Disability and the Gospel: How God Uses Our Brokenness to Display His Grace

I have read and reviewed several books that I wish everyone would read; This is the first book I have read and immediately purchased a dozen copies to give away to people to make sure they read it. Michael Beates offers readers a substantive, theological look at disability and the gospel. His message has certainly changed the way I perceive the disabilities of others and of myself.This book shows how our disabilities fit into the gospel, and the conclusion points to the reality that all of us broken sinners have disabilities. Beates reveals the role of those with "apparent" disabilities in relation to God's sovereignty and his goodness. What we learn is that God has his purposes, and we learn how the church has responded to God's working in and through the disabled.The book takes readers through a survey the topic of disability in the context of the Old Testament, the New Testament, the early church, influential theologians and contemporary voices. This is enlightening and well done. We begin to see a contrast in God's view and the world's view when it comes to the human weakness and brokenness. Along the way, Beates adroitly quotes relavant citations from others including several from Joni Eareckson Tada who suffered paralysis and has developed a worldwide ministry. Beates writes with significant depth and breadth in these surveys.Beates incorporates the full gospel message in this book and emphasizes the inclusivity of the salvation of Jesus Christ for all people. I have been convicted to examine my own relationship with the disabled and how I have influenced my church and family to respond to those with special needs. I think the way I look at all people has been changed for the better by this book.I encourage you to read this book, and when you have the same passionate response I did I hope you will encourage others to read it too.

This book is a must read for anyone, not just people in church leadership or people who are helping with a disability ministry. Michael Beates does a beautiful job of bringing to light that the Gospel must be front and center in our lives and through that lens we will see that we are all truly broken and weak and in need of His strength. “Our spiritual worldview must be founded upon an understanding of our weakness wedded together with a much richer understanding of the sufficiently of grace.” (Pg 129) As a mom to a 6 year old with a disability, I have found this book to be very powerful. It has not only helped me to see a deeper meaning in Gods plan for the people born with genetic conditions but has also given me a renewed vision for Gods plan for our family.

very helpful

This book is amazing and written from the perspective that our Lord is Sovereign in ALL things. What the scriptures have to say, what theologians have to say in past and present, and our culture. It shows how our Lord uses the weak, the broken to show His wonder and His Grace. I highly recommend it. we are using it in our Sunday School class. I, myself am disabled since 1996 and I love this book.

Micheal Beates has done a masterful job of weaving his personal story into the larger fabric of leading a Christ-centered life. This is a must read for those raising a child with disabilities and a source of inspiration for all dads.

One of the best books on the market on disability and the Gospel. You will not be disappointed. I highly recommend reading and listening.

I am reading this book a second time and going more in depth to the accompanied scripture. God is using it to help me see His power as perfect and His sovereignty as loving in my weaknesses.

nice

Reading ‘Disability & the Gospel’ brought so many great points while looking at this Sue from the outside in. But there was too much emphases & assumption to the “brokenness” of those with disabilities.While there were hints within Michael Beates writing towards the inclusion of those with disabilities, he seemed more focus on the church being in service to those with disabilities. Without any doubts, the church very much must be there to serve the vulnerable. But, in the pursuit of the liberation of those with disabilities, we must seek to see them in the wholeness of community participation including being involved in mission, purpose, & leadership. I wish Beates spent more time highlighting this.Still, I enjoyed the journey with him & reading the great insights he brought to the table!

Deeply insightful on a whole range of topics, centred on the Gospel and rejects liberationist readings of the texts which do far too much reading into the scriptures and not enough reading out of them.This was my first full read in the topic of disability. I was moved by the need to be intentionally inclusive of those with disabilities.This book challenges our reliance upon ourselves and our own giftedness and explains how those with disabilities are a gift to Jesus' church in this way.

Informativo, impactante e cheio de compaixão. O autor conclama a igreja a imitar Cristo em Sua oferta de amor aos necessitados. Recomendo a todos aqueles que enfrentam suas próprias deficiências e precisam de consolo e encorajamento, a todos os que lidam com pessoas com deficiências, mas principalmente aos que não têm contato com a deficiência, para que enxerguem a si mesmos.

This is a very pastoral book written by a man caring for his daughter with a severe disability. It calls the church to provide a ministry for the disabled as an essential part of church, not only as a reaction when we come across disability in the church. The book is theological and pastoral. If you're passionate about the ministering to the disabled this book will empower you.

This book is wholly negative about what it is to be disabled. Disability is seen as brokenness not difference. The point of view is out of date. The conclusions bizarre. God does not need people to be disabled to make him look more powerful. We don't need disability to make us want heaven in comparison to earth - is heaven so bad it needs that kind of marketing? The book is warped thinking which leaves people with a distorted view of god and themselves. Yuk!