“The Emotionally Healthy Church” Book Notes

Recently over winter break I had some time to do some reading. One of the books I was able to finish was “The Emotionally Healthy Church: A strategy for discipleship that actually changes lives” by Peter Scazzero. I liked the book and the emphasis on this often-missing element of discipleship.

In one of the opening chapters Peter states,

“It is painful to take our first deep, long look inside of our hearts. Jeremiah 17:9 affirms: “The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it?” (NASB). The reason for this goes back to the fall of Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden. Since then, we have been divided from God, separated from one another, and split internally within ourselves. Shame, loneliness, hiding, self-protection, lying, and other emotional pain mark Adam and Eve in Genesis 3. These responses also characterize every one of…