Reviews and Endorsements
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[Endorsement]
- “Any belief that has value must be lived out in our stories every day. This book challenges us to live God’s story as disciples of Jesus.”—Glenn Townend, President, South Pacific Division
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Jeanine
- If you have ever tried to wrap your head around what Adventists believe and find it hard to sink your teeth into just reading the plain old 28 fundamentals, this is the book for you. Told in easy to understand language, the "Living 28" book weaves the beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist church into the fabric of people's actual lives. Helping to bring more meaning and light into what Adventists hold true to their core. This is the book that has helped me with starting up Bible studies with friends who are new to the church faith. They have said that it has put the 28 fundamentals in a different way that made it easier for them to wrap their head around what Seventh-day Adventists believe. HIGHLY RECOMMEND for new and old believers.
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[ Bookshelf review ]
- The first time I actually read the 28 Fundamental Beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, I was a 19-year-old attending a year-long study group with my local church’s young people. Our young Bible-study leader did an incredible job fleshing out each of the beliefs and facilitating our exploration of the supporting Bible verses. Sometimes, we’d spend two or even three weeks trying to understand a certain doctrine, arguing back and forth, delving into debates and having “experts” join us to discuss he big topics: creation and evolution, the Sanctuary, appropriate Christian behaviour, or different views of the Trinity. One year turned into three, and while I loved it, I’d often walk away feeling frustrated, like something was missing.
Before my time at Adventist Record, 29 authors were each asked to explore one of the 28 Fundamental Beliefs—and the Preamble. Compiled into a neat bundle and promising to provide a “fresh perspective on practising our faith”, the resulting book seemed too good to be true. Would Living 28—like many things audaciously labelled “fresh” or “relevant”—miss the mark? But my scepticism was misplaced. To my delight, it hit the bullseye.
Living 28 is not another empty promise, nor just theoretical commentary irrelevant to contemporary issues or culture. Each of the authors have clearly communicated how our fundamental Beliefs can apply to our daily lives, while still delving deep into the meat of Adventist issues and doctrines. It’s an honest, mind-opening, heart-transforming exploration of personal faith.
By vulnerably sharing their experiences of life and faith, each author inspired me to be honest with myself and humbly explore how each Adventist belief can be practically relevant to my life, too. And with application and discussion questions accompanying each chapter, Living 28 is not just a resource for personal reflection, but also deep small-group discussion and connection.
I believe this book, carefully, creatively and thoughtfully compiled over the past three years, meets a dire need in today’s Adventist culture. While no book can cover every practical issue in contemporary Christian discourse, the considered perspectives of each author in Living 28 extend beyond its 165 pages by generating potential for further balanced discussion. It stands in relevancy’s fi ring line and promises to preserve Adventism’s beautiful narrative by developing knowledge about, ownership of, and a desire to live out what we actually believe.
—Maryellen Fairfax, Assistant Editor, Adventist Record