To a degree, our culture blinds us from some biblical truths. We make assumptions about what it means to follow Jesus. It has been said that many people who claim to be Christians don’t follow Jesus. That is, we don’t always choose to become like Jesus; rather, we ask Jesus to follow us and become like us. Even those of us who set out to radically follow Jesus, develop blind spots in our lives. Radical challenges many of the assumptions we have about how we live our lives and inspires readers to live a radical life.

If you’re looking for a book to challenge you to a radical life of following Jesus–check this book out! In fact, there’s a year long challenge at the end! Find Radical here on Amazon.

Want to know more about the book, check out what the author, David Platt (Pastor of The Church at Brook Hills) has to say about it:

(Trouble viewing this? Click  check it out on YouTube: David Platt on Radical)

Want a free copy? Be the first to hit me up on Facebook, Twitter or with a comment below and you can have the extra copy the publisher sent me. Or Multnomah is giving more away while supplies last–so check it out here.

Btw, this book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

As the preface by Troy Miller observes, “Often in matters of Scripture and theology, the gap between the academy on one side and the church on the other is wide–often, regretfully, too wide” (vii). Although the three chapters derive from scholarly lectures, the book is readable and accessible for non-academics looking for historical background and evidence on the death burial and resurrection of Jesus.

Predictably, some new theory or archaeological find surfaces every year around Easter. These claims normally try to show the contradictions between much of what Christians believe and the latest theory or finding. To someone with little training, many of these theories seem logical and often convincing–and therefore confusing. However, the “scholars” who purport them have their own agendas. While this book does not directly deal with all of these modern theories, it does an excellent job dealing with the historical evidence and background.

The first two sections, covering the death and burial of Jesus, are written by Craig Evans. Currently at Acadia Divinity College, Dr. Evans happened to be one of my teachers while an adjunct professor at Fuller Seminary. I learned a lot in his class and still refer to my class notes. A prolific scholar, N.T. Wright wrote the third and final section, covering the resurrection.

I’m fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to study the historical issues and details at a scholarly level, but still learned some new things reading this–and it’s only 107 pages. I’d recommend this book to anyone interested in the background and history of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.

A lot of cultural myths about God surround us and many people believe them. At times these myths cause people to stumble in their faith–often blaming God and hurting other in the process. In 10 Dumb Things Smart Christian Believe, Larry Osbourne takes on ten popular myths about God. This book contains clear, simple answers to the myths and spiritual legends that many people believe about God and will challenge you to think about faith myths you might believe–or help you explain them to others. A study-guide is included in the appendix making it easy to use as a small group study.

Book Summary:
Just Because “Everyone Believes It” Doesn’t Make It True!
People don’t set out to build their faith upon myths and spiritual urban legends. But somehow such falsehoods keep showing up in the way that many Christians think about life and God. These goofy ideas and beliefs are assumed by millions to be rock-solid truth . . . until life proves they’re not. The sad result is often a spiritual disaster—confusion, feelings of betrayal, a distrust of Scripture, loss of faith, anger toward both the church and God.

But it doesn’t have to be so. In this delightfully personal and practical book, respected Bible teacher Larry Osborne confronts ten widely held beliefs that are both dumb and dangerous. Beliefs like these:

• Faith can fix anything
• Christians shouldn’t judge
• Forgiving means forgetting
• Everything happens for a reason
• A godly home guarantees good kids
…and more.

The author contends that healthy small groups must maintain a harmony of three patterns–connecting, changing and cultivating. (Connecting=forming deep relationships. Changing=becoming more Christ-like. And cultivating=living missionally.) Maintaining harmony between these three patterns will help groups remain healthy and be more likely to continue. Each section contains some good questions for group leaders to ask about their groups. This would be a good book to recommend to a small group leader or coach of small group leaders.

Personally, I am looking at how to structure training for group leaders in my church. Since our church uses the words connect, grow, serve and share to describe a balanced life of following Christ, I have been thinking of structuring the training around these concepts. In many ways, serve and share can be combined to form what the author intends for the word cultivate–living missionally. Although I love the word cultivate, it might be easier for our purposes here to retain the previously mentioned four words.

Nobody sets out to live a life full of regrets—never fulfilling their God-given dreams. Although a life following Jesus begins with excitement, it often becomes routine for many believers. Mark Batterson identifies the “cages” that keep people from living fully and experiencing the unpredictable adventure for which they are destined. Throughout the book, he encourages believers to pursue their God-given dreams, passions and goals—while giving practical advice to finding and discerning God’s will within those dreams and goals.

Much like his preaching, Batterson has a knack for writing in a thoughtful, clear, entertaining style. He authors a narrative filled with real life examples of people chasing the Wild Goose, living dangerously and finding fulfillment as they fulfill God’s purpose for their lives—contrasting examples of those who didn’t.

Buy this book for: college students/young adults looking for direction, those going through the quarter-life crisis, people craving a life of adventure—and yourself. Leave assumptions behind, unleash the Spirit within you and become dangerous to the enemy as you recapture the adventure of a life following the Holy Spirit! As Batterson says, “chase the Wild Goose, He will take you places you never could have imagined going by paths you never knew existed.”

Check out the book’s website for more info and “Mark’s 10 Steps to Setting Life Goals” (free download after your purchase)…and, since the publisher was nice enough to send me 2 copies, be the first to leave a comment or facebook me if you want my extra copy.

Summary:
“Celtic Christians had a name for the Holy Spirit–An Geadh-Glas, or ‘the Wild Goose.’ The name hints at mystery. Much like a wild goose, the Spirit of God cannot be tracked or tamed. An element of danger, an air of unpredictability surround Him. And while the name may sound a little sacrilegious, I cannot think of a better description of what it’s like to follow the Spirit through life. I think the Celtic Christians were on to something….

Most of us will have no idea where we are going most of the time. And I know that is unsettling. But circumstantial uncertainty also goes by another name: Adventure.” –from the Introduction.

Author’s Bio:
Mark Batterson is the lead pastor of Washington, DC’s National Community Church, widely recognized as one of America’s most innovative churches. NCC meets in movie theaters at metro stops throughout the city, as well as in a church-owned coffee house near Union Station. More than seventy percent of NCC’ers are single twentysomethings who live or work on Capitol Hill. Mark is the author of the best-selling In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day and a widely read blogger (www.markbatterson.com). He lives on Capitol Hill with his wife, Lora, and their three children.

Good resources for young adults were scarce when I first began working with this age group. As churches in America begin to address the obvious disconnect with younger generations, finding material for young adults has become easier; but finding something that fits me and the young adults that meet me on Sunday mornings has been even more difficult than finding quality youth ministry resources.

Current Context:
suburban Young Adults 18-28, average age: 21
meeting at a Dunkin Donuts at 9:45am on Sundays

Tomorrow, we’re beginning Liquid. As I read over the material, I liked the format, style of writing, flow, layout–in short, everything about it. The accompanying DVD clips (You can purchase the booklet or the booklet with a DVD.) are short enough to be part of the lesson–but not the whole lesson. The questions progress in a logical sequence while avoiding predictability. Contemporary references, stories and comments are interspersed throughout the participants’ guide making it easy to substitute your own thoughts and stories. The Bible verses are included in the text of the guide and are integrated smoothly within the discussion. (I stumbled upon it while travelling through Lancaster, PA and stopping at the Berean Christian Store–as close to a Christian Borders as I’ve ever come! I’ve made many serendipitous discoveries there, so I always stop when time allows.) I bought the version with the DVD and will show the clips as best I can. Tomorrow is the real test: how does it work for the 20-somethings!

Check out NCC and their audio & video podcasts too.