Furman likens the Christian life to an improv. “Improv is not a free-for-all where actors may do whatever they please. Improv discerns what is already at play and follows along with creatively faithful interactions” (location 410). As believers we follow Jesus’ lead as He lives out the Father’s will perfectly. While it’s not helpful to take analogies to extremes, I found this helpful. We read the Word so that it shapes the way we think about and order our lives. As we come to know Christ more in the Word and with the Spirit’s help, we are able to go more with his flow for our days.
She presents a beautiful picture of the church and what it means to be a part of the body of Christ. She states, “The presence of God is among us in the world through the presence of the church” (location 592). She quotes Mark Dever who said that while one godly person can catch someone’s attention, a body of believers (the church) “creates a picture of humanity that people have only dreamed of. “ My family found this to be true when my son was in the hospital for months. Our church family took such good care of us, covering our walls with cards, praying for us around the clock, delivering meals to us and more, that our caregivers were astounded. They had never seen anything like it. It was a powerful testimony of God’s goodness and care of us through the local church.
This book has a different feel or tone from other Furman books I’ve read. While not quite a commentary, this is a study of Ephesians rather than a devotional or a meditation on a topic. It would be great to read each section right along with the corresponding passage. It was gospel saturated and rich. If you want to go deeper into Ephesians, I’d highly recommend it.
Thank you to Crossway for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
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