What am I as a Christian doing to live out my faith by ministering to the needs of others? That is the question asked by Richard Stearns in his book The Hole in Our Gospel. He lays a foundation for the responsibility we have as believers in Christ to “show our faith by our works” and then goes on to present the overwhelming needs – physical, emotional and financial – of people around the world. The book concludes with an evaluation of how the church as a whole and people as individuals can respond to this call.
The most enjoyable part of the book for me was when the author shared his personal testimony of salvation and the ways that God worked in his life to bring him to his current position. He does present a compelling case for the underprivileged around the world and it is convicting to realize the personal responsibility I have to share with others the things with which I have been blessed. While in some ways this book may appear to present a reinvention of the social gospel, it is always good to be challenged to use every opportunity to serve Christ by serving others and seeking to meet their needs.
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