Jesus Loves You, This I Know The Review

Jesus Loves You, This I Know takes as its title a phrase that should have deep, soul-changing, heart-melting significance, but which instead has often become, in the words of the authors, “a trite, overused Christian cliche… a casual exchange in passing.” This is the problem authors Craig Gross and Jason Harper set out to tackle: the “hijacking” of the gospel message, the shift from a message of hope and love to a message of judgment and division.

Their way of reclaiming the meaning of that phrase is straightforward, if sometimes uncomfortable. They provide concrete examples out of personal experience to show how we can show the love of Jesus to those around us. Harper recounts his experiences as a cable company’s bill collector, going to the doors of those who can’t pay their bills. Gross discusses his surprisingly close relationship with the self-described “King of Porn,” Ron Jeremy. In both cases, Harper and Gross carry the love of Jesus outside the four walls of the church to those who need it desperately.

Above all, Jesus Loves You is a call to action — a call to every reader to follow in the footsteps of the authors, break out of our “holy huddles,” and go out to show Christ’s love to the world. If you don’t want to be convicted or challenged, avoid this book. If you’re looking for outside-the-box ways to impact your community for Jesus, read it and take it to heart.

As a young pastor in Southern California, Craig Gross began to notice a recurring theme among those he cared for – a struggle with pornography. Boldly and courageously, he decided to address the root of the problem, so he went to the porn industry to ask some questions. This passion led him to start XXXchurch.com, a website devoted to telling the truth about porn.

Within days of his initial journey to the porn industry, some people in the church began to condemn Craig’s efforts as immoral and ineffective. At the same time, many others affirmed him, opening their hardened and often broken hearts to a relevant and authentic Gospel they hadn’t seen coming from mainstream religion.

The XXXchurch website mixes the seedy with the sacred in an effort to raise the often taboo subject of pornography as a problem that needed to be dealt with. In the seven years since it began, XXXchurch.com has had over 70 million visitors to the website and almost a half of million people using X3watch Accountability Software. Craig has been featured in GQ magazine,”Good Morning America,” Newsweek, CNN, LA Times, Nightline and The New York Times, and his ministry is the subject of an award winning documentary and a new reality TV documentary.

The website offers free accountability software, as well as practical and spiritual solutions to pornography issues. The site also features weekly updates and continuing information about pornography and its wide-reaching effects. Craig has written six books including his latest book, Jesus Loves You…This I Know.

Craig lives in Las Vegas, Nevada with his wife of ten years Jeanette and their two children Nolan and Elise.

You can find Craig on his website or follow him on FaceBook or Twitter.

Learn more about XXXChurch website, Twitter, or FaceBook. Learn more about Jesus Loves You here and the book tour here. Interested in using this book for your sermon series or small group? Find all kinds of resource materials here and video/mini-movies here.

Leave a comment to win a copy of Jesus Loves You. Read my post “A Conversation with Craig Gross” for a second chance to win. Winner will be announced August 30th.