Jack Chisholm is “the people’s pastor,” leading a growing megachurch, having written several best-selling books, and always saying, “We have got to do better.” 
Jack knows how to preach and he understands how to chastise people, but he doesn’t know anything about grace.
After an evening of debauchery that leads to an affair with his beautiful assistant, Jack finds himself deserted with chilling swiftness. The church elders remove him from his own pulpit. His publisher withholds the royalties from his books. Worst of all, his wife disappears with their eight-year-old daughter.
But just as Jack is hitting bottom, drinking his way to oblivion, his long-estranged father appears, imploring his prodigal son: “Come home.”
A true companion piece to The Ragamuffin Gospel, The Prodigal illustrates the power of grace through the story of a broken man who finally saw Jesus not because he preached his greatest sermon or wrote his most powerful book, but because he failed miserably.
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Manning and Garrett bring a familiar story to the contemporary world. Yes, the ending is predictable, but that’s the point. What does grace look like today? Is any sin too great to be confessed or forgiven? In a society where people are judged instantly on social media and internet news, what does a prodigal child look like?
The story started slow – lots of long flashbacks and explanations. I stuck with it, however, to see the redemption – how does Jack come to develop a true relationship with God? Is he really able to move on?
Yes, of course. The authors show a modern man with modern problems trying to figure it out, first on his own, then with God. A nice read. If you liked Chasing Francis by Ian Morgan Cron, I think you’ll enjoy this story.
*I received a free copy of this book from Thomas Nelson’s Book Sneeze program. The opinions are my own.
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