him to come out of retirement and join their staff as Associate Pastor—a position he continues to hold in the present.

Dave’s teaching and ministry are focused on practical Christian living with several emphases. His life verses serve to highlight those emphases. Hebrews 4:15&16 assures us that Jesus is a high priest who can sympathize with our weaknesses because He has experienced every type of temptation that we have, enabling us to confidently come into God’s presence knowing that we will not only receive mercy and forgiveness, but also grace to empower us to live the way the Lord intends us to. Another of Dave’s life verses, Ephesians 2:10 stresses the fact that every one of us is God’s masterpiece and has a destiny of kingdom ministry that the Father planned for us from before we were born. And finally, John 10:10 shows us Jesus’ promise to give us abundant life—or as he calls it, maximum possible life.

Reviews

[Ella Liam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maximum Possible Life is one of those books that truly challenges you to think about what it means to live the abundant life Jesus promised. Dave Shaw writes with clarity and conviction, reminding readers that the enemy’s greatest trick isn’t always overt sin, it’s settling for less than what God has designed for us.

What I loved most about this book is how practical and personal it feels. Shaw doesn’t just share theology; he gives readers encouragement and insight to live out their faith boldly and intentionally. Each chapter feels like a conversation with a wise mentor who wants you to rise above mediocrity and experience everything God has in store.

[Lioren Skye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maximum Possible Life by Dave Shaw is a beautifully written and deeply inspiring reminder that God desires more for us than just getting by, He wants us to thrive in His abundance. From the very first chapter, this book ignites a fresh passion for living with purpose, faith, and joy.
Dave Shaw does a remarkable job unpacking Jesus’ words from John 10:10, showing how the enemy tries to steal our peace and limit our potential, while Christ calls us to live abundantly. His writing is sincere, scripture-based, and full of spiritual insight. You can feel his heart for helping readers break free from mediocrity and step boldly into the life God intended.