More Than a Carpenter by Josh McDowell & Sean McDowell
what is more than a carpenter about?
The story that could change your life …
Skeptic Josh McDowell thought Christians were out of their minds. He ridiculed and insulted them, then decided to combat them with his own thorough research to disprove the claims of Jesus Christ. To his surprise, he discovered that the evidence suggested exactly the opposite─that Jesus, instead of being simply a first-century Hebrew carpenter, truly was the God he claimed to be.
Since its original publication, More Than a Carpenter has sold over 15 million copies and changed countless lives. Now, in this revised and updated edition, Josh is joined by his son, Sean, as they tackle the questions that today’s generation continues to ask:
“Can I be spiritual without believing in God?”
“How can I make sure that my life counts for something?”
“Is it really possible to know anything for sure about God or Jesus?”
Read the story. Weigh the facts.
Experience his love.
And then watch what happens.
MY THOUGHTS
The synopsis provided on the back of this book does not do it justice. I almost didn’t read it because I’m not the biggest fan of true life stories. I prefer topical or apologetics type books when I read non-fiction. I picked up the book and read the title “More Than a Carpenter “. “Hmm,” I thought to myself, “I already know that Jesus was way more than a carpenter; I don’t need any more convincing.” I was sure I could find a more interesting topic to read about. The only question in the synopsis that piqued my interest was “Is it possible to know anything for sure about God or Jesus?”
Turns out, More Than a Carpenter was just what I was looking for! This book made me feel like I had taken my brain to an apologetic buffet. Each chapter gives you a bite sized chunk of information on a variety of different apologetics topics. It deals with lots of relevant topics that will often come up in your conversations with your unbelieving friends and family. It’s a quick, fun, informative and fast-paced read, which I believe both non-Christians and seasoned Christians alike can find enjoyable.
I didn’t feel that the three questions they listed at the bottom of the synopsis really gave me a good idea of what the book was about. So, let me share my own list with you.
Here is a list to give you a feel for the type of discussion topics you will come across in this book:
For such a small, thin book you won’t believe how jam-packed it is with relevant, interesting information. It felt like I had read many books on many different topics, all summarized into one small user-friendly book. It also has a conversational tone which makes reading the book a pleasurable experience. As a volunteer church librarian, I’d say it’s a must have for any church library :)