Cover Image: The Insanity of Sacrifice

The Insanity of Sacrifice

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Member Reviews

A very challenging devotional. Not the usual way of looking at the Christian life, but definitely worth reading!! Don't be a wimp, just read it!

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This is a great book! Definitely add to a must read list! The characters are great and the story is well written!

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This devotional was very intense. I experienced a variety of emotions. Very well written and very helpful. I am very glad to recommend this book to anyone looking for a very good read and devotional. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the arc of this book in return for my honest review. Receiving the book in this manner had no bearing on this review.

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I read The Insanity of God and it absolutely opened my eyes to the world and its suffering. I am ashamed to say I live in a bubble. When I saw this devotion, The Insanity of Sacrifice, I had to get it. I have only read seven days worth but, I can tell you now, it is challenging me to be a better servant of God. This is a devotion to read slowly and then ponder the message. In seven days I have been encouraged, convicted, and challenged as a Christian. I highly recommend to anyone who wants a deeper relationship with Jesus and to do what He called us to do. I pray that I will be a sacrifice and follow his calling that will make God proud and put a smile on His face.
*I was given a copy of this devotional by the publisher and this is my honest opinion.

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I did all 90 days and then referred to several friends. At some points, it had me in tears with the solid conviction. I definitely would highly recommend it.

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"The Insanity of Sacrifice," by Nik Ripken is intense. It is direct and honest about what living a life following and trusting God is all about. This is a hard-hitting, 90-day devotional about sacrifice in the kingdom of God. It is filled with convicting passages that challenge the status quo of your spiritual life.

As a missionary, Ripken has sacrificed. His family has left a multitude of trials, persecution, even death, but despite it all, they persist in seeking God, and laying down their lives to follow his calling on them. This devotional gives Christians a new perspective in modern life of a follower who will risk everything trusting God as he leads without any guarantee of safety, protection, or success.

This book is powerful! I recommend to every Christian who feels like their spiritual journey has gone stale or that they are going through the desert in their walk.

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Well written. A great read! I enjoyed reading this book and would definately buy other works from this author. I enjoy reading devotionals and inspirational things. Very nice. It's one of those I would go back and read again. Like a warm hug at the end of the day. Thanks to netgalley, the author and the publisher for allowing me an advance copy of this book to review.

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The format of this book doesn't lend itself to a quick read. But then again, you really wouldn't want to read this one quickly either. It's not that the book isn't good, in fact it's great. It's just that the topic is designed to make you slow down and think about what you are reading.

In a departure from his other books, this one is formatted as a devotional book. Ripken provides a slice each day to chew on. It's meant to have the reader really spend some time with each day's material. It doesn't take long to read each day's material, but the material stays with you long after you finish reading.

The book will provide three month's worth of those influential days. However, if you just can't wait that long or stay focused for that length of time, you can always just read it like a book and finish multiple days at one sitting.

The message is powerful and compelling. It will challenge the reader and I think will be used by God to raise up a new generation of sacrificial believers! I highly recommend it for everyone!

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Having read Nik Ripken's previous two books, The Insanity of God and The Insanity of Obedience, I knew when I picked up his latest book, The Insanity of Sacrifice, that I would be equally challenged. Ripken's down-to-earth and friendly tone makes you feel as if you're in a cafe together having a casual conversation. And yet the conversation is anything but casual. It's challenging in every way. If you're looking to move out of mediocrity and into a life lived fully devoted to Christ, The Insanity of Sacrifice, which focuses on the stories of persecuted believers around the world, encourages you to consider what it might mean for you to sacrifice for the call of Christ. Because some of the readings can be a bit heavy, it is helpful that the book is set up more like a devotional with 90 days' worth of readings. Readers will find the book encouraing, emotional, hopeful, and challenging.

Note: I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for this honest review; however, the opinions expressed are my own.

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Set up as a 90 day devotional, The Insanity of Sacrifice makes you examine how you live in light of all God has done to provide you a way of salvation, and whether you have decided to be ready to forego what you have to serve God. Each entry presents a verse and story from Nik and Ruth Ripken that highlights how they have seen sacrifice in their ministry.

The book is easy to read, but challenging. Christians can get comfortable, even complacent, and we need to realize that God wants us to follow Him, even when it isn’t comfortable. Reading about the persecution and struggles of Christians around the world makes me realize that things could be worse, and that I need to spend more time praying for Christians that face that life.

Sometimes, we get into the mindset that it means spending a few hours a week in church and giving a comfortable amount of money. If we are willing to listen, God will tell us what He wants us to do. It may not be fly around the world, but it will require us to move away from things that keep us from doing God’s will.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

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This book turned up a few months before I am due to go abroad to keep serving the Lord. It's a stark yet beautiful reminder of how God uses us to glorify His name. It's very easy to forget in this me centred world that we are made for God and not the other way around. When I go I am reminded I may face persecutions and dangers and I believe the Lord is using this book to prepare me. Reading it is painful but necessary and I recommend it to anyone who needs to remind themselves that Jesus was sent, and we are sent also. Prosperity gospel readers should especially read this as they need to realise that the prosperity of God's attention and guidance may need to replace their idea of 15 houses and 7 cars if and more likely when they are sent into danger for His Name.

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