Scott Sauls - A Gentle Answer: Our Secret Weapon in an Age of Us Against Them

Praise for A Gentle Answer

Its clich now to say that our society is polarized, but the solutions are not much in evidence. This book proposes practicing Proverbs 15:1: A gentle answer turns away wrath. But Scott is not putting forth some mere technique. He shows that we will never be gentle and kind with one another unless we receive the perfect gentleness of gospel grace that restructures our hearts and identities so we can speak the truth in love to others. A great, highly practical volume that points us to the tenderness of Jesus: a bruised reed he will not break.

TIM KELLER, PASTOR EMERITUS OF REDEEMER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN NEW YORK CITY

Wow! What a great book. Endorsements are limited to two to three sentences. Yet, I need two to three pages to adequately celebrate this book. It is timely, surgically precise, convicting, and encouraging. We will be better humans because of it.

MAX LUCADO, BESTSELLING AUTHOR AND PASTOR OF OAK HILLS CHURCH IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS

Scott Sauls is the preeminent voice for fractured, polarized times. No voice speaks with such fresh hope, clarifying wisdom, and rooted orthodoxyall from a posture of unifying grace. Because he actually, genuinely, lives what he espouses, Scotts every word is read under our roof. Very few pastors or theologians have more spiritually formed our family than his. And very few books could change the conversation around our office watering holes, our family dinner tables, and across our aisles and fences across the globe like this one.

ANN VOSKAMP, BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF ONE THOUSAND GIFTS AND THE BROKEN WAY

For all the years Ive known Scott, hes been a resource for how to navigate difficult conversations. Why? Because this message is who he is. This book could not have come at a better time, as we navigate a culture of polarization. Im challenged and reminded of who Jesus is, and who I aim to begentle and lowly in heart. This is a heart-changing book!

REBEKAH LYONS, BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF RHYTHMS OF RENEWAL AND YOU ARE FREE

I love A Gentle Answer for three reasons. First, as a beaten-down and discouraged young pastorwho was ready to runthe whole trajectory of my life and ministry was changed by a single sentence spoken to me by a gentle-hearted man. Second, this book is a wonderful example of its own topic, it powerfully exposes and confronts us, while being beautifully gentle and encouraging at the same time. Third, in a culture that glories in outrage, I cant think of a more needed and timelier book than this one and I dont know of anyone who wouldnt benefit from reading it regularly, including me.

DR. PAUL DAVID TRIPP, PASTOR, SPEAKER, AND BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF NEW MORNING MERCIES

In a culture where being Christian doesnt necessarily mean being Christlike, A Gentle Answer reorients our hearts to the ways of Jesus. With the humility of a fellow student and the kindness of a trusted friend, our pastor, Scott Sauls, examines nuanced issues of anger, forgiveness, and criticism in the clarifying light of the gospel. This book is both enlightening and challenging but above all, it is an invitation to know Jesus more deeply and love others the way he does.

AMANDA BIBLE WILLIAMS AND RAECHEL MYERS, FOUNDERS OF SHE READS TRUTH

In his inimitable prose, Scott has once again beautifully reminded us about the upside nature of Christs kingdom; that is, regardless of our pedigree or position, our gentle grace-filled answers possess powerthe power to heal, inspire, and transform. What we often fail to realize is that kindness leads to repentance, grace leads to redemption. I will be turning to this book again and again, where Scott points me to the gentle grace of Jesus, full of grace and truth, as the model, motivation, and empowerment of the (hopefully!) generous spirit and speech we all need to have in the midst of lifes brokenness.

REV. JULIUS J. KIM, PRESIDENT OF THE GOSPEL COALITION

Scott Sauls is someone who has his priorities in the right place. In a culture that seems to reward bombast and bloviation, A Gentle Answer offers a different way. Scott understands that we need to care for one anothers souls when we enter into difficult conversations. What an example Scott gives of a gentle way we can follow that reflects a Christians confidence that Jesus is in control.

MICHAEL WEAR, AUTHOR OF RECLAIMING HOPE

Gentleness is not compromise. Its not a soft, mushy posture. To be gentle in a culture of outrage is rather a radical, dangerous, costly choicebut one with the potential to actually break the vicious cycles that destroy us. With A Gentle Answer, Scott Sauls offers Christians a gentlein the strongest sense of the wordnudge to return to the Jesus way of responding to a world full of things to (rightfully) be outraged about. Its a much better way, and this timely book shows why.

BRETT MCCRACKEN, SENIOR EDITOR AT THE GOSPEL COALITION AND AUTHOR OF UNCOMFORTABLE

While we all seem to recognize the need for gracious, civil discourse today, few people have practical suggestions for how we can change. A Gentle Answer gives us a biblical, compelling model for speaking in a conflicted and antagonistic society.

ALAN NOBLE, PHD, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF CHRIST AND POP CULTURE AND AUTHOR OF DISRUPTIVE WITNESS

The rights and privileges that I experience today as a black man were secured for me by a movement whose locus of power was in their response: Nonviolent. Peaceful. Gentle. In an historic irony, gentleness toppled Jim Crow, and literally changed the face of our democracy. Decades removed from these legislative gains, Scott Sauls reminds us of the essential and needed attribute of gentleness in a world steeped in outrage and cancel culture.

DR. BRYAN LORITTS, LEAD PASTOR OF ABUNDANT LIFE AND AUTHOR OF THE DAD DIFFERENCE

Outrage has become our national sportanger the highest of our civic virtues. But as Scott Sauls persuades, the scandalous, gracious, lavish love of God calls his people to a better way. This is an urgent book for our fractured times, calling us to rigorous self-examination and to the gentle way of Jesus. Sauls is just the kind of voice we need in evangelicalism today.

JEN POLLOCK MICHEL, AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR OF SURPRISED BY PARADOX AND KEEPING PLACE

Some books are really good on the merit of the writing alone. Other books arent as well written but are prophetic. A few books rise to the surface, deserving the affirmation, so timely. A Gentle Answer is a combination of all three. This was one of the easiest and most unsettling books to read. At times Im nicer than I am gentle. This book calls for a bold love I want to grow more into. In a culture of mean-spirited diatribe, Scott Sauls invites us to consider just how subversive Jesus command in Matthew 11:29 really is, Learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart. A gentle answer isnt a pragmatic tool for defusing an aggressors anger. Its an indication that the grace and love of Jesus are gentling our heartsthat his kingdom has come near. So much so that we can risk leading with kindness, not rightness; listen more, launch less; confirm less prejudices and win more friends.

SCOTTY WARD SMITH, PASTOR EMERITUS OF CHRIST COMMUNITY CHURCH AND TEACHER IN RESIDENCE AT WEST END COMMUNITY CHURCH

Everyone has a themthose whose views we dont want to tolerate. In Scotts signature style, he helps us see our own brokenness in this standoff culture with Jesus as the solution. In our secular feel-good world, words like love and confront can seem in opposition. Sauls helps us see how Jesus connects the two through a gentleness that is also bold. As we head into a polarizing election year, Sauls confronts us in a disturbing, necessary fashion with the way of Jesus.