⏱️ Estimated Reading Time: 2 min read
Recent years have seen a resurgence of writing on the book of Jonah. The book of Jonah is well-known, but many people miss the connection between Jonah and Christ. Jonah faced a tough assignment one that would send him into the heart of one of the most violent civilizations of the ancient world. Jonah was sent by God on a mission to warn notorious terrorists of God’s anger with them. In his helpful book Jonah Navigating a God-Centered Life Pastor Colin S. Smith has written an outstanding and thoughtful commentary that will help Christians to not only understand Jonah but also the connection between Jonah and the person and work of Christ.
Many Christians today struggle with the idea that God is far from them, but Jonah reminds us that God is near to us and close to the broken-hearted. Pastor Smith writes in an engaging, easy-to-understand way that will help the new or seasoned Christian understand what he is teaching them.
The author defines God-centered living as being “driven by a passion for His Son Jesus Christ that shows itself in love, trust and obedience towards Him” (7). Jonah by Pastor Smith will help its readers to not only understand God-centered living but to apply the teaching of Jonah into their own lives. As I read this book, I was struck by not only how Pastor Smith excelled at exegesis but how the story of Jonah is so applicable to our personal lives. This book will humble, convict, challenge, comfort and change lives, and will help people see themselves as they are, running from God but always brought back by God’s intervention and grace. I recommend you get a copy of Jonah Navigating a God-Centered Life and learn how to be driven by a passion for Jesus Christ that shows itself in love, trust and obedience towards Him.
Title: Jonah: Navigating a God-Centered Life
Author: Colin S. Smith
Publisher: Christian Focus (2012)
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Christian Focus 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.”
Dave Jenkins is happily married to his wife, Sarah, and lives in beautiful Southern Oregon. He is a writer, editor, and speaker who loves Christ, His people, the Church, and sound theology.
Dave serves as the Executive Director of Servants of Grace Ministries and the Executive Editor of Theology for Life Magazine. He is the Host and Producer of the Equipping You in Grace Podcast and a contributor to and producer of Contending for the Word.
He is the author of The War of Worldviews: Truth, Lies, and the Battle for the Christian Mind (Theology for Life, 2026), Contentment: The Journey of a Lifetime (Theology for Life, 2024), The Word Matters: Defending Biblical Authority Against the Spirit of the Age and The Word Explored: The Problem of Biblical Illiteracy and What To Do About It (House to House, 2021).
You can connect with Dave on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, or subscribe to his newsletter.
When he is not engaged in ministry work, Dave enjoys spending time with his wife, going to movies, sharing a meal at a favorite restaurant, or playing a round of golf with friends. He is also a voracious reader, particularly of Reformed theology and the Puritans, and is often found working through a stack of new books from a wide range of Christian publishers.
Dave earned his M.A.R. and M.Div. from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.
