A Dozen Disappointing Disciples

This book isn't out yet, but being on Tom French's email list meant I got access to a preview copy of this book. The idea is that I would read it, review it and then create some buzz about it before it comes out on the 26th of October. You can pre-order this book here, and I think you should.

The premise of the book is encouraging. We are often told to be more like Jesus, but He is God and perfect and we aren't. However, the disciples - those are guys we can relate to. They say and do stupid things around Jesus, are slow in picking up what Jesus is putting down and possibly seem like a disappointment to Jesus. I often think sometimes when reading the Gospels that Jesus must have been frustrated His whole time on Earth, as He is surrounded by imbeciles. He often is repeating Himself and His hearers are often misunderstanding Him.

This book takes us through 17 episodes in the life of the disciples and not really their best moments. You have Jesus calling Peter "Satan", James and John wanting Jesus to call down fire on people, disciples shooing away children from Jesus, Judas betraying Jesus, Peter chopping off someone's ear and denying Jesus, Thomas not believing his mate, just to mention 6 of these incidents.

Most of the chapters in this book follow the same formula, and I think were probably talks Tom had given in the past. Tom starts by telling a personal story, usually it is self-deprecating and funny. Then moving into the passage, he fleshes it out a bit, tieing his story to the Bible story and then moving on to some serious reflection on who the disciples are and more importantly who Jesus is. 

The good thing about these disciple stories is that Jesus is in them. So as we learn about the disciples we, more importantly, end up learning about Jesus. While the disciples are screwing up, saying and doing stupid things, Jesus is there, showing people love and grace. Being patient and kind. He doesn't ever say that His disciple was a disappointment to Him, and we can take comfort in this too. While we say and do stupid things, we can still look to Jesus who doesn't think we are a disappointment. He loves us and shows us grace. He even gave His life for us because He cares about us and wants to save us.

This book could be read by a teen, but also someone older, like in say their 20s. Heck, I'm nearly 40 and I appreciated this book. The illustrations and application weren't all related to school, however, there were lots of personal (and amusing) stories from when Tom was in school, which I did enjoy. Throughout this book is a fair bit of humour along with sensitivity. It does touch on abuse and domestic violence, but in a very sensible way and provides appropriate hotline numbers and information in case that triggers anything.

The book perhaps could have been a few chapters shorter, as some parts of it felt a little same-ish. Maybe the book is best read one chapter at a time, and not a few in one sitting.

Overall this is a good book, and worth putting in the hands of teens. There are a few Christian living teens books out there, but I don't know if there are many Gospel story teen books. Ones that take you through the Gospel story, where you meet Jesus and are encouraged to follow Him. Every chapter in this book points to Jesus and assures His disciples that they are not a disappointment to Him, rather He loves them disciples and equips them to be on His mission.