Twelve Ordinary Men: How the Master Shaped His Disciples for Greatness, and What He Wants to Do with You

John F. MacArthur

May 2006 · Sold by Thomas Nelson

About this ebook

You don't have to be perfect to do God's work. Look no further than the twelve disciples, whose many weaknesses are forever preserved throughout the pages of the New Testament. Join bestselling author John MacArthur in Twelve Ordinary Men as he draws principles from Christ's careful, hands-on training of the original disciples for today's modern disciple, you!

Jesus chose ordinary men--fishermen, tax collectors, political zealots--and turned their weakness into strength, producing greatness from people who were otherwise unremarkable. The twelve disciples weren't the stained-glass saints we imagine. On the contrary, they were truly human, all too prone to mistakes, misstatements, wrong attitudes, lapses of faith, and bitter failure. Simply put, they were flawed people, just like us. But under Jesus' teaching and touch, they became a force that forever changed the world.

MacArthur takes you into the inner circle of the disciples--their selection, their training, their personalities, and their incredible impact. As MacArthur took a closer look at the lives of the twelve disciples, he found himself asking difficult questions along the way, including:

• Why did Jesus pick each of the twelve disciples?
• How did Jesus teach them everything he could in just eighteen short months?
• Can the lessons that Jesus taught the disciples can still influence our faith today?

In Twelve Ordinary Men, you'll learn that disciples are living proof that God's strength is made perfect in weakness. As you get to know the men who walked with Jesus, you'll see that if he can accomplish his purposes through them, he can do the same through you.

Ratings and reviews

I learned a great deal about these men, and it helped humanize these men. You can really see yourself in each of them. However, the author tends to take 10 pages to make a point when 3 would have worked.

Through these ordinary men, with all of their flaws, Jesus was able to edify and encourage them, mold them and teach them to become extraordinary. This book bares witness to the fact that God can do so much more for you if you are willing to drop the foolish things of this world and follow wholeheartedly. I'm ready to read it again!

This book is a great read to see the lives of 12 ordinary men called to do the extraordinary. It also provides hope that even in our normalcy, God uses us for His good and His glory.

About the author

Widely known for his thorough, candid approach to teaching God's Word, John MacArthur is a popular author and conference speaker. He has served as pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, since 1969. John and his wife, Patricia, have four married children and fifteen grandchildren. John's pulpit ministry has been extended around the globe through his media ministry, Grace to You, and its satellite offices in seven countries. In addition to producing daily radio programs for nearly two thousand English and Spanish radio outlets worldwide, Grace to You distributes books, software, and digital recordings by John MacArthur. John is chancellor of The Master's University and Seminary and has written hundreds of books and study guides, each one biblical and practical. Bestselling titles include The Gospel According to Jesus, Twelve Ordinary Men, Twelve Extraordinary Women, Slave, and The MacArthur Study Bible, a 1998 ECPA Gold Medallion recipient.