Is Your Lord Large Enough?: How C. S. Lewis Expands Our View of God - Softcover

Schakel, Peter J.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0830834923 ISBN 13: 9780830834921

Publisher: IVP, 2008

Synopsis

"Every year you grow, you will find me bigger." --Aslan to Lucy in Prince Caspian C. S. Lewis was, of course, a brilliant apologist, and his books contain much to feed your intellect. But Lewis was also very concerned about Christian formation and strongly desired to help believers deepen their faith and broaden their vision of God. In this book Peter Schakel opens to you the more practical parts of Lewis's wonderful writings. Covering areas of potential struggle such as prayer, suffering, doubt and love, Schakel draws principles from Lewis's nonfiction as well as illustrations from the Chronicles of Narnia to stir your imagination and soul so that you might see God in new ways. In addition, the author quotes from contemporaries of Lewis, showing how their thinking fit with Lewis's. With reflection questions included, this deeper look at Lewis's formational writings is valuable for your personal devotions or for group discussions. Either way, as you read you will find God bigger and bigger.

About this title

About the Author

Peter J. Schakel (Ph.D., University of Wisconsin) is Cook Professor of English at Hope College. A sampling of his books includes The Way into Narnia: A Reader's Guide (Eerdmans) and Imagination and the Arts in C. S. Lewis (University of Missouri Press).

Review

Discerning readers will enjoy and receive thought-provoking stimulation in this volume. Especially the chapter on "Why We Need the Church" that provided food for thought that can supplement what is revealed explicitly in Scripture. (Forrest L. Bivens, Wisconsin Lutheran Quarterly, Summer 2009)

I believe there are at least two types of readers who would especially benefit from this book. First, the young person who has enjoyed The Chronicles of Narnia but is not yet interested in Lewis's non-fiction may find here an exteremely accessible account of his ideas about God and the Christian life. Second, the person who is new to Lewis and therefore uncertain of where to begin may use this volume as a helpful guide for determining which of Lewis's writings speak most directly to her own interests. (Nathan D. Hieb, Koinonia, 2009)

In the steady stream of Lewisiana issuing from publishers, this book is distinguished by Schakel's clear thought and concise writing. (Daniel Boice, Catholic Library World, September 2008)

Regardless of their familiarity with Lewis, readers will find this thematic exploration into "imaginative theology" inspirational. (Adam Griffin, Youth Worker Journal, July/August 2008)

. . . A valuable summary of Lewis's thoughts on Christian living. Readers new to Lewis will find the book approachable, and longtime fans will find something new or be reminded of passages they love. (Publishers Weekly, December 3, 2007)

"Thank you for a tremendously gifted and helpful contribution to Lewis studies. In fact, I'd call it the very best book on Lewis ever done and the most important in its teachability and attractiveness to new Lewis readers and to young Lewis readers." (Corbin Scott Carnell, author of Bright Shadow of Reality: C. S. Lewis and the Feeling Intellect)

"Schakel is the wisest and humblest of C. S.Lewis's commentators. Our understanding of Lewis will never be complete, but this book comes very close!" (Walter Hooper, author of C. S. Lewis: A Complete Guide to His Life & Works)

"Is Your Lord Large Enough? is an excellent overview of various ways that C. S. Lewis employs images--in both his fiction and nonfiction--to illuminate theological matters. Lewis scholar Peter Schakel has used his considerable expertise to write an engaging work on aspects of Lewis's religious thought which is at once both instructive and devotional in nature. I highly recommend this volume for those who would welcome assistance in understanding and applying Lewis's insights on the Christian faith to their own life experience." (Marjorie Lamp Mead, associate director of the Marion E. Wade Center and coauthor of A Reader's Guide to Caspian)

"This is a spiritually nourishing book by one of the world's foremost C. S. Lewis scholars. Schakel explores C. S. Lewis's role as a spiritual mentor in a format that will encourage readers in their own faith and worship." (David C. Downing, author of The Most Reluctant Convert)

Edition details

• Publisher: IVP
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 0830834923
• ISBN 13: 9780830834921
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 208