God Loves Nobodies: Good News for Somebody Like Me

by Matthew Doebler

Do you feel like a nobody? It’s all too easy to get caught up in the world’s race for success, even if you know that Jesus is your source of hope and significance. Perhaps you’ve even seen people using Christianity to achieve worldly success. How did we as Christians get to this point?

Pastor Matthew Doebler addresses humanity’s constant pursuit of lasting recognition both inside and outside of the church. Using an engaging variety of biblical examples, true-life stories, and humorous pop culture references, Doebler explains how and why Jesus is the eternal solution to your desire to be somebody.

Genres: Christian

224 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 15, 2022

About the author

Matthew Doebler has been a parish pastor, a seminary professor, and a missionary for over 28 years. He's served in the United States, Hong Kong, East Asia, Thailand, and Australia and is passionate about mission, mentoring, and our Christ-centered identity. Matt and his wife, Christine, currently live in Brisbane, Australia. They have three grown-up children, a son-in-law, a daughter-in-law, and three grandchildren.

Reviews

[Liz Schroeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Somehow, this book is painful and healing at the same time. It will rip you apart and put you back together, whole, like a bone that has to be broken again in order to heal properly.

It is also hilarious! The author pulls from sci-fi books, 80s lyrics, and quirky pop culture references and then deftly dovetails into C.S. Lewis, Tolkien, and Martin Luther. Erudite one minute, accessibly blue collar the next. Engaging throughout.

I am currently listening to the audio book with my 12- and 14-year-old girls. They were drawn in from the first vividly-drawn word picture of a man named Dale, a story the author fleshes out over the course of the book and reveals to be one of God's dearly loved nobodies.

We gave away ten copies of this easy-to-read, yet spiritually challenging book as Christmas presents this year. As we approach confirmation and graduation season, it's time for us to stock up again!

[Mark Zondag · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't normally write reviews. Hence, please be patient with my review. However, I am very thankful that I read this book at a very important time in my life. So, I thought I should write something.

I really appreciated this book, especially the last part. The whole book is worthy of reading, but the last part (without spoiling the contents) really struck me and continues to stick with me. If nothing else, the book is worth reading for part 5.

The author does a wonderful job of bringing the reader back to their worth in Christ, which is the best place to be.

[Sarah Schoenfeld · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whether you are new to Christ, a lifelong Christian or someone searching for comfort, this book is a wonderful read! It is written with a beautiful complexity, but it is still an easy read. There are also thought-provoking concepts throughout the whole book that made me stop and think in a different way.

[Philip Meinel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty solid teaching. Helps identify some common strategies we use to make ourselves feel more valuable, and also helps evaluate why these strategies don't work. Explains why God likes us and what He's willing to do for us. Makes me feel special and at peace.

[Karen Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a nobody, but I'm God's somebody.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nobody wants to be a nobody; everyone wants to be someone. Think about Star Wars, Harry Potter, superheroes. We all want to be important, to be somebodies.
But what makes us important? Is it what we do? Or is it because we belong to God. I really like the flowchart (p.19)
I am a nobody. Who you are I am God's somebody.

I must become somebody. How you think My status and future are secure.

Seeking: I seek value What you do Serving: I serve faithfully in my vocations,
in acceptance and hard work and I serve the nobodies of the world.

The first part of the book talks about how people deal with being nobodies; strategies they adopt like performance, productivity, and acceptance.
Then Pastor Doebler brings up the greatest "nobody" of all: Jesus. He came for all, rose for all, and through him, nobodies become somebodies.

This book is written in a very conversational style, with lots of references to movies, books, and TV shows. Personal stories always make a doctrinal book come alive for me.

Highly recommended.