How Christians Can Succeed Today by Greg Sheridan

Greg Sheridan has established himself as one of the most prominent public voices exploring Christianity’s relevance in the modern world. How Christians Can Succeed Today completes his trilogy on faith, following God Is Good for You and Christians: The Urgent Case for Jesus in Our World. This book equally covers history, social commentary and spiritual reflection, and seeks to show how Christians can not only endure but thrive in a cultural climate often indifferent or hostile to religion.

The book is framed around a striking historical parallel. Sheridan recalls the extraordinary resilience of the earliest Christians who, despite having little wealth, influence or institutional support, reshaped the ancient world through their faith, courage and communal solidarity. By highlighting their example, he urges contemporary believers to rediscover the radical and transformative heart of Christianity. Far from a nostalgic exercise, the argument is that these first followers of Jesus provide a blueprint for living meaningfully in societies experiencing crises of purpose, division and alienation.

Sheridan is equally attentive to the present. The book profiles an array of modern Christians whose lives embody the values of forgiveness, service and resilience. These range from a family in Australia, who responded to unimaginable personal tragedy with public forgiveness, to young people choosing counter-cultural commitments of faith. Sheridan also draws attention to the work of pastors, cultural leaders and creators who communicate Christianity’s relevance with clarity, including writers, public intellectuals and artists whose influence extends far beyond church walls.

Thematically, the book grapples with two intertwined questions: how faith can provide meaning in an age of fragmentation, and how believers might bear witness to the transcendent in everyday life. Sheridan suggests that Christians succeed when they remain centred on Christ, viewing every person as bearing the image of God and rediscovering the joy of community. In doing so, he presents Christianity not as a retreat from the modern world but as a resource for addressing its deepest fractures.

Stylistically, Sheridan writes with accessibility and conviction. His journalistic background gives the prose clarity and pace, while his theological curiosity lends depth. The interviews and case studies bring warmth and immediacy, balancing the weight of historical analysis with moving human stories. While the book engages with political and cultural debates, it never feels polemical; instead, it maintains a pastoral tone, urging readers toward hope, courage and integrity.

In terms of literary significance, How Christians Can Succeed Today sits at the intersection of apologetics, history and cultural critique. It is not an academic theology, nor a conventional work of self-help. Rather, it operates as a bridge between the lived experiences of believers and the broader currents of public life. By situating Christianity as both profoundly counter-cultural and deeply humane, Sheridan provides a compelling case for its enduring relevance.

Ultimately, this is a hopeful and inspiring work. It challenges Christians to live with resilience and authenticity, while reminding a wider audience of the extraordinary impact that faith, when lived with conviction, can have on both individuals and societies.

Reviewer: Chris Reed

Allen & Unwin