A book on God’s greatness that helps you to trust him, grow in faith and live confidently.
What’s the secret to truly trusting God so that we can rest easy at night? How can we have the same faith and confidence as David who said: “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety” (Ps 4:8)?
The answer lies in focusing on God’s greatness. When we consider God’s greatness, we usually tend to think about what God can do. However, this book explores 12 things that God can’t do. They all express aspects of his nature and character which we can embrace with relief, celebrate with joy and worship with awe. You will marvel both at God’s otherness and at how he became one of us in the person of Jesus.
Read this book to grow in faith, live with confidence and rest easy at night, trusting in the God who never sleeps.
Introduction: Why we sleep–and the God who doesn’t
1. God Can’t Learn
2. God Can’t Be Surprised
3. God Can’t Change His Mind
Interlude: But… God Went to School
4. God Can’t Be Seen
5. God Can’t Bear to Look
Interlude: But… God Came Close
6. God Can’t Change
7. God Can’t Be Lonely
8. God Can’t Suffer
9. God Can’t Die
Interlude: But… God Suffered and Died, Alone
10. God Can’t Be Tempted
11. God Can’t Lie
Interlude: But… God Was Tempted
12. God Can’t Deny Himself
| Contributors | Nick Tucker |
|---|---|
| ISBN | 9781784986902 |
| Format | eBook |
| First published | June 2022 |
| Case quantity | 50 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | The Good Book Company |
Oh, what glories we discover not just in our God’s abilities but even in his perfect ‘cannots’. Enough indeed to help us know true safety—and sleep soundly. I pray that God will be pleased to expand and deepen and strengthen your vision of him in his precious cannots, and also draw dazzlingly close to you in love when you see what further excellencies he added in Christ.
12 Things God Can't Do is a wonderful example of why theology matters, why orthodox theology matters, and why having gifted theological teachers matters. The weightiness of content that we so desperately need to nourish us, sustain us, and, yes, help us sleep(!) is balanced by Nick’s lightness of touch and pastoral sensitivity. The result is theological exposition that is both relevant and richly affective. Highly recommended.
Finally, a book that prides itself on putting you to sleep! 12 Things God Can't Do is deeply peace-bringing and faith-building. Nick Tucker has an extraordinary gift for making profound truths about the nature of God accessible for ordinary people. This book will give you a greater understanding of the God of the universe and leave you captivated afresh by his perfect character. I wholeheartedly commend it to you.
There is much to enjoy in this book. The author brings fresh insight into the nature of God by examining aspects of his perfect character that cannot be true. For instance God can't learn or be surprised (he already knows everything) and he can't be lonely (he exists in perfect trinitarian relationship).
Tucker quickly debunks classic misconceptions like the omnipotence paradox ("Can God make a rock that's too heavy for him to lift?") rightly highlighting the misapplication of human characteristics to God as the root of this fallacy. He goes onto use this "God cannot" approach to provide deep insights into what the Judeo-Christian God is like that will really get you thinking and, I believe, help you gain a perspective into a personal relationship with him.
The real masterstroke in this book is the application of Jesus' experience as a human within 'Interlude' chapters. These shine a light on the ways Jesus would've experienced the full gamut of human emotions, weakness and suffering as one of us. It's really fascinating stuff!
'12 Things God Can't Do' is not a long book and it will definitely get you thinking. The chapters are short and punchy too and given the weightiness of some of the topics, it wouldn't have suffered from being longer. If you're after something thoughtful and a little different, I'd heartily recommend it.
There is much to enjoy in this book. The author brings fresh insight into the nature of God by examining aspects of his perfect character that cannot be true. For instance God can't learn or be surprised (he already knows everything) and he can't be lonely (he exists in perfect trinitarian relationship).
Tucker quickly debunks classic misconceptions like the omnipotence paradox ("Can God make a rock that's too heavy for him to lift?") rightly highlighting the misapplication of human characteristics to God as the root of this fallacy. He goes onto use this "God cannot" approach to provide deep insights into what the Judeo-Christian God is like that will really get you thinking and, I believe, help you gain a perspective into a personal relationship with him.
The real masterstroke in this book is the application of Jesus' experience as a human within 'Interlude' chapters. These shine a light on the ways Jesus would've experienced the full gamut of human emotions, weakness and suffering as one of us. It's really fascinating stuff!
'12 Things God Can't Do' is not a long book and it will definitely get you thinking. The chapters are short and punchy too and given the weightiness of some of the topics, it wouldn't have suffered from being longer. If you're after something thoughtful and a little different, I'd heartily recommend it.
There is much to enjoy in this book. The author brings fresh insight into the nature of God by examining aspects of his perfect character that cannot be true. For instance God can't learn or be surprised (he already knows everything) and he can't be lonely (he exists in perfect trinitarian relationship).
Tucker quickly debunks classic misconceptions like the omnipotence paradox ("Can God make a rock that's too heavy for him to lift?") rightly highlighting the misapplication of human characteristics to God as the root of this fallacy. He goes onto use this "God cannot" approach to provide deep insights into what the Judeo-Christian God is like that will really get you thinking and, I believe, help you gain a perspective into a personal relationship with him.
The real masterstroke in this book is the application of Jesus' experience as a human within 'Interlude' chapters. These shine a light on the ways Jesus would've experienced the full gamut of human emotions, weakness and suffering as one of us. It's really fascinating stuff!
'12 Things God Can't Do' is not a long book and it will definitely get you thinking. The chapters are short and punchy too and given the weightiness of some of the topics, it wouldn't have suffered from being longer. If you're after something thoughtful and a little different, I'd heartily recommend it.
This book is a fantastic overview of what God is not capable off, and how to find comfort in those ‘can’ts’ of God. It’s a refreshing and interesting read.
But come on publishers - please proof read! The index includes Chapter 12 as ‘God can’t change’ (a repeat of chapter 6). Whereas chapter 12 is actually entitled ‘God can’t can’t disown himself’. When you pay good money for a book, you don’t expect to find errors like this….
This book is a fantastic overview of what God is not capable off, and how to find comfort in those ‘can’ts’ of God. It’s a refreshing and interesting read.
But come on publishers - please proof read! The index includes Chapter 12 as ‘God can’t change’ (a repeat of chapter 6). Whereas chapter 12 is actually entitled ‘God can’t can’t disown himself’. When you pay good money for a book, you don’t expect to find errors like this….
This book is a fantastic overview of what God is not capable off, and how to find comfort in those ‘can’ts’ of God. It’s a refreshing and interesting read.
But come on publishers - please proof read! The index includes Chapter 12 as ‘God can’t change’ (a repeat of chapter 6). Whereas chapter 12 is actually entitled ‘God can’t can’t disown himself’. When you pay good money for a book, you don’t expect to find errors like this….
I have just been blown away by this book - it's freshness and the depth of who God is, has filled me with huge comfort, joy and encouragement. I think of the old hymn ' Through all the changing scenes of life ..' and am brought back to these wonderful truths of our great God, that have been highlighted with such clarity by Nick Tucker. I feel I want to let the book ' percolate ' for a little while and then I plan to read it all over again ! Already, I have given it a very high recommendation to lots of friends.
I have just been blown away by this book - it's freshness and the depth of who God is, has filled me with huge comfort, joy and encouragement. I think of the old hymn ' Through all the changing scenes of life ..' and am brought back to these wonderful truths of our great God, that have been highlighted with such clarity by Nick Tucker. I feel I want to let the book ' percolate ' for a little while and then I plan to read it all over again ! Already, I have given it a very high recommendation to lots of friends.
I have just been blown away by this book - it's freshness and the depth of who God is, has filled me with huge comfort, joy and encouragement. I think of the old hymn ' Through all the changing scenes of life ..' and am brought back to these wonderful truths of our great God, that have been highlighted with such clarity by Nick Tucker. I feel I want to let the book ' percolate ' for a little while and then I plan to read it all over again ! Already, I have given it a very high recommendation to lots of friends.
“12 Things God Can’t Do” by Nick Tucker
In the words of the old children’s song “My God is so big, so strong and so mighty, there’s nothing that my God cannot do.” Except that a deeper look into the deeper things of God will reveal that there are in fact some things that God cannot do and they are tied into the nature and character of God.
In this fascinating and theologically rich book and using biblical examples, Nick Tucker looks at twelve things that God cannot do and the reassurance that they bring as we rest in the providence and faithfulness of God.
The book is divided up into sections with interludes in between each of the five different sections dealing with a different part of God’s character and nature.
Firstly, the foreknowledge of God means that God cannot learn, be surprised or change His mind, God knows everything about us and He sees the end from the beginning and God cannot change His mind but allows man to intercede at various points.
Secondly, we then look at the transcendence of God - who is invisible and above all things which means that He cannot be seen and the perfect holiness of God, who cannot bear to look upon sin.
Thirdly, the fact that God cannot change and the great reassurance that that brings to us as we experience all kinds of change in our lives and in the world around us. We also explore the “impassivity” of God - a doctrine that has been greatly debated in theological circles and Nick Tucker deals with this question is a really relatable and pastorally sensitive manner.
Finally, in the last two sections, we look at the fact that God cannot be tempted, He cannot lie and God can’t disown Himself.
In conclusion, this was a deeply enriching book that engages with some really deep theological questions about the character and nature of God is such an accessible and relatable way.
I was provided by a complimentary copy by The Good Book Company in exchange for an honest review.
