In my experience, one of the areas Christians struggle with the most is knowing that God is sovereign in and over not only creation but all of our lives. Sure, we know that we’re supposed to “trust the Lord with all of our heart” (Proverbs 3:5) but what happens when life hits our theology? One of the reasons I enjoy the Puritans so much is they think rightly about issues related to daily Christian living. One example of this is their diagnosis that discipleship problems are doctrinal problems. Enter Big God How to approach Suffering, spread the Gospel, Make Decision and Pray in the light of a God who really is in the Driving Seat of the world, a handbook by Orland Saer that will help readers understand the point of prayer, difficulty and struggles in an easy to understand way.
Big God has seven chapters. The goal of these chapters is to help unshrink our view of God that affects our understanding of suffering, evangelism, and decision-making. Over the past few years since I found out my dad has dementia, I’ve been particularly challenged in the area of having a big (right) view of God. Knowing that my dad is a Christian is a comforting thought, as is the fact that God is near to the brokenhearted. It is also comforting to know that I can express my feelings (in a healthy way) to Him and cry when needed. My dad’s dementia has deepened my trust in the sovereign power of God. While I know my dad is a born again Christian, I also know that one day he will die. Knowing that he is going to heaven is a great comfort even as I know that one day he will die from this awful disease.
Difficult situations reveal where our faith in God is. Perhaps like you, I’ve gone through stretches in my Christian life where I wrestled with God over various issues, and lost like Jacob did. Whether you’re struggling with doubt or some major or small issues, we need to have a big (right) view of God. Understanding who God is and what He is like comes from His Word. Big God by Orlando Saer is a helpful discipleship tool that will help you understand how to make godly decisions, and face suffering head on by the grace of God.
I highly recommend Big God by Orlando Saer. As you read this book it may unsettle you. Read this book will help you to address functional gods in your life that often replace the place of God in our lives. Reading this book also will give you biblical insight into God’s revealed character that will help renew and refresh your walk with God. Whether you’re a new Christian or a long time Christian, I encourage you to read this book and discover how great the God of the Bible truly is.
Buy the book at Big God: How to approach suffering, spread the gospel, make decisions and pray in the light of a God who really is in the driving seat of the world
, WTS Books, or from Christian Focus.
Author: Orlando Saer
Publisher: Christian Focus (2014)
I received this book for free from Reformation Trust for this review. 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.”
Dave Jenkins is happily married to his wife, Sarah. He is a writer, editor, and speaker living in beautiful Southern Oregon. Dave is a lover of Christ, His people, the Church, and sound theology. He serves as the Executive Director of Servants of Grace Ministries, the Executive Editor of Theology for Life Magazine, the Host and Producer of Equipping You in Grace Podcast, and is a contributor to and producer of Contending for the Word. He is the author of The Word Explored: The Problem of Biblical Illiteracy and What To Do About It (House to House, 2021), The Word Matters: Defending Biblical Authority Against the Spirit of the Age (G3 Press, 2022), and Contentment: The Journey of a Lifetime (Theology for Life, 2024). You can find him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, or read his newsletter. Dave loves to spend time with his wife, going to movies, eating at a nice restaurant, or going out for a round of golf with a good friend. He is also a voracious reader, in particular of Reformed theology, and the Puritans. You will often find him when he’s not busy with ministry reading a pile of the latest books from a wide variety of Christian publishers. Dave received his M.A.R. and M.Div through Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.
