Joseph of Arimathea: The Extraordinary Calling of Ordinary People

by Ken Costa, Jentezen Franklin (Foreword)

Joseph of Arimathea tells the story of the man who took upon himself the task of burying Jesus after His crucifixion. Joseph, who is briefly discussed in all four gospel accounts, is a mere footnote in Scripture, but his actions speak volumes and give the working Christian an example of how to live for Christ in a world that opposes Him. Joseph of Arimathea reaches through the verses of Scripture to our own generation in a powerful, relevant, and compelling way. He teaches us that the ordinary matters. An ordinary person, living an ordinary life, can be an instrument in the hands of God to be used for His purposes. Looking closely at the life of this disciple, Joseph of Arimathea defines what it means to be a person of the small print and offers a paradigm-shifting perspective on how to be a disciple of Christ in a secular world. At a time when influence, followers, and clout are the order of the day, Joseph reminds us that small acts of faithfulness can lead to astounding influence and impact through justice, conscience, and power. Joseph of Arimathea validates the contemporary mindset of preparing to stand up for what is right, often in the face of, an increasingly hostile culture.

88 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 17, 2020

Reviews

[Martin Wickens]

This isn't a terrible book, it has some positive qualities.

My main complaint is that it makes much of very little. It makes too much of a single line about Joseph of Arimathea and then just runs with it.

Costa doesn't make bad points, but it feels very much like a message in search of a text.

I would have preferred it if the author had simply titled it "Lessons I Have Learned".

As I said, it's not a terrible book, but it's not the book I expected it to be. The title, "Joseph of Arimathea" gave the impression it would be a book about Joseph, but it was more a series of principles loosely drawn from the few sentences written about the heroic Joseph.

[Alanna McCurry]

Interesting book for those working in a secular environment

[Arlene Beilstein]

beautifully written account of an extraordinary man mentioned only on Good Friday...much to learn from his silent witness to Christ