Rating: 
Summary: Good for a group
Review: I find small, accessible books such as "More Than A Carpenter" very encouraging. This book is best for small group discussion for several reasons. First, sometimes the jargon gets too complex for some readers, so the ability to review the material is appreciated. Second, this is an excellent book for people who are already Christians or who are in a position to talk to other Christians. However, the book does not stand alone for a seeker because it assumes knowledge on some parts and assumes beliefs on others. I certainly recommend this book, but in a setting where all involved can appreciate the lessons and can use the writing as a springing board. Buy several and start a discussion group. It'll be worth it.
Rating:
Summary: An Evangelist 's Tool.....
Review: "...do the work of an evangelist..$Q,words from the Apostle Paul to his son in the Gospel. "More than a Carpenter" by Josh McDowell is an evangelist's tool in his arsenal to reach out souls for Christ. The author's central theme is,"What makes Jesus so differant?". From that theme,McDowell use two school of thoughts to reach his audience for Jesus. The two thoughts are: 1)Theological and 2)Logical. From the theological side....Josh Mcdowell begins his defense by mentioning that Jesus Christ is a name and a title. Two offices,King and Priest of Old Testament prophecies. Continuing on....McDowell highlights the characteristics which scriptures attributes to Jesus that can only be true only of God. Concerning the logical side of the defense...he makes an appeal to the reader to consider the prophecies that Jesus literally fulfilled as the Messiah that the Old testament promised. He eloquentlly challenge the reader in chapter 2,"Lord,Liar or Lunatic?" Why is this chapter to me personally awesome? Because it makes the reader to think carefully that if Jesus is a liar why such a change in nations and peoples lives? and if a lunatic,why are His skills and depth of His teachings support the case only for His total mental soundness?. Adding to his defense,Mcdowell includes the reliability of Biblical records and the impcat of the man known as Saul of Tarsus who later was known as the greatest Apostle and testimony of a life transformed by Jesus Christ. Last ,but not least,Josh McDowell shares his personal testimony of being touched by Jesus...a man who eventually saw that his arguements wouldn't stand up. I must say that,although many people may not consider this book to be "the Evangelistic tool",yet as the old saying goes.."Great thing comes in small packages". Get it and give it out to the people in your work area and schools....Anywhere.
Rating: 
Summary: More Than A Book
Review: A reminder for me that my faith is foundationally sound and this is something that is so necessary in order to reach those whose intellect extends beyond their hearts. This helps make sure that no "doubting Thomas's" are lost. As Jesus made sure that he bridged the gap for Thomas with His scars, God has given us the evidence to bridge the gap in His word which Josh Mc Dowell has so eloquently encapsolated and expanded it's authenticity. It makes evangelism that much more empowered and exciting!Thank you, Josh! May God continue to bless you!
Rating:
Summary: Nothing more than an extended tract
Review: I don't understand why other folks who have reviewed this piece of literature give it 1 / 2 stars. While as an apologetic it is a piece of junk, if you look at it as it should be -an extended tract- it does it's job. You can't expect a hundred page book to 'prove' Christianity. Further proof that this is a tract is that it is sold by the 10 packs in one wrapping. Do you ever think you'll find Normon Giesler's 800 page "Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics" in a ten pack? So as a track it gets its job done. But looking from an apologetic perspective it is simply goofy. Questions are raised such as "Why is it you can't refute the resurrection" where McDowell responds to accordingly. So in that pov it shouldn't be bought or even read. Overall while it is a very quick, slightly interesting read(from a 'tract' sense) I wouldn't go as far to say that it is worth purchasing simply because it can be obtained for free at McDowell's site (his name dot org). As a tract (which it is) -- 4 stars As an apologetic (which it ISN'T) -- 1.5 stars
Rating: 
Summary: A funny book full of temperament and silly arguments
Review: It was the Czech translation that I read first (because the love of my life - who is a strong believer - gave it to me). I have seen several public talks of Josh McDowell (one of them was called Maximal Sex) and he is a very entertaining person. Unlike the other reviewers, I do believe that McDowell was not born as a Christian and that he was a very anti-religious person before. Such people with very superficial opinions become the most convinced converts. I find Christian liberalism boring and dishonest in a certain way so that McDowell's version of the fundamentalism is simple and foolish enough to look cute. The style of this book reminds me of the famous Sidney Harris's cartoon (here you have a lot of complicated formulae and logical thinking, here a miracle occurs, and these are the results). Jesus was not a Lunatic since he did not look insane. Such a nice person could not be a Liar either. Consequently, he had to be the God, of course. Sure. Maybe McDowell's grandson will claim the same about David Copperfield. I recommend this book to the readers who want to see how simple-minded and naive Christianity can be - and also to the people who share McDowell's temperament, belief and his level of the scientific rigour.
Rating: 
Summary: This book acheived the opposite effect...
Review: I guess this book is supposed to bring the unbeliever into Christianity. I can tell you it has had the opposite effect. I was given this book to read by a member of my campus' Campus Crusade for Christ. I must say I have never seen such a poorly written book. It offers no proof that I can see. The whole Lord, Liar, Lunatic argument is preposterous, if I don't believe in the bible than that argument disolves, and obviously most non-Christians don't believe the bible. I didn't know whether to laugh or feel concern for Mr. McDowell's sanity. I can not believe that McDowell was once not a Christian, he is certainly wrapped up in the trash they teach pretty completely now. I read this book at a time where I was questioning my Christian faith and this book just gave me more reason to leave. If this is the best that Christian apologetics can do then it's no wonder that people are fleeing the religion like rats from a sinking ship. I'm sure this will give the average Christian something to give to that poor heretic they see in school every day. The average Christian wrapped up in the Dogma and taught this stuff every day probably thinks of this book as a great work. For the rest of us, it's good for a laugh or two.
Rating:
Summary: From a skeptic: unconvincing
Review: Good old Josh. He tries so hard. But he's desperately scraping the bottom of the barrel for a defense of his faith. As a nonbeliever, I can tell you that this book only strengthens my disbelief because his arguments are the arguments of a child: "Golly, Jesus couldn't possibly have been a liar because he was obviously such a good person. And there's no way he could have been a lunatic because he obviously wasn't crazy in any way. Therefore, the only other option is that he was God." Sure. If, let's say, seventy years from now someone writes a "gospel" on David Koresh (remember him? Waco?) and claims that he performed wonderful miracles and that he was perfect and that he was the son of God, etc. and then begins to preach and spread this new religion, 2000 years from now you would be able to make EXACTLY the same arguments about David Koresh because you would be talking about his over-blown, fictitious "gospel" instead of about the man himself, who we all know was a lunatic!
Rating:
Summary: Good introduction
Review: This is not the most complete apologetic for the Christian faith by far. It is, however, a competent introduction for both the believer and the nonbeliever as to why we believe. Let me re-explain the LLL idea. Premises: 1. Any man who claims to be the Son of God and the Savior of the world, believes it, and is genuinely mistaken, is out of his mind. 2. Any man who claims to be the Son of God and the Savior of the world, does not believe it, and tells others to trust him with their eternity is a vile, despicable creature. 3. Any man who claims to be the Son of God and the Savior of the world, and is, should be worshipped. 4. Either Jesus did not believe Himself to be what He said He was, in which case He was lying, He did, but was wrong, in which case He was crazy, and He did, and was right. There are no alternatives. I'll diagram it: Believed it Did not believe it Was wrong lunatic liar Was right Lord Conclusions: a. Jesus did not portray any tendencies towards megalomania, indeed, He acted just the opposite. b. Jesus acted in a way so exemplary that no human, liar or otherwise, would be able to imitate. c. If it is not the first two possibilities, it must be the third: Jesus is Lord. Jesus had to have said what He said because His earliest followers were JEWS -- they would not make up some garbage about God on earth unless the guy said so. Admittedly, my arguments are simplified, but they contain the basic ideas. Unfortunately, many feel that the Jesus Seminar has "proven" Christianity wrong. Their theories are unconvincing and poorly supported. The same goes for other touchy-feely liberal "Christians." A rather large number of responses have been directed at the Jesus Seminar. This reviewer heartily recommends that interested readers take a look at some of the books recommended near the bottom. Finally, no one apologetics book is the end-all, be-all. Many different ones must be read for the array of arguments to be grasped. Peace, Christinaphylus Good books: WHEN SKEPTICS ASK by Norman Geisler and Ron Brooks IN THE FULLNESS OF TIME by Paul L. Maier A HANDBOOK OF CHRISTIAN APOLOGETICS by Ronald Tacelli and Peter Kreeft
Rating:
Summary: Examine Christ's Claim and Make Your Own Determination
Review: I concur with the previous reviewer. This book is neither scholarly nor academic. It is, in a word, accessible. Leaving philosophy to the academics, McDowell takes the claims of Christ and examines them from a practical-not theological-view point. If Christ is not the Messiah, then what is He? Can he be a good moral teacher? The conclusion of the book is this: There are only two things you can do with Jesus: You can worship Him as God, or you can stone Him. For those of you who delight in philosophese, then C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity is an excellent source.
Rating:
Summary: more than a carpenter
Review: This is the greatest book that I have ever read. If anyone has any questions about Christ, this book can explain it. I always believed in God, but I have a feeling for Him that I never had before.
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