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Blessed Broken Given: How Your Story Becomes Sacred in the Hands of Jesus
An invitation to find beauty and meaning in the ordinary and imperfect aspects of your life; not as a call to settle for less, but rather as a way to mysteriously participate in God's power and purpose.
Glenn Packiam wants to empower readers to find great joy, purpose, and passion in their daily living. While bread may be one of the most common items on our dinner tables, Jesus chose to take it at the Last Supper and invest deep, wonderful, and transcendent meaning in it. Like the bread that was blessed, broken, and given; readers will see how God uses ordinary experiences to cultivate their mission and their brokenness to bring healing to the world. The ordinary is not the enemy; it is the means by which God accomplishes the miraculous. Through clear biblical teaching and practical steps, Packiam leads the reader into a more purposeful, directed, hopeful future.
Glenn Packiam wants to empower readers to find great joy, purpose, and passion in their daily living. While bread may be one of the most common items on our dinner tables, Jesus chose to take it at the Last Supper and invest deep, wonderful, and transcendent meaning in it. Like the bread that was blessed, broken, and given; readers will see how God uses ordinary experiences to cultivate their mission and their brokenness to bring healing to the world. The ordinary is not the enemy; it is the means by which God accomplishes the miraculous. Through clear biblical teaching and practical steps, Packiam leads the reader into a more purposeful, directed, hopeful future.
224 pages, Paperback
Published August 6, 2019
64 people are currently reading
291 people want to read
About the author
Glenn Packiam
35 books79 followersGlenn Packiam is a the lead pastor of new life DOWNTOWN, an extension of New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where he also serves on the Executive Team. Having earned a BA in Theological/Historical Studies and a Masters in Management, Glenn is now in the process of completing a Masters of Arts in Theology/Biblical Studies from Fuller Theological Seminary.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
February 4, 2020
I enjoyed the overall concepts that Packiam was portraying. It proposes a theological way for Christians to live in the world, which is grounding needed in the church today. Further, it is an example that reflects how Christ interacted in the world - as blessed, broken, and given.
That being said, I would have enjoyed a deeper dive into the rich theology of this concept. These chapters seemed more like a collection of sermons, rather than a new theological model for Christian life. More academic evidence of that concept would have been welcome and I think would have created a more impactful book. Overall, I loved the concept, I just would have loved to learn more!
That being said, I would have enjoyed a deeper dive into the rich theology of this concept. These chapters seemed more like a collection of sermons, rather than a new theological model for Christian life. More academic evidence of that concept would have been welcome and I think would have created a more impactful book. Overall, I loved the concept, I just would have loved to learn more!
August 29, 2025
I’ve been reading this one slowly. I love the way these words reminded me of God’s provision for us and how he makes us a provision for others. “Your life in the hands of Jesus can be broken in a new way. Your brokenness can open you up to the grace of God. And your brokenness can open you up to others. After all, bread that is not broken cannot be shared.”
August 13, 2019
I like these kinds of books. The kind of book that in one sense are devotional commentaries on life, but that also invite the reader into the personal narratives of the writer. The writer in this case being a pastor and a theologian. So first hand pastoral/church experience interwoven with first hand theological reflection are at the forefront of the whole book.
Through the lens of a most biblical imaginative piece of bread, Dr. Packiam explains the value of the Lukan expression, Jesus "took bread, blessed and broke it and gave it to them" through its keywords ‘blessed, broken, given’. Packiam allows the echoes of other notable thinkers and theologians in this call for more sacramentality in this secular age. Reaching all the way back to Augustine, to the more recent Charles Taylor, N.T. Wright, Alexander Schmemann, and James K.A. Smith, to name a few, Packiam offers no less than a couple of cultural relevant answers to existential challenges humans face.
If you love reading Max Lucado, Eugene Peterson, Jeff Lucas, and the likes, than this book will be a welcomed addition to your library.
Through the lens of a most biblical imaginative piece of bread, Dr. Packiam explains the value of the Lukan expression, Jesus "took bread, blessed and broke it and gave it to them" through its keywords ‘blessed, broken, given’. Packiam allows the echoes of other notable thinkers and theologians in this call for more sacramentality in this secular age. Reaching all the way back to Augustine, to the more recent Charles Taylor, N.T. Wright, Alexander Schmemann, and James K.A. Smith, to name a few, Packiam offers no less than a couple of cultural relevant answers to existential challenges humans face.
If you love reading Max Lucado, Eugene Peterson, Jeff Lucas, and the likes, than this book will be a welcomed addition to your library.
August 21, 2019
I think the thing I liked most about this book was the humanity Glenn brought to it. There is, of course the spiritual growth part of it because that’s the point of the book. However, Glenn made it personal by drawing from his own life. The whole point of the book is to gather around the table and break bread as the family of God. By bringing examples from his own personal life (what his family has done and how they have been helped by the church family really brought to life the points he was trying to make. Someone told me he was focusing too much on love. But isn’t that the point? Family is about love. If a family doesn’t love each other life can be difficult. Well worth the read!
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April 21, 2020Simple. Accessible. Profound.
Using the Lords Supper with Christ’s body as both the Bread and the Church, Packiam leads us to contemplate the idea that the church is Blessed, broken, and then given like the bread.
This book is full of great insights that I will return to often and lead others to ponder S they consider Christ and discipleship.
Using the Lords Supper with Christ’s body as both the Bread and the Church, Packiam leads us to contemplate the idea that the church is Blessed, broken, and then given like the bread.
This book is full of great insights that I will return to often and lead others to ponder S they consider Christ and discipleship.
October 16, 2020
Don’t miss this
Beautiful, personal, theological, and soaked in the life and gospel of Jesus. The author’s writing is engaging and warm and humble. You will not go unchanged from being at the Table.
Beautiful, personal, theological, and soaked in the life and gospel of Jesus. The author’s writing is engaging and warm and humble. You will not go unchanged from being at the Table.
September 3, 2019
Blessed Broken Given is divided into three movements. Each movement explores how being blessed, broken, and given is expressed in our personal lives and in communities of faith. I found the book to be encouraging, inspiring, and practical. Highly recommend!
Even though I received an advanced reader copy from WaterBrook and Multnomah, I purchased a copy for my own bookshelves. This is a book I will return to again and again!
Even though I received an advanced reader copy from WaterBrook and Multnomah, I purchased a copy for my own bookshelves. This is a book I will return to again and again!
May 9, 2020
this book was just terrible.
i bought it from a book shop in bangkok,thailand.
it is about bread.
it is about how the author grew up in malaysia.
in malay , the word for bread is roti.
it is about what truly means to be blessed.
it is about the relationship between god and bread.
there is mention of richard dawkins.
it is about the author of the book glenn packiam who has four children and a wife called holly.
it is about how he is a pastor at a church and goes to church.
the book is actually all about god,jesus and about Christianity.
i did not like this book one bit and it was not worth reading and it was also very short.
in the end i had to read the acknowledgements and the notes.
i bought it from a book shop in bangkok,thailand.
it is about bread.
it is about how the author grew up in malaysia.
in malay , the word for bread is roti.
it is about what truly means to be blessed.
it is about the relationship between god and bread.
there is mention of richard dawkins.
it is about the author of the book glenn packiam who has four children and a wife called holly.
it is about how he is a pastor at a church and goes to church.
the book is actually all about god,jesus and about Christianity.
i did not like this book one bit and it was not worth reading and it was also very short.
in the end i had to read the acknowledgements and the notes.
April 14, 2019
I was so excited to read this book. The beginning was so good but it quickly slid downhill. The concept of the correlation of bread and Jesus is a good one but Glenn Packiam quickly lost his way with his writing.
I hate it when devotional books try to “be relevant”. I don’t need a correlation between Harry Potter and the Bible; just present me with the truth and don’t water down the gospel! This book just goes from bad to worse. I cannot finish and I cannot recommend it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. The views given are my own.
I hate it when devotional books try to “be relevant”. I don’t need a correlation between Harry Potter and the Bible; just present me with the truth and don’t water down the gospel! This book just goes from bad to worse. I cannot finish and I cannot recommend it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. The views given are my own.
December 31, 2021
Honestly one of my favorite books I’ve read this year. A lot of wisdom and stories that make it engaging. This is one of those books i think will be one of my regular recommendations.
October 8, 2019
Summary: A book that attempts to tell the story of how Christ uses the common.
Blessed Broken Given has bread as the central metaphor of the book. Mostly that bread is directly referencing eucharistic bread. Occasionally it is more mundane, but because I have followed Glenn Packiam for years on twitter and read a couple other of his books, I know that even when he is directly referencing more mundane bread, he is still keeping the eucharistic bread in the frame. It is one of the tensions that I think Packiam’s ministry holds well. Glenn Packiam is the pastor of a local church that is part of a multi-site non-denominational mega-church. He is also an ordained Anglican clergy. He is high-church theologically in a low church setting. If I were local to him, I think I would want to be a member of his church. It is not distant from my theological position; I attend a multi-site non-denominational mega-church that I am not always in theological alignment with, primarily around wanting it to be more sacramental.
Blessed Broken Given is a book fo theological wisdom about what it means to be a Christian. It tells stories to teach as Packiam circles around his point from a couple of different directions. In a late chapter, where he starts talking about what it means to live in a Post-Christian society, one which no longer embraces Christianity as a central organizing metaphor, but one that also has not found a way to express itself outside of being no longer Christian, he has the following quote:
Part of what is advocating is walking away from the church as a player in the culture wars and a reclaiming of the church as a carer of the poor and powerless. A church that values the breaking of bread, not just as the eucharistic table, although that is central, but around the local tables in people’s homes. A church that is not just for ourselves in a type of ‘radical hospitality’ that refocuses the church, not on doing things, but being with people. We do things for and with people, not because we are the savior, or because we are earning salvation, but because we love them.
One of the orientations of the book that I appreciate is that Glenn Packiam frames his thoughts not as ‘look at this thing I have found,’ but ‘look at this thing that the historic church has traditionally done, let’s rediscover it together.’ That orientation, I think, is essential. As much as I appreciate NT Wright as an author and thinking and church leader, I think one of the big mistakes in his orientation is that he does not root his work in historical theology. That makes sense because he is a biblical theologian, not a historical theologian. But I think he would have a much easier time of making his points if he worked with a historical theologian that was able to help him root his theological work in church history instead of it being ‘new.’
I mostly listened to this on audiobook, moving back and forth occasionally between the kindle and audio. Glenn Packiam narrated his Blessed Broken Given, and this is an excellent example of why I like authors to narrate. These were his words, and you felt them. They were his emotion and wisdom, and that carried through.
There was not much here that has not been spoken by someone else. But uniqueness is not the focus of the Christian life, Christ is. The focus of the book is not newness but rediscovery. And the audience is not church leaders or academics, but average Christians that know there is something more and is seeking after it. William Berry, in his book Finding God in All Things, references Tolkien’s essay On Fairy Stories. He makes the point that stories are one of the ways that we can know the possibilities of the world; not only tragedy but joy, wonder, heroism, and inspiration. Berry weaves that through several chapters and ends the book with a reflection on how Frodo and Sam can help us imagine Christ and Easter.
Packiam is similarly not focused here on new theological exploration, as much as catching the imagination of the reader for where God is moving around us; for seeing God in the common (like Bread) and how that common can be used by God. Blessed Broken Given is a book of stories, not as simple illustrations, but a book of stories as methods of catching our imagination. And as such, this is a book worth reading, probably especially for groups that can talk together (preferably over food) about how God shapes the ordinary around them.
Blessed Broken Given has bread as the central metaphor of the book. Mostly that bread is directly referencing eucharistic bread. Occasionally it is more mundane, but because I have followed Glenn Packiam for years on twitter and read a couple other of his books, I know that even when he is directly referencing more mundane bread, he is still keeping the eucharistic bread in the frame. It is one of the tensions that I think Packiam’s ministry holds well. Glenn Packiam is the pastor of a local church that is part of a multi-site non-denominational mega-church. He is also an ordained Anglican clergy. He is high-church theologically in a low church setting. If I were local to him, I think I would want to be a member of his church. It is not distant from my theological position; I attend a multi-site non-denominational mega-church that I am not always in theological alignment with, primarily around wanting it to be more sacramental.
Blessed Broken Given is a book fo theological wisdom about what it means to be a Christian. It tells stories to teach as Packiam circles around his point from a couple of different directions. In a late chapter, where he starts talking about what it means to live in a Post-Christian society, one which no longer embraces Christianity as a central organizing metaphor, but one that also has not found a way to express itself outside of being no longer Christian, he has the following quote:
"This is the generation that wants justice but not any sense of righteousness. We hunger for community but have no taste for the Cross. We want the goods of the good news without the Christ of the gospel. We want the life of the kingdom without the claims of the King. Maybe this is a reaction born of deep disappointment."
Part of what is advocating is walking away from the church as a player in the culture wars and a reclaiming of the church as a carer of the poor and powerless. A church that values the breaking of bread, not just as the eucharistic table, although that is central, but around the local tables in people’s homes. A church that is not just for ourselves in a type of ‘radical hospitality’ that refocuses the church, not on doing things, but being with people. We do things for and with people, not because we are the savior, or because we are earning salvation, but because we love them.
One of the orientations of the book that I appreciate is that Glenn Packiam frames his thoughts not as ‘look at this thing I have found,’ but ‘look at this thing that the historic church has traditionally done, let’s rediscover it together.’ That orientation, I think, is essential. As much as I appreciate NT Wright as an author and thinking and church leader, I think one of the big mistakes in his orientation is that he does not root his work in historical theology. That makes sense because he is a biblical theologian, not a historical theologian. But I think he would have a much easier time of making his points if he worked with a historical theologian that was able to help him root his theological work in church history instead of it being ‘new.’
I mostly listened to this on audiobook, moving back and forth occasionally between the kindle and audio. Glenn Packiam narrated his Blessed Broken Given, and this is an excellent example of why I like authors to narrate. These were his words, and you felt them. They were his emotion and wisdom, and that carried through.
There was not much here that has not been spoken by someone else. But uniqueness is not the focus of the Christian life, Christ is. The focus of the book is not newness but rediscovery. And the audience is not church leaders or academics, but average Christians that know there is something more and is seeking after it. William Berry, in his book Finding God in All Things, references Tolkien’s essay On Fairy Stories. He makes the point that stories are one of the ways that we can know the possibilities of the world; not only tragedy but joy, wonder, heroism, and inspiration. Berry weaves that through several chapters and ends the book with a reflection on how Frodo and Sam can help us imagine Christ and Easter.
Packiam is similarly not focused here on new theological exploration, as much as catching the imagination of the reader for where God is moving around us; for seeing God in the common (like Bread) and how that common can be used by God. Blessed Broken Given is a book of stories, not as simple illustrations, but a book of stories as methods of catching our imagination. And as such, this is a book worth reading, probably especially for groups that can talk together (preferably over food) about how God shapes the ordinary around them.
August 12, 2019
I read this book with anticipation because Glenn Packiam is passionate about the topic, and I knew that his book would burst with that passion. I was not disappointed. Dr. Packiam writes clearly about how we can find our true identity in Christ and feed the hungry (both physically and spiritually) through the truth God reveals in Scripture. He uses personal anecdotes throughout the book, but doesn't seek to embarrass through any of the stories he uses, including those about his children (I really don't like when authors use embarrassing stories about their children to make a point). Instead, he is brutally honest about his own short-comings, seeking to show the reader how Christ is ever-present, even when we think we have everything under control on our own. I especially appreciated Dr. Packiam's comparison of Herod and Christ's feasts, used to illustrate the abundance that comes forth when we seek God's glory rather than our own. I recommend this book for pastors, church leaders, and anyone interested in finding their roots in Christ, reminding themselves they are broken vessels in need of Christ's fullness, and giving themselves to their neighbors and others in need of seeing God's grace and love in their own lives.
September 20, 2019
Three and a half years ago I moved to Colorado Springs. A couple weeks later I heard about a congregation meeting near where I was living, so I dropped in on a Sunday service. The church was New Life Downtown, and the senior pastor was (and still is) Glenn Packiam. I immediately knew this was to be my new church home.
All that to say this - I have been a part of the community that has lived the message of this book. These are not just inspiring words, though they certainly are that. This is a message that has been lived and 'life worn' before it was put into a book. This is the rhythm we live as a church each week, and this is the goal our of church community and our lives. To allow our Savior, Jesus, to take our everyday lives and make them part of his story. To be Blessed, Broken, and Given for a world that desperately needs the love of it's Savior.
I invite you to read this treasure of a book and to allow the love of our Savior to wash over you, through you, and to change your daily walk with our Savior.
All that to say this - I have been a part of the community that has lived the message of this book. These are not just inspiring words, though they certainly are that. This is a message that has been lived and 'life worn' before it was put into a book. This is the rhythm we live as a church each week, and this is the goal our of church community and our lives. To allow our Savior, Jesus, to take our everyday lives and make them part of his story. To be Blessed, Broken, and Given for a world that desperately needs the love of it's Savior.
I invite you to read this treasure of a book and to allow the love of our Savior to wash over you, through you, and to change your daily walk with our Savior.
April 6, 2020
I really liked this book. I enjoyed Packiam's cogent analysis of both Christ and His Church being blessed, broken, and given. The book was thoughtful and theologically sound. I have thought a lot about embodied spirituality lately and the ties to literal bread this book used were really helpful for my thinking.
Some of my favorite parts:
- The discussion of Hagar in Genesis 16
- ALL of Chapter 7 - Sin, community, confession, and repentance are so clearly discussed in this chapter and it's both beautiful and convicting. I love how in a section emphasizing the gravity of sin, God's steadfast love is also stressed and exalted.
"God is not just the God who demands a sacrifice, He is also the God who provides the sacrifice."
Some of my favorite parts:
- The discussion of Hagar in Genesis 16
- ALL of Chapter 7 - Sin, community, confession, and repentance are so clearly discussed in this chapter and it's both beautiful and convicting. I love how in a section emphasizing the gravity of sin, God's steadfast love is also stressed and exalted.
"God is not just the God who demands a sacrifice, He is also the God who provides the sacrifice."
September 11, 2019
This book came out at a critical time for my husband and I as we were walking through some raw emotions. B,B,G gave us new perspectives on things. The story and concept is simple but the importance of those things are critical. When you shift your thinking and see things the way God does, your identity, your calling, your brokenness, and your life’s purpose, everything changes. Packiam writes with great parallels and a copious amount of Scripture. I was worried it might be a bit heady since he has a PHD from Durham University, but it’s easy to read. I loved it and while I rarely reread books, this one I will. I can’t recommend it enough.
October 27, 2019
Thank you NetGalley and Multnomah press for early access to this book. I am never disappointed in the selections I have received from this publisher.
The author's writing style is approachable and relevant. I found the flow of the book a little disjointed, but it could be that I picked it up and put it down too many times. It is perhaps the type of book that should be read through and discussed in a small group, rather than one used for morning devotions.
The author cited some excellent sources and told meaningful anecdotes. I would enjoy hearing him preach on this topic and would definitely read more of his books.
The author's writing style is approachable and relevant. I found the flow of the book a little disjointed, but it could be that I picked it up and put it down too many times. It is perhaps the type of book that should be read through and discussed in a small group, rather than one used for morning devotions.
The author cited some excellent sources and told meaningful anecdotes. I would enjoy hearing him preach on this topic and would definitely read more of his books.
May 28, 2021
Packiam takes the simple progression of blessing, breaking, and giving of bread by Jesus in scripture and expands it into a philosophy of how we as individual believers and the church should live the Christian life. See and give thanks for our blessedness, acknowledge and share our brokenness, and give ourselves for the glory of God and the love of those around us.
Rich and refreshing read. Packiam has a personal yet profound style, creative yet grounded, challenging but gracious, humble but also the smartest guy in the room. You can tell he loves the philosophy he is teaching. A good reminder of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus.
Rich and refreshing read. Packiam has a personal yet profound style, creative yet grounded, challenging but gracious, humble but also the smartest guy in the room. You can tell he loves the philosophy he is teaching. A good reminder of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus.
July 24, 2019
Blessed, Broken, Given by Glenn Packiam was such a powerful book and led to much processing! I loved the way that Packiam compared our lives to that of bread; something so common all over the world in some form or fashion. He explained how something so commonplace (our life and bread) seems so mundane or ordinary, but through God, can be used for His glory. I took many notes on this book, and look forward to slowly processing what I learned from it!
December 21, 2019
This book is a great book looking at Sacramental Theology (embracing a life that views all of life designed by God and sacred). Glenn Packiam gives great ways to allow God to bless us, break us, and give us to the world around us. Highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to move out of a life that has a divide between "sacred" and "secular" life.
February 19, 2020
Packiam has delivered a deep, thought-provoking take on the symbolism, meaning, and application of the Lord’s supper, the bread of the presence, the broken body of Jesus himself. He asks us to consider the blessing of bread, of Christ, of ourselves to each other. He challenges us to look at our brokenness in complex and new ways, including the building of a stronger spirit and life. Finally, he reminds us that the love Christ gives to us is to then be given back to Him through the giving of that love to each other and the world. Now, when I participate in the sacred act of communion, it will be with focused thoughts and a thankful heart.
March 1, 2022
it begins with a meal
Gods first instructions are about what to eat… I have never noticed that. Life is found with God in the bread at the Table with others. How might we see God in every meal, Jesus in every bite, being filled with God the Spirit to the full?
Gods first instructions are about what to eat… I have never noticed that. Life is found with God in the bread at the Table with others. How might we see God in every meal, Jesus in every bite, being filled with God the Spirit to the full?
August 22, 2019
Fantastic!! Highly recommend.
September 23, 2019
Beautifully written book! Describes how God breaks us to use us than heals us and blessed us. A lot of highlights and bookmarks, will be rereading.
September 26, 2019
Blessed, Broken, Given is informative and inspiring to follow the Lord's lead in how we approach communion as well as life.
November 1, 2019
The author would like us to see the divine in the ordinary. May have to try again.
Read
January 29, 2020Lovely book.
April 10, 2020
This book lives up to its description. It is a simple-to-read and theologically-rich. It serves as an invitation to live an authentic Christian life.
May 19, 2023
Really enjoyed this. Beautiful and artful, theologically deep. Relationally rich.
April 7, 2025
For a book that perhaps wasn't intended to be so emotional, I found myself crying in every chapter. Thank you for this book. May God bless you and those who read it.
September 16, 2019
This book is powerful and beautifully written. The author has a wonderful gift of story and eloquence. I was moved many times while reading. His words on church hurt, lament, and being given out are some of the best I have read. If you are wondering how God could ever use the wreck that is your life, this is a healing balm. I loved it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews