What Jesus has done for us - presented in a way that meets peoples needs - Rated 
The Death of Jesus, what's it all about? People never tire of asking the question. People never tire of arguing about the answers. Jesus paying for our sins, or Jesus victorious over evil, or Jesus our great example, or.....
Mark Driscoll is not interested in arguing for one view over another, he sees that all of them, and many others, have latched onto something that is right and true and real - about what Jesus has done for us. As a pastor he knows we need to grab hold of all the insights in the Bible into the power of God working through Jesus' death and resurrection. We don't have the luxury of wasting time arguing the toss. Their are too many people who need to know what Jesus has done for them, in a way that relates to their circumstances. Some people compare preachers to doctors. To help people you have to diagnose the illness, then you have to offer the appropriate treatment. That may involve stepping from the consulting room to the operating theatre. Mark Driscoll comes across as good as diagnosis, and as a surgeon who comes to the operating table to bring the healing of Jesus - equipped with a full set of knives.
It's a refreshing change from preachers who simply tell the patients that they are not really sick, and if they could just stop feeling guilty everything would be OK. Or on the other hand preachers who are willing to correctly diagnose the problem as sin, but whose message is so simplistic that they are like surgeons who insist on performing the same operation on everyone no matter what their need is.
So Mark writes this book as twelve consultations and treatments in the form of twelve letters to real people who he knows, I imagine only the names are changed. In each case he points them to the precise thing that Jesus did when he died on the cross that will meet there need. So we have letters that how Jesus is our Victor over evil (Christus Victor), one who redeems us, one who justifies us, one who is our good example (Christus Exemplar) etc.
I found this a great book for reading to appreciate again all Jesus has done for us. Some Christians go through 14 Stations Of The Cross to appreciate what Jesus has done for them. He we are given 12 windows on the Cross to appreciate all the various thing Jesus has done for us.
Yes, I can see that many people may have problems with some aspects of this book. Mark is a great Doctor for diagnosis and surgery. But his bedside manner can be rough. His view of God is of a God who is angry to a degree that many Christians will find unbalanced. But he always points to the solution which is Jesus. Even if you think his way of putting things across will grate with you - I would still encourage you to read this book.
I am giving it five stars. For Three reasons -
One: there is nothing else remotely like this in print. Nothing that gives such a full picture of what Jesus has done for us.
Two, there is nothing else so practically minded in print, nothing so focused on meeting people's needs with the grace of God.
Three, for all his rough manner, this man really does care. His anger at sin and evil is because he has seen countless examples of how sin and evil destroy people. If his love is tough, it's because he knows that lovey-dovey talk, pats on the back, and positive thinking don't bring real transformation to people's lives.
As hard as nails ?! - Rated 
Having read a wide range of wonderful Christian books over the past year, I must say I've found this to be the most disappointing.
The format of the book is fine: taking very personal and often dramatic stories and then expressing a view from a so-called 'gospel' stance about how the person should respond in a godly way. Too often I found the author agressive in tone, voicing what is commonly called 'tough love' as though this were the defining mark of the cross of Christ. I expect the intentions were good; but too often it felt like being hit over the head as a read and fails to touch the heart of the gospel which in essence is a drawing of men's hearts by the love of Jesus. The Father thaws our hearts before we love Him.
Any reader who hasn't explored the works of Brennan Manning or Henri Nouwen as an insight into the heart of Jesus would be advised to purchase something of their's first. For a specific work on the cross, look no further than John Stott's magesterial work, though be warned it demands concentration.
A surprising, shocking, unusual and profound read - Rated
Death by Love is a surprising, shocking, unusual and deeply moving read. For anyone who has ever heard Mark Driscoll (coauthor along with Gerry Breshears) preach, this is not at all surprising.
Mark Driscoll is well-known for his forthright views with regards to the Bible, the church and culture. His church, Mars Hill, Seattle, is one of the fastest growing churches in the U.S. predominantly attracting unchurched, single, twenty-somethings. Death by Love is clearly informed by and intends to speak into this context.
The premise of the book is a simple one, each chapter is a letter written by Driscoll to a different member of the church in which he confronts deeply personal issues and difficulties and seeks to apply the gospel to their situation.
There are three reasons that I would recommend this book.
Firstly, the letter format works and lends the text a real immediacy. The individual stories are both deeply personal whereas Driscoll's application of the gospel is universal. This makes for a deeply moving and challenging read.
Secondly, Death by Love is thoughtful, biblical and profoundly Christiological. Driscoll is, of course, writing primarily to a Christian audience. Driscoll's succeeds in unpacking the bible and applying it to what feel to be very modern, 21st century problems and situations. More than anything, this book is a celebration of the timeless relevance of the gospel.
Thirdly, this book beautifully balances accessible, compelling writing with theologically profound insights. Across the twelve chapters, Driscoll unpacks the doctrines of propitiation, expiation, limited atonement and others. It is unusual to find a Christian book which seeks to be readable, accessible and yet tackle such weighty subjects.
Death by Love will certainly challenge, move and provoke... I highly recommend it.
Facets of the Cross - Rated
Death by Love is unique so far among Mark Driscoll's books, refraining from his normal humour because of the seriousness of this book.
Taking the format of letters to actual people from Driscoll's church he follows the example of the Apostles who wrote much of the New Testament in response to questions & difficulties of the Church around them.
The chapters are so:
Introduction
We Killed God: Jesus Is Our Substitutionary Atonement
"Demons Are Tormenting Me"
Jesus Is Katie's Christus Victor
"Lust Is My God"
Jesus Is Thomas's Redemption
"My Wife Slept with My Friend"
Jesus Is Luke's New Covenant Sacrifice
"I Am a `Good' Christian"
Jesus Is David's Gift Righteousness
"I Molested a Child"
Jesus Is John's Justification
"My Dad Used to Beat Me"
Jesus Is Bill's Propitiation
"He Raped Me"
Jesus Is Mary's Expiation
"My Daddy Is a Pastor"
Jesus Is Gideon's Unlimited Limited Atonement
"I Am Going to Hell"
Jesus Is Hank's Ransom
"My Wife Has a Brain Tumor"
Jesus Is Caleb's Christus Exemplar
"I Hate My Brother"
Jesus Is Kurt's Reconciliation
"I Want to Know God"
Jesus Is Susan's Revelation
Appendix:
Recommended Reading on the Cross
Driscoll deals with many of the facets of the accomplishments of Christ on that cruel, wretched, lovely & beautiful Cross where He laid His life down on our behalf. This book will undoubtably help you to see Christ & His Cross in a deeper way than before and help you to understand the practical impact of that Cross for your life.
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