Grace Bomb: The Surprising Impact of Loving Your Neighbors

by Patrick Linnell

Chances are you don’t need to read another book about Jesus before you start putting what you have already learned into practice. But taking Jesus seriously in everyday life is harder than it sounds in books. That’s where Grace Bomb comes in as a new tool in your toolbelt to practically obey Jesus – starting with loving our neighbors.  Yes, it is a book with biblical truth, inspiring stories, and some epic fails – but it is also a way to join a movement of obedience to Jesus – for the good of our souls, the flourishing of our neighbors, and the glory of God. Grab a copy – read it – live it.

224 pages, Paperback

Published May 1, 2021

Reviews

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was refreshing to read and I flew through it in a matter of a few days. Not only does the author provide simple and actionable ways to love our neighbors and extend God's love, but he shows incredible vulnerability and authenticity by sharing his own experiences of his faith journey. Furthermore, I really enjoyed his expositional commentary of several passages in the Bible. Grace Bomb is rooted in scripture and this was a joy to read. I plan to buy more copies as gifts for friends and loved ones.

[Kristy G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Patrick’s style is very relatable. I like how he tells us ways he struggled and failed. That’s real life. There are a lot of pop culture references from the 80’s to 00’s that were right in my wheelhouse. But if I were like 20 years older, I may not have understood them.

[Sherry Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pat Linnell, teaching pastor and now famous author, succeeds in not only writing with the same fresh and colorful way that he preaches, but also in challenging the reader to delve deeply into the meaning of the Gospel and the impact of the truth about Jesus on our lives. This is a “how to” book that requires a leap of faith to jump and swim in the deep end of the pool of Christ-follower theology. Pat’s exceptional story-telling always points to Jesus and His truths revealed in Scripture. Grace Bombs are so much more than random acts of kindness. “The warmth we give is the leading edge of the reality we know, that there is a greater Giver whose glory is the endgame of our kindness.” (P.90) I can chew on that sentence for the rest of my life…but there is an entire banquet of truth in this book!

[Dianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Random Acts of Kindness with an additional dimension. Written for followers of Christ, the extra element is -the source of kindness comes from God. And that we can free ourselves to 'love our neighbor' by allowing God, via His Holy Spirit to engage us with 'our neighbor' in the most common and mundane daily interactions we have. Simultaneously simple and revolutionary, I expected more of a hands on development of how to engage, what to do, but it's more of a "talking to" to Christians and do-gooders to trace to the source of that desire to do good. And to trace to the source the ultimate, eternal, perfect Giver- who He is and who He is to us and in us. The book is one that you write in and circle and underline and then go back, and go back and go back. So I was not overwhelmed with the reading, I am changed in a lot of little places.

[Shea Riniker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written with modern day language, honest and vulnerable examples, and with a lot of humor – it is an important message couched in an entertaining read. More importantly, it cuts to the heart in a stealthy kind of way. While you are laughing at a joke or a turn of phrase, the application/ lesson that Pat wants to bring to light - through an artful weave of the Biblical text and true-to-life stories – that application cuts to the heart. He inspires you to deeper steps of faith and trust in Jesus.

[David Burton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Patrick Linnell’s book, Grace Bomb: The Surprising Impact of Loving Your Neighbors, is an inspiring and action-oriented read that challenges readers to step out of their comfort zones and show unexpected kindness to others. The concept of a "Grace Bomb" is simple but powerful—it’s an intentional act of love and generosity, done without expecting anything in return. Linnell, a pastor and speaker, shares real-life stories, biblical insights, and practical steps for making grace-filled actions a regular part of our lives. While the book is uplifting and motivating, it has a few areas that could be improved.

Three Positive Takeaways from the Book

One of the best things about Grace Bomb is its emphasis on faith in action. Linnell reminds readers that being a Christian isn’t just about attending church or reading the Bible—it’s about showing love in real, tangible ways. He encourages readers to look for everyday opportunities to bless others, whether it’s paying for a stranger’s meal, writing a kind note, or helping a neighbor in need. This focus on doing rather than just believing makes the book practical and inspiring.

Another great insight from the book is that small acts of kindness can have a big impact. Linnell shares stories of people who received unexpected Grace Bombs and how those simple moments changed their lives. He shows that we don’t have to do something huge to make a difference—sometimes, a small gesture of kindness is exactly what someone needs. His message is clear: you never know what someone is going through, and a little bit of grace can go a long way.

A third takeaway is that stepping out in faith requires courage. Many of us hesitate to reach out to others because we’re afraid of rejection, awkwardness, or simply not knowing what to do. Linnell addresses these fears and encourages readers to trust that God will use their efforts, no matter how small. He writes about the joy that comes from putting love into action and how acts of grace often lead to deeper conversations and relationships. This reminder helps readers push past their hesitations and start living with more intentional kindness.

Two Negative Observations About the Book

While Grace Bomb is an inspiring read, one downside is that it sometimes feels repetitive. Linnell makes the same points in different ways throughout the book, which can make certain sections drag. Some readers may feel like they understand the concept early on and don’t need as much reinforcement. A more concise version of the book could have delivered the same message while keeping the reader more engaged.

Another issue is that some of the examples feel overly simplified. While the stories of Grace Bombs are encouraging, many of them focus on one-time acts of kindness rather than long-term relationship-building. While unexpected generosity is powerful, truly loving our neighbors often requires ongoing effort and deeper engagement. Some readers may wish the book included more guidance on how to turn Grace Bomb moments into lasting connections.

Final Thoughts

Overall, Grace Bomb is a motivating and uplifting book that encourages readers to take their faith beyond words and into action. Patrick Linnell’s message is simple but powerful: kindness, inspired by God’s love, can change lives. His focus on faith in action, the impact of small gestures, and overcoming fear makes this book a great read for anyone looking for practical ways to love their neighbors.

Though the book can feel repetitive at times and could go deeper into long-term relationship-building, its core message is valuable and easy to apply. If you’re looking for an inspiring, faith-based challenge to be more generous and intentional with your kindness, Grace Bomb is a book worth reading.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book because I am committed to finding ways to love my neighbours but often find it is actually harder to do than you imagined. This book is based around the of using Grace Bomb cards (provided in the back of the book and linked to a website where people can post stories of how they have been grace bombed or how they have grace bombed others). I really enjoyed the stories of the author and his family, and those of people posting on the website and there are plenty of those in the first half if the book. We sometimes don't always see the impact of our kindness and these stories helped me to see what good comes from good. The second half of the book, however, takes a dive into scripture and is very Bible-heavy. While I don't mind this, it wasn't as engaging as the first half and felt a little 'preachy' and very American. The message of the book is great but by solely focusing on living through Jesus, the author is alienating lots of people who believe in God in different ways.

[Kara Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pat Linnell was a pastor at the church I attend and he’s really great. This book is like listening to him talk, he is a very real person and he writes from his heart and from real experience. I only gave it four stars because I have heard a lot of the stories from hearing him preach but people new to it will hopefully find them as endearing as those of us at Bay Area community Church.

I love this book because he teaches a practical way to teach people about the love of Jesus by doing nice things for them unexpectedly. It showing people that those “random acts of kindness” are not random at all or at least not in the life of a Christian. He takes a practical tool to make it less scary and creepy to share Jesus with people, which I think is brilliant.

[Danny Lamonte · Rating 5 out of 5]

simple & and ignored

This book is so simple is makes me mad. Mad that I have obeyed God in the straight forward call to love and in doing so love others. Not in extraordinary ways but every day in small ways that make an eternal difference.

[Donald Wayne Wetzel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy read

Great read, great idea, great antidotes, lived it. 10 times out of 10 would recommend to a friend. Smart practical way to begin discipleship and spreading the good news to the gar ends of the earth.

[Tanya · Rating 3 out of 5]

It wasn't a bad book at all. I just didn't really learn anything I didn't already know. In this case, the author was preaching to the choir. I guess I was looking for more about the "how" as opposed to the "why".

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a really easy to read book that I finished in a day.
It was basically about putting a Christian spin on random acts of kindness.
There were some good biblical examples and some cute real life examples.
I feel like I was left hanging in the story about the authors Reno house... I wanted more details.
The book was ok but not particularly brilliant and I’m surprised that all of the reviewers so far have given it 5 stars...maybe they’re all friends of the author.