by Jimmy Carter
Published in 1997 by Times Books
Summary and Review: In many ways this book is a follow-up to former President Jimmy Carter's autobiography A Living Faith. For Carter it is impossible to tell his story without telling of his deep and abiding faith. It has always been a part of who he is and is something participatory for him. He is not content to be simply a pew sitter, he has for years been a Sunday School Teacher and Bible Study leader. The response to his autobiography had people asking about his understanding of Scripture, so the simplest way to answer them was to publish a book based upon the Bible studies he had taught over the years. This is that book.
The book is organized into fifty-two lessons, all taken from actual lessons that Carter taught throughout his lifetime, some of them even coming from the time of his Presidency. Each lesson begins with a scripture verse as a base and then Carter helps connect the reader to the context of the scripture before he present his interpretation. Finally he suggests ways to apply this interpretation in our own lives. Carter is unabashedly a Baptist and that comes through, but his understanding of scripture is much broader than simply one theological position. The book is well written, it engages the reader and compels them to turn the next page. The lessons are concise, making them appropriate to read as part of a daily devotional or of part of a weekly devotional. It is set up to have one lesson for each week, but is just as effective using it daily. His explanation of scripture is researched and rooted in scholarly understandings and his interpretation is well presented and will appeal to the broadest base of Christianity. In reading this book one will walk away with a richer, more vibrant understanding of some scripture, but equally with a glimpse into the life of Jimmy Carter.
Reading Recommendation: Yes
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