This is a brief, outstanding introduction to conservative Christianity along with some of the great paradigms of Lutheranism. If everyone could see the world through these paradigms such as vocation and the two Kingdoms and Law and Gospel, things would go so much smoother and there would be less misunderstanding. This is the first version of the book. There has since been a revised edition and I would expect it would be at least as good. ( )

The book's first few chapters were a little hard to get into. But they were necessary in setting the stage for the fourth chapter on Vocation, which is where this book really began to shine. It really helps make it clear that we can still be serving God in all aspects of our lives, whether we are parents, children, siblings, coworkers, employees, church workers, layperson, etc. ( )

I found this book to be very good, however, someone basic for me. I think this is a very good book to read to understand the basics of Lutheranism. The downside to this book is that it can be dry at some points. This is offset by the author's engaging style of writing which makes the book easy to read for the most part. ( )

Excellent book that is easy-to-read and gives a good overview of what confessional Lutherans believe.

Since I thoroughly enjoyed it, I recommended it to a friend of mine, Kathy. She grew up foursquare Baptist and Catholic, and we have had a lot of time to enjoy discussing what God has done and continues to do in the lives of HIS people.

When she gave the book back, she told me that she thoroughly enjoyed it. She said that it was easy to read and that she was surprised at how it wasn't really about "being Lutheran," but that it was about looking at the evidence in the Scripture.

She also said, "You Lutherans aren't really about Martin Luther at all. You're about 'what does this verse say in the context,' and then you're about, 'how does this verse fit in with this pile of verses from the Old Testament and this pile of verses in the New Testament." ( )