Born on January 11, 1955, Max Lucado is an American author and pastor at San Antonio, Texas’s Oak Hills Church, formerly known as the Oak Hills Church of Christ.
Max Lucado’s Biography
Max Lucado, the youngest of Jack and Thelma Lucado’s four children, was born in San Angelo, Texas. Andrews, Texas, is where he was raised. His mother was a nurse, while his father, who was of Italian descent, worked in the oil sector.
He studied mass communication for his undergraduate degree at Abilene Christian University. Max Lucado used the Southwestern Advantage business program to sell books door-to-door while attending Abilene Christian in order to pay for his education. He originally wanted to be a lawyer, but he claims that a mission trip and a required Bible course at the university caused him to change his mind and choose to become a missionary instead.
But in order to be eligible, Lucado had to have at least two years of experience serving as a church minister and earn a master degree in Bible and Biblical Studies. Max Lucado earned a master’s degree in Bible and Biblical Studies from Abilene Christian University.
Following graduation, Lucado joined Miami, Florida’s Central Church of Christ as an associate minister. At first, his duties included writing a piece for the church’s newsletter and managing a singles’ group. The recently married Max Lucado and his wife, Denalyn Lucado, relocated to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to serve as full-time missionaries after two years in Miami. Lou Gehrig’s illness claimed the life of Lucado’s father in 1987. He returned to the United States with his family after living in Brazil for five years in order to be nearer to his mother.
When his daughter Sara and her husband Jeff Jones bought a house that Chip & Joanna Gaines were going to renovate, Max Lucado and his wife made an appearance on Fixer Upper (S3 E9, which aired January 26, 2016). Without telling the couple in advance, He requested that a phrase he had written for his daughter’s wedding, which he officiated at, be somehow included into the new house. “Would you take these two things—dust and bone—that were born of flesh and turn them into one?” was the quote. Would you say what you said when Adam went to sleep and Eve woke up again? Would you look at this son and daughter with grace and allow your wine take the place of our water? In your glory, Lord of Eden, make your tapestry once more. Two hearts, but only one. We raise up this prayer for you. The wall art was created by Clayton Thompson at Joanna’s request and put in the “moffice”—the mudroom and office combined.
Max Lucado Ministry
As an associate minister at Miami, Florida’s Central Church of Christ, Max Lucado started his career in ministry. Important insights into pastoral work, including as counseling, teaching, and community building, were gained from this early experience.
Motivated by a strong desire to serve outside of his own country, Lucado and his wife, Denalyn, started a new chapter in their lives by relocating to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to work as missionaries full-time. Lucado’s perspective on the human condition and the universality of God’s grace was significantly influenced by this time, which was characterized by cultural immersion and the difficulties of cross-cultural ministry.
After his father’s death in 1987, Max Lucado and his family moved back to the United States. In San Antonio, Texas, he agreed to serve as a minister at the Oak Hills Church of Christ.
Lucado’s ministry changed while he was in Oak Hills. In contrast to some of the traditional doctrines of the Churches of Christ, the church adopted a more inclusive vision of salvation and embraced modern worship techniques, such as the use of musical instruments. As a result of these changes, the church was disaffiliated with the denomination in 2003 and changed its name to just “Oak Hills Church.”
For twenty years, Lucado was the senior preacher at Oak Hills, where he shared his wisdom through stirring sermons and introspective thoughts. But because to health issues, he resigned from this position in 2007. Alongside current head minister Travis Eades, he still serves as a preacher and writer at Oak Hills.
Lucado’s copious writing is what has left an abiding impression. His books, “Just Like Jesus,” “In the Grip of Grace,” and “When God Whispers Your Name,” are among his best-selling works and have sold millions of copies worldwide. His novels have struck a chord with readers of all ages and backgrounds because of their clear language, moving tales, and deep spiritual ideas.
Gateway Church
After Pastor Robert Morris resigned from Gateway Church, which is close to Fort Worth, Max Lucado consented to take over as interim teaching pastor—a non-administrative role. He claims he has no intention of quitting Oak Hills Church and intends to continue preaching there.
Max Lucado Beliefs
He thinks the Bible is unchangeable. A credobaptist, Lucado is.
Max Lucado believes that God is trinitarian.
According to Max Lucado, same-sex marriage is sinfully against God’s original plan and he believes in “the traditional biblical understanding of marriage” as being between a man and a woman. “LGBTQ people and LGBTQ families must [still] be respected and treated with love,” he stated, expressing his strong opposition of gay bashing. Because they were created in God’s image and likeness, they are adored offspring of God. He continues: “Faithful people may disagree about what the Bible says about homosexuality, but we agree that God’s holy Word must never be used as a weapon to wound others.”
Max Lucado Book deals
Some of the books published by him include
- On the Anvil: Being Shaped into God’s Image, Carol Stream, Illinois: Tyndale House, 1985.
- No Wonder They Call Him the Savior, New York, New York: Doubleday Publishing, 1986.
- God Came Near: Chronicles of the Christ, Portland, Oregon: Multnomah Press, 1987.
- Six Hours One Friday: Anchoring to the Power of the Cross Portland, Oregon: Multnomah Press, 1989.
- The Applause of Heaven, Dallas, Texas: Word Publishing, 1990.
- In the Eye of the Storm: A Day in the Life of Jesus, Dallas, Texas: Word Publishing, 1991.
- Just In Case You Ever Wonder, Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, 1992.
- And the Angels Were Silent, Portland, Oregon: Multnomah Press, 1992.
- Tell Me the Story Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway Books, 1992.
- He Still Moves Stones, Dallas, Texas: Word Publishing, 1993.
- Tell Me the Secrets, Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway Books, 1993.
- The Crippled Lamb, Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, 1994.
- When God Whispers Your Name, Dallas, Texas: Word Publishing, 1994.
- The Children of the King, Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway Books, 1994.
- The Final Week of Jesus Portland, Oregon: Multnomah Press, 1994.
- A Gentle Thunder, Dallas, Texas: Word Publishing, 1995.
- The Song of the King, Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway Books, 1995.
- The Inspirational Study Bible Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, 1995.
- In the Grip of Grace, Dallas, Texas: Word Publishing, 1996.
- The Glory of Christmas, Dallas, Texas: Word Publishing, 1996.
- God’s Inspirational Promises, Dallas, Texas: Word Publishing, 1996.
- Walking with the Savior, Carol Stream, Illinois: Tyndale House, 1996.
- Alabaster’s Song, Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, 1996.
- Life Lessons Bible Study Guides 1996–1998.
- The Great House of God, Dallas, Texas: Word Publishing, 1997.
- You Are Special, Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway Books, 1997.
- Cosmic Christmas: An Angel’s Story, Dallas, Texas: Word Publishing, 1997.
- The Greatest Moments, Dallas, Texas: Word Publishing, 1997.
- The Cross, Portland, Oregon: Multnomah Press, 1998.
- The Heart of Christmas, 1998.
- Just Like Jesus, Dallas, Texas: Word Publishing, 1998.
- The Christmas Cross, Dallas, Texas: Word Publishing, 1998. (the 2003 American Christian film, Christmas Child, was based on this short story)
- Let the Journey Begin, Dallas, Texas: Word Publishing, 1998.
- When Christ Comes, Dallas, Texas: Word Publishing, 1999.
- Just the Way You Are, Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway Books, 1999.
- The Gift for All People, Portland, Oregon: Multnomah Press, 1999.
- Opening Windows, 1999.
- Because I Love You, Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway Books, 1999.
- Topical Bible Study Series, 1999–2000.
- He Chose the Nails, Dallas, Texas: Word Publishing, 2000.
- Grace for the Moment, Nashville, Tennessee: J. Countryman, 2000.
- In the Footsteps of Jesus, Carol Stream, Illinois: Tyndale House, 2000.
- He Did This Just For You, 2000.
- Small Gifts in God’s Hands, Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, 2000.
- Traveling Light, Nashville, Tennessee: W Publishing Group, 2001.
- Traveling Light Journal, Nashville, Tennessee: W Publishing Group, 2001.
- America Looks Up, Nashville, Tennessee: W Publishing Group, 2001.
Achievement
Lucado has published approximately 100 books with over 150 million copies in print. His works Just Like Jesus, In the Grip of Grace, and When God Whispers Your Name earned him the Charles “Kip” Jordon Gold Medallion Christian Book of the Year award three times. He has also consistently made it onto a number of bestseller lists, including the New York Times Best Seller List.
Christianity Today magazine called Lucado “America’s Pastor,” and Reader’s Digest rated him “The Best Preacher in America” in 2005. Additionally, he has appeared on USA Today, LLBN, Larry King Live, NBC Nightly News, and The Fox News Channel. He has spoken at the National Prayer Breakfast as a featured speaker.
