My favorite book from 2012 so far... engaging writing. My key learning was to stop focusing on self improvement- my failures, my success, my struggles, my problems, my issues, my parenting difficulties, my poor prayer life, my bible reading plan as my number one focus. That is morbidly introspective and self centered. instead look to the work of Jesus his righteousness His beauty His Success because in Him I have the same and gazing at Him and His beauty causes my life's alignment in a way that could never happen with my continual navel gazing. ( )

Part autobiography, part exposition on Colossians, part encouragement to live one's life enthralled by the gospel, Jesus Nothing = Everything is Tchividjian's take on how one can successfully live the Christian life. It is not about morals or rules or programs or rituals, but about realizing what has taken place in our life when we give it to God—what Christ has already accomplished for the believer. And when one focuses on that truth, the rest of one's life will fall into place. ( )

Part autobiography, part exposition on Colossians, part encouragement to live one's life enthralled by the gospel, Jesus Nothing = Everything is Tchividjian's take on how one can successfully live the Christian life. It is not about morals or rules or programs or rituals, but about realizing what has taken place in our life when we give it to God—what Christ has already accomplished for the believer. And when one focuses on that truth, the rest of one's life will fall into place. ( )

Until picking up this book I had never read anything by this author. I had, however, come across his name in other books or as suggestions on Amazon when I bought other books. I finally decided to order this book and I am very glad that I did.

Author Tullian Tchividjian certainly has nothing new to say in this book which focuses so much on justification and sanctification. No, the beauty of this book is that he presents an old and timeless Truth in a fresh manner. I thought so anyhow. Tchividjian brings us face to face with the grace of God and challenges us to give up our moralism and our dependence on our works to make us better Christians. Focus on Christ, he says, and you will grow; focus on self and you will fail.

Simply put, we are challenged to live as if we truly believe that if we have Jesus, and nothing else, we actually have everything we need. On the other hand, if we have everything the world can give, but we lack Jesus, then as far as eternity is concerned we have absolutely nothing. For those of us who are Christians, this is something to contemplate. I think that anyone who reads this book will come away with a better understanding of the meaning of the Cross, of the effect of the Gospel. At the very least, we will be drawn into an examination of how we view the atonement of Christ. Personally, I loved this book. And I hope you will want to get yourself a copy.

I was thinking about the overall message of this book, and oddly enough I found it not in the direct words of Tchividkian himself but in that of someone he quotes in the book. This is not an attempt to diminish his work, for it is an excellent contribution to theology and the Christian life. The quote which he mentions in his book is that of Charles Spurgeon:
"When I thought God was hard, I found it easy to sin; but when I found God so kind, so good, so overflowing with compassion, I smote upon my breast to think that I could ever have rebelled against One who loved me so, and sought my good."

You can read my full review at Quieted Waters.

I feel required to start my review of Jesus Nothing = Everything with a justification of my three-star rating. At the time I write this, all thirteen customer reviews on Amazon have given this book five star ratings. Let me say at the outset that I respect Tullian Tchividjian. I have a strong appreciation for the work he has done at Coral Ridge Presbyterian in Fort Lauderdale. I view his theology, as pictured in this book, as consistent with the Bible, and I do not doubt that his sermons serve as welcome calls to return to the Gospel. Please read other reviews to gain a deeper picture of Tchividjian’s theology and of all this book’s strengths, of which there are many. I write this review simply to give another perspective.

I give this book three stars not because of its theology or its author’s faith. I give this book three stars for what I deem to be its excessive repetition, both internally and externally.

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