Sandcastle Kings: Meeting Jesus in a Spiritually Bankrupt World

Wilkerson, executive pastor of Trinity Church in Miami, Fla., offers a primer on 7 Luke, walking readers slowly through the stories of so-called sandcastle people, who fail to heed Jesus's advice of building strong moral foundations. In four parts, Wilkerson discusses real-life parallels to these biblical characters' struggles. He formulates his study around the centurion, the widow's son, John the Baptist, and the woman who anointed Jesus with the alabaster jar. In each, he mines personal anecdotes to show the lessons of 7 Luke in a modern context. Readers will find helpful examples of how these ancient characters reacted to their own difficult life circumstances, how their faith intersected with the harsh reality of life, and how the lessons they learn are still applicable today. Wilkerson's text is biblically sound, but becomes monotonous at times, as points are repeated. For those looking to delve further into 7 Luke, there are plenty nuggets to be gleaned. (Nov.)