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Liking Jesus: Intimacy and Contentment in a Selfie-Centered World
How Jesus recovers our sense of contentment, restores our intimacy with others, and helps us reclaim our integrity in a distracted digital world.
Can you relate to any of the following?
I'm connected to more people than ever, but I feel more alone than I can describe.I'm constantly tempted to look at things that pollute the purity that God desires in my life.Every time I look at a screen, I feel discouraged and increasingly anxious by what I see.I used to be a compassionate person, but now I just feel desensitized to all the suffering around me.
If any of these statements ring true for you, it's time to rediscover what it means to be "like Jesus" and find true authenticity, a healthy self-image, and compassion for others in an age when we relate to each other and the world around us differently than ever before.
In Liking Jesus, bestselling author and pastor of Life.Church Craig Groeschel taps into some of the most leading-edge studies on the effects of social media on our emotions and friendships. He offers real-life examples of how we struggle with screens and "likes," how these things mask our struggles with who we really are, and how we can reclaim a Christ-centered life.
Packed with helpful topics like the "10 Commandments of Using Social Media to Strengthen Your Faith" and "Creating Safeguards for Your Digital Devices," you’ll find Liking Jesus to be just the guide to help you put Christ first again and bring balance and real-world engagement to your everyday life.
Can you relate to any of the following?
I'm connected to more people than ever, but I feel more alone than I can describe.I'm constantly tempted to look at things that pollute the purity that God desires in my life.Every time I look at a screen, I feel discouraged and increasingly anxious by what I see.I used to be a compassionate person, but now I just feel desensitized to all the suffering around me.
If any of these statements ring true for you, it's time to rediscover what it means to be "like Jesus" and find true authenticity, a healthy self-image, and compassion for others in an age when we relate to each other and the world around us differently than ever before.
In Liking Jesus, bestselling author and pastor of Life.Church Craig Groeschel taps into some of the most leading-edge studies on the effects of social media on our emotions and friendships. He offers real-life examples of how we struggle with screens and "likes," how these things mask our struggles with who we really are, and how we can reclaim a Christ-centered life.
Packed with helpful topics like the "10 Commandments of Using Social Media to Strengthen Your Faith" and "Creating Safeguards for Your Digital Devices," you’ll find Liking Jesus to be just the guide to help you put Christ first again and bring balance and real-world engagement to your everyday life.
253 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 6, 2018
70 people are currently reading
290 people want to read
About the author
Craig Groeschel
98 books1,657 followersCraig Groeschel is the founding and senior pastor of Life.Church, a multisite church with locations throughout the United States and globally at Life.Church Online.
Craig and his wife Amy started Life.Church in a two-car garage in Edmond, Oklahoma in January 1996. While Life.Church has grown over the years, its mission remains the same: to lead people to become fully devoted followers of Christ. Today, the church is known for its innovative use of technology to spread the Gospel, launching the first fully digital church experience in 2006 and the most downloaded Bible app in history, YouVersion, in 2008.
As a widely respected leader in the Church, Craig speaks frequently at leadership events and conferences worldwide. He is a New York Times best-selling author with books about topics like dating and marriage, social media, purpose, direction, church leadership, and more. He also hosts the Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast, a practical tool to spark new ideas and prompt innovative thinking in leaders at every level within any organization.
Craig and Amy married in 1991 and have six children. They live in Oklahoma where Life.Church began.
Visit www.craiggroeschel.com to be the first to hear about new podcast episodes, books, leadership events, and more.
Craig and his wife Amy started Life.Church in a two-car garage in Edmond, Oklahoma in January 1996. While Life.Church has grown over the years, its mission remains the same: to lead people to become fully devoted followers of Christ. Today, the church is known for its innovative use of technology to spread the Gospel, launching the first fully digital church experience in 2006 and the most downloaded Bible app in history, YouVersion, in 2008.
As a widely respected leader in the Church, Craig speaks frequently at leadership events and conferences worldwide. He is a New York Times best-selling author with books about topics like dating and marriage, social media, purpose, direction, church leadership, and more. He also hosts the Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast, a practical tool to spark new ideas and prompt innovative thinking in leaders at every level within any organization.
Craig and Amy married in 1991 and have six children. They live in Oklahoma where Life.Church began.
Visit www.craiggroeschel.com to be the first to hear about new podcast episodes, books, leadership events, and more.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
January 21, 2019
6 stars 🌟 absolutely an amazing book
This book is just amazing ❤️❤️❤️ I have read most of the authors books and they are all good and amazing. This book topped it all being just fabulous. It is written in a down to earth/practical way so all people can understand the book. Love his advices and heartfelt stories he share. He touch on a rapidly growing issue in the world and after i was done, i could use his advices to look at my own life and change some areas that i was not satisfied with. Sometimes it made me cry and sometimes i just smiled. It is emotional and beautiful and i really want to recommend this book. You really are going to get so much out of the book and it will not be a bust. #enjoy
This book is just amazing ❤️❤️❤️ I have read most of the authors books and they are all good and amazing. This book topped it all being just fabulous. It is written in a down to earth/practical way so all people can understand the book. Love his advices and heartfelt stories he share. He touch on a rapidly growing issue in the world and after i was done, i could use his advices to look at my own life and change some areas that i was not satisfied with. Sometimes it made me cry and sometimes i just smiled. It is emotional and beautiful and i really want to recommend this book. You really are going to get so much out of the book and it will not be a bust. #enjoy
March 9, 2019
This was an audiobook and I wish it was one I could have read. There were many parts I would have highlighted to reference. Good reality check on how we manage social media and our devices. I would have rated this a 5 last year. But I have been working on idols so a lot of the ideas and tips I have already put in place. Great read for someone that really wants to put God first!
There was one story he told in the book that I will never forget. About how God had an intervention between him and a member of the church. A total wow moment on what God can do in your life.
There was one story he told in the book that I will never forget. About how God had an intervention between him and a member of the church. A total wow moment on what God can do in your life.
July 8, 2018
Quick and easy read. Great reality check without being too preachy
May 28, 2021
WOW. Convicting without being preachy. So many good points that resonate with me. I’d even call this book life-changing for our times.
August 19, 2019
The author has a lot of great practical advice regarding the use of technology and especially social media in our contemporary culture. He is aware of how these sorts of things have affected us and competently articulates values we ought to cultivate and practices we might put in place to ensure that we are not harmed by our engagement with technology and social media.
However, I was severely disappointed that the author failed to anchor his analysis and practical instruction in the Gospel and in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. In an audiobook that was 7 hours long, I didn't notice him even mention Jesus until about 40 minutes in. And this is a book that's titled "Liking Jesus." I only noticed him mention the resurrection of Jesus once toward the end of the book. Unless I missed it, he didn't mention the death and resurrection of Jesus at all until one of the appendices. Instead the author tends to just make moral assertions with little support or he will quote verses from the scriptures or reference stories from the scriptures. I could quibble with some of his readings of various passages, naturally, however he seemed to read the scriptures as a rulebook of God-approved values/rules that we ought to emulate in our lives. When Jesus was brought up, it was often either as Jesus who gives us commands to obey or Jesus who is vaguely the answer to everything and the one who provides us with all that we need. I believe you could cut out everything the author says about Jesus and the book would still make just as much sense. This is not to say that everything the author says is wrong, far from it. However, I often failed to see how this book was distinctly Christian at a fundamental level. I'd expect as much from a book titled "Liking Jesus."
One more point of criticism: while I recognize that this is intended to be an extremely accessible and popular-level book (something I think the author does quite well), I thought that his theology in general and especially his articulation of the basic Christian story as outlined in the creeds was severely underdeveloped. For example, at one point about two-thirds of the way through the book, the author writes, "We need to understand that we are not a body w/a soul; we are a soul w/a body. Our bodies will die, but our souls will live forever." I hope I am misunderstanding the author, but he seems to deny the resurrection of the dead as taught throughout the Old and New Testaments and confessed in the creeds. I genuinely hope that this was merely an example of less than careful wording on the part of the author, but I found this to be an example of a much broader failure to articulate the basic Christian story instead of relying on vague God-talk and pious-sounding platitudes.
Again, I appreciate and take to heart the author's wise admonitions regarding technology and social media in the lives of Christians. He is refreshingly honest about his own struggles in these areas and I think makes a compelling and necessary case to people in the 21st century that they need to be more thoughtful about how they use technology and social media. For this, I thank God and pray that the Spirit would continue to convict the hearts of Christian people through this book.
However, I was severely disappointed that the author failed to anchor his analysis and practical instruction in the Gospel and in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. In an audiobook that was 7 hours long, I didn't notice him even mention Jesus until about 40 minutes in. And this is a book that's titled "Liking Jesus." I only noticed him mention the resurrection of Jesus once toward the end of the book. Unless I missed it, he didn't mention the death and resurrection of Jesus at all until one of the appendices. Instead the author tends to just make moral assertions with little support or he will quote verses from the scriptures or reference stories from the scriptures. I could quibble with some of his readings of various passages, naturally, however he seemed to read the scriptures as a rulebook of God-approved values/rules that we ought to emulate in our lives. When Jesus was brought up, it was often either as Jesus who gives us commands to obey or Jesus who is vaguely the answer to everything and the one who provides us with all that we need. I believe you could cut out everything the author says about Jesus and the book would still make just as much sense. This is not to say that everything the author says is wrong, far from it. However, I often failed to see how this book was distinctly Christian at a fundamental level. I'd expect as much from a book titled "Liking Jesus."
One more point of criticism: while I recognize that this is intended to be an extremely accessible and popular-level book (something I think the author does quite well), I thought that his theology in general and especially his articulation of the basic Christian story as outlined in the creeds was severely underdeveloped. For example, at one point about two-thirds of the way through the book, the author writes, "We need to understand that we are not a body w/a soul; we are a soul w/a body. Our bodies will die, but our souls will live forever." I hope I am misunderstanding the author, but he seems to deny the resurrection of the dead as taught throughout the Old and New Testaments and confessed in the creeds. I genuinely hope that this was merely an example of less than careful wording on the part of the author, but I found this to be an example of a much broader failure to articulate the basic Christian story instead of relying on vague God-talk and pious-sounding platitudes.
Again, I appreciate and take to heart the author's wise admonitions regarding technology and social media in the lives of Christians. He is refreshingly honest about his own struggles in these areas and I think makes a compelling and necessary case to people in the 21st century that they need to be more thoughtful about how they use technology and social media. For this, I thank God and pray that the Spirit would continue to convict the hearts of Christian people through this book.
August 7, 2019
I found the author's comparison of comparing various religious denominations similar to shopping at different car dealerships very apt given the current culture of the world. He continues to raise good points throughout the book and really make you think about how tied to technology we are and how it impacts our relationship with God. I appreciated that he provided anonymous examples of his major points instead of just sharing hypotheticals.
I don't want to make a positive review of the book sound like a personal recommendation of the author though, as I've never heard anything about him or know much about "Life.Church" aside from the fact that they created the YouVersion app. Based on the book, though, I'd be interested in listening to some of his sermons to see how much of his opinions in his writing carry over to his pastoral work.
My only real complaint is the sheer number of times "hashtag" was used. It wasn't enough to make me put down the book, but I sure did consider it a few times. I'm positive it was his attempt at being relateable to younger generations, however to his credit I believe the book aside from all of the #-usage would have accomplished that just fine.
I don't want to make a positive review of the book sound like a personal recommendation of the author though, as I've never heard anything about him or know much about "Life.Church" aside from the fact that they created the YouVersion app. Based on the book, though, I'd be interested in listening to some of his sermons to see how much of his opinions in his writing carry over to his pastoral work.
My only real complaint is the sheer number of times "hashtag" was used. It wasn't enough to make me put down the book, but I sure did consider it a few times. I'm positive it was his attempt at being relateable to younger generations, however to his credit I believe the book aside from all of the #-usage would have accomplished that just fine.
July 25, 2019
I really enjoyed this book and the ideas that were shared. I admired how the author would admit his own flaws when it comes to technology usage. The end of the book had two different appendixes and I enjoyed how he made the ideas in the book into two different game plans. This book definitely made me think about my own technology usage and how I can improve my own ways. Would recommend this book if you’re looking for a quick read that makes you think.
April 6, 2019
A cheesy title and definitely some cheesy lines and hashtag uses, but overall a good book with some v relevant and - dare I say - challenging wisdom. Read this with a group from church and it was super easy to spawn wide-ranging conversations about all aspects of millennial life from the pages and topics covered.
April 1, 2025
Tech references always get outdated quickly but I was impressed by how relevant this book still is. I appreciate Craig’s integrity and his honesty about how that can lead him to idols of workaholism. This reads mostly like a sermon but also with some practical advice. Some good admonitionment and encouragement to put boundaries in the way of your idols.
January 11, 2019
Such a great book! Really opens your eyes to how addicted we are to our devices and social media. This book has encouraged me to have more face to face interactions than text messages. It’s easy to send a text, but not everyone will come be by your side when you’re going through a hard time.
June 2, 2019
This is a book that virtually everyone should read. If you live under a rock, if Rip Van Wrinkle is your greatest hero and model, and if you've never heard of the internet, then you're exempt. Otherwise, do yourself a favor and read this book.
October 17, 2020
This is actually a reread. I’m personally controlled by my phone and consider it an idol in my life. Ive tried to control it before with little success. This book has some beautiful parts that speak to my heart and encourage and I am making another decision for change.
June 18, 2021
Great book; Craig challenges his readers to use technology as a way to honor God and how not to let social media/technology master you. Full of great verses and personal stories this is a book to read.
October 22, 2021
This was written in 2015, but with the changes in social media, it feels like it was written ten years before that. The message of our need for intimacy with Jesus is always true, but the vehicle felt dated.
April 3, 2023
I’m a fan of Craig and this one didn’t disappoint! We live in a world of selfies and technology. I needed a reminder about not letting technology become an idol and healthy boundaries to live by. And I enjoy his stories too. 😊
October 5, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. While some of the references are dated, the overall concepts are just as applicable today. It helped me reflect on my daily choices and reignited my faith. Highly recommend!
September 23, 2019
A great read! Really convicting and makes you think a lot about your social media usage...
October 14, 2019
This book was so good!
October 2, 2020
Some good points, but veers off a cliff into ‘Scared Straight.’
December 20, 2021
A message from tech savvy pastor to the Christian nowadays in the technology Era. Technology is good, but needs to be placed in its place.
January 14, 2022
One of the few Christian books I'd still recommend.
Got through half of it in one night. Very nice and relevant for today's society.
Got through half of it in one night. Very nice and relevant for today's society.
January 19, 2023
Such an insightful book. Would definitely recommend
April 28, 2023
As someone who loves their phone, this book really put things into perspective for me as a Christ follower. Definitely a great reminder to keep things in their place.
July 28, 2024
I would give more stars if I could! Such a thought provoking and convicting book. So many highlights marked through out.
November 30, 2024
Liking Jesus gives you tools you can use every day to embrace life instead of being consumed by it. This book is a gift to our generation!
March 22, 2025
Compassion demands action
Hebrews 4:9-11
Hebrews 4:9-11
May 20, 2021
This book was the final step for me to unplug from social media. In a world already filled with so much evil and temptation and corruption, the last thing we need is another catalyst to separate us from God in the palm of our hands. I am grateful for the message in this book and the perspective that was shared. The temptations revealed by social media was more the problem for me than bullying ever was, but I cannot imagine what it would be like to be bullied in such a way through social media that you take your own life.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews