Clutter-Free Christianity: What God Really Desires for You

Here's a two for one review...from me and my wife:I don't know where to start with my review of this book; however, I will say that I think it will be one of the most impactful books that I will read this year. Quite the statement and needing some qualification I am sure. What makes it so impacting? You might wonder; "Is it profound and revelatory?" No, there is nothing profound...at least to my thinking, but there is page after page of affirming teaching. Most exciting is the succinct and down-to-earth delivery of Dr. Jeffress. One can sense the wisdom and years of pastoral experience coming through the delivery of this message. And what a message it is! Clutter-Free Christianity does not do justice to what resides beneath the title and between the covers. This book is about life...real life, ABUNDANT LIFE; the kind of life that our Savior Jesus Christ came to this earth to give us. This book is about redemption, reconciliation, and restoration. This book is about the invitation, acceptance, and participation of new life transformed into the image of the first-born of many brothers. It is about imago-dei and the call to "be thou transformed."The subject and the context of the book are enough for me to do cartwheels of excitement over, but there are other technical merits that I'd like mention too. For starters, the book is an easy read. This doesn't mean that it is elementary is sharing deep spiritual truths. It means that deep spiritual truths are shared in such a way that every person, regardless of education or Biblical training, will glean benefit...perhaps that is part of the "clutter-free" meaning behind the title. The book is not weighted down with heavy terms, definitions, and doctrinal treatise. This makes it an easy read. Second, Dr. Jeffress uses down-to-earth examples and illustrations that help the reader connect to the simple but deep truths that are being expounded upon chapter after chapter. Finally, I loved the inductive style of writing and the logical flow of the premise and thesis that carried the book from beginning to conclusion. I am sure that it will be helpful to me in my own efforts of teaching, writing, counseling, and preaching.I cannot recommend this book highly enough. I will be ordering several more copies to put in rotation in my lending library. It will have a place of prominence on my list of "must read" books. Thank you, Dr. Jeffress, for a great read and a compilation of wonderful teaching and thank you WaterBrook Press for introducing me to this book.I have included the review of my best friend and wife, Laurie Borden, below:Review by Laurie BordenExcept for the title, I loved this book! I would like to see something in the title about transformation or life change or freedom because that is the wonderful truth that this book presents. The premise of the book is that God intends for us to be conformed to the image of His Son, which I believe, but the illustrations and practical suggestions were the part I loved because they are easy to understand, to apply, to remember, and to share with others. I see many Christians who would like to experience the life change that God offers, but they don't know if it is possible or how to make it happen. Even though I know that it is possible, I have found that it is not an easy concept to explain to others. In this book, the author has given me words, illustrations, and tools to assist me in my attempts to share this vital truth with others. Mr. Jeffress begins the book by stating that it is indeed possible, but only if we have a transformed heart. He then spends the remainder of the book sharing practical insight into areas of our heart that keep us bound in failure and discouragement as well as helpful suggestions for surrendering and allowing God to change those areas.As I was reading this book, I recalled a book by Chip Ingram, "Holy Transformation", which contains much of the same information. I would highly recommend both books. I hope to utilize "Clutter-Free Christianity" in a Sunday School class this year, as the book contains questions for self-evaluation as well as suggested group discussion questions. I have already shared a selection during a worship service as a challenge to our congregation. Since then, I have quoted the book in several conversations, and I used one of the suggested exercises in a small group setting.If you struggle with worry, discontentment, bitterness, destructive habits, stress, or fear that you are not pleasing God, I encourage you to get a copy of this book. It contains truths from God's Word presented in a way that can transform your life today.

I really enjoyed the practical, straightforwardness of this book. It was a little simplistic in some parts but the book overall is a good read. It could prove useful for a believer needing to learn some basic components to a healthy, transforming Christian life.

excellent

I like it, it is a good study. well written and easy to understand. we are using it in our small group study and it is an easy read.

An easy to use book for all Christians. Guides us in dealing with daily issues. I recommend it to all Christians.

Good

I have to admit I let a little pride get to me when I began to read this book. I thought it would be like a lot of the other Christian books I've read that don't speak to me but God knew what He was doing and spoke to me through this book at the very time I needed it most. If you are like me, the average American, then you can do a some introspection and see that like me you are busy 25 of 24 hours given to us each day. We allow or schedules to become so full that it's hard to squeeze in anything else even if it's what we need most. Clutter-Free Christianity by Robert Jeffress is a great book to help you stop and look inward and realize that we don't need more busyness but to de-clutter our lives and make time for God.I throughout the introduction the author really lays it out, God's desire is to have a relationship with Him and what happens (shown through Biblical accounts) when His people don't spend their time focusing on God and allowing His Spirit and our work change us into becoming more like Christ. Mr. Jeffress goes on throughout the rest of the book talking about our personal areas where we need to allow God to work in us so that we can reflect Him more and show His glory as we live our lives where God placed us: in our families, communities, work place and churches.I think the best quote in the book that really summed it up for me is "without God's power we can't become like Christ and without our effort we won't become like Christ".

Would you do surgery on yourself? No? You need a surgeon? Okay, would you help your surgeon do surgery on you? How about heart surgery?Of course, in the physical realm, we would never perform heart surgery or even try to help our cardiac surgeon do the procedure. But in the spiritual realm, it's required. Although we become new creations when we are accept the Master, the process of sanctification -- becoming like Yeshua (Jesus) -- is the work God does in us with our cooperation and with us doing a lot of the work.Clutter Free Christianity, What God Really Desires for You by Robert Jeffress describes how to assist God in performing heart surgery on you. He describes six fundamental areas where we need to have a change in heart in order to become more Christlike: We need to learn to (1) forgive, (2) obey, (3) trust, (4) be content, (5) serve others and (6) pray. This process is a lifelong journey toward transformation.Clutter Free Christianity focuses on what God really requires from us in order to have a relationship with Him. Too often we get busy with our "to do" list -- we volunteer our time, we cook for various functions, we take Bible study classes, we chaperone the youth retreat -- and we lose sight of what God really wants us to focus on in order to be good disciples of the Master. The funny thing is, when we focus on the changes our heart requires, the "to dos" of corporate worship become easy. You'll never learn to forgive, trust, be content, etc., from cooking for a church supper, but if you work on forgiveness, trust, being content, etc., cooking for a church supper will naturally flow out of those heart transformations.This book is great for baby believers, but is even better for those who have been at it awhile -- it brings back your focus to what really matters to God.