I remember the first time I came across I Am Second. I was driving in Dallas when I saw a black and white billboard featuring Jason Witten, the Dallas Cowboys tight end. The words I AM SECOND were written at the bottom of the billboard.
What started as a collection of well-made videos telling stories of transformation has now reached its way into book format as well. Written by Doug Bender and Dave Sterrett, I Am Second tells the stories of both famous and unfamiliar people. Inside the book you are introduced to twenty different people who have all met Jesus and put him first in their life (hence, the title I Am Second).
The stories in the book are raw and honest. The reader is taken into the darkest and deepest moments in the individuals’ lives. No matter how thick the darkness, light bursts through and captures the hearts of each individual in the book.
There are a couple of things about the book that I enjoyed.
- First and foremost, there is a clear gospel message at the end of the book. I was thankful for this.
- Stories of transformation encourage me. The Gospel is the power to life change. The Cross of Christ is eternally effective. This is beautiful. Thus, I love stories of people being transferred from the “kingdom of darkness” to the “kingdom of his beloved Son”.
- I really enjoyed the brevity of each story. Bender and Sterrett did a good job of story-telling without lingering or being too short. The testimonies are fast paced and capture your attention.
- I also enjoyed the QR codes at the end of each story. These codes are placed beside other people whose testimonies are similar. This allows the reader to scan the code and go to the website to watch that person’s testimony online. I thought this was an excellent feature to the book.
I do have some personal concerns with the book.
- I was disappointed with the lack of calling sin sin in the book. This is not to diminish the dark and painful stuff that people went through. However, I think our culture struggles to call sin sin. This concerns me out of preference more so than error.
- I am also a little concerned with Jesus is first, I Am Second, everything is perfect now presentation in most of the stories (some stories speak of continual struggles). Even though Jesus is first in these people’s lives, they are not perfect, not yet anyway. God, through the Holy Spirit is sanctifying them. He is making them more holy. However, they have not arrived. Putting Jesus first does not always mean having your best life now, at least not in the American sense. Putting Jesus first does however mean having your best life forever. I don’t believe Bender and Sterrett are attempting to communicate this. However, the omission of sanctification in many stories does weigh on me a bit.
Overall, I was encouraged by this book. I value the testimonies of brothers and sisters in Christ who are justified, being sanctified, and one day will be glorified. If you enjoy stories of transformation, you will enjoy this book.
My Rating 4/5 Stars
I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
