Carmen Imes is on a bit of a roll lately.

You may have seen Tim Tebow mention Carmen Imes regarding her last book, “Being God’s Image: Why Creation Still Matters.” It’s a great resource, and now she has a followup book, just out last month.

Also, just this week, that book, received a Christianity Today book “award of merit.”

And finally, a lesser-known radio host just had her on to talk about that very book on Ed Stetzer Live.

It’s called “Becoming God’s Family: Why the Church Still Matters,” and is a beautiful call to care for and be a part of the church.

The publisher’s description explains,

After waves of disillusionment, #churchtoo movements, and political divides, it’s easy to question the value of investing in the church. Yet Carmen Joy Imes offers a profound answer that resonates through the pages of “Becoming God’s Family.” Exploring the familial and communal identity of the church, Imes traces the thread of God’s presence in the gathered community of faith across the entire Bible. She invites readers into a vision of the church that is rooted deeply in Scripture and speaks directly to the challenges we face today. Imes reminds us of a powerful truth―God delights in the global, intergenerational family He has created.

I had the joy of reading the endorsing the book, and here’s my endorsement:

One of the longest studies ever conducted on human life—the Harvard Study of Adult Development—found the top factor in living a long, happy life is deep relationships in a healthy community. As believers we know this is near to the heart of God, who gave us the church as a spiritual family. Carmen Imes gives a strong and needed call to this community in our land marked today by individualism and division.

Here are 20 truths from “Being God’s Family.”

20 Truths From Becoming God’s Family

“The overarching narrative of the Bible is singularly focused on forming a faithful community of people who worship and wait for God while carrying out his mission in the world.” (8)

“Biological children do not need to be adopted by their biological parents. If all humanity is already part of God’s family, then adoption is not necessary. However, adoption is the best word available to Paul to describe to a collectivist audience the radical change in allegiance that comes with faith in Jesus.” (14)

“…God’s promises are not aimed at helping us reach our personal goals. Instead, God’s promises transcend our personal lives and stretch wide to encompass others we will never even meet.” (18)

“…the tabernacle is essential to biblical theology because it resolves the separation between God and humanity that resulted from Adam and Eve’s decision to disregard God’s command. Their expulsion from the garden introduced the major plot conflict of the Bible, in search of resolution. How can humanity reunite with our Creator?” (21)

“The book of Leviticus is crucial in resolving the problem left hanging at the end of Exodus—Moses’ inability to enter the tabernacle (Exodus 40:35). After Leviticus, the book of Numbers opens with a comment about God speaking to Moses ‘in the tent of meeting’ (Numbers 1:1). Fellowship is restored and the community is ready to move forward.” (25)

“David’s victory over Goliath was not only a personal achievement, but a national triumph. It vindicated Yahweh’s might and rallied the kingdom in celebration. The point was not David’s age or size or strength, but his absolute trust in Yahweh and his concern for Yahweh’s reputation.” (43)

“It takes tremendous effort to pursue the truth about ourselves, rather than to surround ourselves with people who will stroke our ego and rubber stamp our ideas. When we become part of God’s family, our shared task is to pursue God’s will together. To do that we must become a community that speaks truth to each other in love (Ephesians 4:25).” (54)