You Can Be A More Creative Christian

You Can Be A More Creative Christian is Mark Aaron Quick's new book about using the creative gifts God has given to each of us. Based on the premise that opportunities for creative expression are unlimited because our creative abilities come from an unlimited Creator, this book allows readers to develop embryonic ideas. The author reveals how areas of life seldom considered “creative” actually have great potential for creativity. Areas such as innovative acts of mercy, inventive problem solving and the visionary use of talents, gifts, and skills can all become creative sources of joy and blessing. Readers are challenged to become increasingly creative through personal growth, inspiration, and the honing of new and existing skills. Practical and theoretical concepts are presented in entertaining and informative ways. Throughout the book, readers are presented with numerous opportunities to think about their personal creative process from multiple perspectives. Helping readers develop a broad palette of creativity is clearly the author’s intent.
Chapter Summaries:
Chapter 1 The Function and Role of Creativity explores reasons we create things. Being creative is both fun and practical. Using God’s gifts is always a good thing, but it can also be a very powerful thing.
Chapter 2 Hone Your Skills reminds readers that everyone has a talent for something. Anyone can develop their talents to a greater degree. We may use our creative “giftings” to encourage others, to edify others and to lift up the name of the Lord. Skill in one arena of life often leads to opportunities in a different area of life.
Chapter 3 How Personal Growth Affects Creativity demonstrates a connection between the things we currently create with how we have recently grown and changed. The author encourages readers to use their creative gifting in ways that demonstrate love and joy.
Chapter 4 Riddle Me This … offers readers a glance at the value of wonderment. The author reveals how understanding mysterious aspects of both the Bible and our personal lives can help us acquire spiritual concepts. Though under-emphasized in our society, wonderment in nearly any context can serve to make us more creative.
Chapter 5 Using Your Imagination reveals how imagination helps us to see who we are. Readers discover how imagination also helps us to “see” God. Such revelations make us more creative by powerfully helping our prayer life and by changing the way we treat others.
Chapter 6 Let Me Entertain You brings to light the idea that we need entertainment because we need mental, social, and spiritual stimulation. Entertainment choices say something about the status of our heart, because they say something about our priorities and beliefs and values. A major premise is that entertainment may yield good things, such as healthy relationships.
Chapter 7 How Rest and Leisure Impact Creativity outlines how spiritual energy is connected to both physical and metaphysical rest. Readers learn how God can transform us into creative people by granting us peace, joy, love and REST.
Chapter 8 Allow God’s “Art” to Inspire What Makes You Passionate explores the incredible relationship between beauty and truth. In an era of science, technology, and raw information the world needs ambassadors of Christ willing to illustrate their love for God and their love for others.
Chapter 9 The Power of Symbols is based on the premise that while symbols have many uses, for Christians, symbols have both a function and a purpose. The most common function is to bring truth into a particular context. The most common purpose is to integrate truth in a way that God is glorified.
Chapter 10 Twenty Practical Ways to Increase Greater Levels of Creativity is a highly pragmatic look at strategies for becoming more creative. Topics include overcoming obstacles, confidence, shifting focus, repetition, time management, risk taking, and much more.