CURE FOR THE COMMON LIFE

Living in Your Sweet Spot

 

review by

Larry Shallenberger

CURE FOR THE COMMON LIFE: Living in Your Sweet Spot

by Max Lucado

(W Publishing Group)

BEST FOR: All Ages

Next to Chuck Swindoll, Max Lucado might be America’s most prolific pastor/author. His writing credits include two dozen inspirational books and twenty children’s books. Lucado presents his latest offering CURE FOR THE COMMON LIFE with his trademark warmth and fast-paced writing style.

The subject matter for this book is helping you and I discover our “sweet spot”—that is, that thing which gives us purpose in life. Lucado instructs that an individual’s “sweet spot” is the intersection of God’s Glory, a person’s strengths”, and everyday life. This book to help us discover our God-given design with the acronym S.T.O.R.Y. (Strengths, Topic, Optimum Conditions, Relationships, and Yes!)  According to Lucado, S.T.O.R.Y. give us the ability to perform a “personal anthropology” on ourselves and to uncover artifacts in our personality that give us clues as to what God created us for.

Lucado’s most valuable elements in this book are the gifts of a thoughtful perspective and a scripturally-supported framework to examine “why we are here.” He presents a vision of the Christian life that is far more ambitious than mere sin-avoidance. In his view, we are like “Halley’s Comet”, a once-in-a-generation opportunity to draw attention to Jesus Christ. Lucado seeds his arguments and gentle admonitions with poignant illustrations that drive his point home.

In recent years there have been several volume written about strength-based leadership. Marcus Buckingham is the recent champion of this movement with his books, “The One Thing You Need to Know” and “Now Discover Your Strength.” While Buckingham’s books are valuable and even widely used in the church, Lucado’s volume adds something that Buckingham lacks: context. We were created with strengths, for the purpose of glorifying God.         

In all, THE CURE FOR THE COMMON LIFE is not just a book; it’s an owner’s manual for a life. If you’re like me, you’ll find that this is an atlas to your uniqueness. The book concludes with an assessment test designed by People Management International, and an extensive Bible study and journal.

THINK

  • Do you know what God created you for? If not, what is your next step?

  • What’s the difference between Max’s S.T.O.R.Y. and spiritual gifts? How do you harmonize the two ideas?

  • When have you most felt used by God?

  • If God created us with a purpose then why do so many people suffer from a general sense of meaninglessness?

LIVE

Read 1 Corinthians 12:7. How can living in your sweet spot manifest God’s glory in your life this week?

LS