LIVING FOR JESUS: A road map to the Christian life
By Alistair Chalmers
10 Publishing. 172 pages. £6.99
ISBN 978 1 837 280 520
With a pastor’s heart, Chalmers authors this book to help young people to keep on living for Jesus in the post-spiritual-high crash after a Christian camp.
Chalmers takes six Biblical characters; Esther, Job, David, Mary, Martha and Peter and faithfully expounds their examples of faith. Each character illuminates a different aspect of faith being tried and tested in their corresponding contexts and circumstances.
Each chapter pairs with a practical question, 12 in all, ranging from: “How do I know if I’m really a Christian?” to “How do I tell my friends about Jesus when I don’t have all the answers myself?” Chalmers then faithfully shows how these questions are answered through the paralleled Biblical example, but ultimately and more importantly, through Jesus.
Connecting each example to Jesus builds confidence in the Lord and not in the self; the steadfast remedy for fluctuating faith. The concluding chapter is “You”, where Chalmers focuses on the sufficiency of the cross and the empowering of the Holy Spirit through His Word for you. With questions for reflection and space for journaling at the end of each chapter, there is ample scope for further processing and discussion. Ideal for personal or shared interactions.
Whilst the target audience may be young people, the Biblical wisdom of this book is worthy of wider reach. I found this personally encouraging and can see how it may be a helpful discipleship tool when reading 1-2-1 with a young person either as a parent or youth leader. I commend this to anyone seeking to do the same.
