Rating: 
Summary: Towards a Greater Picture of God
Review: In this small book, Phillips strikes at a vital issue in today's church: the multiplicity of false conceptions of God. The false conceptions of God that we hold are damaging to the faith and Christianity as a whole. Phillips brings many of these inadequate conceptions of God to light in the first half of the book, which I thought was some of the most poignant writing in the book. Too often we limit God, especially so that we can have our "God-in-a-box", which is essentially a shrunken-down God that fits OUR notions of what God is like and where He is. This along with many other false conceptions of God which Phillips gives name, create a pseudo-god that we ourselves hardly respect, and neither do those outside the church. And more importantly they do not reflect the true nature of God as revealed in the Bible. I was slightly disappointed in the second portion of the book where Phillips tries to open up a more full image of God. Most of it was very well written, and I especially liked the way he pointed to Jesus Christ as the "focused" God that came to be among us and die for our sins. However, scattered things in the latter portion of the book I disagreed with, for example, the way Phillips seemed to downplay sin somewhat. The true ugliness and despair of OUR OWN SIN is what nailed Christ to the Cross and was the punishment Jesus bore IN OUR STEAD! This makes the resurrection of Christ all the more joyful for sin-wearied souls, as we have the promise of forgiveness and eternal life WITH OUR SAVIOR!!! It is important that we recognize our own sinfulness and are repentant that we may receive this great gift. Altogether "Your God is Too Small" is a good little book for all Christians to read.
Rating: 
Summary: Expanding our concept of God
Review: The basic premise of this book is that most of us have an inadequate concept of what God is. The first half, subtitled "Unreal Gods" is devoted to dispelling a number of popular notions about God's nature. The general thrust is that our personal theologies put too many limits on the Almighty. The second half of the book "An adequate God" was, ironically, less convincing than the first. Too much ink was used to promote the "Jesus was God" theory, adding that Jesus' message 2000 years ago was all God ever needed to give us to prove Himself to us. Too little space was given to what God is for us here and now. The book challenges us to part with our limited perspectives, but is not entirely successful at inspiring unlimited vision.
Rating:
Summary: Challenges Us to a Bigger View of God
Review: This book helps us learn to accept God as He is rather than as we imagine Him to be. It helps those who have either an authoritarian view of God or a permissive view of Him. We must also face the fact that God does not operate in ways that we can predict. Hence, for example, the challenge of suffering and evil.
Rating:
Summary: A controlled explosion of thought and theology
Review: This book is dynamite! It carries a big explosion in a small package! Like most people, I was introduced to J. B. Phillips via his rather bouncy and energetic translation of the New Testament; so buying this book was the next necessary and logical step. In it, Mr. Phillips discusses way that we limit God; we limit His power, His influence in our lives. It reminds me of what Joseph Smith said, "It is the constitutional disposition of mankind to set up stakes and set bounds to the works and ways of the Almighty." We have these weird conceptions of God. I think they come from Type "A" overachievers-these people who are the movers, shakers, and leaders in the world-who make God in their own image, so he ends up looking more like a rulebook, and less like a holy being. For some reason, we don't want a strong God interfering in our life, telling us to love those oh, so obnoxious people. Besides, a weak God is easier to control. His section on God in the arts absolutely tore my head off. Mr. Phillips makes the point that we never see God interacting with evil people, only with the Good, as if He is only concerned with the good. In "Return of the Jedi," near the end, we see Annikin/Darth Vader have a few pricks of conscience before he kills Emperor Palpatine, but you never see this wrestle with conscience in other villains. But we know it goes on! J. B. Phillips has a blessed gift for language that is flows, bounces, and he creates wonderful images that stick with you. On top of these obvious linguistic abilities, he was a piercing insight that glances through the creaky creeds and misconceptions of our age, and into the holy of holies.
Rating:
Summary: A controlled explosion of thought and theology
Review: This book is dynamite! It carries a big explosion in a small package! Like most people, I was introduced to J. B. Phillips via his rather bouncy and energetic translation of the New Testament; so buying this book was the next necessary and logical step. In it, Mr. Phillips discusses way that we limit God; we limit His power, His influence in our lives. It reminds me of what Joseph Smith said, "It is the constitutional disposition of mankind to set up stakes and set bounds to the works and ways of the Almighty." We have these weird conceptions of God. I think they come from Type "A" overachievers-these people who are the movers, shakers, and leaders in the world-who make God in their own image, so he ends up looking more like a rulebook, and less like a holy being. For some reason, we don't want a strong God interfering in our life, telling us to love those oh, so obnoxious people. Besides, a weak God is easier to control. His section on God in the arts absolutely tore my head off. Mr. Phillips makes the point that we never see God interacting with evil people, only with the Good, as if He is only concerned with the good. In "Return of the Jedi," near the end, we see Annikin/Darth Vader have a few pricks of conscience before he kills Emperor Palpatine, but you never see this wrestle with conscience in other villains. But we know it goes on! J. B. Phillips has a blessed gift for language that is flows, bounces, and he creates wonderful images that stick with you. On top of these obvious linguistic abilities, he was a piercing insight that glances through the creaky creeds and misconceptions of our age, and into the holy of holies.
Rating: 
Summary: A cleverly written to-the-point book
Review: This book is really rather easy to read and fun. We often "assume" God is supposed to be one way (God is our conscience, God is a policeman, etc) where in truth those ideas are derived from other sources and have nothing to do with scripture. This book points us in the right direction and is refreshing reading for both believers and non-believers.
Rating:
Summary: Don't label, box and bury God
Review: This book will show you how we all want to define God as we want to, not as God wants. You will see yourself in the pages of this book and hopefully, you will make an honest effort to rise above your restrictive defintion of God. If so, it will have expanded your understanding of your world. This is a good book for a class in spirituality to discuss.
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