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Grown-up Faith: The Big Picture for a Bigger Life
Why isn't life everything we expected it to be? And why doesn't our faith resolve our frustrations and problems? Kevin Myers, the founding pastor of 12Stone Church, a congregation of more than 30,000 active attenders near Atlanta, believes the reason we don't experience a transformed life is that we fail to grow up spiritually. We focus on developing physically, intellectually, emotionally, and financially, yet our faith remains immature and anemic. In this powerful new book, Myers offers a deep yet simple roadmap to a grown-up faith through understanding the whole context of the Bible, developing spiritual intimacy with God, and gratefully embracing holy obedience. As you understand the Bible and the big picture of God's story with humanity, you begin to find answers to life's most compelling questions. As you begin to understand God more, your longing and ability to experience spiritual intimacy with him increases, as does your desire to obey what God asks of you and your ability to follow through. This is the way to the bigger life, a life even better than you expected--or even dreamed possible.
- GenresChristianNonfiction
Audio CD
Published January 29, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
December 16, 2018
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
Overview:
Written by pastor Kevin Myers of 12Stone Church, Grown-Up Faith is a book that isn’t quite sure what it’s supposed to be. Described on its back cover as a “roadmap to a grown-up faith,” this book appears to be a guide to help Christians grow in their faith and better understand God and His calling within their life. However, the chapters are titled as if it was a book on apologetics, but the content itself is somewhere between the two, with plenty of memoir thrown in for good measure. Myers organizes the book based on a pyramid-shaped image used to illustrate the parallel natures of the Old and New Testaments, with the Gospel accounts of the life of Christ at the pinnacle. Each chapter title poses a question many people ask about Christianity, and most begin with an anecdote from Myers’ life to introduce the question and indicate a trajectory for the answer. At the conclusion of each chapter, Myers has a brief “Grown-Up Faith in Action” section to help readers digest the material of chapter by reflecting on how to apply it to the mind (biblical knowledge), heart (spiritual intimacy with God), and will (obedience). Afterward, he also provides a Scripture recommendation to read before continuing on to the next chapter.
Assessment:
As I read this book, I realized it was not as clear-cut or well-organized as I expected based on the chapter headings and back cover copy. It often reads like a memoir packaged as a spiritual self-help book, with passages from the Bible sprinkled in. The tone frequently feels somewhat condescending, which is not helped by the awkwardly modern Message Bible translation that is preferred throughout. Myers’ usage of the Message feels strange and unnatural, and while I appreciate that it helps some people better understand the Bible, I believe most people have the mental capacities to understand closer translations, which contain a more rich depth of language and meaning. Thus, it was somewhat strange to read the Message as the key translation for illuminating Myers’ ideas. Additionally, many of the Bible references are included only as endnotes, which, while not awful, was irksome to be flipping back and forth just to know where in the Bible a passage was being quoted from. Including in-text parentheticals would have been a much more practical method to cite the Bible.
Furthermore, I was greatly dismayed to find a lack of theologians being quoted and referenced throughout the work. C.S. Lewis and A.W. Tozer are about the only two of note, and even their appearances are embarrassingly scant for a book about increasing intimacy with God through answering some of the tough questions related to life and faith. When trying to tackle issues such as why bad things happen or whether it’s narrow-minded to think that Jesus Christ alone is the way to salvation, it is wise—perhaps even imperative—to learn from those Christian minds who have come before and already had much to say on these topics. Instead of researching these saints and drawing from their deep wells of thought—whether as resources of truth or perspectives to refute—Myers appears to almost completely ignore them. His only non-biblical sources are a handful of semi-relevant online articles and an abundance of personal anecdotes.
One question I had as I read was who the intended audience actually is. While Myers claims it is a book written for skeptics, new believers, and Christians who feel stuck in their faith, much of his writing felt alienating to those who are skeptical about Christianity. Many of his chapters also don’t clearly or completely answer the questions that functioned as chapter titles; the content itself is somewhat evasive.
Another issue I have with this book is Myers’ anecdotes. While it is important for pastors, especially those who are writing books, to admit their own sins and short-comings, I ultimately learned too much about Myers’ faults and the spotty areas in his past. There are some stories he told that I cringed at, and instead of adding to his credibility, I wondered how he ended up as a pastor, who he is to be writing a book on Christian living and growth, and why I should trust anything that he says. The book overall felt much too personal and rambling to be focused on helping Christians grow in their faith.
Rating:
Considering the condescending tone, confusion of audience, and cluttered presentation, I cannot rate this book any higher than one out of five stars. Myers quickly lost his credibility with his unnecessary and long-winded stories, evasion of the issues, and tendency to talk down to the readers.
Suggested Audience:
While marketed as a book for skeptics, seekers, and believers, this book is best for those who are relatively new to the faith and are hoping to learn a bit more about how to live out their beliefs and grow closer to God.
Christian Impact:
This book can be off-putting for someone who has not given their life to Christ and surrendered to God, but it may be able to offer some degree of guidance for new Christians who are seeking additional resources. Instead of drawing people into the beauty and mystery of God, it may instead repel people away from Christianity.
Overview:
Written by pastor Kevin Myers of 12Stone Church, Grown-Up Faith is a book that isn’t quite sure what it’s supposed to be. Described on its back cover as a “roadmap to a grown-up faith,” this book appears to be a guide to help Christians grow in their faith and better understand God and His calling within their life. However, the chapters are titled as if it was a book on apologetics, but the content itself is somewhere between the two, with plenty of memoir thrown in for good measure. Myers organizes the book based on a pyramid-shaped image used to illustrate the parallel natures of the Old and New Testaments, with the Gospel accounts of the life of Christ at the pinnacle. Each chapter title poses a question many people ask about Christianity, and most begin with an anecdote from Myers’ life to introduce the question and indicate a trajectory for the answer. At the conclusion of each chapter, Myers has a brief “Grown-Up Faith in Action” section to help readers digest the material of chapter by reflecting on how to apply it to the mind (biblical knowledge), heart (spiritual intimacy with God), and will (obedience). Afterward, he also provides a Scripture recommendation to read before continuing on to the next chapter.
Assessment:
As I read this book, I realized it was not as clear-cut or well-organized as I expected based on the chapter headings and back cover copy. It often reads like a memoir packaged as a spiritual self-help book, with passages from the Bible sprinkled in. The tone frequently feels somewhat condescending, which is not helped by the awkwardly modern Message Bible translation that is preferred throughout. Myers’ usage of the Message feels strange and unnatural, and while I appreciate that it helps some people better understand the Bible, I believe most people have the mental capacities to understand closer translations, which contain a more rich depth of language and meaning. Thus, it was somewhat strange to read the Message as the key translation for illuminating Myers’ ideas. Additionally, many of the Bible references are included only as endnotes, which, while not awful, was irksome to be flipping back and forth just to know where in the Bible a passage was being quoted from. Including in-text parentheticals would have been a much more practical method to cite the Bible.
Furthermore, I was greatly dismayed to find a lack of theologians being quoted and referenced throughout the work. C.S. Lewis and A.W. Tozer are about the only two of note, and even their appearances are embarrassingly scant for a book about increasing intimacy with God through answering some of the tough questions related to life and faith. When trying to tackle issues such as why bad things happen or whether it’s narrow-minded to think that Jesus Christ alone is the way to salvation, it is wise—perhaps even imperative—to learn from those Christian minds who have come before and already had much to say on these topics. Instead of researching these saints and drawing from their deep wells of thought—whether as resources of truth or perspectives to refute—Myers appears to almost completely ignore them. His only non-biblical sources are a handful of semi-relevant online articles and an abundance of personal anecdotes.
One question I had as I read was who the intended audience actually is. While Myers claims it is a book written for skeptics, new believers, and Christians who feel stuck in their faith, much of his writing felt alienating to those who are skeptical about Christianity. Many of his chapters also don’t clearly or completely answer the questions that functioned as chapter titles; the content itself is somewhat evasive.
Another issue I have with this book is Myers’ anecdotes. While it is important for pastors, especially those who are writing books, to admit their own sins and short-comings, I ultimately learned too much about Myers’ faults and the spotty areas in his past. There are some stories he told that I cringed at, and instead of adding to his credibility, I wondered how he ended up as a pastor, who he is to be writing a book on Christian living and growth, and why I should trust anything that he says. The book overall felt much too personal and rambling to be focused on helping Christians grow in their faith.
Rating:
Considering the condescending tone, confusion of audience, and cluttered presentation, I cannot rate this book any higher than one out of five stars. Myers quickly lost his credibility with his unnecessary and long-winded stories, evasion of the issues, and tendency to talk down to the readers.
Suggested Audience:
While marketed as a book for skeptics, seekers, and believers, this book is best for those who are relatively new to the faith and are hoping to learn a bit more about how to live out their beliefs and grow closer to God.
Christian Impact:
This book can be off-putting for someone who has not given their life to Christ and surrendered to God, but it may be able to offer some degree of guidance for new Christians who are seeking additional resources. Instead of drawing people into the beauty and mystery of God, it may instead repel people away from Christianity.
July 12, 2023
Definitely more of a book for new Christians but I loved how he explained everything it gave me a deeper understanding of the simple things in Christianity!
March 11, 2019
This a good inclusion to the library of books being released that are challenging the accepted norm within the modern church of living a life that looks a lot like life outside the church. Myers speaks with authority being a pastor of a thriving multi-site church and one who is able to present theology in a very relatable manner for the layman.
Myers has a conversational style using many great stories of his own life and others to paint a picture of what maturity in Christ looks like. He opens by sharing how God invites us into a "Bigger Life" and then proceeds to respond to 11 common questions that believers and non-believer alike may ask. Such questions as" "What Does it Mean to Be Forgiven?", "Who Needs the Church?", "Are Heaven and Hell Real?", "Can I Really Trust God?" and "Why Don't Christians Look Different?".
Each chapter ends with a challenge to "grow the mind up with biblical knowledge", "the heart requires spiritual intimacy", and "the will requires holy obedience." I liked this approach, however, I felt Myers suggestions for how to do this, particularly heart intimacy were relatively basic. In saying that for the new believer they are most likely very useful.
I particularly appreciated his sporting team analogy of all of being 'players' on the team, not spectators or sitting on the bench. We all have a role to play and we should set out each day to learn more, to engage more with the 'Kingdom team' and expect God to turn up to lead us.
Overall, this is a very good addition to the ever-expanding library of material on seeking "more of God" and returning to an early-church mindset and lifestyle of Acts. I'm sure many people will find this to be a very useful start especially in answering some of these important questions of the Christian life.
Myers has a conversational style using many great stories of his own life and others to paint a picture of what maturity in Christ looks like. He opens by sharing how God invites us into a "Bigger Life" and then proceeds to respond to 11 common questions that believers and non-believer alike may ask. Such questions as" "What Does it Mean to Be Forgiven?", "Who Needs the Church?", "Are Heaven and Hell Real?", "Can I Really Trust God?" and "Why Don't Christians Look Different?".
Each chapter ends with a challenge to "grow the mind up with biblical knowledge", "the heart requires spiritual intimacy", and "the will requires holy obedience." I liked this approach, however, I felt Myers suggestions for how to do this, particularly heart intimacy were relatively basic. In saying that for the new believer they are most likely very useful.
I particularly appreciated his sporting team analogy of all of being 'players' on the team, not spectators or sitting on the bench. We all have a role to play and we should set out each day to learn more, to engage more with the 'Kingdom team' and expect God to turn up to lead us.
Overall, this is a very good addition to the ever-expanding library of material on seeking "more of God" and returning to an early-church mindset and lifestyle of Acts. I'm sure many people will find this to be a very useful start especially in answering some of these important questions of the Christian life.
February 10, 2019
This is a good book for someone with questions about Christianity or a new Christian with little Bible knowledge. The title refers more to responsible rather than mature Christianity. Myers is a story teller and this would be a good book for people who like to learn new concepts in the framework of story. He also uses movies as examples so this book might appeal to readers familiar with contemporary culture.
Myers answers questions by taking readers through an overview of the Bible. He includes how the mind requires biblical knowledge, the heart requires spiritual intimacy, and the will requires holy obedience for each topic covered. He has questions at the end of each chapter and encourages journaling.
There is an opportunity for the reader to accept Jesus as Savior in the latter part of the book so this would be a good book to give to those asking questions about Christian faith. Myers' writing is very conversational in style and nonthreatening.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.
Myers answers questions by taking readers through an overview of the Bible. He includes how the mind requires biblical knowledge, the heart requires spiritual intimacy, and the will requires holy obedience for each topic covered. He has questions at the end of each chapter and encourages journaling.
There is an opportunity for the reader to accept Jesus as Savior in the latter part of the book so this would be a good book to give to those asking questions about Christian faith. Myers' writing is very conversational in style and nonthreatening.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.
July 30, 2019
This book answered a lot of questions I’ve always struggled with in terms of my faith. It didn’t answer all of them, but it did help me understand some of the more difficult concepts in the Bible and provides a great comparison of stories in the Old Testament vs. the New Testament. I think anyone struggling with their faith and their beliefs could benefit greatly from reading this.
July 9, 2019
Sometimes we focus on the details and miss how the pieces fit into the big picture. This book helps correct our world-view. (I just noticed I picked 'Audio CD' instead of 'Book,' which I read. My bad!)
August 5, 2023
This book really helped me to understand the big picture of faith in Christ and how to continually mature. I will always remember the main teachings from this book! Really helped to elevate my relation with Christ!
September 11, 2024
Whenever I talk faith with people who don’t know Christ yet, I reference this book. It is such a wonderful tool. It has helped me in many ways. It took me months to read because I didn’t want to consume it so fast. Love it ❤️
March 10, 2019
Such a great book for going deeper in your faith and gaining a better understanding of the Bible.
July 1, 2020
Well written and engaging. It gave much to think about
March 22, 2019
This was a super fabulous read! Grown-Up Faith: The Big Picture for a Bigger Life by Kevin Myers is one of those books that I feel like giving out to everyone. It talks about the basics of Christianity and the Bible, faith, and going deeper with God. All in all, I just feel like it's a great read for Christ-followers, and also those who are young in the faith, struggling, or unsure if they believe at all. So yes, I very much recommend this book!
Grown-Up Faith is engaging, clear, and informative. Overall, an easy read ... even though I took a little longer to finish it. I really enjoyed it. There were discussions that I'm already familiar with, and profound thoughts that deepened my understanding.
Kevin Myers talks about reading and understanding the Bible correctly. It is one big story that points to Jesus Christ! He quotes a few great Christian authors and speakers. He talks about some of the tough questions that people ask about God, and shares thought-provoking scenarios to help bring understanding. He discusses our real purpose as Christians. He shares poignant and humorous stories and snippets from his own life. It was all very interesting, and I left this book feeling more passionate about living for God! Knowing Him and doing all for His glory is what I'm made for.
If you are a Christian, this is a great book for you to read. If you are not a Christian, this is also a great book for you to read! I'm so glad I picked up Grown-Up Faith and am excited it's now part of my Christian Living book collection.
I received a complimentary copy of Grown-Up Faith through BookLookBloggers program. This review is my honest thoughts.
Grown-Up Faith is engaging, clear, and informative. Overall, an easy read ... even though I took a little longer to finish it. I really enjoyed it. There were discussions that I'm already familiar with, and profound thoughts that deepened my understanding.
Kevin Myers talks about reading and understanding the Bible correctly. It is one big story that points to Jesus Christ! He quotes a few great Christian authors and speakers. He talks about some of the tough questions that people ask about God, and shares thought-provoking scenarios to help bring understanding. He discusses our real purpose as Christians. He shares poignant and humorous stories and snippets from his own life. It was all very interesting, and I left this book feeling more passionate about living for God! Knowing Him and doing all for His glory is what I'm made for.
If you are a Christian, this is a great book for you to read. If you are not a Christian, this is also a great book for you to read! I'm so glad I picked up Grown-Up Faith and am excited it's now part of my Christian Living book collection.
I received a complimentary copy of Grown-Up Faith through BookLookBloggers program. This review is my honest thoughts.
March 15, 2019
This book, as the title suggests, is an analysis of what it means to have a mature faith. To Myers, having a grown-up faith is to operate from a Christian worldview in three areas: how we think (mind), what we desire (heart), and what we do (will). The more these areas converge around the truth of Scripture, the more grown up we will be in our faith. We all have thousands of questions in life but the author says they all can be boiled down to 10 big questions. How we answer those questions will determine our worldview. Myers attempts to show how the Bible answers these big questions in its bigger story which he lays out in a pyramid with 10 mirrored events from the two testaments (5 from the OT, 5 from the NT).
The books is a good introduction to Christian worldview thinking and is written in an easy conversational style. Myers uses personal stories, including his own, to illustrate the ideas in the book well. A pertinacious skeptic or seeker may not find the treatment particularly satisfying. But the average person will find it to be a good launching pad for serious conversations about faith and primer for deeper worldview thinking and reading, which I think is the intent. The Universe Next Door and The Transforming Vision would likely be good next steps in exploring these questions.
The only qualm I have with the book is the presentation of the author’s eschatology. He presents a completely futurist (perhaps dispensational) view of the book of Revelation, whereas I am more inclined to to a partial-preterist interpretation of the book. However, this has only a minor impact on the questions and the author’s bigger picture pyramid.
The books is a good introduction to Christian worldview thinking and is written in an easy conversational style. Myers uses personal stories, including his own, to illustrate the ideas in the book well. A pertinacious skeptic or seeker may not find the treatment particularly satisfying. But the average person will find it to be a good launching pad for serious conversations about faith and primer for deeper worldview thinking and reading, which I think is the intent. The Universe Next Door and The Transforming Vision would likely be good next steps in exploring these questions.
The only qualm I have with the book is the presentation of the author’s eschatology. He presents a completely futurist (perhaps dispensational) view of the book of Revelation, whereas I am more inclined to to a partial-preterist interpretation of the book. However, this has only a minor impact on the questions and the author’s bigger picture pyramid.
June 7, 2022
He’s my pastor lol. Anyways this book is really really good and it talks about serious situations that people of faith go through. It brought me back to my faith!
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February 9, 2019I had just finished reading The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy when I bought this book and read it. I wish I could have Kevin Myers and Douglas Adams meet in a room and just be a fly on the wall. The discussion would be interesting between those two. Opposing metaphysics, divergent faiths, wit and wisdom on display. It would be a laughable interchange I would hope.
Myers is a pastor and writes like one (along with his co-writer Charlie Wetzel.) This book is devoted to helping people develop three realms in their lives; Mind, emotion, and will. Here is a quote from the book repeated at the end of each chapter; "Remember, to grow up, the mind requires biblical knowledge, the heart requires spiritual intimacy, and the will requires holy obedience."
You learn a couple of things about Myers in this book. He rides a Harley, likes the NFL, and wants people to follow Jesus.
Myers is a pastor and writes like one (along with his co-writer Charlie Wetzel.) This book is devoted to helping people develop three realms in their lives; Mind, emotion, and will. Here is a quote from the book repeated at the end of each chapter; "Remember, to grow up, the mind requires biblical knowledge, the heart requires spiritual intimacy, and the will requires holy obedience."
You learn a couple of things about Myers in this book. He rides a Harley, likes the NFL, and wants people to follow Jesus.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews