Keller's latest book written about the famous story found in Luke 15. I rate it only a 4 here because his sermon entitled "Prodigal Sons" covers most of what he talks about in the book. His perspective on this story is pretty fascinating, unique, and convicting especially for all the "elder brother" types who thought Jesus was mainly talking about the younger son. In the book however, Keller also adds the emphasis that through Jesus, God is displaying his prodigal grace towards us.

Key quote = "Jesus is showing us the God of Great Expenditure, who is nothing if not prodigal toward us, his children. God's reckless grace is our greatest hope, a life changing experience, and the subject of this book." ( )

http://www.wordandspirit.co.uk/blog/2... ( )

I have listen to and taught numerous times on Luke 15's so-called parable of the Prodigal Son. Keller opens this parable up in fresh, wise ways. He reveals the gospel through this parable. Christianity, contrary to many people's view and many churches' teachings, is not about being moral. It is about loving the God who lavishly loves his children. (Keller tells it better. Read the book.) ( )

Tim Keller has long been a favorite with us. Long before he published a book we liked the guy because of his sermons and lectures on tape (yeah… that’s a while back!) Several months back I blogged about his book The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism. That book was a New York Times Best Seller and deservedly so. I have gone back to it several times and reread portions of it for further mental and spiritual digestion.

Today Indigo Books had its wonderfully awesome 30% hardcover sale so when I saw this baby sitting on a rather picked over dedicated endcap I quickly swiped up his new book The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith and it has proven to be a tiny nugget of masterfully written truth-revealing literature. I only call it a tiny nugget because I was able to read it in less than two hours. But like its more robust “elder brother” (sorry, couldn’t help myself), The Reason for God, it is chock full of truth and beauty and graciously dispersed conviction for both the wayward and the self-assured alike and, despite its diminutive size, will likely draw its readers in for a second helping of the same stuff.

You simply must read it. I don’t care who you are. You really must. It’s small and easily digestible so there should be no arguments on the “it’s too long and involved” front and it has a great price-tag, especially over at Amazon right now. Tim Keller’s demeanor is humbly gracious and respectful, as usual.

Highly recommended. ( )

The short version of the review is:
This book may transform your life because it presents the only message in the world capable of bringing about such change - namely, the Bible's message of God's extravagant love for undeserving bad people.

I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO ANYONE...
Why?

In this book, Keller, in his classic simple yet intelligent way, offers a fresh presentation of the message of the Christian faith - not by devising a new message, but by going back to the Bible (mainly focusing on the parable known as "The Prodigal Son" - or as it should be put - "The Parable of the Two Lost Sons") and showing that its message is sadly quite different from the moralism many religious church-goers present. In this sense, the book challenges and shocks Christians as it reminds them of the wonder of the love God freely shows to bad people. In doing this, the book will also provide the sceptic with a clear presentation of the message the Bible presents of God's free offer of his extravagant yet undeserved love.

All readers - both Christians and sceptics alike - will be pointed to the true heart of the Christian faith in a way that does bring challenge, but also a thrilling sense of refreshment and hope. While it will involve everyone admitting to failure, it is then that it can take all readers to experience and enjoy the free love of God and to see what it cost Him in sending Jesus to pay with his life - buying us back - it's a love that is free for us yet was so costly for him. As mentioned above, this is the only message that can bring real change in someone's life - Keller also explains how and why this is the case is a most helpful way. ( )