Book Review: The Name Quest by John Avery
Book Review: The Name Quest by John Avery
Explore the names of God to Grow in Faith and Get to Know Him Better
This book is not a mere list of names and information about them that is dry, merely facts, or boring. Instead it is organized by character trait for each chapter and it is interesting.
Mr. Avery made this book interesting by seamlessly weaving personal (and sometimes humorous) story tidbits in between the scriptures, quotes, names, biblical background and etymological knowledge included. He also has a knack of gleaning moral life lessons about God from ordinary and extraordinary modern American life events.
I found the information to be very thorough when unpacking each particular quality of God’s character. Everything was thoroughly footnoted as well, with well over 1300 footnotes included.
At the end of chapter one the author mentions, “experiential knowledge” seemingly implying that is what is coming next in the book. I suppose it depends on what your definition is of “experiential”, but to me it is not something that can be guaranteed since we cannot make God show up or perform at our will. I did, however, find myself very much thinking about God as I read this book. And God does value that!
As a book reviewer I found it daunting to treat this book as a read-straight-through book, especially considering its length (379 pages). Instead I recommend to any readers that you treat this book more like a restaurant menu and pick and choose as needed based on whatever you need God to be for you or whatever you are curious about. Find whatever that is in the table of contents or the convenient index in the back.
One thing I would have liked to seen expanded upon was the treatment of the names of the Holy Spirit. Even though they were included and talked about and even though the number of names used exclusively to apply to Him compared to the total number of names or titles of God in the Bible is much smaller, considering the importance of the Holy Spirit in our lives and His co-equality in the trinity, I think there should have been more there.
Overall I enjoyed the book and thought it was thorough, well-written and interesting. I think it could help you get to know God better, too, depending on how you treat it. (Read it as I recommended and intentionally think about God while doing so expecting Him to show up.) Recommended to any Christian wanting to get to know God better through His names.
To purchase your own copy of this book go here:The Name Quest: Explore the Names of God to Grow in Faith and Get to Know Him Better (Morgan James Faith)
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author himself. 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 Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Join the conversation. Share your ideas or questions in the comment form below.
Other book reviews you may like:
Knowing God by Name by David Wilkerson
31 Days of Drawing Near to God by Ruth Meyers
To see the list and links of ALL my book reviews go here.
(c) 2014 Cheryl Cope
Cheryl Cope on Google+
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2014