Christians are free in Christ, yet Christianity can feel like a prison.
Unchained helps Christians who don’t feel that grace has changed their lives.
Often when people follow Jesus, they feel more guilty instead of more free. A powerful book for the spiritually restless, Unchained shows readers how to have a robust faith that celebrates their freedom in Christ without compromising their holiness as God’s followers.
Unchained turns to the person and work of Jesus Christ as the source of freedom-not just his work 2,000 years ago but also what he is doing today.
As readers dig into the meaning of the freedom that Jesus offers, they will understand, perhaps for the first time, what true freedom in Christ means.
GENRE: Nonfiction, Spiritual Growth
PUBLISHER: David C. Cook
RELEASE DATE: February 1, 2017
PAGES: 272
“The problem occurs when our man-made rules become more important than Jesus…”
Y’all. This is my fave non-fiction read of 2017 so far.
Heikkinen’s writing style is witty and engaging but full of profound truth. I mean, a book that starts out comparing freedom to bacon is one that everyone clearly needs to read.
He breaks down a tough concept in very easy-to-relate-to ways, and my copy is full of passages I’ve underlined and starred for quick recall. The truth presented here is so … well… freeing. And revolutionary (though it shouldn’t be).
Here are a couple of my favorite quotes that I’m still mulling over:
- When you add little rules to your faith (even good ones) and begin to call them essential to a mature Christian walk, you are unwittingly deserting Jesus!
- And where does this new law have its focus? Loving God and loving others.
Y’all. His discussion of the Law is the best I’ve ever read. Unchained is worth buying for chapter 3 on its own, but you could really say the same thing about all the other chapters too. From talking about why we don’t feel free to what we’re set free from – and what we’re set free for – this is a book that will change lives. The discussion questions make this a great resource for small groups or personal devotions.
In lieu of my typical “bottom line” section, instead I’m going to just leave this video here. Because a) it’s totally this-book-related and b) bacon. This is what freedom looks like, my friends 🙂
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.)
My Rating: 5 stars / Excellent!
See what others are saying: Litfuse
Noel Jesse Heikkinen is a pastor at Riverview Church, a multi-site church of over 3,000 near Lansing, Michigan. Heikkinen also helps lead the church planting ministry Acts 29 and is the chairman of the board for the mission agency Reliant. He and his wife, Grace, have four children.
Find out more about Noel Jesse at noeljesse.com.
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Carrie, thank you for sharing your thoughts. This one sounds like a great resource.
i consider it a must read for everyone!! 🙂