cover image How (Not) to Save the World: The Truth About Revealing God’s Love to the People Right Next to You

How (Not) to Save the World: The Truth About Revealing God’s Love to the People Right Next to You

Hosanna Wong. Thomas Nelson, $18.99 trade paper (268p) ISBN 978-0-7852-4302-1

Poet Wong (Superadded) exposes common “lies” that prevent Christians from embracing their faith in this clever guide. She successfully addresses self-defeating beliefs, such as that one needs perfection to accomplish God’s plan or that avoiding embarrassment is more important than speaking up. For instance, to expose the assumption that one needs “a certain skill, particular occupation, or a specific title” to have an impact on others, Wong tells the story of a Mrs. Lee, who spoke to Wong’s father about Jesus when he tried to sell her a vacuum. Through her willingness to share God’s love, Mrs. Lee changed Wong’s father’s life and proved to Wong that “God does not just have the ability to use ordinary people, He also has the desire.” Warning that many Christians are consumed by overworking, Wong emphasizes rest as an integral part of living abundantly. She also identifies “three Es” of sharing God’s love through social media—engage, encourage, and encounter God—and challenges Christians to view every post, comment, and photo “as a way of building God’s kingdom here on earth.” Readers who enjoy the work of Beth Moore will appreciate this insightful guide for sharing in Jesus’s message. (Aug.)