Christian Beliefs: Twenty Basics Every Christian Should Know

This book is very imformative. A great reference for beginners and graduates of the church.

Christian Beliefs: Twenty Basics Every Christian Should Know This is a systematic theology for middle school students who are serious about God, or high school students, or college students who are not ready to tackle his larger work Systematic Theology. A great book for youth ministers to teach through or use in small groups. His Systematic Theology is much more thorough and I recommend it instead of Christian Beliefs, if you are a hard core disciple no matter your age.

Grudem's book is an excellent overview of the basics of Chistian beliefs from a Reformed point of view. The chapters are between 3-5 pages, just long enough for a new Christian to read and digest the material without getting bogged down in a lot of detailed discussion. That is not to say that this book is light on doctrine or details. All of the fundamentals are there. While it is written from a Reformed point of view, the book is applicable for all evangelical Christian perspectives. I know Pentecostal churches that use this book for new Christian classes. I am using this book as a text for a Christian Foundations class, and it is working well. For a new Christian, or for someone wanting to know the basics of Christian beliefs, this is a great starting point. For more in-depth study, I would also recommend Grudem's book Bible Doctrines, which is the next step up, and also his book Systematic Theology, which is extremely readable and detailed.

I love this book because the way Mr. Grudem speaks is like having a chat with a friend not talking to a intellectual. The issues he covers are clearly presented in ways that make it easy to follow. The systematic approach is clear and concise. Another thing I like is I can go back and grab a chapter for review and not have to worry about having read the other chapters. One final thought is that I appreciate how both sides of an argument are addressed. The author doesn't simply state the position he believes and leave you wondering about the other side of the story. He discusses the challenges that the theological position he is taking often faces.

I have read Grudem's Systematic Theology and Bible Doctrine. Christian Beliefs provides a wonderful introduction and practical guide concerning the primary doctrines of the Bible. It is written in such a way that even the young reader can understand. I have found Wayne Grudem to be clear and precise.