Extra Nos

Discovering Grace Outside Myself

By: FLAME

Narrated by: FLAME

Length: 5 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's summary

GRAMMY®-nominated and Stellar Award-winning hip-hop artist FLAME invites you to step up to his mic as he takes you through his life, from the streets of Saint Louis, Missouri, as a young man in youth group to a renowned Christian rapper on the red carpet.

Hear how God continually pushed FLAME in his faith journey, striving to find the path that God wanted him to take, no matter where it took him, and the obstacles he faced. Get an insider perspective into his songwriting and the theology in the lyrics. Discover rich Christian history and how the breadth of Christian theology from prior generations is still widely applicable today. Most importantly, as FLAME tells his story of kick-starting his career, experiencing different Christian denominations, going to seminary school, and ultimately finding Lutheranism, listeners will see God in their life and the ways He calls them back to Him and will be inspired in their faith to see how God is working extra nos—outside of ourselves.

"For evidence that Lutheranism is the kind of Christianity that has the most relevance today, read FLAME's Extra Nos. With a rapper's mastery of language. . . he offers the best refutation of Reformed theology I have ever come across—not just by argument but by experience."

—Gene Edward Veith, author of The Spirituality of the Cross

"Extra Nos is at once personal and accessible, honest and generous, fresh and faithful, unorthodox and confessional."

—Dr. Joel P. Okamoto, Waldemar and Mary Griesbach Professor of Systematic Theology, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis

"All those who have ever wondered about the practical relevance of doctrine for "real life" need only to read and learn from FLAME."

—Rev. Dr. Joel Biermann, professor of systematic theology, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis.

©2023 Marcus "FLAME" Gray (P)2023 One Audiobooks

Extra good!

I very much enjoyed listening to Flame’s account of his Christian faith journey, from youth through adulthood, especially how his understanding grew and deepened over time as other believers walked beside him.

I enjoyed his compelling lyrics on aspects of faith, theology, and the historical church.

Flame is thoughtful, gracious, and honest throughout about his Christian experience—including times of questioning and doubts. It was encouraging to hear how through it all, he continued to study the Word of God, deeply desiring to increase his understanding.

The reading style was warm, personal, expressive, and easy to listen to.

Recommended for long-time believers, new converts, and especially those who aren’t sure if they believe in God at all. Flame will make you think!

The author's honesty in sharing his walk

Excellent understanding &. teaching God's Word! Keep sharing the truth of God's work through Jesus Christ!

Loved it!

I loved the honest and straightforward way that Flame shares his faith journey. The joy of his confession bubbles up through every page of this book. I learned a few things too! If you’ve ever wondered about confessional Lutheranism and how it differs from modern Americanized Christianity, I highly recommend this book.

Feels Written for Me

This book hit me in such a pervasive way that all I have to offer after reading it is a new version of myself. I have been learning about the “for you”-ness of the Gospel from the evangelical Lutheran perspective for a while. I am immensely grateful to Flame for sharing his story and the scriptures that helped illuminate the power and transformative joy of the gospel of Jesus Christ. This has jumped up to the top of my recommended reading to any and all brothers and sisters in Christ.

Grace alone, by faith alone, in Christ alone!

Flame is an amazing artist! I have listened to a multitude of his albums and have detected a switch in his theology after the last few ep releases. The background from whence he came to where he is now is an amazing story! I am not a full out confessing Lutheran, but my theology is deeply rooted in the reformation, particularly Luther. Flame’s story, combined with Lutheran theology and doctrine is a masterful work of art that anyone can listen to, read, and understand. Flame has made it easy to grasp some of the toughest doctrines in Christian theology by giving examples that compare so well with those tough doctrines. This is an amazing read for any Christian who is struggling with their faith and assurance! From the outset you can tell from the emotion and emphasis that Flame gives to this very daunting task to assist others in their salvation that this is important to him and those he wishes to serve! Thank you for this amazing work, and I wish I have stumbled upon it much sooner than I did!

Captivating story and performance coupled with clear explanation of beliefs

Rapper Flame, Marcus Gray, tells his story from a youth growing up in St. Louis in the 90s through his conversion to Lutheranism and his current expressions of Lutheran thought via his most recent albums.

I love that Flame narrates his story. His performance keeps the narrative and explanations riveting. He also low key raps some of his own work, and the audiobook is full of LoFi background music and immersive audio that sound like the situations Flame is describing in words. I am already on my second listen.

Flame’s book will intrigue you if you are just looking for a good memoir of a Christian Hip Hop Artist. BUT, his book excels at a charitable and clear understanding of Luther’s thought as opposed to the New Calvinist movement. This really hit home for me because I had a conversion experience at college and came back home excited about Jesus but also condemnatory of those who did not hold my new beliefs. Although God used me for good in seeing a church planted near a local college, I also alienated others and was constantly worrying about my own salvation. Flame beautifully deconstructs his own Calvinism and the freedom found in justification by faith alone in the sacraments. My family has not made the jump to Lutheranism, but Flame has definitely brought us a fun (via his music especially) and peace filled understanding of God’s Truth.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone of any age!

The Book was amazing.

Dear Flame,

I recently had the opportunity to read your book, "Extra Nos: Discovering Grace Outside Myself," and I must say it was an enlightening and inspiring read. Your unique perspective as a black rapper turned Lutheran offers a fresh and thought-provoking take on faith and spirituality.

I particularly enjoyed how you divided the book into different parts, each delving into various aspects of your journey. From the beginning, where you discuss how the reform reached rappers, to the dream come true, it was fascinating to see how your path unfolded.

The section on looking inside yourself and living through Calvin's lens was especially intriguing. It's not often we get to explore the intersection of faith and identity in such a profound way. Your honest reflections and experiences shed light on the challenges and triumphs of being both black and a Lutheran.

Moreover, your exploration of the Lutheran faith in part four, "Extranos 7: Hungry for More," was truly enlightening. Your words on being Christ for others, finding solace in the Word and water, and the power of prayer resonated deeply with me. Your insights on how to become a Lutheran and how to stay true to your faith were invaluable.

Overall, "Extra Nos" is a remarkable book that not only educates but also inspires readers to deepen their relationship with God. Your personal anecdotes and heartfelt messages make it a relatable and engaging read for people from all walks of life.

Thank you for sharing your journey and wisdom with us through this book. It has undoubtedly left a lasting impact on me, and I'm sure it will do the same for countless others. Keep shining your light and spreading the message of grace and faith.

Warm regards,
Jovan Walker

Growth and transformation

My favorite part of the book was listening to the transformation and growth in Flame’s Christian faith. As someone who grew up in the Lutheran Church, it was inspiring to listen to a point of view from someone who has continued to develop in faith and is now to eloquently teach with past experience and his new hermeneutics to help my own walk to Extra Nos

A must read for anyone interested in Lutheran Apologetics and doctrine.

Flames testimony (read by the author) made it vibrant and fun! The kind and caring approach of the defense of the ancient faith, set in a modern context will quickly become a book you want to share with friends and family. As a pastor with a similar testimony, I found it refreshing. Listen to it today!

Straight Fire - an excellent read for Christians

Flame weaves the story of his own spiritual growth with faithful theological messages, explaining in an entertaining way the journey of the maturity of his faith through different groups.