Love Does: Discover a Secretly Incredible Life in an Ordinary World

Goff compares faith to the childhood game where small items are traded for increasingly valuable ones. He recounts his son Richard's experience, who traded starting with a dime and ending with a pickup truck, which he then gave away. Goff quotes C. S. Lewis:

It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, folling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us […] We are far too easily pleased” (91).

Goff ties this idea to the biblical story of the rich young ruler who couldn’t part with his possessions to follow Jesus (Luke 18:18-23). To Goff, Jesus isn’t asking for sacrifice but an invitation to play “Bigger and Better“ (90) with our lives, trading our pride and petty ambition for a life with him. Goff asserts that this shift in values leads to freedom and the ability to relinquish earthy things, achieving “a sense of satisfaction, confidence, and reaffirmation“ (92). Goff concludes that Jesus invites people to bring our faith, however small, and promises a “trade up“ with him, where believers exchange earthly accumulations for the richness of knowing Jesus.

Goff tells of mistaking Crisco lard for cream cheese at breakfast, drawing a parallel to how people often encounter a mistaken or “distasteful” version of religion, one that is pretentious, inauthentic and lacks substance. He argues that people cling to this “fake“ version of faith because they haven’t experienced the genuine one. True faith, according to Goff, is not about the external appearance or following rules; it’s about sincerity, authenticity, and action. It’s about showing love and grace, as he believes Jesus did.

Goff urges reader to live out a faith that is tangible and true, not one that is talk without substance. Goff suggests that authentical faith represents God accurately to those who’ve only experienced what he sees as sham religion. He emphasizes that people should discard the inauthentic and embrace what truly nourishes the soul.

Goff shares a lesson about the power of words and trust through a story involving his friend Don, an accomplished author. Goff admires Don for his writing skills and for pointing others towards God in a self-effacing way. Don advises Goff to avoid using the word “that” in his writing, likening it to a curse word without giving an explanation. Goff, despite not fully understanding the reason, trusts Don’s judgment and follows his advice, noting, “I trust Don and that’s enough” (100).

Goff compares this to his faith in Jesus, who often didn’t explain everything. He suggests that trusting the advice of someone who has nothing to gain from it is likely to be sincere. Just as Don’s advice is about improving Goff’s writing, Jesus’s guidance is about improving lives, not controlling them. Goff encourages living a faith that is clear and genuine. He concludes that faith in Jesus isn’t about the security or formulas but following him into an adventure, stating “there’s nothing on the other side of the equals sign, just Jesus” (101). Goff asserts that his trust in God, like his trust in Don, leads him to seek a more precise and meaningful expression of faith, which he compares to using a thesaurus to find the right words.

Goff recounts a childhood memory of handling his father’s rifle and accidentally discharging it, nearly injuring his sister. This event teaches him about responsibility and consequences. Goff uses this story to critique the Christian metaphor of “missing the mark” to describe sin and God’s anger. He argues against viewing God as vengeful for human failures, suggesting instead a compassionate God who understands our innate desires for love and security. Goff proposes that God is there to heal us when we falter, not to condemn us, offering a narrative of God’s love as encompassing and understanding, rather than punitive.​​

As a child, Goff would collect spare change from his father’s trousers to buy candy at a local corner store. The old-fashioned store was a place of joy and simple pleasures for Bob. One day, Goff found himself one penny short. Instead of turning him away, the storekeeper created a teachable moment. He cleaned a penny with vinegar and salt, making it shine, and then he bestowed it with double its value, stating, “In my store, shiny pennies are worth two” (112). This act of kindness not only allowed Goff to purchase his candy but introduced him to a new perspective on value and generosity. Goff parallels this experience with the teachings of Jesus, who the bible records talking of a “reverse economy.” This economy is not governed by conventional rules but one where the act of giving enriches the giver and leadership comes through service.

Goff reflects on the impact of the storekeeper's gesture, recognizing that all people have the autonomy to define the rules of their own lives. Like the storekeeper, individuals have the capacity to decide what is valuable and to extend grace to themselves and others. Goff notes that people are sometimes in the position of the child and sometimes the position of the shopkeeper. He uses this story as a metaphor for what he views as the great values of the Christian faith: that grace, generosity, and personal transformation are available to all who embrace them.