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Love or Die: Christ's Wake-up Call to the Church
In his challenging exposition of Revelation 2: 2-6, Strauch examines this alarming rebuke of Jesus Christ to his church. Part I of the book reminds us that "an individual or a church can teach sound doctrine, be faithful to the gospel, be morally upright and hard-working, and yet be lacking love and therefore, be displeasing to Christ." Love can grow cold while outward religious performance appears acceptable--even praiseworthy. Part Two of Love or Die presents practical ways to cultivate love in the local church, including chapters that challenge us to Study Love, Pray for Love, Teach Love, Model Love, Guard Love and Practice Love. A five-lesson study guide is included, making this an exceptional tool for classes and small groups.
112 pages, Perfect Paperback
First published August 27, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
November 3, 2013
Alexander Strauch's Love Or Die, Christ's wake-up call to the Church is a must read for every disciple of Jesus Christ! Alex brings us back to the fundamental issues of the Christian life, love for God and for others, and provides biblical and historical narrative to support and explain his thesis.
The Study Guide (included) enables the book to be used in a small study class and I can imagine it being very effective.
Overall, I found this small book very informative, instructive, challenging and helpful. I think that it will be a book that I shall read and re-read often, if only to keep reminding myself (in the self-centred world in which we live) that those who follow God are to love God with every fibre of their being and others as themselves!
One personal anecdote really appealed to me, and I'll finish my review with it:
"Nearly forty-five years ago Herb and Alice Banks, along with other families, founded our present church. For years they have selflessly served the people of our church. Their labours are legendary. They have visited the sick in hospitals, prisoners in jail, seniors in nursing homes, and missionaries on the field. They have taught Bible studies and led our missions program. For thirty-eight years, Herb served as one of our pastor elders. In the past, nearly everyone in the church had been to their home to enjoy their gracious hospitality. Only now, due to ill health, has their service waned. To their way of thinking, however, Herb and Alice didn't do anything special. They simply did what the Lord commanded: 'Love one another as I have loved you' (John 13:34-35). They translated biblical convictions into action. Their love for the Lord and obedience to his Word motivated and sustained their loving service for people until they were well into their eighties."
Mu desire is to serve like Herb and Alice. And by God's grace I shall.
A 5-star read!
The Study Guide (included) enables the book to be used in a small study class and I can imagine it being very effective.
Overall, I found this small book very informative, instructive, challenging and helpful. I think that it will be a book that I shall read and re-read often, if only to keep reminding myself (in the self-centred world in which we live) that those who follow God are to love God with every fibre of their being and others as themselves!
One personal anecdote really appealed to me, and I'll finish my review with it:
"Nearly forty-five years ago Herb and Alice Banks, along with other families, founded our present church. For years they have selflessly served the people of our church. Their labours are legendary. They have visited the sick in hospitals, prisoners in jail, seniors in nursing homes, and missionaries on the field. They have taught Bible studies and led our missions program. For thirty-eight years, Herb served as one of our pastor elders. In the past, nearly everyone in the church had been to their home to enjoy their gracious hospitality. Only now, due to ill health, has their service waned. To their way of thinking, however, Herb and Alice didn't do anything special. They simply did what the Lord commanded: 'Love one another as I have loved you' (John 13:34-35). They translated biblical convictions into action. Their love for the Lord and obedience to his Word motivated and sustained their loving service for people until they were well into their eighties."
Mu desire is to serve like Herb and Alice. And by God's grace I shall.
A 5-star read!
September 7, 2026
“You may not be a gifted preacher or scholar, but you can have a significant impact on people as you live and model Christlike love. You can be a change agent who initiates the growth of love in your church.”
“Beware of the barrenness of a busy life.”
“We cannot do everything: there is not enough time. Like Mary, therefore, we shall have to choose and choose very deliberately. Life’s affairs will not automatically sort themselves into a true order of priorities. If we do not consciously insist on making ‘sitting at the Lord’s feet and listening to his word’ our number one necessity, a thousand and one other things and duties, all claiming to be prior necessities, will tyrannize our time and energies and rob us of the ‘good part’ in life.”
“So when you sense your love falling to sleep, take corrective action immediately. The longer you wait, the harder it will be to awaken the spirit of love. Turn to the Scriptures and let them revive your sleepy soul. Pray for a fresh awakening of gratitude for the free grace of God and for the costly sacrifice of Christ at Calvary’s cross. Pray earnestly that the Lord would fill you anew with the first fruit of the Spirit which is love. Repent of any sin that dulls your love for God or his people.”
“Beware of the barrenness of a busy life.”
“We cannot do everything: there is not enough time. Like Mary, therefore, we shall have to choose and choose very deliberately. Life’s affairs will not automatically sort themselves into a true order of priorities. If we do not consciously insist on making ‘sitting at the Lord’s feet and listening to his word’ our number one necessity, a thousand and one other things and duties, all claiming to be prior necessities, will tyrannize our time and energies and rob us of the ‘good part’ in life.”
“So when you sense your love falling to sleep, take corrective action immediately. The longer you wait, the harder it will be to awaken the spirit of love. Turn to the Scriptures and let them revive your sleepy soul. Pray for a fresh awakening of gratitude for the free grace of God and for the costly sacrifice of Christ at Calvary’s cross. Pray earnestly that the Lord would fill you anew with the first fruit of the Spirit which is love. Repent of any sin that dulls your love for God or his people.”
November 11, 2019
This was stuff I’d heard before, so I didn’t feel like it was earth shattering, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Frankly we believers tend to need reminding of the basics as much (or more) as we need new realizations.
September 2, 2026
Quick read and cuts right to it. A helpful reminder of the real consequences of love being left out of and forgotten in the Church. Good, practical exhortations for the Christian. Audiobook is less than 2 hours.
January 10, 2012
Strauch shows you that Christianity is all about love. Oh, how far we can stray from this.
April 26, 2018
Learning to Lead with Love
Strauch is one of my “long-distance mentors.” I seriously doubt that we’ll meet face-to-face, but because of all the inspirational books he’s written, he has positively and passionately influenced my ministry. This book takes one Bible verse—Revelation 2:4—and unpacks all the truths contained in it. Any Christian can benefit by reading this book. However, it is especially pertinent for church leaders. In today’s culture, a Christian leader’s motivation can become muddled. Ministry can become mediocre. But if you’re learning to lead with love, then Strauch’s book will offer incentive to continue to do so.
Strauch is one of my “long-distance mentors.” I seriously doubt that we’ll meet face-to-face, but because of all the inspirational books he’s written, he has positively and passionately influenced my ministry. This book takes one Bible verse—Revelation 2:4—and unpacks all the truths contained in it. Any Christian can benefit by reading this book. However, it is especially pertinent for church leaders. In today’s culture, a Christian leader’s motivation can become muddled. Ministry can become mediocre. But if you’re learning to lead with love, then Strauch’s book will offer incentive to continue to do so.
October 29, 2020
In this book the author gives a simple overview of how a church can “return to its first love”. The book expands briefly on the key verse in Revelation 2, and then gives some practical advice based on the ideas of teaching, studying, modeling, and practicing love, etc. It’s a pretty quick read, and it didn’t really hit me, but I probably was trying too hard to get through it in preparation for a sermon. There are a bunch of discussion/study questions in the back that I’d like to go through, but perhaps another time.
August 26, 2024
This book is a concise overview of the two greatest commandments, love for God and love for others and calls the church to repent of how we fall short in these areas. Very short and simple chapters that bleed with application!
People forget how deeply applicable Revelation is... the first three chapters are written to churches. The loss of love the Ephesian church experiences is so applicable. Let us read and apply to our own lives and churches!
People forget how deeply applicable Revelation is... the first three chapters are written to churches. The loss of love the Ephesian church experiences is so applicable. Let us read and apply to our own lives and churches!
February 16, 2019
A wonderful little book that packs quite a punch. I know this author but not as well as i wish I did. He was my pastor when I was going and he and the other elders modeled the essence of this book. If you read it to put it into practice you will be stretched in wonderful and scary ways. I hope you will read it.
December 19, 2025
This is short and direct. Beginning with Jesus’ letter to the church in Ephesus, found in Revelation 2, Strauch shows the danger of losing our love for God and others. He also gives practical guidance on how to regain those loves. The study guide in the back makes this an excellent book for individuals or groups.
December 10, 2019
Un livre à lire absolument. Cet auteur m’a beaucoup marqué par la simplicité et la profondeur de ses livres.
April 22, 2020
A concise, focused overview on the necessity for embodying love in the Christian life.
October 20, 2022
Solid, convicting stuff.
January 25, 2026
Love or Die
Concise, clear synopsis of the centrality of love to both individual believers and The Church. Quick and impactful read. Well worth the time.
Concise, clear synopsis of the centrality of love to both individual believers and The Church. Quick and impactful read. Well worth the time.
September 2, 2019
Very encouraging and convicting on greatest two commandments of the Lord Jesus.
April 11, 2014
With only 69 pages of actual "book", this is a quick read, which I always find helpful with broad topics such as love.
In Part 1, Strauch walks through Christ's letter to the Church in Ephesus and discusses what it looks like to lose our first Love (Christ) and why it's dangerous.
He then moves on to Part 2, where he tells how to cultivate love. He says to Study, Pray for, Teach, Model, Guard, and Practice love.
I wrongly assumed that in the chapter on practicing love, he would offer up more concrete examples of what loving others might look like, but he doesn't. This book is very basic and belief-oriented, which isn't bad, just not what I was expecting. Having said that, for fellow practical-minded individuals, I would highly recommend his book The Hospitality Commands: Building Loving Christian Community: Building Bridges to Friends and Neighbors. If you're going to read both, I would suggest reading Love or Die first to get into the right mindset, and then move on to The Hospitality Commands to flesh out the concepts.
There was a quote that I really liked from John Stott included on page 66: "A true love for people leads to labour for them; otherwise it degenerates into mere sentimentality."
In Part 1, Strauch walks through Christ's letter to the Church in Ephesus and discusses what it looks like to lose our first Love (Christ) and why it's dangerous.
He then moves on to Part 2, where he tells how to cultivate love. He says to Study, Pray for, Teach, Model, Guard, and Practice love.
I wrongly assumed that in the chapter on practicing love, he would offer up more concrete examples of what loving others might look like, but he doesn't. This book is very basic and belief-oriented, which isn't bad, just not what I was expecting. Having said that, for fellow practical-minded individuals, I would highly recommend his book The Hospitality Commands: Building Loving Christian Community: Building Bridges to Friends and Neighbors. If you're going to read both, I would suggest reading Love or Die first to get into the right mindset, and then move on to The Hospitality Commands to flesh out the concepts.
There was a quote that I really liked from John Stott included on page 66: "A true love for people leads to labour for them; otherwise it degenerates into mere sentimentality."
January 7, 2009
This book deals with two main tennants, that of The Problem of Lost love and how to cultivate love in our lives. In the first part he deals with Christs attention paid to the Ephesian church and their loss of their first love in the church, not him, but love for others. 1 Cor 13 and Rev 2:4 are used as the base for the explanation of these three chapters in the first part of the book. Each Chapter is short but to the point and filled with great verses and solid reminders of the main focus of the Christian is to love God first and then to love others. He points out that our failure to love shows our need for prayer and meditation upon this vital issue that God himself puts in the forefront of all spiritual growth.
The author lays out a short guide to cultivating in ourselves a love that will be more Christ like even though far from perfect. I hesitate to make my review longer than the book which weighs in at 69 pages So I will leave with the ideas he touches on in the final part: Why we should study love, pray for love, teach love, model love, guard love and practice love and its no surprise that this is the calling of every true believer and sets us a part from the non radical love of all other major religions. Though I wasn't blown away by this book it was a neccesary read, to re-focus my energies.
The author lays out a short guide to cultivating in ourselves a love that will be more Christ like even though far from perfect. I hesitate to make my review longer than the book which weighs in at 69 pages So I will leave with the ideas he touches on in the final part: Why we should study love, pray for love, teach love, model love, guard love and practice love and its no surprise that this is the calling of every true believer and sets us a part from the non radical love of all other major religions. Though I wasn't blown away by this book it was a neccesary read, to re-focus my energies.
January 21, 2011
This is an excellent book on the biblical mandate to love both God and our neighbor.
The book is divided into three sections:
1) The Problem of Lost Love
2) How to Cultivate Love
3) Study Guide (this is to use in a small group setting)
The author also provided two appendices. The first is a short annotated bibliography of books on love, and the second is a list of "fifty key [biblical] texts on love."
The book is divided into three sections:
1) The Problem of Lost Love
2) How to Cultivate Love
3) Study Guide (this is to use in a small group setting)
The author also provided two appendices. The first is a short annotated bibliography of books on love, and the second is a list of "fifty key [biblical] texts on love."
May 30, 2009
Strauch confronts churches losing their first love-CHRIST based on "You have abandoned the love you had at first" Rev 2:4.
He shows how to tell if you or your church is losing its first love and just as importantly how to gain it back. This book has been quite edifying and encouraging. I would strongly suggest it for all believers! It is only about 120 pages also.
He shows how to tell if you or your church is losing its first love and just as importantly how to gain it back. This book has been quite edifying and encouraging. I would strongly suggest it for all believers! It is only about 120 pages also.
April 24, 2009
Highly recommended.
May 26, 2009
a wake up call to the church to keep Jesus 1st command!
July 10, 2012
Makes a direct and important appeal for the priority of Love to followers of Jesus. A quick read and well worth it.
Want to Read
July 11, 2012Tim Challies recommendation that he spoke very highly of.
May 16, 2013
Fantastic reminder. Challenging.
December 1, 2014
Works through the Revelation warning to the Ephesians church to return to their first love. I appreciate Strauch's insights into love within the church body.
March 5, 2015
A very much needed call to the individual and the Church to wake up from lovelessness and live out the new commandment of Christ : to LOVE one another, as He as loved us.
June 6, 2016
Oh, for more books like this!
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews