Falling in Love with the God Jesus Knows (The Apprentice Series)

Our small group had many good discussions as we worked to apply the exercises each week. Nothing too ground breaking or mystical, just solid practices like creating margin, slowing down, practicing solitude, and surfacing false narratives about who God is.

We are really enjoying this series of books. Good practical suggestions at the end of each chapter. Highly recommend for a small group study or Sunday School Class. Best to work through with a group, but also helpful individually to help grow your relationship with God.

This is a challenging book to work through but it is well worth it. We each need to consider the idea that the way we live, react and make choices each day is impacted by our thoughts, low or high, of God. This book helps you work through areas of your life that may very well hold false narratives, false ideas about God. There are so many distorted and counterfeit ideas about how God interacts in this world, we need to really consider the God Jesus knows.

Thought provoking. Offers ways to see a new life in Christ. I would recommend this also as a group study more than a for an individual. It is good to share ideas about the study, but an individual study will work.

A book that challenges everything you think you know or believe about God. It causes you to examine your own narratives about God and compare them to what Jesus said/ revealed about His Heavenly Father. Very worthwhile read and potentially life-changing as you learn to know the God that Jesus knows.

One of the best and practical books about Jesus. The author addresses many of the "false narratives" so many of us have accepted about God and His relationship with us. Written for all to understand. I found it comforting and enlightening.

What a great book! Simply but profoundly written. The language is easy and the content is very deep. It is life changing especially if read in the context of a small group. It exposes the many false narratives we have about God and explains the narratives of Jesus. I strongly recommend it for anyone who longs to know God better and to fall in love with Him.

This book can change our lives if we take action. The doer will be blessed by this book. It will benefit us greatly to live out what we read and not just read to know or for knowledge. Knowledge without action is nothing.

We have been using the books James wrote (The Apprentice Series) for small group study for training disciples of Jesus for two years....Outstanding material to "pickle" your soul...Looking forward to more books written by James

The Theological explanations and practical examples are simple to understand for the Christian Faith Community where English is a second language. These will definitely help these CFC to improve and enhance the level of Spiritual development and faith formation in their personal Christian life towards maturity.
I would recommend the book to all CFCs that understand English as a second language.

The Good and Beautiful God: "Falling in Love with the God Jesus Knows", an excellent book to study the truth about God. It is the first book in a series of three. Men and women alike in our group are relating to James Smith's insights as he leads us to understand what we believe, why we believe, and how it relates the truth of Jesus knowledge of His Father.

It is an interesting read and thought prevoking as the author asks questions that help you search for answers.
I bought it as an e-book for personal reading, but soon discovered that the hard cover edition works much better in a group setting.

Excellent book brings thought provoking questions and challenges to how we live this thing out in our current culture by addressing the false narratives going on in our heads. Great book! A must read.

James Bryan Smith provides an awesome, thought provoking text. Each chapter provides salient, meaningful, tenets of faith that allow one to introspectively examine a path to the Good and Beautiful God!

Helps us see God as a loving creator and establish healthy and helpful habits towards becoming more Christ-like in our daily lives. Simply written but easy to relate to and approachable. Great bible study group book or done w/ a small group.

We are using this for our small group. Everyone has been enjoying it, and it has had lots of practical, easy to read information. The only thing I'm noticing that made me rate 1 star less is that the small group notes at the end only have you looking up one scripture each week, and not spending much time on it. However, the book itself is great, with scripture included in each chapter, and we've had some deep and productive discussions during the group meeting each week.

The author truly presents the beauty of the love and grace of God without denying the difficult passages in the Bible. Every chapter is like a breath of fresh air. And he doesn't use GUILT to motivate!

This book is straightforward and doesn't waste words saying what it wants to say. It's simple, but profound, and explores how people are transformed. It's almost wondrous. Great for congregations to use together so you can explore your reactions and ideas in small groups.

This is the best all around 'curriculum' I have seen for spiritual growth. His approach of not only teaching core truths but incorporating the spiritual practices is a marriage that has long been needed in discipleship material. The gracious tone of the book is different from many 'legalistic feeling' workbooks. I am leading a ladies group through it right now. I think it would be great for a churchwide venture.

The good and beautiful God is an incredible book. It makes everything seem like common sense. Not difficult to understand but full of thought provoking passages. Best when read with a group or partner - there is lots to discuss.
A must read for persons wanting to strengthen their relationship with God.

I have been reading through and studying this book in a group and have gotten much out of it. It has opened my eyes to such simple concepts that for some reason--many people miss. God loves us--no exceptions. I would highly recommend studying this book at a Bible study or just get a group together and start getting close to God.