This book will challenge you

4 STARS

REVIEW: Befriend: Create Belonging in an age of judgment, isolation, and fear by Scott Sauls

Author Scott Sauls in his new book Befriend reminds us that as Christians we are called to move toward the people we might be most tempted to avoid in life. You know, the people who are best equipped to challenge our perspectives, push our buttons, and require us to put on love. So in essence, this book was created to challenge you to move beyond your comfort zone in order to reach new people with Jesus’ love. But if you are someone who refuses to move beyond your comfort zone, then don’t pick up this book. It will be a waste of money and the message will be lost on you. But if you want to be challenged to be more Christ-like, this book will accommodate.

The book contains 20 short chapters on those people Sauls says you need to work to befriend, including:

• Prodigals and Pharisees
• Wrecked and the Restless
• Shamed and Ashamed
• Those Grieving and Dying
• The Other Race
• Strangers and Refugees

While I read this book alone, Saul’s recommends the best option of using this book is in community with others in order to have deep conversation surrounding each chapter. Having read this in solitary, I agree with Saul’s suggestion. The best way to use this book would be in a small discipleship group in order for you all to grow beyond your comfort zones together.

*Tyndale House Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for my honest review.