re you a Sunday pew warmer — and then like everybody else the rest of the week? Are you a new Christian and wondering how to grow spiritually? Are you a Christian who has kept your faith a secret from those around you? If so, this book is for you.

In his introduction to the book, Dr. David Jeremiah, well known for his radio and television ministry, Turning Point, says he wrote ”Signs of Life” (Thomas Nelson, 2007) to help readers in their Christian growth.

In the first chapter, Jeremiah asks, “Does anyone ever come up to you and say, you must be a Christian?” Or this statement: “There is something different about you; I can’t figure it out, but I want what you have.”

The author’s opinion is that it’s not enough to just talk about Jesus or serve the Lord in secret; we must display behaviors that will cause others watching us to think: “He must be a Christian.” He says we are always on display whether we realize it or not.

He writes in depth about “five signs of life,” which he says are mirrors that help us see ourselves as others see us. As he points out, many of us think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think and we really need to examine the physical evidence. The five signs are dusty shoes, worn-out knees, rolled up sleeves, open hands and outstretched arms.

The book is organized into six chapters, each having seven sections; he advises readers to read one selection a day and focus on what it helps them to see in the mirror about their own lives. Each section ends with suggestions to help you put that day’s reading into action.

In his chapter on “Dusty Shoes: Living a Relevant Life,” he advises readers to “Leave the clean environment of the church and home and go into your neighborhood and communities and do what Jesus did: show people how much God loves them by meeting them where they are and providing what they need.”

Jeremiah points out that many of us are guilty of looking the other way when we see people with obvious needs. He asks tough questions, such as: Am I content to drop an extra dollar in the offering plate to help the needy … or am I willing to go in person to care for their need?

The chapter on worn-out knees is about prayer. The information he presents here about not just consulting God in prayer but also obeying him is a mirror reflection that may make many of us uncomfortable with guilt. But he explains throughout the chapter what praying for the Lord’s will and acting in obedience leads to — things the reader wants.

Another important feature of the book is his portrait of Christian love — something the Bible says we are to be known by.

Each chapter has a liberal amount of Scripture to back up his statements as well as a number of examples of how his suggestions work. This is a tried-and-true process for Christian growth that has been tried out in the church he pastors (Shadow Mountain Community Church in El Cajon, California).

At the end of one chapter, he includes a question for readers’ reflection: “What can I do to improve my chances of being convicted of being a Christian?” If you read this book, you’ll have the answer and an action plan.

In the back of the book he lists “Forty Signs of Life” so we might check ourselves to see how we are doing. It might be good to read and reflect on this list before reading the rest of the book and then reflecting periodically on the list again and again when finished with the book to see progress.

Dr. Jeremiah’s book is designed to get us moving in the right direction in our Christian lives. If your life has been sluggish, maybe you need a dose of vitamins to get you back on track. This book is loaded with the vitamins you need.