What does it take to be Greater?

Many of us want to achieve greatness, but according to Steven Furtick this is a vague and unrealistic goal of being better that doesn't really work. There are so many ways that the world and even the church define greatness that it's impossible to know what it will really take to become great. On the other hand, there are plenty of us who are just trying to get by. We live in the world of good enough and live a life of mediocrity. Furtick suggest that instead being good enough or shoot for the vague idea of greatness, that we need to aim at being greater.

Furtick takes his title from John 14:12 where Jesus tells his disciples, "Whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these." He is encouraging his readers to be greater. God has called us to the greater life and has promised that we will do greater things. Using Elisha as an example, Furtick shows how partnering with God will lead to a life do doing greater things for God's kingdom. He doesn't lay out a formula or give some special secret that will lead to greatness, the secret is God working through his people. When we let God shape our life, our dreams, our goals, and our purpose then he will use us to do those greater things.

Greater is a fairly easy read and isn't very long. On the surface it seems like just another self-help book that will make you a better person, but Furtick doesn't do that. He emphasizes God's place in our lives and how following him will lead to a greater life. This is the strength of this book, it's about God. Even though he is writing about your life, the focus is on God. The weakness of this book is that in some aspects it's fairly vague, but I think that's because he isn't giving a formula. Instead, he is presenting a lifestyle that has to be lived out. The specifics of the greater life are filled in by the reader. If you want to read this book, I would suggest reading it with another person or with a group. This is a book that is geared toward action. I think the real value of this book would be in the conversation and dreaming that it inspires. The message is fairly simple, but living out the greater life will take some work and is best done in community.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. 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 Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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