Monthly Book Study
As each of us continues our journey of faith, we have a desire to seek additional resources and study material but can easily become overwhelmed by the wide world of Christian literature. With that in mind, the ministry staff has made it our goal to share meaningful resources with the congregation that we believe will deepen your faith in Jesus Christ.
Each month, Garrett, Justin, David, or Ivan will share a book that has enhanced our faith. We invite you to grow your faith, as we have ours.
It is our prayer that this “Monthly Book Study” will spark deeper conversation within your household and within our congregation, will create deeper internal thought, and will draw us nearer to the Lord.
The church will not be purchasing the book for members, but each entry has a link to make it convenient for purchase.
January 2025
Title: Life is Hard. God is Good. Let’s Dance.
Author: Brant Hansen
Recommender: Garrett
Purchase Link: Amazon
Garrett's Review:
Summary: This book aims to make you a more joyful Christian. It does this by acknowledging that there is plenty going on in the world that can cause anyone, regardless of faith background, to be anxious and depressed. But, through Christ, we have a joy that cannot be extinguished. We should be such a joy filled people, that we stand out from the crowd. This is mainly achieved by being comfortable with oneself, flaws and all, as well as trusting that Jesus meant what He said when He told His disciples "do not worry." Embracing this message helps you be less anxious, less stressed, less angry, and an all around more pleasant person when filled with God’s joy.
What I liked: First and foremost, I love that this is an incredibly entertaining and easy read, while also packing a powerful message. The author is hilarious, I found myself laughing out loud at least once a chapter. I love the emphasis he puts on not letting the circumstances of your life get you down, but instead, to trust that God has got your back, and therefore you have room to enjoy life. I also love his emphasis of bringing Heaven to Earth through our joy and service to others. Anyone can pick out the bad in a situation, but someone who is a true disciple of Christ, will always find the good. The author also seems to lead by example as he relays many stories that don’t always put him in a flattering light, but do see him choose joy rather than any alternatives. He seems like a fun guy, which unfortunately, is different than how most Christians are perceived.
What I didn’t like: This is not an incredibly theologically deep book. While the message is still great, I wouldn’t say he brings mind blowing new insights to scripture, but mostly leans on the knowledge of others. He is not a scholar, but then again, he is not trying to be. As with other books of this genre, it can sometimes delve a little bit into “self-help” rather than “spiritual help” however, those occasions are rare. And, while the stories are entertaining, there is not a lot that differentiates between chapters other than the anecdotes, meaning he mostly has the same message over and over again: Choose Joy.
Overall: 4/5 Stars
Difficulty: Easy
Time to read: Can be read in one sitting, 3-4 hours.
Author: Brant Hansen
Recommender: Garrett
Purchase Link: Amazon
Garrett's Review:
Summary: This book aims to make you a more joyful Christian. It does this by acknowledging that there is plenty going on in the world that can cause anyone, regardless of faith background, to be anxious and depressed. But, through Christ, we have a joy that cannot be extinguished. We should be such a joy filled people, that we stand out from the crowd. This is mainly achieved by being comfortable with oneself, flaws and all, as well as trusting that Jesus meant what He said when He told His disciples "do not worry." Embracing this message helps you be less anxious, less stressed, less angry, and an all around more pleasant person when filled with God’s joy.
What I liked: First and foremost, I love that this is an incredibly entertaining and easy read, while also packing a powerful message. The author is hilarious, I found myself laughing out loud at least once a chapter. I love the emphasis he puts on not letting the circumstances of your life get you down, but instead, to trust that God has got your back, and therefore you have room to enjoy life. I also love his emphasis of bringing Heaven to Earth through our joy and service to others. Anyone can pick out the bad in a situation, but someone who is a true disciple of Christ, will always find the good. The author also seems to lead by example as he relays many stories that don’t always put him in a flattering light, but do see him choose joy rather than any alternatives. He seems like a fun guy, which unfortunately, is different than how most Christians are perceived.
What I didn’t like: This is not an incredibly theologically deep book. While the message is still great, I wouldn’t say he brings mind blowing new insights to scripture, but mostly leans on the knowledge of others. He is not a scholar, but then again, he is not trying to be. As with other books of this genre, it can sometimes delve a little bit into “self-help” rather than “spiritual help” however, those occasions are rare. And, while the stories are entertaining, there is not a lot that differentiates between chapters other than the anecdotes, meaning he mostly has the same message over and over again: Choose Joy.
Overall: 4/5 Stars
Difficulty: Easy
Time to read: Can be read in one sitting, 3-4 hours.
