To the world, they were fanatics, heretics, narrow-minded fools...outsiders, worthy only of rejection and ridicule. But they didn't live to please the world; they lived to please Christ. With courage, conviction, and great commitment to the Lord, they were willing to stand up and stand out for Christ. Too often, however, their stories have been unknown or forgotten. Unfamiliar with the sacrifices they made for Christ and the ways God blessed their faith, we miss a great source of encouragement to our own faith. In these pages, meet fifteen leaders from history who followed Christ and changed the world. Their testimonies will stir your faith, strengthen your commitment, and renew your dedication to Christ.
Dr. Paul Chappell is the senior pastor of the Lancaster Baptist Church and president of West Coast Baptist College in Lancaster, California. His biblical vision has led the church to become one of the most dynamic independent Baptist churches in the nation. He has been married to his wife for over thirty-six years and is the father of four married children all serving in Christian ministry. His books can be found at http://www.strivingtogether.com.
A good read. Informative. Stirring. This would be great for personal or family devotions. Some of the chapters covered people that I knew well, others were new ground for me. The chapters are not overly long & do not touch every area of the characters life story, but they hit high points. The conclusions at the end of each chapter are very practical. Worth the read. Hopefully PC will do another 15 Outsiders sometime down the road.
Excellent read! A short biography of several different men in European history. I very much enjoyed it. It is well researched though brief. It obviously skips over many details of the lives of these men as it is quite short and broad in scope. It does accomplish its purpose of introducing "outsiders" and encouraging you to become one. Would be 5 star if it were just a touch longer or if it included people from outside of Europe. While European history is VERY important to church history, it would be nice to have a few lesser known people highlighted.
This is a book every Christian ought to read! It is so convicting to witness the life of these great Christians who were outsiders for Christ! I have so many favorite quotes from this book!
“Visit many good books, but live in the Bible.” ~C. H. Spurgeon
“... Lo, I am with you alway, even into the end of the world.’ On these words I staked everything, and they never failed. I was never left alone.” ~ David Livingstone.
“My memory is nearly gone, but I remember two things: that I am a great sinner and that Christ is a great Saviour.” ~John Newton
“Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God.” ~William Carey
“Faith does not operate in the realm of the possible.” ~George Muller
This is a powerful history of God's handiwork in our world through the lives of 15 men, many of whom I had never heard of. I am grateful God put this book in NY hands and to see the way his servants have worked to bring us his true gospel of grace and mercy. For we are dead in our transgressions but we find joy and hope in the true Jesus Christ who died for us andre made a path to righteousness.
I thoroughly enjoyed this quick synopsis of 15 leaders that influenced this world for Christ! I learned something new about each one. Because of this book, I have a strong desire to study these and other individuals that played a crucial role in preparing and preserving the way of Christianity. I want to learn about them and implement in my life what made them successful. Thank you, Dr. Chappell, for such an insightful, encouraging book.