Outlive Your Life, by Max Lucado

I had never read a Max Lucado book, but I'm so glad that I started with Outlive Your Life. This book is a call to get off the couch, to care about someone beyond yourself, and change the world for the Lord. In the first chapter, Lucado hit me square between the eyes with the following paragraph:

A few years back, three questions rocked my world. They came from different people in the span of a month. Question 1: Had you been a German Christian during World War II, would you have taken a stand against Hitler? Question 2: Had you lived in the South during the civil rights conflict, would you have taken a stand against racism? Question 3: When your grandchildren discover you lived during a day in which 1.75 billion people were poor and 1 billion were hungry, how will they judge your response? (pages 6-7)

That last question really got to me - how many of us actually think about what our grandchildren will think of us? The book also centers on the 120 people who helped form the early church in the first 12 chapters of Acts, and helps us to realize that they changed the world for the Lord even though they were ordinary people. Like us. But they had the courage to follow God's call.

I really enjoyed this book, and have found myself pondering its points during my day-to-day life. I appreciate how Lucado has made the early Christians come alive, and be relatable to my life today. I was certainly encouraged by this book, and am so very thankful for it. In particular, I appreciated chapters 9, 10, and 11. Chapter 9 focuses on something that has always been a pet peeve of mine (not putting on a show in worship).

Also included at the back of the book is a lengthy discussion guide, covering each chapter in depth. I believe this will be a great book for small groups to discuss, but is also valuable for personal reflection.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”