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Encouragement: Adrenaline for the Soul
In a crisis, the body's burst of adrenaline can boost the average person's physical abilities, so that a man is able to lift a car off a trapped bicyclist and a mother can fight off a polar bear threatening her son. Author Mark Chanski makes the case that encouragement is able to do emotionally and psychologically for the soul what adrenaline does for the body. While Christians are sometimes reluctant to offer encouragement, we must do so in order to love our neighbors as ourselves. Building on the foundation of the gospel as the ultimate encouragement from God, the author"€"using quotations, historical references, illustrations, and examples"€"sets forth the Christian's obligation to offer encouragement and then shows us how we can be encouraging in our families, our churches, and the world in general.
- GenresChristian Living
200 pages, Paperback
Published July 8, 2019
10 people are currently reading
43 people want to read
About the author
Mark Chanski
3 books2 followersMark Chanski has served as a full-time pastor since 1986 and currently pastors Harbor Reformed Baptist Church in Holland, Michigan. He teaches Hermeneutics at Reformed Baptist Seminary and has coordinated the Reformed Baptist Network since 2020. He is the author of Manly Dominion, Womanly Dominion, and Encouragement: Adrenaline for the Soul.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 4, 2024
A real life changing type of book. I think that it left me largely asking “Am I encouraging others?” and ultimately led me to ask “Why Not?” To sum it all up it left me desiring to encourage others more and seek myself less
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September 23, 2019Helpful
Any book on encouragement ought itself to encourage. My friend Mark does this with his typical warm, clear and illustrative style.
Any book on encouragement ought itself to encourage. My friend Mark does this with his typical warm, clear and illustrative style.
February 27, 2020
This book makes a convincing argument that the Christian's duty of offering encouragement to others is vital to properly loving our neighbor. I found this to be a very timely and much-needed treatment of the subject. I wish more Reformed Christians would read and head Chanksi's wisdom here.
A few things I liked about the book:
He's a very engaging writer. His ample use of illustrations make his argument jump off the page. Although in the first half of the book I was tempted to think he was over-stating his case, the second-half brought an excellent balance --so read it all the way through. He's very practical as well, and his section on encouragement in the family and toward children was extremely helpful. He writes about encouragement in a way that is convicting (for those who aren't good encouragers), but not in a way that leads to despair. He writes in a way that leaves you wanting to be a better encourager. If I may put it this way, his treatment of the subject is inspiring --which is the mark of a great book. I walked away with great joy and great resolution to improve in this manner.
A few areas of improvement:
I feel bad for offering criticisms of a book on encouragement (haha), but I do so with the intention of giving an honest review. Here I wish there was more law-gospel balance in the sense of diving deeper to give a proper theology of encouragement and how the gospel should fuel it. The author also talks a lot of the private means of grace and how they encourage us, but the public means of grace are conspicuously absent. For a book in the Reformed tradition, this was disappointing. I can think of nothing that both encourages and fuels our encouragement to others like the church and the public means of grace. This is ground zero for encouragement. Also, the book is a bit repetitive at times, and some of his illustrations overused.
But I found this book greatly encouraging. I will re-read it. I will give this one away in my congregation. I thank God that it was written and fell into my hands.
A few things I liked about the book:
He's a very engaging writer. His ample use of illustrations make his argument jump off the page. Although in the first half of the book I was tempted to think he was over-stating his case, the second-half brought an excellent balance --so read it all the way through. He's very practical as well, and his section on encouragement in the family and toward children was extremely helpful. He writes about encouragement in a way that is convicting (for those who aren't good encouragers), but not in a way that leads to despair. He writes in a way that leaves you wanting to be a better encourager. If I may put it this way, his treatment of the subject is inspiring --which is the mark of a great book. I walked away with great joy and great resolution to improve in this manner.
A few areas of improvement:
I feel bad for offering criticisms of a book on encouragement (haha), but I do so with the intention of giving an honest review. Here I wish there was more law-gospel balance in the sense of diving deeper to give a proper theology of encouragement and how the gospel should fuel it. The author also talks a lot of the private means of grace and how they encourage us, but the public means of grace are conspicuously absent. For a book in the Reformed tradition, this was disappointing. I can think of nothing that both encourages and fuels our encouragement to others like the church and the public means of grace. This is ground zero for encouragement. Also, the book is a bit repetitive at times, and some of his illustrations overused.
But I found this book greatly encouraging. I will re-read it. I will give this one away in my congregation. I thank God that it was written and fell into my hands.
April 13, 2024
An electric jolt of adrenalizing encouragement.
I met Mark Chanski, not knowing it was him. In the few minutes of conversation he embodied a high energy of enthusiasm and encouragement - a living, breathing incarnation of this book. After learning who he was I immediately went and ordered this book.
Just what the doctor ordered.
I met Mark Chanski, not knowing it was him. In the few minutes of conversation he embodied a high energy of enthusiasm and encouragement - a living, breathing incarnation of this book. After learning who he was I immediately went and ordered this book.
Just what the doctor ordered.
February 25, 2020
A woman lifting up a BMW to rescue her crushed father. A man hoisting a Camaro to free a trapped bicyclist. A mom tackling a polar bear to protect her son. All of us have heard stories like this, proving we are capable of seemingly superhuman feats when adrenaline surges throughout our body.
Mark Chanski believes that encouragement does spiritually what adrenaline does physiologically. Encouragement is the adrenaline of the soul, enabling Christians to do the unthinkable in their pursuit of Christ-likeness. To that end, he’s written a helpful guide to reintroduce Western Christians to the lost art of encouragement.
Encouragement: Adrenaline for the Soul is a helpful primer on the gift of encouragement. Chanski explains why it’s necessary, why we tend to avoid it, how we can apply it in our marriages, our parenting, our churches, and more.
Far from a fluffy self-help book promoting fuzzy forms of flattery, Chanski advocates a lifestyle of genuine encouragement that promises to transform your relationships for the glory of Christ and the good of His church. If, like me, you often find yourselves struggling to encourage, this book is for you.
Mark Chanski believes that encouragement does spiritually what adrenaline does physiologically. Encouragement is the adrenaline of the soul, enabling Christians to do the unthinkable in their pursuit of Christ-likeness. To that end, he’s written a helpful guide to reintroduce Western Christians to the lost art of encouragement.
Encouragement: Adrenaline for the Soul is a helpful primer on the gift of encouragement. Chanski explains why it’s necessary, why we tend to avoid it, how we can apply it in our marriages, our parenting, our churches, and more.
Far from a fluffy self-help book promoting fuzzy forms of flattery, Chanski advocates a lifestyle of genuine encouragement that promises to transform your relationships for the glory of Christ and the good of His church. If, like me, you often find yourselves struggling to encourage, this book is for you.
October 19, 2022
This short book provides powerful food for thought regarding the importance of encouragement. It challenges Christians to be more encouraging in their relationships and provides many practical examples of what that might look like.
I especially loved the way the author showed that God Himself is the ultimate Encourager, which can be seen in His word, the Gospel, Jesus' ministry, and the comforting presence of the Holy Spirit.
This book inspired me to be more purposeful in the ways I interact with others. I also appreciated the way the author used his own failures in this area and the discouragements of life as a contrast with the need for encouragement.
I especially loved the way the author showed that God Himself is the ultimate Encourager, which can be seen in His word, the Gospel, Jesus' ministry, and the comforting presence of the Holy Spirit.
This book inspired me to be more purposeful in the ways I interact with others. I also appreciated the way the author used his own failures in this area and the discouragements of life as a contrast with the need for encouragement.
August 6, 2023
I am very grateful for Mark's book. Too much of my speech is sarcasm and not enough encouragement. I don't want to look back on my life and realize I was more of a drain than life giving to those around me. This book cut me to the heart about how I use my tongue. I heartily recommend it.
October 20, 2019
Excellent book, thoroughly recommended.
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September 17, 2025This was an encouraging read which showed the power of encouragement.
May 1, 2019
Whether we’re willing to admit it or not, we all love to be praised and commended. But should we withhold words of encouragement to prevent others from being puffed up?
This book calls believers to replace the critical spirit with biblical words of affirmation in order to “spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:24). It urges the people of God to actively and joyfully live out the Scriptural command to “encourage one another and build each other up” (1 Thessalonians 5:11). At its core, this book is a challenge to imitate the grace and mercy that we ourselves have received from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews