From the soft back's cover: This book is about grace and the many ways that Christ conveys his unmerited favor to us. Since grace is essential to the Christian life, it is important for us to consider how we receive it, what it looks like, and how it functions. Dr. Neal does more than speak of abstract theological concepts; he opens a door to his own life, personality, and experiences. Through them he shows how God works in us, imparting divine love through the sacraments and the other means of grace From the hard back's cover: There are many means of grace. Throughout the history of the church Christians have identified and institutionalized several of them as either sacraments or sacramental acts, and each has played an important role in the lives of believers. Other means of grace have been recognized as having sacramental qualities but only infrequently have they been recognized among the sacraments. While there are far too many for us to examine within the confines of this book, we will look at a few of the more important means of grace, study how they function, and consider how their sacramental qualities play a role in the life and witness of Christians. "More than being a book about an abstract theological concept, Neal's book clearly and succinctly explains the differences (often quite minute) between Roman Catholic, Anglican, Methodist, Lutheran, Baptist, and other of the myriad Christian denominations on subjects, such as the means of grace, the sacraments, baptism, Holy Communion, and the place of Scripture. Though Neal is Methodist, and doesn't hide it, he explains clearly and generously where and why certain denominations differ." - The San Francisco Book Review "This book stays close to Wesley's own thought and will be a godsend to pastors, Sunday school teachers, and interested lay persons. In a time of resurgence of Wesleyan Theology, this volume makes a significant contribution." -Bishop William B. Oden, The United Methodist Church, Retired " Grace Upon Grace: Sacramental Theology and the Christian Life , is well-presented and thought-provoking. Neal writes to both the scholar and the layman who wants to learn more about faith and grace, and he does so in an elegant and learned manner that never veers into pretentiousness or condescension." -Jack Magnus, Readers' Favorite Book Reviews "This book presents a personally compelling, sacramentally sound exposition on the means of grace. These days, we need to be reminded that God's character is grace, and Neal succeeds in ways both subtle and succinct. All should read this book." -Thomas A. Langford, Duke University "Neal provides an uplifting explanation of grace, faith, the holy sacraments and what those esoteric concepts mean from different leading religious points of view." -Suzanne Cowles, Readers' Favorite Book Reviews