Epic: The Story God Is Telling

For such a small book The Epic is a wonderfully inspiring read. It would be enjoyed by new Christians and folks who have lived the Christian life for many years. I just loved it as did my daughter and granddaughter. I think everyone in the world should read this book and it doesn't take much time to do it. I personally loved it and wish I could give everyone a copy. Barbara Hewitt

It was a book that did not catch your interest at first, but the further I read, the more I could identify the theme and appreciate the subject. His intellectual approach, by bringing in some of the old classical illustrations to drive home his points, was very unusual, yet clearly amplified his theme. When I had completed the book, I had a new appreciation for the fact that the Bible is really "HIS STORY". I would recommend this book for all wanting to know God and His plan better.

I first saw the DVD, which I recommend watching first and using the book to supplement. Eldredge offers three versions in DVD set--a short 37 minute version, an hour long version, and a small group study version that is just over 1 1/2 hours with commentaries if you watch all 6 parts at once. I highly HIGHLY recommend that the first time you watch it, you go ahead and commit to watching the study version all the way through in one sitting. I got several life-changing insights and they keep coming. After seeing the DVD, I wanted more and read the book. While the book doesn't have quite the same impact, it does offer a little more information. I've been a Christian for 30 of my 36 years and this DVD (and book) impacted me more than any sermon I've heard. The Prologue sets up the format. He presents the gospel as an epic--a story and gives us a larger view of Christianity and where we fit into it. It's SOOO not all about us, yet we are a valuable part of it, we have our role to play. The first "Act" is Eternal Love. It made me see God's nature more clearly. Yes, God is love, as we have all heard. But understanding the Trinity love relationship helped lay a foundation for the overall insight of We can trust the heart of God. That we are invited into something good that already exists and offers a sense of belonging to something greater. The second act "Entrance of Evil" reminded me that sometimes I forget and see the world (and thus God)as if there weren't a villian. I also see how his biggest lie (You can't trust the heart of God) was being perpetuated long before creation. It was effective with the fallen angels and I fall prey to it sometimes myself. The third act is where creation began and we currently are. I've heard (even occasionally taught) that God loves me innumerable times. While I knew in my head that this was unmistakeably true, I never experienced it like I did because of this. "The Passion of Christ" gave me a glimmer, but this much, much more so. The way Eldridge describes creation and us made in the Trinity's likeness (an echo) made me feel Psalms 139:13 like never before. I've struggled with feeling valuable and this insight offered a sense of security I've had a difficult time obtaining. Despite what we do (the she-camel verse struck my very heart), God still melts for us and pursues us, without force. Christ's life and death somehow seem more real to me. With love like this, I can trust the heart of God. Act four talks about Heaven. NOT the typical (unfortunately) view of heaven and endless (i.e. boring) worship and praisefests. (Yes, we will worship God, but not just through song and church services in the sky) This presents a biblical view of heaven that really does sound like heaven. You really need to hear this, it's inspiring and exhilirating. The Epilogue wraps it up and reasserts our place in the epic. There isn't any way to convey all the ways or the degree how this DVD (and book) moved

Ok, so a lot of books bring tears to my eyes, but it seemed the best way to describe Eldredge's latest book. It is so easy to get mired down in the hassles and headaches of daily living, and Eldredge lifts up our eyes to the much bigger story, the Epic that God has been writing since time began. No, it won't win any awards on brilliance of systematic theology, but it is beautiful, inspiring, highly recommended devotional reading.

Upon beginning to read Eldredge's latest book, I found myself with a knife in one hand, a razor in the other, ready to cut, shred, slice and dice my way through--what I had falsely believed-- was going to be another milquetoast, week-kneed "inspirational" piece of nonsense foisted upon the unsuspecting masses. How very wrong my initial perceptions were! Rather than cutting and ripping my way through this book, I found my self pleasantly delighted by each wonderful page. I can honestly say that this is the best little book I've read in the past year. What is it about certain stories that capture the imagination and adoration of so many people? Just in the past fifty years or so, we have had the great pleasure of being blessed with many wonderful stories, both in book and film, like "The Lord of the Rings," "The Chronicles of Narnia," "Star Wars," "The Matrix," "Titanic" and a host of others. Something about these films and stories spoke to us on a deep, emotional level, bypassing our analytical minds and moving upon us in a genuinely spiritual fashion. Eldredge has discovered the common theme that unites all these wonderful stories, and shows us how they all are very similar to the Greatest Story Ever Told. Could it be that all these famous, well known stories have become so popular because there is something in us that wants, or possibly even knows that they are true? Whether it be the heroics displayed upon the decks of the sinking Titanic, or the courageousness of two lonely little hobbits trekking across forlorn lands to destroy ultimate evil, there is something about those stories that we wish were true for ourselves. But what if these stories could, in fact, be speaking of a reality that is available for us? Is it possible that we too could live "happily ever after" upon completion of a heroic deed? The surprising but honest answer Eldredge gives us is a resounding "yes." The ultimate story of all history is that of the God/man Jesus. Here is a man who lived a simple, but powerful life. He was a champion and a friend to many, and a bitter enemy and a thorn in the side of a few. But those few were the power-brokers of the day, and decided it would be convenient to do away with this miracle worker who so rudely upset their conscience. But the miracle worker, so quickly and violently put to death, had one last message he wanted to deliver before he left this planet: death is NOT the end, but the beginning of Real Life. Eldredge correctly points out that films like "Titanic" and "Gladiator" succeed because they plainly show that there is life after death, there is a happy ending no matter the tragedy. Isn't that what we long for, hope for, pray for? Our lives are not just meaningless little accidents that are the results of random chemical reactions, but we are here for a purpose, not matter how wonderful or horrible the circumstances around us. But the purpose does not reach it's ultimate fulfillment until we've recon