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No Greater Love: Experiencing the Heart of Jesus through the Gospel of John
God came in the flesh to show us what love looks like. To truly see the dynamics of this love, we must take a close look at Jesus's relationships while he was here on earth. How he loved then is how he loves now, and how he loves now is how we as believers are to love.
No Greater Love is a study of Jesus's interactions with people throughout the book of John, including Nicodemus, the woman at the well, and even the Pharisees. What did this love look like in action, especially with those who are hard to love? As it turns out, he didn't love people because they deserved it; he loved them because he is love.
With the great tragedies in our culture today there is a need for this "Jesus love" that's available to all believers. May this book help you better know his love for you--which, in the end, will lead you to becoming more like him.
No Greater Love is a study of Jesus's interactions with people throughout the book of John, including Nicodemus, the woman at the well, and even the Pharisees. What did this love look like in action, especially with those who are hard to love? As it turns out, he didn't love people because they deserved it; he loved them because he is love.
With the great tragedies in our culture today there is a need for this "Jesus love" that's available to all believers. May this book help you better know his love for you--which, in the end, will lead you to becoming more like him.
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 21, 2020
About the author
A.W. Tozer
665 books2,164 followersAiden Wilson Tozer was an American evangelical pastor, speaker, writer, and editor. After coming to Christ at the age of seventeen, Tozer found his way into the Christian & Missionary Alliance denomination where he served for over forty years. In 1950, he was appointed by the denomination's General Council to be the editor of "The Alliance Witness" (now "Alliance Life").
Born into poverty in western Pennsylvania in 1897, Tozer died in May 1963 a self-educated man who had taught himself what he missed in high school and college due to his home situation. Though he wrote many books, two of them, "The Pursuit of God" and "The Knowledge of the Holy" are widely considered to be classics.
A.W. Tozer and his wife, Ada Cecelia Pfautz, had seven children, six boys and one girl.
Born into poverty in western Pennsylvania in 1897, Tozer died in May 1963 a self-educated man who had taught himself what he missed in high school and college due to his home situation. Though he wrote many books, two of them, "The Pursuit of God" and "The Knowledge of the Holy" are widely considered to be classics.
A.W. Tozer and his wife, Ada Cecelia Pfautz, had seven children, six boys and one girl.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
January 3, 2021
I just can’t say how much I needed to read this book when I did. I’m not sure if it was actually as wonderful as I think, or if it was exactly what my soul needed at that point, but I loved it.
It’s not the normal tone of Tozer , but not insincere, either. It’s beautiful - a softer side of a great preacher at the end of his life.
The language, especially at the beginning, made me pause - it sounded too much like the overly self-centered Christian messages on Christian radio. But it was well-balanced overall and not untrue.
Loved it. ❤️❤️❤️❤️
It’s not the normal tone of Tozer , but not insincere, either. It’s beautiful - a softer side of a great preacher at the end of his life.
The language, especially at the beginning, made me pause - it sounded too much like the overly self-centered Christian messages on Christian radio. But it was well-balanced overall and not untrue.
Loved it. ❤️❤️❤️❤️
April 26, 2021
I absolutely loved this book. It shed a whole new light on gods love.
I highly recommend it!
I highly recommend it!
October 11, 2020
Basically a collection of his sermons, each one building somewhat on the last. Chapter 16 (and the other final chapters) made this book very worth while. I didn’t agree with everything, including a seeming dismissal of counseling for taking care of mental health... however reading it in context of the time it was written helped. I sincerely appreciate Tozer and it was a joy to get to sit under his teaching.
December 11, 2021
In this book, which is a collection of sermons he preached during his lifetime, Tozer had a few decent points to make, but his overall theology was garbage. His take on academia is just flat-out wrong, too. As a Calvinist, reading this was torturous.
December 27, 2021
The very short chapters in this book were perfect for me to listen to via audiobook just before sleeping. I liked having such positive messages of God's love filling my mind as I transitioned from waking to dream time.
Each chapter contains a very short prayer, then a Bible verse from the gospel of John, then AW Tozer's comments. Each chapter told about a different aspect of Christ's love. He made me think of aspects of Jesus' love that applied, related to each verse quoted, with chapter titles like Christ's Focused Love, Christ's Unconditional Love, Christ's Persistent Love, and Christ's Absolute Love.
I think these were all excerpts from his sermons, edited for the book. The 20 chapters were between 6 and 17 minutes - most of them quite short. Perfect for me, really. The last chapter, 21, was a prayer. The entire audiobook was only 4 hours, 14 minutes.
The only criticism I have was about Tozer's criticism of more modern worship music that might have sounded loud and upsetting to him. Musical tastes change over the years and I think he was unhappy with the changes, especially when they showed up in church!
Each chapter contains a very short prayer, then a Bible verse from the gospel of John, then AW Tozer's comments. Each chapter told about a different aspect of Christ's love. He made me think of aspects of Jesus' love that applied, related to each verse quoted, with chapter titles like Christ's Focused Love, Christ's Unconditional Love, Christ's Persistent Love, and Christ's Absolute Love.
I think these were all excerpts from his sermons, edited for the book. The 20 chapters were between 6 and 17 minutes - most of them quite short. Perfect for me, really. The last chapter, 21, was a prayer. The entire audiobook was only 4 hours, 14 minutes.
The only criticism I have was about Tozer's criticism of more modern worship music that might have sounded loud and upsetting to him. Musical tastes change over the years and I think he was unhappy with the changes, especially when they showed up in church!
April 2, 2026
Another excellent exhibition of God’s love for the believer. It’s interesting reading this next to a Spurgeon book covering the same topic. Despite obvious soteriological differences between the two, it’s beautiful to see that the commonality they land on is the incomprehensible love of God. This is what Christian disagreement should look like, all theology should point to God and His love, and the ultimate expression of that love being Christ.
As someone who would safely fall into deeper agreement soteriologically with Spurgeon, there are some things that make me curl my lip slightly in this book by Tozer. But listing those minor differences feels wrong because of the deep, and overwhelmingly biblically true points that Tozer makes in this book. Regardless of whom you would agree with more between Spurgeon or Tozer, this book is still definitely worth a read.
As someone who would safely fall into deeper agreement soteriologically with Spurgeon, there are some things that make me curl my lip slightly in this book by Tozer. But listing those minor differences feels wrong because of the deep, and overwhelmingly biblically true points that Tozer makes in this book. Regardless of whom you would agree with more between Spurgeon or Tozer, this book is still definitely worth a read.
October 23, 2021
A challenging and uplifting audiobook that contains a compilation of Tozer's sermons on John's Gospel. It is available on the Audible plus catalogue if you have an Audible subscription.
December 17, 2021
Really inspiring to read these words of wisdom.
November 18, 2022
I'm a sucker for books on the love of God, specifically the book of John, so obviously I loved this. Additionally, Tozer had such a simple, elegant way with words
March 5, 2021
New record for amount of underlining and tabbing of pages! Wow. Just incredible.
I appreciate how Tozer constantly criticized the church and made fools of power-hungry preachers, all with such graceful humility. And his use of defining and comparing religion vs relationship with Jesus was impeccable.
Tozer is giving CS Lewis a run for his money.
I appreciate how Tozer constantly criticized the church and made fools of power-hungry preachers, all with such graceful humility. And his use of defining and comparing religion vs relationship with Jesus was impeccable.
Tozer is giving CS Lewis a run for his money.
September 4, 2021
Audible.com 4 hours Narrated by Matthew McAuliffe (A)
Compiled and edited by James L. Snyder
Thi book contains twenty of Christian pastor and writer A.W. Tozer's (1897-1963) messages from John's gospel on the the love of Christ. This is not to be read as a book of literature, but as meditations to be carefully listened to and meditated upon. I have listened to most of these 2 or 3 times before proceding to the next. They are short but rich and powerful. The depth and vastness of the Son's love for me as an individual is profound and worthy of frequent re-visiting.
"We must take a a close look at Jesus's relationships while he was here on earth. How he loved then is how he loves now, and how he loves now is how we as believers are to love." "May this book help you better know his love for you--which, in the end, will lead you to becoming more like him." J.L.Snyder
Compiled and edited by James L. Snyder
Thi book contains twenty of Christian pastor and writer A.W. Tozer's (1897-1963) messages from John's gospel on the the love of Christ. This is not to be read as a book of literature, but as meditations to be carefully listened to and meditated upon. I have listened to most of these 2 or 3 times before proceding to the next. They are short but rich and powerful. The depth and vastness of the Son's love for me as an individual is profound and worthy of frequent re-visiting.
"We must take a a close look at Jesus's relationships while he was here on earth. How he loved then is how he loves now, and how he loves now is how we as believers are to love." "May this book help you better know his love for you--which, in the end, will lead you to becoming more like him." J.L.Snyder
November 20, 2020
Good writer, not very good theology.
God deserves to love us? No, Mr. Tozer, He does not. He can’t force us into His love? Toss out John 3, 6, 8, 10, 17–basically the whole testimony of scripture.
Man is bent naturally on sin. He will not choose the good unless God makes His will to choose the good. Then man makes a choice and it without a doubt goes to God. There is nothing in us that is deserving of God’s love.
Ezekiel 36, if you were around good sir, is where I would have pointed you. God gathers a people, takes their heart of stone, turns it into a real heart, then causes them to walk the line. Why does He do it? He says He doesn’t do it for them, but “For my namesake.”
God deserves to love us? No, Mr. Tozer, He does not. He can’t force us into His love? Toss out John 3, 6, 8, 10, 17–basically the whole testimony of scripture.
Man is bent naturally on sin. He will not choose the good unless God makes His will to choose the good. Then man makes a choice and it without a doubt goes to God. There is nothing in us that is deserving of God’s love.
Ezekiel 36, if you were around good sir, is where I would have pointed you. God gathers a people, takes their heart of stone, turns it into a real heart, then causes them to walk the line. Why does He do it? He says He doesn’t do it for them, but “For my namesake.”
August 31, 2023
I love this collection of thoughts from Tozer on the book of John and the love of God found within the pages.
It’s an easy to read book, with shorter chapters. After each one you’ll want some time to think.
I love his no-nonsense approach to scripture and his interpretation of it.
It’s an easy to read book, with shorter chapters. After each one you’ll want some time to think.
I love his no-nonsense approach to scripture and his interpretation of it.
October 16, 2024
Just finished A. W. Tozer’s “No Greater Love.” . . . To put it simply, Tozer was a treasure and a genius. There are so many gems in this book it’s impossible to pick 1-5 favorites. Chapter 12 is particularly poignant/convicting.
I wondered at his comment, “The flippant, the insincere, the superficial, and the shallow make religion a jukebox. Put a dime in, press a button, and get this jukebox religion.” Was the choice of a dime merely because that was the common price of a song on a jukebox in his day, or could this also be subtly alluding to the tithe? Even if Tozer didn’t mean it as such, I think it could be used in that manner.
I wondered at his comment, “The flippant, the insincere, the superficial, and the shallow make religion a jukebox. Put a dime in, press a button, and get this jukebox religion.” Was the choice of a dime merely because that was the common price of a song on a jukebox in his day, or could this also be subtly alluding to the tithe? Even if Tozer didn’t mean it as such, I think it could be used in that manner.
February 24, 2022
I treated this book as a daily devotional, reading one or two chapters a day. It's broken up by chapters into a bunch of mini-sermons on the different aspects of the love of God. As with all Tozer, it's not an easy read, but it's definitely full of wisdom worth having. This book strengthened my theology by helping me understand how God's love is applied in my life and in the world as a whole.
February 16, 2023
I appreciated the shorter length of each chapter, which allowed for time to reread and process the content! The book helped me gather different aspects of the love of God so we are fueled to go out and love others well. Even though this was written many, many years ago there’s a lot of overlap with issues the church still faces today!
September 10, 2024
Read this book like a devotional. I kept it at my workplace. Whenever I would feel overwhelmed, anxious, or stressed I would read a chapter out of this book to remind me of the love that Christ has for me. A.W. Tozer is amazing and this book provided me a lot of relief and comfort during this season I am in. Chapters are very easy to read and I would recommend this book to anyone.
March 6, 2022
I found this book to be poorly/never edited. Out of the 8 chapters I read, 2 were great. The others were riddled with poorly structured paragraphs that ended up repeating ideas in a stream of consciousness format. This book needs major adjustments before a reprint should occur.
January 30, 2023
Tozer is, in my opinion, one of the better writers that fall into my devotional/mystic category. His commentary on the Scriptures often inject freshness into my thinking, which I appreciate. However, when he writes of the "mystical" experience of Christianity (his terminology), like most writers who fall into this category, he makes assertions and claims that err in one of two ways. They may say more than the scriptures say, which is always open for debate, or they may be unbiblical. After almost 45 years of engaging in the preaching and teaching of the scriptures, I have much less tolerance for either. I recommend this volume be read with a very discerning mind.
February 9, 2023
Convicting. Riveting. Tozer holds nothing back in this book. Calling many pastors the modern day Pharisees with their new rules and plans of how to make new converts. Best book I’ve read this year so far.
April 6, 2021
Great small book, like a devotional to read through. Would be wonderful reading the book of John at the same time as these chapters.
July 14, 2022
Very good
September 28, 2022
Gain a better understanding of our FATHER‘s Unconditional Love and what HE asks of us… if you want your walk with GOD challenged and deepened… read this book
May 11, 2025
Yesssss!!! Tozer writes with such beauty, elegance, and conviction! I seriously can’t get enough of his work!!
September 9, 2024
Blessed writing from Tozer!
December 14, 2024
An absolute must-read. I believe this book was edited from Tozer's pulpit ministry, and transcribed from tapes onto the printed page. So much wisdom and beauty, yet a gut-wrenching plea for people everywhere to find faith in "who" (Christ) and not "what" (doctrine, the world), to turn from where they were going and have the compass always point toward Christ.
Of all the preachers I've heard or read, Tozer has always been the one who preached repentance more than any other. The man was aware of his shortcomings. Much like the sinful woman in Luke 7, he realized the immensity of his debt and could only fall down at the feet of Christ to worship.
Of all the preachers I've heard or read, Tozer has always been the one who preached repentance more than any other. The man was aware of his shortcomings. Much like the sinful woman in Luke 7, he realized the immensity of his debt and could only fall down at the feet of Christ to worship.
February 25, 2021
Parts were beautiful. Tended towards a more mystical tone which wasn't all bad. Overall, I felt that parts read more like opinion pieces than a serious discussion of Biblical content and its application. Maybe I'm just not a fan of Tozer?
January 12, 2021
Don’t agree with his whole theology but he made some valid observations that were helpful.
August 16, 2023
First sentence: Sometimes we can go too far and exaggerate, making statements by using a superlative. However, it is quite difficult to exaggerate the vital importance of the teaching of our Lord in the opening verses of John 3. It is wholly revolutionary. It is sharply classifying; it excludes and includes, it divides and distinguishes human beings from each other.
NO Greater Love is a collection of Tozer teachings [sermons, writings] on the gospel of John. It doesn't have a chapter for each chapter of the gospel. Though I believe there are a handful of Tozer books that cover the gospel of John and/or the writings of John. (I know I've read some on Revelation and John).
The main theme or main subject focus of this one is the love of God [as displayed/illustrated/shown] in the gospel of John. This isn't so much a commentary on the gospel of John as it is a commentary on society and the modern church. You might think this would make the book dated. After all, if you're in the know, you know that Tozer died in 1963. How could his thoughts on the direction of the church, the direction of society, the flaws of mankind still be relevant. Tozer is ancient, right???? WRONG. Tozer reads truth [from Scripture] into his analysis. And human nature--human SIN nature--doesn't change. Jesus Christ does not change. He's the same yesterday, today, and forever. So if and when Tozer is right on something--he's forever right.
I love Tozer's tell-it-like-it-is. He doesn't sugarcoat anything. He's honest. He's zealous. His zeal for the truth, his zeal for the Word of God, for Jesus is undeniable.
Did I agree with everything in this one? No. There were a few theological points where we do not see eye to eye. We just disagree, end of story. But I still love Tozer. I still really love Tozer. [He does have one chapter on free will and man's will in salvation.]
Quotes:
I believe in the brotherhood of man. I believe there is a universal brotherhood of the once born, and then I believe in a universal brotherhood of the twice born. Where our modern and liberal friends make their mistake is that they do not distinguish between the once born and the twice born. They make a universal brotherhood and say everybody is in. Jesus makes a universal brotherhood and says everybody is out except those who are born again.
My sin does not overwhelm the love of God. Rather, the love of God overwhelms my sin.
I cannot think my way into God's presence. It is the love of God that overwhelms me and opens up the gate into His presence. God's great delight is to overcome our depravity. As bad as we are, we are not too bad for God to deliver us from that depravity and bring us into the brightness of His delight.
There is one distinctive road to heaven, and that is the Lord Jesus Christ. And the train that gets me from here to heaven is the unconditional love that Christ has for me. Once I am on board that train, nothing else seems to matter.
I am going to heaven--not because I die. I am going to heaven because I have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ and I have allowed His love to flow into my heart and overwhelm me with desire and adoration for Him.
God loves me because He created me in HIs image, and that is the end of it. I do not bring anything except God's love for me.
NO Greater Love is a collection of Tozer teachings [sermons, writings] on the gospel of John. It doesn't have a chapter for each chapter of the gospel. Though I believe there are a handful of Tozer books that cover the gospel of John and/or the writings of John. (I know I've read some on Revelation and John).
The main theme or main subject focus of this one is the love of God [as displayed/illustrated/shown] in the gospel of John. This isn't so much a commentary on the gospel of John as it is a commentary on society and the modern church. You might think this would make the book dated. After all, if you're in the know, you know that Tozer died in 1963. How could his thoughts on the direction of the church, the direction of society, the flaws of mankind still be relevant. Tozer is ancient, right???? WRONG. Tozer reads truth [from Scripture] into his analysis. And human nature--human SIN nature--doesn't change. Jesus Christ does not change. He's the same yesterday, today, and forever. So if and when Tozer is right on something--he's forever right.
I love Tozer's tell-it-like-it-is. He doesn't sugarcoat anything. He's honest. He's zealous. His zeal for the truth, his zeal for the Word of God, for Jesus is undeniable.
Did I agree with everything in this one? No. There were a few theological points where we do not see eye to eye. We just disagree, end of story. But I still love Tozer. I still really love Tozer. [He does have one chapter on free will and man's will in salvation.]
Quotes:
I believe in the brotherhood of man. I believe there is a universal brotherhood of the once born, and then I believe in a universal brotherhood of the twice born. Where our modern and liberal friends make their mistake is that they do not distinguish between the once born and the twice born. They make a universal brotherhood and say everybody is in. Jesus makes a universal brotherhood and says everybody is out except those who are born again.
My sin does not overwhelm the love of God. Rather, the love of God overwhelms my sin.
I cannot think my way into God's presence. It is the love of God that overwhelms me and opens up the gate into His presence. God's great delight is to overcome our depravity. As bad as we are, we are not too bad for God to deliver us from that depravity and bring us into the brightness of His delight.
There is one distinctive road to heaven, and that is the Lord Jesus Christ. And the train that gets me from here to heaven is the unconditional love that Christ has for me. Once I am on board that train, nothing else seems to matter.
I am going to heaven--not because I die. I am going to heaven because I have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ and I have allowed His love to flow into my heart and overwhelm me with desire and adoration for Him.
God loves me because He created me in HIs image, and that is the end of it. I do not bring anything except God's love for me.
December 3, 2021
God came in the flesh to show us what love looks like. To truly see the dynamics of this love, we must take a close look at Jesus's relationships while he was here on earth. How he loved then is how he loves now, and how he loves now is how we as believers are to love.
No Greater Love is a study of Jesus's interactions with people throughout the book of John, including Nicodemus, the woman at the well, and even the Pharisees. What did this love look like in action, especially with those who are hard to love? As it turns out, he didn't love people because they deserved it; he loved them because he is love.
This book is essentially based off the sermon notes of A.W. Tozer. As such, it is not like reading or listening to a traditional book and is more a collection of thoughts. Each of the chapters focuses on an aspect of God's love in the way Tozer structured his analysis of the subject. The chapters are short and relatively focused. It is recommended that you only read one chapter and then meditate upon it. I chose to listen straight through and will likely go back and listen to one chapter at a time later.
Overall for me, there were soundbites and individual points Tozer makes which were incredibly insightful, still relevant today, and ones I can truly apply and think more on. Unfortunately, in my opinion, Tozer misses the mark terribly on the most important points of belief in Jesus Christ. He misses the mark on the nature of salvation multiple times and when he does it distracts from some of the very valid points he is establishing.
As for the method of reading this book -- I am sure it would be enjoyable to read in print. I did, however, really enjoy the narration and I would recommend for most people to listen to the audiobook. There is something about having these topics spoken out loud to prompt meditation and further thought.
Finally, as with many spirituality/philosophy books, I believe you should approach this book with a desire to be challenged. It should call into question our actions, make us wonder where we can improve, and set us forward on a path to be a better force in the world in which we live.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews