Less Than Perfect

Broken Men and Women of the Bible and What We Can Learn from Them

Ann Spangler

• Publisher: Zondervan
• Year: 2018
• eBook ISBN: 9780310341734
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Biblical Studies

What can the Bible's most flawed men and women reveal about who God is and how he reaches out to less-than-perfect people? In Less Than Perfect, bestselling author Ann Spangler takes us beyond cardboard cutouts of 38 biblical characters to show us how these were real individuals who had dreams, temptations, and weaknesses just like us.

Whether considering the murderous Herodias, the scheming Jacob, or the doubting Sarah, Spangler approaches both familiar and lesser known characters with fresh eyes. We meet each of these individuals again as if for the first time as Spangler offers a dramatic retelling of their lives, insight into the historical and cultural context of their time, and key takeaway points for our lives today. Each chapter includes questions for discussion or reflection, making Less Than Perfect ideal for individual or group Bible study.

Entertaining, informative, and inspirational, Less Than Perfect gives you a big picture view of the Bible even as it takes you into the hearts and minds of people with struggles just like yours. As you learn more about the individuals who are part of your spiritual family tree, you'll discover why God loves to use imperfect people to tell his perfect story of redemption.

Table of contents

• Contents
• Introduction
• 1. The Story of Adam: How Eating the Wrong Thing Wrecked Everything
• 2. The Story of Eve: The Lie That Broke God’s Beautiful World
• 3. The Story of Cain: Wounded Pride Leads to Murder
• 4. The Story of Sarah: How a Ninety-Year-Old Gets Pregnant and Sets Tongues Wagging
• 5. The Story of Jacob and Esau: A Con Artist Gets Scammed
• 6. The Story of Shechem: A Despicable Revenge on a Despicable Prince
• 7. The Story of Tamar: A Widow and a One-Night Stand
• 8. The Story of Judah and His Terrible Brothers: When God Surprises Everyone
• 9. The Story of Miriam: How a Good Woman Falters
• 10. The Story of Pharaoh, King of Egypt: The Most Powerful Man on Earth Learns Who’s Really the Boss
• 11. The Story of Rahab: She Told a Lie . . . and Saved the Day
• 12. The Story of Delilah: A Wicked Woman Betrays Her Lover
• 13. The Story of Naomi and Ruth: Two Desperate Women Look for a Home . . . and a Future
• 14. The Story of Hannah and Peninnah: The Lord Judges between Two Rivals
• 15. The Story of Saul: A King Falls into Despair
• 16. The Story of the Medium of Endor: A Fortune Teller Conjures the Dead
• 17. The Story of Michal: A Trophy Princess Falls Out of Love
• 18. The Story of David: The Godly Man with a Shadow Side
• 19. The Story of Bathsheba: How Bathing in Public Caused No End of Difficulty
• 20. The Story of David’s Sons—Amnon, Absalom, and Adonijah: Three Men Who Would Be King
• 21. The Story of Jonah: How a Prophet Who Refused to Swallow His Pride Got Swallowed by a Fish Instead
• 22. The Story of Jezebel: A Bad Queen Learns It’s Not Smart to Fight with God
• 23. The Story of Gomer: A Prodigal Wife Learns the Meaning of True Love
• 24. The Story of Herod the Great: How Fear Rules a King
• 25. The Story of Herodias and Salome: A Mother and Daughter Wreak Havoc at a Birthday Party
• 26. The Story of Herod Antipas and His Wicked Nephew Agrippa: How God Gets the Last Laugh
• 27. The Story of the Woman Who Wiped the Feet of Jesus: A Prostitute Lets Her Hair Down, Scandalizing Everyone but Jesus
• 28. The Story of Judas Iscariot: The Man Who Lived with the Light but Chose Darkness Instead
• 29. The Story of Pontius Pilate: How a Terrible Dream Came True
• 30. The Story of Mary Magdalene: A Demon-Possessed Woman Becomes a Devoted Disciple
• Acknowledgments
• Notes