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Truth On Fire: Gazing at God Until Your Heart Sings
What would it look like to genuinely love God will all our heart, soul, mind and strength? To have a faith marked by right thinking AND right feeling? To know God deeply AND worship him passionately? That's truth on fire.
Adam Ramsey invites us to engage both our minds and our hearts in our walk with God and to grow in a faith marked by biblical thinking and spiritual intensity.
Each chapter looks at an attribute of God and how it leads to joy-soaked moment-by-moment communion with God. Adam Ramsey sums it up like this:
"My hope in these following pages is to paint a biblical portrait of what God is actually like, so that we can gaze upon him together until our hearts can't help but sing [and we] behold him in such a way that our daily experience is transformed with a deepened awareness of who it is we pray to, who it is that is with us, and who it is that we are loved by."
Whether you're on fire for God and want to get to know him better or you have been walking with him for so long that it's all begun to feel a bit dry, this book is for you.
Adam Ramsey invites us to engage both our minds and our hearts in our walk with God and to grow in a faith marked by biblical thinking and spiritual intensity.
Each chapter looks at an attribute of God and how it leads to joy-soaked moment-by-moment communion with God. Adam Ramsey sums it up like this:
"My hope in these following pages is to paint a biblical portrait of what God is actually like, so that we can gaze upon him together until our hearts can't help but sing [and we] behold him in such a way that our daily experience is transformed with a deepened awareness of who it is we pray to, who it is that is with us, and who it is that we are loved by."
Whether you're on fire for God and want to get to know him better or you have been walking with him for so long that it's all begun to feel a bit dry, this book is for you.
176 pages, Paperback
Published September 1, 2021
79 people are currently reading
614 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews
October 3, 2022
Head and heart. Knowledge and experience. They can be such huge divides and when you start to probe them the whole thing can so easily die the death of a thousand qualifications. Of course both matter. But behind the struggle can be something profound and personal. I want to KNOW God. I want to KNOW about God. I want to really apply my mind to the formidable, deep things of the Scriptures. And I want to live those truths in the trials and triumphs and trenches and trivialities of my life.
“Truth On Fire” speaks into this struggle so beautifully because it’s not about the struggle, it’s about getting on with knowing and being. It’s a thorough book that isn’t technical. It’s theologically purposeful but not dense. It’s practical and pastoral but there are no short cuts - no little fence jumps to bypass doing the biblical work.
But I’m back on the head and heart thing, which Ramsey so cleverly unpicks without really drawing our attention to it. And he does that by taking specific attributes of God, chapter by chapter and explaining them, pondering them, hearing what others from history have said about them, then injecting them into our lives with that sort of inevitability that comes from encountering Almighty God.
God is Other - so let’s think about living in the wonder of that.
God is merciful - so let’s live thankful, merciful lives full of gentleness.
God is Never Late - so let’s be patient as he deals with us and patient in our dealings with others.
God is Happy - let’s experience and share and reflect that divine delight.
It’s in the doing of this book - I mean the flow from consideration to application - that the head and heart is not so much resolved as just experienced. It’s modelled, but not in laboratory conditions. Ramsey’s tone is way too invested in transformation and proclamation to leave us with tidy, hypothetical answers. It’s like he wants to get you on the bike so you can actually experience the physics of motion and balance.
He’s quite upfront. His aim is to see these truths of God’s nature and character burn in our lives, our minds, our churches, our communities. The book begins and ends with the author’s purpose - what he calls living theology.
As a practical book, it’s a really good theology book. As a book about God’s nature and character, it’s refreshingly practical. Ramsey writes with expectancy that we are going to be changed by what we are reading. He writes with a pastor’s desire to see God’s people encounter God’s living word and be conformed to the likeness of Jesus.
At about 150 pages, “Truth On Fire” is both direct and readable, one of those books where you know where the author’s heading and where you are in that. It would be a brilliant book to read and share in a book club or growth group or with someone one to one. (There are a few helpful questions at the end of each chapter.)
As the wonders of God in this book unfold and the implications start to sink in, the whole head and heart thing starts to blur and slip out of the frame. And we’re left with the doctrines of God, moving us, filling us, transforming us…like a meal that by the power of unseen wonder becomes part of our walking and breathing and the beating of our hearts. Living theology. Truth on fire.
And you know what?
I get the feeling that was Ramsey’s cunning plan right from the start.
“Truth On Fire” speaks into this struggle so beautifully because it’s not about the struggle, it’s about getting on with knowing and being. It’s a thorough book that isn’t technical. It’s theologically purposeful but not dense. It’s practical and pastoral but there are no short cuts - no little fence jumps to bypass doing the biblical work.
But I’m back on the head and heart thing, which Ramsey so cleverly unpicks without really drawing our attention to it. And he does that by taking specific attributes of God, chapter by chapter and explaining them, pondering them, hearing what others from history have said about them, then injecting them into our lives with that sort of inevitability that comes from encountering Almighty God.
God is Other - so let’s think about living in the wonder of that.
God is merciful - so let’s live thankful, merciful lives full of gentleness.
God is Never Late - so let’s be patient as he deals with us and patient in our dealings with others.
God is Happy - let’s experience and share and reflect that divine delight.
It’s in the doing of this book - I mean the flow from consideration to application - that the head and heart is not so much resolved as just experienced. It’s modelled, but not in laboratory conditions. Ramsey’s tone is way too invested in transformation and proclamation to leave us with tidy, hypothetical answers. It’s like he wants to get you on the bike so you can actually experience the physics of motion and balance.
He’s quite upfront. His aim is to see these truths of God’s nature and character burn in our lives, our minds, our churches, our communities. The book begins and ends with the author’s purpose - what he calls living theology.
As a practical book, it’s a really good theology book. As a book about God’s nature and character, it’s refreshingly practical. Ramsey writes with expectancy that we are going to be changed by what we are reading. He writes with a pastor’s desire to see God’s people encounter God’s living word and be conformed to the likeness of Jesus.
At about 150 pages, “Truth On Fire” is both direct and readable, one of those books where you know where the author’s heading and where you are in that. It would be a brilliant book to read and share in a book club or growth group or with someone one to one. (There are a few helpful questions at the end of each chapter.)
As the wonders of God in this book unfold and the implications start to sink in, the whole head and heart thing starts to blur and slip out of the frame. And we’re left with the doctrines of God, moving us, filling us, transforming us…like a meal that by the power of unseen wonder becomes part of our walking and breathing and the beating of our hearts. Living theology. Truth on fire.
And you know what?
I get the feeling that was Ramsey’s cunning plan right from the start.
October 11, 2021
I can't recommend this book enough. Easy, clear, warm, faithful, funny, refreshing. I read it during some annual leave as a holiday devotional. I've already been recommending this to others. For me, one of the easy measures of the value of a Christian book is how much it makes me want to pray as I put the book down. This one had me stopping frequently along the way to enjoy talking to God, and to praise him for who he is. I don't do that enough. If you don't do that enough, try reading this book.
Merged review:
I can't recommend this book enough. Easy, clear, warm, faithful, funny, refreshing. I read it during some annual leave as a holiday devotional. I've already been recommending this to others. For me, one of the easy measures of the value of a Christian book is how much it makes me want to pray as I put the book down. This one had me stopping frequently along the way to enjoy talking to God, and to praise him for who he is. I don't do that enough. If you don't do that enough, try reading this book.
Merged review:
I can't recommend this book enough. Easy, clear, warm, faithful, funny, refreshing. I read it during some annual leave as a holiday devotional. I've already been recommending this to others. For me, one of the easy measures of the value of a Christian book is how much it makes me want to pray as I put the book down. This one had me stopping frequently along the way to enjoy talking to God, and to praise him for who he is. I don't do that enough. If you don't do that enough, try reading this book.
November 22, 2022
Great book. Helped me to see that a supernatural, experiential, Spirit-led Christianity and a studying, intellectual, Bible-soaked Christianity need not be at odds with one another. In fact, they can’t be.
Really helpful and clear structure for each chapter too!
Really helpful and clear structure for each chapter too!
January 27, 2022
This is as close to perfect as a book gets.
Adam Ramsey offers us a beautiful vision of God with biblical clarity, Christological insight, great illustrations, practical applications, and heart warming thoughts. As with Jen Wilkins in her similar book, here we have a fresh approach to thinking through the doctrine of God. But instead of rehearsing the 'omni's' in a typically dry fashion, they look at things afresh, asking what we need to learn today.
Ramsey looks at classic issues such as sovereignty and omniscience, but applies them to assurance and honesty. Moreover, he goes off the well worn paths of earlier books and covers subjects like the justice of God and 'prophetic advocacy' and the Happiness of God and the experience of delight - two subjects we sorely need in todays church.
This is suitable for younger Christians, but also will encourage and warm older ones too.
Barvo Mr Ramsey!
Adam Ramsey offers us a beautiful vision of God with biblical clarity, Christological insight, great illustrations, practical applications, and heart warming thoughts. As with Jen Wilkins in her similar book, here we have a fresh approach to thinking through the doctrine of God. But instead of rehearsing the 'omni's' in a typically dry fashion, they look at things afresh, asking what we need to learn today.
Ramsey looks at classic issues such as sovereignty and omniscience, but applies them to assurance and honesty. Moreover, he goes off the well worn paths of earlier books and covers subjects like the justice of God and 'prophetic advocacy' and the Happiness of God and the experience of delight - two subjects we sorely need in todays church.
This is suitable for younger Christians, but also will encourage and warm older ones too.
Barvo Mr Ramsey!
April 15, 2023
A fantastic book that aims to engage with how academic and “feeling” Christianity can be married.
Can’t really stress how helpful this book is without spoiling it.
I love the quote and I feel it conveys the points made by Ramsay.
“Some Christians are serious about everything in their life, except their joy.”
Can’t really stress how helpful this book is without spoiling it.
I love the quote and I feel it conveys the points made by Ramsay.
“Some Christians are serious about everything in their life, except their joy.”
November 6, 2024
For me this book came just at the right time and helped me navigate one of the hardest moments of my life.
Being reminded who God is in the midst of the darkness and confusion in my heart was a guiding light. What comfort can a christian get when gazing at the character of God, at His attributes, and at the implications they entail in his own comparatively minuscule existence.
I'm grateful for this book.
Being reminded who God is in the midst of the darkness and confusion in my heart was a guiding light. What comfort can a christian get when gazing at the character of God, at His attributes, and at the implications they entail in his own comparatively minuscule existence.
I'm grateful for this book.
April 8, 2024
WOW what a good little book! Very good read and I loved how much he references other’s books (C.S., Elizabeth Elliot, Jen Wilkin, Etc.) and stories (Les Mis!) in further making his points.
here are some things I stopped to write down:
- our goal is to let the knowledge of God reshape our hearts and experience of God in our daily lives
- intelligent AND passionate faith: to think about our God more deeply to enjoy him more intensely, to let God’s truth set our hearts on fire
- impatience is pride !!!
- “if God is never late, then I can wait”
- there is more mercy in Christ than sin in us
- gentleness is the felt experience of mercy
- you will trust God to the degree you know you are loved by Him.
biblical hope: confident anticipation that is grounded in the character and promises of God. (A living hope!)
here are some things I stopped to write down:
- our goal is to let the knowledge of God reshape our hearts and experience of God in our daily lives
- intelligent AND passionate faith: to think about our God more deeply to enjoy him more intensely, to let God’s truth set our hearts on fire
- impatience is pride !!!
- “if God is never late, then I can wait”
- there is more mercy in Christ than sin in us
- gentleness is the felt experience of mercy
- you will trust God to the degree you know you are loved by Him.
biblical hope: confident anticipation that is grounded in the character and promises of God. (A living hope!)
September 14, 2021
Highly recommend this book! So good, so full of amazing and encouraging truths that helps us to see the importance of living theology, spirit-empowered biblical thinking. Thinking rightly and feeling deeply, we shouldn't choose between the two!
May 30, 2022
I genuinely enjoyed this book. A lot of traditionally southern, white churches focus more on the mind when it comes to their faith (learning the scripture, answering questions, etc.). On the other hand, a lot of minority-driven churches focus on the passionate side of their faith, singing fervently and making sure worship on Sunday is FUN. Adam Ramsey wants the world to know these are not mutually exclusive and should be longed for and worked for simultaneously. Ramsey uses this book to explain his vision of how this goal can come into reality, and in my humble opinion, he does a masterful job of doing so. Highly recommend to anyone trying to bring a new passion into their faith.
May 15, 2022
I really enjoyed reading this book!! In the Christian circles I’m around I think there is a big emphasis on intellectually knowing God and a bit of scepticism when it comes to the more emotional side of knowing Him. This book truly shows that these two things aren’t mutually exclusive. Faith that is rooted and grounded in knowledge of God from the bible is faith that should be leading your heart to sing for joy. I loved the way that this book was structured with a different attribute of God as each chapter and helpful questions to keep you chewing on what you have just read at the end of the chapter. Definitely would recommend reading.
March 26, 2023
So, SO good.
January 17, 2023
I agreed with about 99.8% of this book and may I say it is a stunning work truly inspired by the Spirit.
No matter how much you think you know God, no matter how long you have known Him, read this book and I can guarantee you will find new things and new ways to think about Him.
God is good and gentle and more powerful than we will ever know. Gaze at God.
No matter how much you think you know God, no matter how long you have known Him, read this book and I can guarantee you will find new things and new ways to think about Him.
God is good and gentle and more powerful than we will ever know. Gaze at God.
November 27, 2025
“Thinking rightly and feeling deeply. My goal in this book has been to help us do both; to paint a biblical picture of God that opens our hearts and song. To show him as he is, so that we can enjoy him as he desires us to.”- Adam Ramsey
Does an amazing job of marrying the tension of what we know about God impacting the way we see Him and live for Him! Does a great job of going through the attributes of God that’s not dense, which was so good and refreshing! Second book done with me D-group boiz, WE COOKED THROUGH THIS ONE!
Does an amazing job of marrying the tension of what we know about God impacting the way we see Him and live for Him! Does a great job of going through the attributes of God that’s not dense, which was so good and refreshing! Second book done with me D-group boiz, WE COOKED THROUGH THIS ONE!
August 5, 2023
"The most accurate measure of self-reliance is your prayer life". Ouch.
Truth on Fire takes 12 separate chapters to highlight how great a God we serve.
A book I will return to again and again.
Truth on Fire takes 12 separate chapters to highlight how great a God we serve.
A book I will return to again and again.
September 1, 2021
My heart is so, so grateful for this book. Adam summarised it best himself by saying: “to think about our God more deeply, in order to enjoy him more intensely. To let God’s truth set our hearts on fire.” This book helped mine do just that. This isn’t a once off read- I’ll find myself needing my heart to be re-postured toward the goodness of God again and again as I stumble my way through life, reaching for pages in this book to help me do just that. Seeped with scripture and rich with theological truths, and communicated brilliantly. “Imagine if an intelligent faith and a passionate faith were both realities in your discipleship to Jesus” he writes- don’t just imagine, come and see for yourself!
May 16, 2025
This may well be the most aptly named book I've ever read. From start to finish it truly did make my heart sing as Ramsey did nothing more than simply and beautifully declare who God is and the glorious things that means for us who are in Christ. I was comforted, convicted, and encouraged, and although I don't remember Ramsey quoting it I come away from this book with Nehemiah 8:10 ringing in my heart: "the joy of the Lord is your strength". I would definitely put this on the list of books that every Christian should read.
August 27, 2021
I'm sure we can all echo Ramsey when he says 'I want the truth that I believe to be on fire in my life'. You won't find a pretentious or watered down gospel among the pages of Truth on Fire. You can look forward to scripture's truths unmasked, where theology and emotion are tied together rightly. Prepare for your faith to feel rich and your heart to be warmed.
December 5, 2024
One of the absolute best books I’ve read in a long time! We do not have to choose between intellect and passion - we can and SHOULD have both when it comes to our relationship with Christ! He wants us to learn and grow in our knowledge of Him which in turn should stimulate and advance our passion, our worship, our wonder, and our delight in who He is!
March 1, 2022
After a couple of really hard years, Truth on Fire seemed to come out at just the right time. It took too long for me to finally read it but I’m glad I did.
Adam Ramsey sets out explaining how we are either “thinkers” (high value on biblical truth but avoiding over-emotional responses to it) or “feelers” (vibrant spiritual life, knowing the love of God, but with little biblical reference for those experiences) and that both types of people need a reformation and revival.
So true, and having finished the book I do indeed feel reformed in knowing more of the truth of God, and revived in loving to experience what effect those truths have on my daily life.
Adam gives biblical and experiential insight into the thinking and feeling we all need to do to live a flourishing life with the Spirit.
Be reformed and be revived!
Adam Ramsey sets out explaining how we are either “thinkers” (high value on biblical truth but avoiding over-emotional responses to it) or “feelers” (vibrant spiritual life, knowing the love of God, but with little biblical reference for those experiences) and that both types of people need a reformation and revival.
So true, and having finished the book I do indeed feel reformed in knowing more of the truth of God, and revived in loving to experience what effect those truths have on my daily life.
Adam gives biblical and experiential insight into the thinking and feeling we all need to do to live a flourishing life with the Spirit.
Be reformed and be revived!
December 22, 2022
The whole book was worth chapter 11. Excellent survey of theological concepts but in a way that also ties them back in to both how we should live in light of them and also in a way that prompts the heart to worship our wonderful God. Would recommend to anyone.
January 30, 2024
I really wanted to like this book, the introduction had me hooked and sold me on a book that the author just did not write.
It brushed over subjects brusquely that really needed more time spent with it but the big one was it never addressed the fascinating premise it laid out in the introduction.
I was going to give it one star but he did pay out tofu and that made me grin.
It brushed over subjects brusquely that really needed more time spent with it but the big one was it never addressed the fascinating premise it laid out in the introduction.
I was going to give it one star but he did pay out tofu and that made me grin.
April 13, 2025
It truly does make your heart sing as it claims- causing you to gaze upon God's attributes! What wonderful Gospel truths! Highly recommend to those who need to remember afresh the love of God (perhaps all of us?)!!
(There is one chapter that did not seem to fit, that seemed a bit forced.)
(There is one chapter that did not seem to fit, that seemed a bit forced.)
April 1, 2023
I loved this book and it did make my heart sing as I read and pondered it’s truths.
September 9, 2021
This book is the one that has warmed my heart the most in 2021. Full of good theology that makes your heart sing as the author focusses on different attributes of God and how it relates to life. Might sound dry and boring but this was anything but. Heartily recommended.
July 18, 2023
So thankful for this book. As the subtitle of the book says, it helped me to gaze at God until my heart sings. Theology is not boring, because God is not boring. Look to God, meditate on who God is and what He is like, and let your heart burn with happy, confident, transcendant joy.
March 19, 2025
Writing style: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Engagement:🌟🌟🌟🌟
Content: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Purpose:🌟🌟🌟🌟
Value:🌟🌟🌟🌟
Overall: 4.2/5
Engagement:🌟🌟🌟🌟
Content: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Purpose:🌟🌟🌟🌟
Value:🌟🌟🌟🌟
Overall: 4.2/5
September 11, 2021
In a rigorous roundup of quality quotes from Christian heroes, Biblical theology and personal experience Ramsey does a fine job in bringing to life the attributes of God in an illustrative and fresh way. A great book to nuture and enlarge the hearts of both the young and old in the faith.
June 18, 2023
This is a condensed book that explores God's attributes, brimming with biblical truth. It's delivered with immense passion and is rich in vivid imagery. It's a must-have for every Christian's library. I simply can't recommend it enough.
August 12, 2023
When I saw that the forward was written by one of my favorite pastors, I knew I had to read this. Such an encouraging book! I listened to the audiobook read by the author and enjoyed it so much I want to purchase a physical copy to have on hand. I’ll be revisiting this one again.
August 5, 2022
Thanks for the lend Josh 😊 A cracker - wonderful meditations on 12 attributes of God... Would've loved even more development of the intro & conclusion 🔥🔥🔥
Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews