Fascinating Stories of Forgotten Lives

In his "Great Lives from God's Word" series, author and pastor Chuck Swindoll has written biblically based biographies of some of the heroes of the Bible.  His series has covered the lives of such well-known figures as David, Esther, Job, and the Apostle Paul.  In Fascinating Stories of Forgotten Lives, Swindoll takes a break from his usual formula in this popular series.  Instead of focusing the book on the life of one well-known figure from God’s Word, he writes about the lives of 12 Old Testament figures that are not as well known.  While we don't know enough about some of these people to dedicate an entire book to any one of their stories, Swindoll writes that there are still great lessons to learn from the stories of these lesser known men and women.

Swindoll starts with a quiz.  He asks his readers a series of questions:

1. Who taught famous theologian Martin Luther his theology and inspired his translation of Scripture from Latin to German?
2. Who spoke to well-known evangelist Dwight L. Moody in a shoe store – a conversation that led Moody to Christ?
3. Who gave Charles Wesley his start as a composer, leaving the church with more than five thousand hymns in its repertoire?

Of course, most of us don't know any of the answers for this quiz.  Swindoll's point in asking these questions is to help us realize that many of the great things that are done for God are not done in the spotlight.  Famous evangelists may get more attention.  But throughout church history, many Christians have worked behind the scenes and accomplished great things as God worked through them.  While telling the Old Testament stories of Achan, Abigail, Absalom, Rehoboam, Uzziah, and others, Swindoll reminds us that you don't have to be famous to live a life of significance for God.

Fascinating Stories of Forgotten Lives and other books from the "Great Lives from God's Word" series are currently available in the JMBC library.

Fascinating Stories
of Forgotten Lives