Extravagant
Discovering a Life of Dangerous Generosity
-
- $13.99
-
- $13.99
Publisher Description
From the senior pastor of New Life Church, a “timely, thought-provoking, inspiring, and uplifting” (The Gazette, Colorado) book that redefines the notion of extravagance by using the parable of the Good Samaritan to demonstrate how to live a truly compassionate and selfless life of giving freely without expecting anything in return.
We all know people in our lives who have “yes” faces. They are calm but energetic, present but still purposeful with their time. They’re genuine in their desire to know about you—how you’re doing, what you’re up to, how you feel. Even with full lives of their own, they somehow still have the energy to inquire about others. These are extravagant people.
In Extravagant, Pastor Brady Boyd shows us that by constantly offering up our time, talents, and hearts we can live life more like these exceptional people. Drawing on the parable of the Good Samaritan, he encourages us to stop living a life driven by selfish desire and start building lasting relationships that will be spiritually fulfilling.
Discover how to begin this transformation by ceasing to be a passerby and become one who pauses in the course of daily life. By embracing the spirit of generosity, Pastor Boyd shows us that the path to a happier life is by living closer to God’s vision and building a community that will be there in times of need. “Boyd’s illuminating insights are a perfect primer for living a more self-aware, spiritually fulfilling life” (Shelf Awareness) and just the remedy we need in today’s fractured culture and troubled times.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Boyd (Remarkable), senior pastor of New Life Church in Colorado Springs, delivers heartfelt lessons from scripture for developing the "extravagant heart" God intended for all people. Though the notion of extravagance may initially conjure images of blatant excess, Boyd directs readers to the biblical tale of Mary anointing Jesus's feet with costly perfume a gesture perceived as wasteful by some yet commended by Jesus. He provides examples of lifestyle choices (charitable giving, volunteering) made by the "dangerously generous" and extols the power of empathetic and cautionary tales, noting Jesus's habit of teaching through parables, and asks readers to consider what Jesus might say if he wrote a parable about their lives. In stark contrast, Boyd shares some sobering statistics on stinginess ("Three out of four Americans never volunteer an hour of their time") and explains how to recognize fears that hinder generosity. Ultimately, Boyd encourages those who want to "choose the path of extravagance" to make "a simple decision to live like God asks for his people to live." Any Christian will be inspired to live more generously by Boyd's exemplary guide.
