SOLA Network's Asian American Book Awards Honorable Mention

Greatness is overrated.

People tend to measure success by worldly standards. We assume that greatness comes from charisma, influence, and followers. But God cares more about our character than about what people around us think of our reputations.

Pastor Jae Hoon Lee challenges us not to pursue greatness but to grow in goodness. Jesus called his followers to cultivate character of goodness, not to aspire to positions of power. The faithful Christian life is one that seeks to become good. These reflections and meditations on the good Christian life unpack what it means for the church to live in obedience and faith, to strip awayambitious self-glorification, and to instead live humble lives of goodness and love.



Jae Hoon Lee (DMin, Gordon-Conwell) is the senior pastor at Onnuri Church and chair of The Gospel Coalition Korea and Handong Global University. He is chair of the Korea Lausanne Committee and served as cochair of the host committee for the Seoul2024 Fourth Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization. His books include Great to Good, and he and his family live in Seoul, Korea.



Introduction



Part One: In Search of a Good Christian

1. Cultivate a Good Conscience

2. It's Morality, Stupid

3. Pain Is a Part of Joy

4. Torn from Evil and Set Apart for Good

5. A Christian Without Following Christ?

6. We Represent a God of Love

7. Justice Comes from Love

8. Strip Away Your Facades

9. True Blessings of Christ-Followers

10. Goodness Shines



Part Two: A Good Leader Builds Christ's Church

11. Be the Best Man, Not the Bridegroom

12. Signs of Judas's Betrayal

13. Fools for Christ

14. Why Is the Church Weak?

15. Happiness Comes When We Come Back

16. The Spirituality of Simplicity

17. Seek Wisdom

18. Relyon Teamwork

19. Not the Authority but a Steward

20. Your Best May Not Be God's Best



Part Three: Choose Truth, Even When It's Painful

21. Making the Right Decisions

22. The Right Mentality

23. Why Do Humans Want to Be Gods?

24. Truths Everyone Must Accept

25. Finding Your Place in Life During Disaster

26. The Key Is Always the Gospel

27. Truth Cannot Be Divided into Public and Private

28. Lives Are More Important Than Rights

29. Truth with a Gentle Embrace

30. True Authority Leads to True Freedom



Part Four: Deny Yourself and Take Up Your Cross

31. Have You Lost Your Humility?

32. Only Shepherds Answered the Call

33. The True Leader Steps Up in the Storm

34. Embracing Conflict

35. Look to the Self, Then the Situation

36. Real Change

37. Know Thyself

38. Faith or Stubbornness?

39. Time for Job's Repentance

40. God Loves Cities of Sinners



Part Five: Live Out Your Good Life

41. The Christian Life Is a Syntropy Drama

42. Your Mission Is to Go Beyond Your Backyard

43. Unlock the Future with Faith

44. A Calling Requires Courage

45. God Will Guide Us

46. Love Has Many Hues

47. A Bucket List Is a Calling List

48. When Duty Transforms into Joy

49. A Friend Who Will Never Leave

50. Not Success but Service!



Acknowledgments