What do you think?
Rate this book
Bold and Broken: Becoming the Bridge Between Heaven and Earth
God Needs Your Boldness and Your Brokenness to Transform a Dying World.
The world doesn’t need more bullies who stand firmly for the truth but ignore their own brokenness. The world doesn’t need watchers who are broken over sin but won’t act boldly for the truth. The world needs a faithful and courageous believer in a loving God whose truth has the power to transform a dying world.
• Do you ever feel like God is calling you to act but don’t know where to start?
• Have you ever wondered how to reach out to a person in love when they hate you for your faith?
• Do you want to stand firm when it feels like the world is against you and your beliefs?
After wrestling with these questions personally, twin brothers and real-estate moguls David and Jason Benham have good news for God wants to use both your boldness and your brokenness to accomplish his purposes.
The Benhams know what it means to be broken. In 2014, the brothers watched their dreams ripped apart when HGTV scrapped their upcoming reality show. Rather than abandoning their beliefs to their loss and the sting of hateful accusations, the brothers stood boldly in their faith and turned their brokenness into a bridge to reach others with compassion.
From the rush of the London subway system to the deafening cheers of Chicago’s Wrigley Field, the Benhams use personal stories and sound biblical teaching to show you how your everyday struggles are your strongest tools toward understanding the needs of others and boldly accomplishing God’s purposes.
Now is your moment to step out in boldness to become the lifeline between a dying world and the God who lovingly saves. Join the Benhams and discover how Christ can transform your brokenness into an indispensable tool of courage and strength.
The world doesn’t need more bullies who stand firmly for the truth but ignore their own brokenness. The world doesn’t need watchers who are broken over sin but won’t act boldly for the truth. The world needs a faithful and courageous believer in a loving God whose truth has the power to transform a dying world.
• Do you ever feel like God is calling you to act but don’t know where to start?
• Have you ever wondered how to reach out to a person in love when they hate you for your faith?
• Do you want to stand firm when it feels like the world is against you and your beliefs?
After wrestling with these questions personally, twin brothers and real-estate moguls David and Jason Benham have good news for God wants to use both your boldness and your brokenness to accomplish his purposes.
The Benhams know what it means to be broken. In 2014, the brothers watched their dreams ripped apart when HGTV scrapped their upcoming reality show. Rather than abandoning their beliefs to their loss and the sting of hateful accusations, the brothers stood boldly in their faith and turned their brokenness into a bridge to reach others with compassion.
From the rush of the London subway system to the deafening cheers of Chicago’s Wrigley Field, the Benhams use personal stories and sound biblical teaching to show you how your everyday struggles are your strongest tools toward understanding the needs of others and boldly accomplishing God’s purposes.
Now is your moment to step out in boldness to become the lifeline between a dying world and the God who lovingly saves. Join the Benhams and discover how Christ can transform your brokenness into an indispensable tool of courage and strength.
210 pages, Paperback
Published July 6, 2021
33 people are currently reading
121 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
April 4, 2019
I really enjoyed reading this book. It’s a very casual and conversationally written book that is about standing in the “gap” between heaven and earth.
Each chapter is a story of it’s own and I always looked forward to seeing what the Benham brothers were going to share next. Some of the stories were comical and made me laugh, and some of the stories were so sad that they truly broke my heart. (By the way, I think it’s important to have one’s heart broken. Sometimes it’s not until you see and feel how desperately the world needs Christ will a person truly want to step out of their comfort zone and start sharing the joy of the gospel with others.)
I feel that a wide range of readers will connect with the Benham’s down to earth style of writing. This read was a blessing to me. It has convicted me to actively seek out and recognize the opportunities God gives me to share the love of Christ with others around me.
*My thanks to Salem books for providing me with a copy of this book to review. All opinions are my own.
Each chapter is a story of it’s own and I always looked forward to seeing what the Benham brothers were going to share next. Some of the stories were comical and made me laugh, and some of the stories were so sad that they truly broke my heart. (By the way, I think it’s important to have one’s heart broken. Sometimes it’s not until you see and feel how desperately the world needs Christ will a person truly want to step out of their comfort zone and start sharing the joy of the gospel with others.)
I feel that a wide range of readers will connect with the Benham’s down to earth style of writing. This read was a blessing to me. It has convicted me to actively seek out and recognize the opportunities God gives me to share the love of Christ with others around me.
*My thanks to Salem books for providing me with a copy of this book to review. All opinions are my own.
March 3, 2019
CHARGE (What was the author trying to say?): The authors are encouraging Christians to stand in the gap between heaven and earth.
FACTS: David and Jason Benham were fired from HGTV in 2014 for expressing their biblical values. Since that time they’ve been traveling around the country encouraging Christians to “be courageous in a compromised culture.” In this book, the brothers model how “When we talk with people, we need to constantly look for what’s broken or bruised, and seek to connect them to the God who brings healing and who can breathe life into what’s dead.” Are we available to stand in the gap between heaven and earth? A gap created by sin? Even if we are willing, do we know how? Through scripture and personal stories, the Benhams show us how we can be open to God working through us to touch others.
The brothers remind us of some fundamental truths we may have forgotten as Christians:
“You’re a minister right where you are. Your mission is to bring God glory. Your work is worship.”
While we may consider ourselves Christians, what are we doing about it? The Benhams charge us: “So let’s commit to doing the work Christ called us to, whether at the gas station, the ball field, or in the lunchroom. We may never know just how important our words might be.” Interestingly enough, it was the Benhams’ father who brought the infamous Jane Roe to Christ. As he baptized her he said, “Jane Roe washed away. Norma McCorvey emerged.” With those words the notorious abortion proponent became a true child of God.
The Benhams emphasize the power of our personal testimony. We can change lives by showing how God changed ours. As we consider “What does love require of us?” we see our call to action. Our choice is to “either stand in the way or stand in the gap.”
VERDICT (Was the author successful?): Guilty, as charged. This book should energize you in your Christian walk. It is perfect for individual use or small group study.
**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, but the opinions are solely my own. #boldandbroken
https://bookcourt.blog
FACTS: David and Jason Benham were fired from HGTV in 2014 for expressing their biblical values. Since that time they’ve been traveling around the country encouraging Christians to “be courageous in a compromised culture.” In this book, the brothers model how “When we talk with people, we need to constantly look for what’s broken or bruised, and seek to connect them to the God who brings healing and who can breathe life into what’s dead.” Are we available to stand in the gap between heaven and earth? A gap created by sin? Even if we are willing, do we know how? Through scripture and personal stories, the Benhams show us how we can be open to God working through us to touch others.
The brothers remind us of some fundamental truths we may have forgotten as Christians:
“You’re a minister right where you are. Your mission is to bring God glory. Your work is worship.”
While we may consider ourselves Christians, what are we doing about it? The Benhams charge us: “So let’s commit to doing the work Christ called us to, whether at the gas station, the ball field, or in the lunchroom. We may never know just how important our words might be.” Interestingly enough, it was the Benhams’ father who brought the infamous Jane Roe to Christ. As he baptized her he said, “Jane Roe washed away. Norma McCorvey emerged.” With those words the notorious abortion proponent became a true child of God.
The Benhams emphasize the power of our personal testimony. We can change lives by showing how God changed ours. As we consider “What does love require of us?” we see our call to action. Our choice is to “either stand in the way or stand in the gap.”
VERDICT (Was the author successful?): Guilty, as charged. This book should energize you in your Christian walk. It is perfect for individual use or small group study.
**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, but the opinions are solely my own. #boldandbroken
https://bookcourt.blog
March 18, 2019
Bold and Broken by David and Jason Benham
This book, Bold and Broken, was absolute delight to read! These guys are hilarious! I love how real they are about their relationship with each other and the people of significance in their lives. In the pages of this book, you will find yourself laughing, crying, and pausing to ponder the weight of the revelation just imparted.
I don’t watch television, so I had not seen their show, but I knew about the drama they faced when the activist group made war against them and their show was cancelled. They don’t delve into too much detail in this particular book about that time in their lives, but they do reference it often enough that you’re able to walk away saying, “Ah, so THAT is what happened!”
The format of this book is awesome. It’s one story after another and revelation upon revelation. It was an easy read – nothing so theologically difficult to grasp it gave you a headache to read – but it was a deep read. This book is something a nonbeliever and a strong Christian could both benefit from; it’s a very balanced book that appeals to a wide audience. The length of the book was perfect, as well. I finished the book feeling that same sense of satisfaction one has after eating just the right amount of an excellent meal. It was nice to close the book and feel as if I had been on a journey with the authors - and that we actually made it to the intended destination!
The honesty of the Benham brothers is so refreshing. They’re so REAL about daily struggles and isolated events where their faith and/or character was refined. They’re relatable, outrageously funny, and you can tell just from the way it is written these guys are the boy-next-door kind of guys with hometown southern hospitality and a, “Hey, come on in!” kind of attitude.
I loved how they shared the ways God has communicated with them, how Holy Spirit is their intimate friend and someone with whom they have a real relationship. There were verses and paraphrased Bible stories interspersed throughout the book, but it wasn’t overkill. I could tell they didn’t set out to re-pen the Bible and build a story around it as an afterthought. What they included scripturally was relevant to the message God wanted to share through their lives as told in this book. They avoided being preachy and cliché, while managing to draw insights from the Word of God as it pertained to the specific situation or lesson they were presenting.
It was great how they included snippets of stories from other people, as well. That was a nice touch! I really enjoyed hearing from Tori, Nick, Peter, Cory, Sara, etc. I felt it really highlighted the humility of the Benham brothers to give other people a platform to share a message within their book.
One of my greatest takeaways from the book was on pages 93 and 94: “Boldness apart from brokenness makes a bully. This is what anger produces. If we’re broken over our sin but not bold for God’s truth we’ll operate out of a spirit of fear. This makes us a bystander, which also leaves people disconnected from God – because we’re too afraid to share the truth that can set them free. Brokenness apart from boldness makes a bystander. This is what fear produces. But if we’re both bold and broken we’ll operate out of a spirit of love. This is what gives us the power to faithfully stand in the gap and bring divine connection to disconnected people. Boldness and brokenness make us a bridge connecting heaven to earth for those around us. This is what love produces.” This is so true! We need to bridge the gap and be the embodiment of God’s love toward others.
There are so many other insights they shared hat impacted me, but you’ll just have to read the book to glean from it yourself! :-) This was a wonderful book. The Benham brothers are a gift to the Body of Christ and I’m thankful for how they partner with the Lord in reaching the world.
This book, Bold and Broken, was absolute delight to read! These guys are hilarious! I love how real they are about their relationship with each other and the people of significance in their lives. In the pages of this book, you will find yourself laughing, crying, and pausing to ponder the weight of the revelation just imparted.
I don’t watch television, so I had not seen their show, but I knew about the drama they faced when the activist group made war against them and their show was cancelled. They don’t delve into too much detail in this particular book about that time in their lives, but they do reference it often enough that you’re able to walk away saying, “Ah, so THAT is what happened!”
The format of this book is awesome. It’s one story after another and revelation upon revelation. It was an easy read – nothing so theologically difficult to grasp it gave you a headache to read – but it was a deep read. This book is something a nonbeliever and a strong Christian could both benefit from; it’s a very balanced book that appeals to a wide audience. The length of the book was perfect, as well. I finished the book feeling that same sense of satisfaction one has after eating just the right amount of an excellent meal. It was nice to close the book and feel as if I had been on a journey with the authors - and that we actually made it to the intended destination!
The honesty of the Benham brothers is so refreshing. They’re so REAL about daily struggles and isolated events where their faith and/or character was refined. They’re relatable, outrageously funny, and you can tell just from the way it is written these guys are the boy-next-door kind of guys with hometown southern hospitality and a, “Hey, come on in!” kind of attitude.
I loved how they shared the ways God has communicated with them, how Holy Spirit is their intimate friend and someone with whom they have a real relationship. There were verses and paraphrased Bible stories interspersed throughout the book, but it wasn’t overkill. I could tell they didn’t set out to re-pen the Bible and build a story around it as an afterthought. What they included scripturally was relevant to the message God wanted to share through their lives as told in this book. They avoided being preachy and cliché, while managing to draw insights from the Word of God as it pertained to the specific situation or lesson they were presenting.
It was great how they included snippets of stories from other people, as well. That was a nice touch! I really enjoyed hearing from Tori, Nick, Peter, Cory, Sara, etc. I felt it really highlighted the humility of the Benham brothers to give other people a platform to share a message within their book.
One of my greatest takeaways from the book was on pages 93 and 94: “Boldness apart from brokenness makes a bully. This is what anger produces. If we’re broken over our sin but not bold for God’s truth we’ll operate out of a spirit of fear. This makes us a bystander, which also leaves people disconnected from God – because we’re too afraid to share the truth that can set them free. Brokenness apart from boldness makes a bystander. This is what fear produces. But if we’re both bold and broken we’ll operate out of a spirit of love. This is what gives us the power to faithfully stand in the gap and bring divine connection to disconnected people. Boldness and brokenness make us a bridge connecting heaven to earth for those around us. This is what love produces.” This is so true! We need to bridge the gap and be the embodiment of God’s love toward others.
There are so many other insights they shared hat impacted me, but you’ll just have to read the book to glean from it yourself! :-) This was a wonderful book. The Benham brothers are a gift to the Body of Christ and I’m thankful for how they partner with the Lord in reaching the world.
May 30, 2019
It takes a lot of courage and conviction to live a life like the Benham brothers do. Bold & Broken inspired me in more ways than one, and I plan to move forward with some new goals for myself.
Here are a few of my favorite excerpts...
This spoke to me because I'm a stay at home mama.
"Worship, simply put, is our attempt to make God smile. We worship Him when we clean that house, or write that paper, or wash those dishes as if He's the one who gave us the job. In whatever we do, when we live to put a smile on God's face, we are worshiping Him. And when we do, He can use us powerfully to get His work Done."
"All of us need an upstream and a downstream - people who are pouring into us and people into whom we are pouring. In this way, we become a bridge for people, as others have been a bridge for us."
"I've discovered that our greatest blessings are found only on the other side of our greatest fears."
"Only the horses willing to be broken by the master are fit to pull the king's chariot."
Here are a few of my favorite excerpts...
This spoke to me because I'm a stay at home mama.
"Worship, simply put, is our attempt to make God smile. We worship Him when we clean that house, or write that paper, or wash those dishes as if He's the one who gave us the job. In whatever we do, when we live to put a smile on God's face, we are worshiping Him. And when we do, He can use us powerfully to get His work Done."
"All of us need an upstream and a downstream - people who are pouring into us and people into whom we are pouring. In this way, we become a bridge for people, as others have been a bridge for us."
"I've discovered that our greatest blessings are found only on the other side of our greatest fears."
"Only the horses willing to be broken by the master are fit to pull the king's chariot."
February 13, 2019
Jason and David's books will never disappoint, and always leave you bolder than before you read them. This book will inspire, build your faith, and embolden you to be the best ambassador for God that you can possibly be. Another "5-Star" and "Must-Have" book for all believers. Go get all of their books, and you'll be glad that you did!
February 24, 2024
Great read from David and Jason Benham. This book is filled with hearty stories that explain the importance of being Bold and Broken. I was filled with many emotions reading these short stories chapters deepening my understanding of doing what God tells us to do. There were many times where I laughed out loud at their humor as they made jokes about each other and in their stories. On the other end of the spectrum, I was filled with compassion and almost shed a tear quite a few times. This book gives such a great emotional balance while still driving home the point of being Bold and Broken!
I am challenged to be bold in my faith even in the midst of fear, to be an example and help others get back to their Father, who longs for his children. I am also challenged to be broken enough to have compassion, much like Jesus, to see people as who they are. I love the plethora of stories of them epitomizing being Bold and Broken. I pray not to be a bully or bystander, but to impact the world around me by being myself!
I am challenged to be bold in my faith even in the midst of fear, to be an example and help others get back to their Father, who longs for his children. I am also challenged to be broken enough to have compassion, much like Jesus, to see people as who they are. I love the plethora of stories of them epitomizing being Bold and Broken. I pray not to be a bully or bystander, but to impact the world around me by being myself!
April 19, 2019
"Bold and Broken" is an excellent followup to "Whatever the Cost" by this same brotherly duo. It shows on a more practical level how those of us who can't bench a zillion pounds, found a nationwide real estate company, and have a show on HGTV can still "become the bridge between heaven and earth." That bridge can be built with things as simple as coaching a hometown team or conversing with a stranger in the airplane seat next to you.
Points off for sloppy editing, typos, and at times confusing voice changes between the two brothers, their wives, and some friends whose stories are also featured. Fortunately, none of this is bad enough to ruin the reading experience. "Bold and Broken" is relatively short and easy to finish; a quick, encouraging read to uplift and inspire.
Disclaimer: The publisher of this book sent me a copy in exchange for my honest review.
Points off for sloppy editing, typos, and at times confusing voice changes between the two brothers, their wives, and some friends whose stories are also featured. Fortunately, none of this is bad enough to ruin the reading experience. "Bold and Broken" is relatively short and easy to finish; a quick, encouraging read to uplift and inspire.
Disclaimer: The publisher of this book sent me a copy in exchange for my honest review.
July 30, 2019
The Benham Brothers! These guys are my for-real-life heroes. Bold and Broken will inspire you to go deeper in your faith and louder with your voice. These guys never ceases to inspire and connect with their powerful testimonies and stories from the heart. In a world that needs to know the love of Jesus and not the harsh voice of religion without relationship, this book will inspire you to go deeper in your prayer life and to serve those around you with love and grace. Speaking on pro-life, pro-Jesus, and pro-love, the Benham Brothers are incredible examples of speaking loud and boldy with truth in love. I am so thankful for these amazing men and their story. Do NOT miss out on this book!!!!
*Salem provided a copy of the book to me. All opinions are my own.
*Salem provided a copy of the book to me. All opinions are my own.
April 7, 2022
Definitely more like 3.5 stars pushing towards 4. It was definitely better than average for this kind of book, however I wasn't left with the thought that I had read it again. It was good, full of strong testimonies and thought-provoking statements that left me meditating on some things which is always awesome. But as far as the Benham brothers books, this one was okay. There are absolutely no complaints, I just wasn't left deeply moved or inspired like I had hoped to be, given the title. But you never know, I like them and their other books, so I may give this one another go in the future.
(FULL DISCLOSURE: I didn't get through this one quite as fast as I normally would, so I wonder if that may be a contributing factor on my opinion towards the book.)
(FULL DISCLOSURE: I didn't get through this one quite as fast as I normally would, so I wonder if that may be a contributing factor on my opinion towards the book.)
May 3, 2020
Convicting & inspiring.
"We don't need more bullies who stand boldly for truth but are not broken over their sin.
We don't need more bystanders who are broken over their sin but refuse to stand boldly for truth.
We need people who are bold AND broken - those who are willing to lay it all on the line to become a bridge that connects a dying world back to the God who desperately loves them. And by their lives, they become the answer to that famous prayer - "Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."
"We don't need more bullies who stand boldly for truth but are not broken over their sin.
We don't need more bystanders who are broken over their sin but refuse to stand boldly for truth.
We need people who are bold AND broken - those who are willing to lay it all on the line to become a bridge that connects a dying world back to the God who desperately loves them. And by their lives, they become the answer to that famous prayer - "Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."
July 26, 2019
Solid, real life examples and encouragement to stand in the gap and show God's love to a hurting world. Practical advice for the Christian on living life constantly on mission and with God's glory in mind. Thankful for these brothers, their willingness to serve Christ, and that they are unashamed of their faith and commitment to Him; exactly what the world needs more of!
January 11, 2021
The Benham Brothers share personal stories of the way Holy Spirit works when we are open to obeying. I needed to be reminded that I can show God's love to strangers even from afar. God opens doors for us to witness which feed our souls. The way that Jesus stands in the gap through us grows us in the grace.
January 10, 2024
This book has had such a profound impact on how I interact with the people in my life. Hearing how faith has played a role in the Benham brothers’ lives and how they work to honor God in all they do is so edifying. Definitely worth the read for anyone wondering how they can live out their faith in a God honoring way.
February 7, 2023
The Benham twins are great story telling witnesses. Their life experiences point to Biblical truths and God’s righteousness as the only solution for this sin sick world. They share living examples and their own transformative journey toward becoming bold and broken for Christ. Thank you and AMEN!
December 23, 2019
Very good book
June 16, 2020
A whole lot of anecdotes with a good message
January 30, 2022
Great message about standing in the Gap for our faith.
May 22, 2022
This may be the cringeyist book ever written!
July 29, 2024
Easy to read. Lots of stories about people living a life of simple evangelism. Not all of the stories hit for me but some were extremely motivating.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews