Good News for Those Trying Harder

By Alan Kraft

Book Overview

Countless believers are pursuing spiritual growth, only to repeatedly find themselves spinning their wheels and making no progress. Many are driven to just try harder. Others feel a growing sense of failure and distance from God. But for all involved, it's a frustrating cycle. What can we do when trying harder isn't working?

Author and pastor Alan Kraft invites us to be still.still enough to hear the twin melodies that comprise the good news of the gospel-brokenness and faith. These core strains have the power to lift our exhausted heads so we may experience life to the full as Jesus promised.

Discover the power of a broken spirit, embrace the wonder of living by faith, and experience the joy found when you just stop trying.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1434799409
• ISBN13: 9781434799401
• Release Date: October 2008
• Publisher: David C Cook
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.5" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

Good News Indeed

My wife and I had the privilege of attending Alan's church in Greeley when he first interviewed for the pastoral position. Since we helped with the youth program and the worship team, we know Alan and Raylene personally. This review is necessarily biased in that regards. First of all, Alan is who he describes himself to be in his book. He is sincere, humble and strongly committed to his faith. Secondly, the book seems well written and tailored towards Christians without a lot of exposure to the theological writings on spiritual formation. I didn't find myself constantly running to a dictionary trying to understand theological terms or expressions. Thirdly, the book is a welcome reprieve for believers who wrestle with striving to be good enough. It makes living the Christian life appear to be joyful and liberating, not guilt-driven and restraining. Thanks for taking the time to write this, Alan.

A Must Read For All Christians

Good news... the book does not disappoint! Alan Kraft does a tremendous job of removing religion from our relationship with Christ. In current culture, many fulfill their duty to God, but never cultivate their desire for Him. Thus, our intellectual prowess grows, but we as people do not. This book is a wonderful and sobering reminder that our righteousness is but filthy rags and that God loves us for who we are, not who we think we need to be or think we deserve to be. I encourage anyone serious about connecting with God to read this book. This book will help a new Christian lay foundational stones for success and it will remind seasoned Christians who their first love is and how the Almighty loves us. Truly full of inspiring and internalized insight from a seasoned Christian who realizes the need to continually be broken by the captivating love of Christ.

Great Job!

I am blessed to attend CCC as well. Pastor Alan does an awesome job of helping you understand the gospel and puts it in layman's terms. The book starts out great, and I am sure every page will be as good as the last!Thanks Pastor Alan, and may God bless you!

Life-changing!

Since I attend Christ Community Church, there are many great things that I could write about Pastor Alan and this remarkable book! However, I think that the most honest thing that I could tell someone thinking about buying "Good News for Those Trying Harder" is this: Alan has helped me to understand the Gospel in ways that I never could have imagined, both through his messages and through this book. His deep, abiding passion for the Gospel of Jesus Christ bursts from these pages, and you will NEVER regret buying it and digesting it! Don't worry that you've never heard Alan's name before, or that you don't know anything about Greeley, Colorado! Just get the book and prepare for an incredibly counter-intuitive, life-altering, paradigm-shifting pair of thoughts: We are far more sinful than we realize, and we have a Savior that is far more sufficient than we can imagine. As Alan has said, "Trying harder just doesn't work," and this book will help you finally understand why religious effort just leaves you exhausted and no closer to God. Take it from a recovering Pharisee: This book will make a significant difference in your life and your spiritual journey!

Trusting God

Those of us blessed to attend Christ Community Church, have 'read' this book. It is a testimony of God's work through you. We are hearing it; we are living it, and have been exposed to it over the past several years. So much more to grasp, so much more to learn the true depth of what you have presented, through God. Your teachings... God's teachings through you, and God's love! And now we have an awesome book, reviewing the past several years and most importantly to share with others... the many, many of others who do not attend CCC. A Kingdom initiative for sure. How cool is that? Thank you for pointing out the many references to the Bible, especially Matthew, as this has been one Book that has been hard for me to process, understand, and digest, but is now more clear. Just like all of your teachings, through the Word of God. We serve a big God! Amen.