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Great
Tim Chester
321 is a great introduction to the Christian faith. It goes to the heart of who God is and how we can know him. And it does this in an accessible and engaging way. I warmly encourage you to accept Glen’s invitation to look at Christianity from the inside.
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So pleased this is out!
Michael Reeves
Here’s a book that feels like a nice cuppa round a friend’s house. Glen Scrivener shows us beautiful good news with compelling warmth and clarity, ably defuses objections to Christianity, and lays out a warm welcome to Jesus Christ. I am so pleased to see this made available.
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Profoundly beckoning
Rico Tice
Profoundly beckoning, Glen Scrivener, calls his reader home to the relationship at the heart of the universe – three persons united in love – and mounts a robust defence of the wisdom of following Christ, that will both challenge and compel sceptics. Welcome to the family
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Fresh
Barry Cooper
Glen Scrivener has something of the outsider about him. I like that for at least two reasons. First, it means 321 fights shy of the over–familiar. It’s fresh, thought–provoking and frequently surprising. Scrivener won’t allow good news to become “heard–it–all–before” news. Second, as an outsider, he’s very well equipped to embrace other outsiders. But he doesn’t leave us there. 321 draws us into the warmth and beauty of the triune God, recognising that some things can only be understood from the inside.
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The ideal host
Peter Mead
Glen Scrivener is the ideal host in this warm invitation to get an insider’s look at Christianity. He has mixed all the right ingredients for a gospel feast! He starts by introducing Jesus and the God of the Bible – a God surprisingly and delightfully different than most people think. He shines a light on who we are, making sense of the reality we all experience. And he invites the reader into the fullness of all that we are offered in Jesus Christ – true human life. Glen is clear and engaging in his communication, but most importantly, he is infectiously in love with the God who first loved him. I thoroughly recommend 3–2–1 and will be giving it to others whenever I can!
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Stimulating read
Dan Priddy
The perfect book to read with coffee cup in hand (other drinks also suitable). Sit down and get comfortable as once you start reading 321 you won't want to put it down.
As Glen welcomes you in to explore the Christian faith from within his hospitality is exceptional. This book will keep you engaged, keep you thinking and keep you reading as you get to explore and experience the beauty of the Christian faith afresh. 321 also allows you to go further with QR code links to Glens well made videos which expand the text.
A must read and watch for Christian and non-Christian alike.
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A refreshing cuppa?
Jonathan West
A review of 3–2–1 The Story of God, the World and You by Glen Scrivener
This is the book of the video, and – if you haven’t seen it – you need to watch the video first, like now! http://three–two-one.org/ But then come back here…
So in this book Glen takes us on a tour of the house that is true Biblical trinitarian Christianity (and what I like about 321 is that it’s a gospel presentation that starts with the trinity!)
He starts by describing Jesus, giving us a fresh and really attractive view of his life (attractive AND true to the original accounts). He then walks through the three elements of the gospel (three, two and then one!) This isn’t a short read, but it’s very pleasant thanks to Glen’s easy style and ability to illustrate deep truths with simple every day examples: pleasant but also piercing. And he’s not afraid to poke fun at himself either, rather rejoicing in his Australian–deported–convict roots! He also suggests readings from John’s gospel at the end of each chapter, which is really helpful for someone trying to suss out Christianity’s claims.
The final part of the book consists in Glen examining common questions and objections to the Christian faith, and it’s rather fun how he uses the 321 framework even in these short and pithy responses.
The cover IS great, and the sub–title subtly interplays with the 321 moniker. I found the typeface a little small and rather odd, but due to generous line spacing it actually isn’t wearing to read. The one weakness mighty be his take on the difficult subject of hell, seeing it as purely a continuation of our current hell in separation from God. I think he’s right to point out our current hellish state and experience, but not sure his perspective does justice to the Biblical data on hell after judgment.
But overall this is a fresh and clear and attractive presentation of Christianity. He’s very much on the attack against the common objections but in a really gentle and winsome way. I’d recommend it for enquiring friends or to equip yourself for explaining and defending the gospel. But as I said it’s lots of words so not a casual read.
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Witty and energetic apologetics
Tanya Marlow
It has been a while since I read an evangelical evangelistic book, the sort that you give to friends to help them know what the gospel is. This one started a little slowly for me (the retelling of the gospel in his initial Jesus chapter fell a little flat for me, possibly because as a Sunday School Christian, I know the stories so well). But would be a mistake to stop there, because the rest of the book just zings with energy.
The structure of the book is to explain the heart of the gospel in three fairly long but engaging chapters (the 3 of the trinity; the 2 representatives – Jesus vs Adam; the 1 of unity with Christ), and the second half of the book is common apologetics questions, which are answered succinctly but briefly (suffering, sexuality, Bible etc).
Glen Scrivener’s winsome and jovial style is so readable, and his apologetics razor-sharp. This book stands out as an enthusiastic, intellectually rigorous, thoughtfully-illustrated portrayal of the gospel.
I found myself underlining lots of soundbites and fresh, striking illustrations. It reminded me of the best kind of evangelistic book I read as a student, and would be ideal for the twenties-thirties age group.
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Take and read!
Neal Patterson
321 The Story of God, The World and You is the book that Christians really need to read to re orientate their evangelism and then need to give away to a world that is dying.
In his quirky style Glen views Christianity as some kind of grand house. The issue is that this grand house looks dilapidated and battered on the outside. The problem is no one is looking at the house from the inside. Glen takes the reader on a no holds barred tour of the inside and says look at what Christians really believe.
He challenges the all too common misconceptions about God, Jesus and the world by taking his readers through a grand tour of Jesus life and explanation of the trinity. What were the Father and the Son and the Spirit doing before the world was created? What are they doing now? Why does it matter to me? Put simply it matters because the Christian worldview is that we are either lost sinners in Adam or can be redeemed sinners in Christ.
The first half of the book is great. There is freshness in his approach without betrayal of the gospel message. I found myself reading a book with clarity that not even some kids books manage to get close too!
What was really impressive was the fact that this was only halfway through the book. Not many evangelistic books offer answers to objections. You generally have to go to a specific book for that. Not here! In the second half, there are answers to most common objections to Christianity from the authenticity of the bible to suffering to sex to other faiths. All dealt with succinctly and with tenderness. There is no room for being smug and self–righteous in this book.
This is a really well thought out book. You never feel that the author is rabbiting intellectual waffle from a distance. You can almost feel the author turning the pages with you inviting you to consider Christianity with fresh eyes. The biggest compliment I could give this book – ‘Tolle lege’ – take and read!
