Book Review - Happiness According to Jesus

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Bobby Schuller has experienced enough loss and family struggle in his thirty-three years to understand that being blessed is not about glory, money, or fame. It’s about so much more.
Drawn from Jesus's Sermon on the Mount, Schuller explores ten contemporary truths about what it means to live a blessed life.

He asks:

·      If God loves me, why won't he answer my prayers?
·      Is it wrong to be materially blessed?
·      What does it mean to be "poor in spirit"?
·      How can I find fulfillment whatever the circumstances?

No matter how long we have been following him, Jesus wants to meld our hearts to his so we view life as he does. As Schuller writes, Jesus didn’t come to bring a new law. He came to make us a new creation.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Born in 1981, Bobby Schuller is a Christian pastor, writer, and televangelist. He is the grandson of Robert H. Schuller, founder of the Crystal Cathedral. Bobby now hosts the Hour of Power television program and is senior pastor of Shepherd’s Grove Church in Garden Grove, California, the congregation formerly known as the Crystal Cathedral. Schuller is also president of the St. Patrick Project, a social services outreach in Orange County.  

MY REVIEW:

I'll be honest, when this book came up for review, I researched the teachings of Bobby Schuller before I ever agreed to review this book. I am very careful about what I review because I know that people read my blog and see what I'm reading and I don't want to give the impression that I endorse something just because I read it. After much research, I decided that Bobby Schuller was getting away from the positive thinking teaching that his grandfather did and was teaching the Bible. I'm very glad that I read this book and the following will explain why.

The book is based on the Sermon on the Mount - the first, and in my opinion, the greatest teaching of Jesus during his ministry.  I was so encouraged and inspired by what the author wrote about this teaching. He doesn't sugar-coat anything yet he encourages us that following Jesus brings about a happiness and joy that can't be filled by anything else.

He brings the teachings into our day to day life and applies them right where we are. He emphasizes that money and power don't bring us the happiness we desire. In fact, as he shares, our society has more of everything and yet we Americans are more anxious and stressed than ever. We can't find the happiness we desire through anything but Jesus. 

I loved  how easy this book was to read and understand. He didn't write above our heads or bring in lofty theological teaching to impress. He writes from the heart, to our heart, and I learned so much through this book. I understand so much more about the Sermon on the Mount than I had ever learned before - therefore, I understand more about Jesus through this book.

If you're looking for something you're not finding in this world, I highly recommend this book. If you're already a Christian but you want to know Jesus more fully and live a happier life, I highly recommend this book. I was very impressed with the Biblical teaching of Bobby Schuller and am very glad that I read this book. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.

*This book was provided to me for my honest review by Worthy Publishing

Blessings - Julie