Review: Ruthie Delk’s Craving Grace

in

For many Christians, the gospel is in danger of being assumed and forgotten. It’s seen as the doorway to salvation, the way you get “in,” but largely irrelevant after that. For another camp, the gospel is in danger of becoming trite. “Gospel-centered” is a bit of a buzzword, and every other book seems to be about the gospel.1 Craving Grace: Experience the Richness of the Gospel by Ruthie Delk is written for the first camp.

The author herself states in the introduction that there are no earth-shattering truths in this book, and you won’t read anything that hasn’t been said before. However, for a Christian who hasn’t come to understand the biblical gospel and has just relegated the gospel to the method of entry into the Christian life, these simple truths can have earth-shattering, life-transforming effects.

Craving Grace centers around The Gospel Eight diagram, which evolved as Delk grappled with what it looks like in real life to preach the gospel to yourself. It is a visual to help understand the tug-of-war between faith and unbelief and how a Christian could almost simultaneously live like a spiritual orphan and God’s child. It is a tool to remind us of the gospel that brings freedom and life and hope. “This diagram shows both the believer and the nonbeliever that the solution to our despair is the same: we both need to run to the cross and put our faith and trust in what Jesus has already done for us” (23).

Overall, Craving Grace is a nice book on the gospel for Christians who aren’t regularly meditating on the gospel and preaching the gospel to themselves. For those who feel stuck in their Christian walk or wonder why they aren’t walking in freedom, joy, and hope, this book’s message of God’s incredible grace will help you walk in your identity as God’s forgiven, adopted child. It’s written in a conversational, engaging style with illuminating illustrations from Delk’s life. Each chapter ends with questions for reflection or group discussion. It is a small book weighing in at 164 pages, making it very accessible and unintimidating.

1. The focus on the gospel is obviously not a bad thing. It’s indicative of a right awareness of the importance of the gospel and its relevance and power for every aspect of the Christian life from beginning to end. It’s our attitudes in the midst of this gospel banquet that is sometimes problematic as we begin to lose the wonder.↩

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. 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.”

Jennifer Guo is a bean counter by day and a book eater by night. She is passionate about the gospel and loves biblical and theological studies. She also loves the arts and is part of a performing arts ministry that uses a variety of mediums to communicate the gospel, God’s heart, and His design for sexuality, relationships, and marriage. Jennifer also loves running and cooking (and not because running allows her to eat more). You can follow her @JenniferGuo or read more reviews at her blog Jennifer Guo.