5 Mere Christians
In 5 Mere Christians, Jordan Raynor and Kaleigh Cox present binge-worthy biographies that show how to glorify God through your work. This book shares the lives of Fred Rogers, Fannie Lou Hamer, Ole Kirk Christiansen, Hannah More, and C. S. Lewis in a quick and compelling way, along with practical takeaways.
I was most moved by Fred Rogers’ biography. Rogers is a personal hero of mine, and Raynor wrote the familiar parts of his story in a fresh and exciting way. He also included new details I hadn't known, and I was pleased to see my esteem for Rogers grow. His takeaways are as follows: (1) Mere Christians glorify God by embracing their position in God’s “royal priesthood," (2) Mere Christians glorify God by making time to experience their belovedness, and (3) Mere Christians glorify God by working at a pace that allows them to extend God’s love to others.
Inspiring and Encouraging
After Rogers, I was most interested in reading the biography of Ole Kirk Christiansen, the founder of LEGO. What stood out to me was how prayer played a part in his story. Against the backdrop of World War II, God’s providence is on full display. His takeaways are as follows: (1) Mere Christians glorify God by persevering through trials in faith, (2) Mere Christians glorify God by embracing play and “useless” work, and (3) Mere Christians glorify God by committing themselves to the ministry of excellence.
Most biographies I read are about pastors and preachers. With short chapters that highlight the can't-miss moments in these lives, Raynor’s book is a breath of fresh air. Seeing mere men and women of faith who did meaningful work in the world is both inspiring and encouraging. No matter your daily work, this book will make you want to live a life that counts for good in this world.
I received a media copy of 5 Mere Christians and this is my honest review. Find more of my book reviews and follow Dive In, Dig Deep on Instagram - my account dedicated to Bibles and books to see the beauty of the Bible and the role of reading in the Christian life. To read all of my book reviews and to receive all of the free eBooks I find on the web, subscribe to my free newsletter.