As the second volume of the Biblical Legacy Series, Blackaby follows up his study of Abraham (Created to Be God's Friend) with this book of lessons based on the life of the prophet Samuel. Although the introduction implies that the book is aimed at a general Christian audience, the remaining chapters are squarely aimed at leaders in the church, if not exclusively at pastors. Continuing several of the themes from his best-selling book Experiencing God, Blackaby talks about the "defining moments" in the prophet's life. Emphasizing the importance of seeking God's will and direction at all times, he criticizes more individual-centered approaches to ministry and direction. The book reads very much like a sermon series. While some very conservative readers will be attracted, the larger reading audience will be disappointed with some of Blackaby's approaches. He departs from the main topic frequently to criticize things such as the individual's search for spiritual gifts, the rise of "worldly" worship styles and even the idea of having a "vision" for a church or ministry. In addition, the overall harsh tone of the book, the assumption that all leaders are male and the enormous pressure placed upon parents to raise "godly seed" will turn aside many readers. (Apr. 15)
Forecast:Although this is not Blackaby's best work, and the prophet Samuel is not a headliner in the manner of Abraham (the subject of recent works by Blackaby, Bruce Feiler and David Klinghoffer), the author's dedicated fans will still seek it out. Nelson plans advertising in Baptist periodicals and a direct-marketing campaign to previous purchasers of Blackaby's books—often a successful strategy in the CBA market.
