Desired by God

Desired by God
Discover a Strong, Soul-Satisfying Relationship with God by Understanding Who He Is and How Much He Loves You
(Thomas Nelson, 2018)

WHO: Van Moody, pastor of the Worship Center in Birmingham, Alabama.

HE SAYS: “Unlike the sometimes complicated love affairs of men and women, God never loses control of himself while pursuing his beloved, but he will go to the utmost lengths, even the cross, for those he loves.”

THE BIG IDEA: By examining God’s nature and exploring what it means to understand and embrace his love, we can learn to live with a deep sense of knowing how much he desires us.

THE PROGRESSION:
This book is a primer for both new believers and those who have been following Christ for a while on God’s nature and how it relates to his love for his people.
Section 1, “Who Is God Really?” goes through Scripture to explain God’s nature while in Section 2, “Love on Display,” the author examines the ways in which God has demonstrated his love throughout time.
In the final section, “Living Loved,” the author offers readers the freedom that comes in living a life in the knowledge of God’s love and forgiveness.

“You are always in his mind and he wants nothing to come between you and him.”

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A CONVERSATION WITH VAN MOODY

How can pastors use Desired by God to help introduce God’s love to new believers?

I think pastors should use the book as an evangelism and discipleship tool. They can give it to every guest, new believer and new member. Pew Research Center recently released a study that revealed that the biggest reason why a growing segment of Americans now identify themselves as religiously unaffiliated is because they question a lot of religious teaching. Desired by God was written with this in mind. What has contributed to this dramatic shift in our culture and our country is that in many ways God has been misrepresented and mischaracterized, especially as it relates to some of the biggest issues facing our society. Desired by God will help bring clarity and desperately needed understanding about who God is and what his position is on these big issues. Readers will gain a more accurate understanding of who God is, how much he is in love with humanity and the life-transforming benefits of accepting and living from God’s radical love.

What inspired you to write this book?

I wrote Desired by God because this is arguably the worst time for Christianity in my lifetime. The statistics are alarming and undeniable. Our culture has drifted from God in unprecedented ways and I think the verdict is still out on whether or not our country is really “one nation, under God.”

Books like The Benedict Option and the intrigue around that book further support this claim. The challenge of every generation is to present the gospel with biblical integrity and cultural sensitivity. Desired by God does just that and will hopefully help this generation and many others connect with God in life-changing ways.

What is a common misconception people have about God’s love for us?

A common misconception that people have about God’s love for us is that we have to work to achieve God’s love or to qualify for God’s love. If you pay close attention to how many issues are addressed and even the stance we have taken on many issues, this misconception is evident. Romans 5:8 brings clarity to this issue. In clearing up this misconception I often share with people, “The love of God requires nothing of us, but will change everything about us.”

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