cover image Sick of Me: From Transparency to Transformation

Sick of Me: From Transparency to Transformation

Whitney Capps. B&H, $16.99 trade paper (192p) ISBN 978-1-4627-9288-7

Capps (We Over Me), a speaker for Proverbs 31 Ministries, details in this helpful Bible study how readers can get away from concentrating on their own wants and instead focus on God’s will. Capps uses personal stories and scriptural references to relate how even mundane situations can inform one’s spirituality. For instance, she recalls how a mortifying seventh-grade pimple became the impetus for looking at herself (literally and spiritually) without “blemishes of jealousy, bitterness, or pride.” Skillfully breaking down biblical analysis into language suitable for general Christian readers, she compares the Pharisees’ “man-made rules on top of Scripture” to modern-day spending axioms (“it would be like adding ‘never use a credit card’ to the principle to steward your money well”) and makes lively analogies (like comparing Abner, a biblical commander, to a bad reality singing show contestant). Readers are called to question generalizations, such as how many Christians hide the “life-altering power and hope” found in Jesus in order to appeal to secular peers, which Capps believes diminishes Christians’ confidence in all facets of their lives. Christians seeking a deeper relationship with God, or looking to rekindle growth in their faith, will enjoy this accessible treat that weds self-help and sanctification. (Mar.)