Bound Together: How we are tied to others in good and bad choices by Chris Brauns

Buy it on Amazon.com

Author Interview & Book Review!

Official Description:

Our lives are woven together in such a way that the choices each one of us makes have an effect on the lives of others, both for good and for bad. Because much of the pain we endure in life is in the context of relationships, this truth often strikes us as unfair. Why should a child suffer because of the poor decisions of his or her parents? And on a grander scale, why do we all suffer the curse of Adam’s disobedience? Why should anyone be judges for someone else’s sin?

In BOUND TOGETHER, Chris Brauns explains the biblical truth that we are bound to one another. He calls this reality the “principle of the rope” and explains why it is both bad news and good news. Grasping this foundational principle will help you better understand your married, your relationship with others, and how one person’s choices can affect many others. Above all, it will help you understand more deeply the truth of the gospel.

Publication Information:

Brauns, Chris. Bound Together: How We Are Tied to Others in Good and Bad Choices. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2013.

Endorsements:

“In BOUND TOGETHER, Chris Brauns cleverly unpacks two key theological concepts — union with Christ, and original sin — and manages to explain them in a way that any reader can understand. Highly recommended.”

MICHAEL HORTON, Westminster Seminary.

Summary:

Chris moves through the concept of the rope with easy to understand dialogue. The text opens with the principle of the rope and his own personal testimony of how one person is tied to another person, whether we realize it in the moment or not. Before he expounds on this concept and how it affects your life and the lives of those around you, Brauns (wisely) goes to Scripture to explain how it all started (original sin) and where it is all going (union with Christ).

Brauns moves from the discussion of the original rope just as the apostle Paul describes original sin and the second Adam (Ro. 5:12-21). To the second Adam, to the new King, we are bound in solidarity. Through the Gospel, we are intricately connected and even united. As Brauns transitions from the biblical exposition of the “rope,” he moves into the application of this concept. Rightly so, as exemplified by Christ and his bride, the Church, Brauns starts with unity in marriages before discussing hurting families (both one’s immediate and the global Christian family).

Then, in an almost abrupt manner, Brauns discusses the impact that the “rope” plays on one’s view of death. Though abrupt, the chapter proves a rewarding read as Brauns proclaims, “We can fall from the highest cliff, yet we need not fear. The rope that binds us to Christ is the unchanging reality of his incarnation and the good news of his atoning death on our behalf.” (p. 159) Furthermore, we share and will share in that final scene which is his resurrection. Brauns concludes the text (prior to some appendices) with what appears to have been hours spent in studies of society. How does the ideology of the “rope” play into our lives in this country and the stirring call to “radical individualism”? 

Evaluation:

I was hooked from the first page. Well, technically, from page seven where you’ll find the table of contents. This is not a book simply about being nice to your neighbor and, in return, your neighbor will be nice to you. This isn’t a biblical exposition of a worldly karma way of life. Bound Together is a down to earth, theologically packed discussion of the doctrines of original sin, corporate solidarity and union with Christ, and how all of this actually plays out day to day, moment to moment. That’s the global Gospel (not in whole, but in part).

Brauns writes very well. His thoughts are not hard to follow and a reader will take note that this text is written with confident assurance in the promises of the Gospel. In that, I mean that Chris appears to be responding to a generation or a collection of conversations in which faith, both in Christ and in the promises of the LORD, is filled with doubt. It is as though the word and work our our Savior is fleeting and Brauns wants to remind everyone, through his own stories and through Scripture, that you can rest assured in your union with Christ. You can take Christ at His word. “Christ’s rope to save is stronger than Adam’s rope is to condemn.” (p. 182)

A well-written, engaging, and significant conversation to be had this day in age (or any day in age), Brauns does a great job in reminding us how our tie to others, especially Christ, affects others.

**This book was provided free from Zondervan with my promise to post an unbiased review

INTERVIEW WITH CHRIS BRAUNS ABOUT HIS BOOK TO FOLLOW

Jason Brueckner (http://www.thebravereviews.com/)

Bound Together is a wonderful read. It has reminded me that our interactions with others, whether family or strangers, aren’t perchance, and that we can make or break our opportunities!

1. Hey Chris, for the reader’s sake, what’s the crux message of your book? If someone was to only give you two sentences to sum up your book - what’s it about? (put simply, what is its thesis & call to action?)’

Jason, first, thanks so much for your interaction with Bound Together. As an author, getting to dialogue with people who have read the book is the fun part.

Before I forget, I would invite your readers to stop by my web site (www.chrisbrauns.com). In the month of May I am giving away the last of some books as well as some free Nooks (see the Bound Together Quiz). The goal of my web site is to post material that would be helpful to people in our local church. But it ends up being helpful to a lot of other people as well.

Back to your question, in order to give the crux of my book I need to define a term I invented: “the principle of the rope.” The principle of the rope is a metaphor that references corporate solidarity: the idea that we are not islands unto ourselves but that we are bound together with other people. As I explain in Bound Together:

Our future and place in this world isn’t simply the sum of our own individual choices. On varying levels, we are roped together with others.  When someone we are roped to is lifted up, we are lifted up with them. When he or she jumps off a figurative cliff, we are pulled over with them.  This is what I refer to as the “principle of the rope”: the simple truth that our lives, choices, and actions are linked to the lives, choices, and actions of other people.  To put it simply, as I have in the title of this book, we are “bound together,” tied to others in our good and bad choices.

There are endless illustrations of this principle … We talk a lot about the principle of the rope in our church and at home. Recently, when I was out for a walk with my ten year old son, I asked him, “Benjamin, what do I mean by the principle of the rope.” He responded quickly. “Oh, I think about that a lot. Here’s the best example I can give. Today a couple of kids in my class got in trouble. So, none of us got to go out to recess. That’s the principle of the rope.”

This definition of the principle of rope in mind, the thesis of Bound Together is that the principle of the rope (corporate solidarity) is more powerful in the Gospel than in Adam’s sin.  

In order to develop that thesis, I first had to defend that the principle of the rope is real. We are truly are bound together. One person’s action can affect many others. To make this point, I gave a number of examples from both real life and Scripture. For example, everyone died in Sodom and Gomorrah including the children. They were bound together as a culture. I then gave the ultimate negative example of the principle of the rope: the doctrine of original sin. When Adam and Eve rebelled their guilt was imputed not just to themselves but to all their descendants. 

Considering how all were bound together with Adam and Eve sets us up to be amazed by the Gospel. The ultimate positive example of the principle of the rope is union with Christ. The wonderful news, per Romans 5 is that union in Christ is greater than sin in Adam.

2. Who has been most influential on this topic (you seem to be leaning on evangelically reformed concepts - am I wrong?) and what’s the most helpful stepping stone from BOUND TOGETHER for people who want to really dig into this idea?

On my site, I gave a list of the books on corporate solidarity or the principle of the rope that most influenced my thinking.

You are right that I lean on evangelically reformed concepts. John Murray’s writings were a signicant influence including The Imputation of Adam’s Sin. However, a wide range of others also helped my thinking. C.S. Lewis was a tremendous influence. In the Problem of Pain, Lewis wrote:

Everyone will have noticed how the Old Testament seems at times to ignore our conception of the individual. When God promises Jacob that ‘He will go down with him into Egypt and will also surely bring him up again’, this is fulfilled either by the burial of Jacob’s body in Palestine or by the exodus of Jacob’s descendants from Egypt. It is quite right to connect this notion with the social structure of early communities in which the individual is constantly overlooked in favour of the tribe or family: but we ought to express this connection by two propositions of equal importance – - firstly that their social experience blinded the ancients to some truths we perceive, and secondly that it made them sensible of some truths to which we are blind. Legal fiction, adoption, and transference or imputation of merit and guilt, could never have played the part they did in theology if they had always be felt to be so artificial as we now feel them to be.

… the separateness – - which we discern between individuals, is balanced, in absolute reality, by some kind of ‘interanimation’ of which we have no conception at all. It may be that the acts and sufferings of great archetypal individuals such as Adam and Christ are ours, not by legal fiction, metaphor, or casuality, but in some much deeper fashion. There is no question, of course, of individuals melting down into a kind of spiritual continuum such as Pantheistic systems believe in; that is excluded by the whole tenor of our faith. But there may be a tension between individuality and some other principle. C.S. Lewis, emphasis added (page 83).

The “other principle” to which Lewis alludes is what my book is about. I call it the “principle of the rope.” I recently pointed out in a post (see C.S. Lewis and his Last Hurdle to Belief) that one of the final hurdles Lewis dealt with before becoming a Christian focused on this subject was the question of how what Christ accomplished could have significance for us today.

John Donne’s poetry inspired me. I remember reading Donne’s poem in the forward of For Whom the Bell Tolls decades ago. It has been in my thoughts ever since.

“No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friend’s or  of thine own were: any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bells tolls; it tolls for thee.”

Alan Jacobs book on original sin as well as Robert Bellah’s, Habits of the Heart were also very influential. 

I will stop here, but I really recommend that those interested look at the recommended reading list on my site. There are some wonderful books there.

3. It’s a wonderful concept, recognizing the unity in the body of Christ and how the entire world is intrinsically tied together, but, Chris, how do you live this out? [Maybe summate the second part of your book as if you’re just having a conversation] Life gets busy and, if we’re honest, we get distracted and forget that we’re all in this together. What’s your practice for living out the exhortation of your book?

First, as a family we are committed to our local church as extended family. That may seem obvious for a pastor, but

it is possible for a pastor to keep themselves at arms length. In the case of our family, our lives are intertwined with our church and community. Recently, I celebrated a milestone birthday. (As I have now sojourned this earth for 50 years). One of my favorite cards was from a little girl in our church. She wrote, “I love you. You love me. Love Elaine. Meow.” I asked her parents about the significance of “meow.” They explained that she just likes cats and so she put that in at the end. Cats aside, I pray that Elaine’s summary is true of all of our relationships in our church family. If we are “bound together” in Jesus, then we should expect nothing less.

Of course, it is in intertwining our lives with other believers that we can be most joyfully Christ-centered and celebrate about our unity in Him. I am already looking forward to communion this Sunday and the opportunity to remember Christ’s broken body and shed blood.

My family is also very involved in the life of our community. We invite people into our home. We try and express the love of Christ for as many people as possible in as many ways as possible. As I am writing this, I just finished meeting with the president of the senior class in our high school. She wanted to talk to me about speaking at baccalaureate. She does not attend our church. But she and the other class officers know how much we care about them.

One of the central ways that I have sought to show solidarity for young people in our community is through photography. I enjoy sports and special events photography. I take a lot of pictures. I can then share those pictures with young people through social media. It is a small way to repeatedly tell young people that I care bout them.

The picture to the right is of an important touchdown in a high school football game. The young man does not attend our church. But I made sure I got him a copy of the picture. I think it is a small way to tell families that we see ourselves as bound together with our community. Over time those small ways make a difference.

A couple of weeks ago a young man, whose picture I have taken many times, visited our church. He came by himself. He spent time chatting with my wife and me at the back after church. I know that part of the reason he is comfortable visiting our church is because he knows that we care about him.

Daniel Darling recently wrote a helpful post, How to Build Community in Your Church. He offers 5 practical suggestions and his post is worth reading.

Thanks so much for your message - for tangible image of the Church. We are all tied together, bound by the life, death and the resurrection of Christ Jesus.

Thank you for keeping the discussion going. Books come and go. But we need to keep talking about the reality that we are not islands unto ourselves. People are bound together.

Brave Reviews gets contacted regularly by all sorts of people, not just book publishers or independent authors. I am meeting people from all over the world, from the United States, Canada, Australia and even South Africa! We have recently begun commenting on Bible Software because of the ground that it is gaining in Biblical Studies, but we also fully resonate with the organization to which this post is dedicated.

If you are only reading about Scripture, and not living Scripture, than, put simply, you have only just begun your walk with the LORD. When you dig into the life of Christ and discover Christ’s consistant devotion to self-sacrifice than you can’t help but pay forward the grace of God. You will just want to give any way that you are able - and for many people, that involves either time or money. It is to the latter that CheerGive is paving the way.

CheerGive is an easy-to-use online giving and donation platform. With no setup or monthly fees, CheerGive offers donors the ability to give online and is supported by detailed reporting and donor management tools. CheerGive provides your donors a variety of giving options, including: one-time, recurring, goal based or time based.  

Additionally, no technical knowledge is required, in fact you don’t even need a website, as CheerGive offers your organization its own webpage hosted on the CheerGive network. The look and feel of your page is customizable to showcase your organization’s colors and logo. The goal of CheerGive is pretty simple; provide donors with an easy way to give and organizations with an easy way to receive and manage those donations.  

CheerGive: Let’s Make Giving Simple.

Visit CheerGive online or get immediate, popular questions answered by visiting their FAQ page.

Follow CheerGive on Twitter.

Abraham: Following God’s Promise: Complete Church Curriculum for Leaders and Pastors

By the following authors: Miles Custis, Michael R. Grigoni, Douglas Mangum, and Matthew M. Whitehead

You can learn more and purchase the curriculum by visiting the product page here at Logos.com.

Official Description:

Abraham: Following God’s Promise helps your entire church dig deeper into the life of Abraham—together.

This all-in-one curriculum package has something for everyone:

• - Preaching resources and sermon starters for pastors and teachers
• - Videos, slides, and media for the tech team
• - Bulletin inserts and handouts for the congregation
• - Discussion guides and videos for small group leaders
• - A take-home book for small group members available separately for only $9.95 per person

The resource lays out the curriculum for an 8-Week study, as follows:

8-Week Program

1. Stepping Out in Faith (Genesis 11:27–12:9)
2. Fear versus Faith (Genesis 12:10–20)
3. Active Faith (Genesis 14:1–24)
4. Dealing with Doubt (Genesis 15:1–21; 16:1–15)
5. Promising the Impossible (Genesis 17:1–18:15)
6. Bargaining with God (Genesis 18:16–33; 19:1–38)
7. God’s Faithfulness despite Relapse (Genesis 20:1–18; 21:22–34)
8. Of Sons and Sacrifice (Genesis 21:1–21; 22:1–24)

What You’ll Get

• The study book:
  • A complete introduction to the life of Abraham
  • Reflection questions to keep you focused on the text
  • Fill-in-the-blank answer boxes to keep your group engaged
  • Recommended resources to help you continue your study
  • An elegant design, featuring 32 graphics tied to the commentary—also in slide format
• Presenting/Preaching materials:
  • 8 sermon outlines
  • 8 sermon handouts
  • A video lead-in for your sermon
  • 8 teaching slideshows, which work on PowerPoint, Keynote, and Proclaim
• Group curriculum:
  • The leader’s book
  • 8 lesson plans
  • 8 teaching slideshows, which work on PowerPoint, Keynote, and Proclaim
  • 8 handouts with discussion questions, in Microsoft Word and PDF
  • 8 intro videos, one for each lesson, which you can download after you check out. You can also pre-order a DVD separately for $4.95.

The entire program is designed for Logos Bible Software and Logos’ Faithlife Study Bible app. It combines text and visuals with today’s most advanced Bible study tools. All Scripture passages link to your favorite Bible translation and to the original language texts in your library.

Publication Information:

• Title: Abraham: Following God’s Promise: Complete Church Curriculum for Leaders and Pastors Authors: Miles Custis, Michael R. Grigoni, Douglas Mangum, and Matthew M. Whitehead
• Editor: Michael R. Grigoni (Series: Studies in Faithful Living)
• Publisher: Logos Bible Software, 2012
• Price: $21.99/mo. or $84.99

Endorsement:

“Logos has taken group Bible study to the next level with their new Studies in Faithful Living series. Deeply engaging, biblically accurate, and filled with life-changing applications, this series is destined to be the go-to resource for lay leaders for years to come.”

—Israel Loken, Chair, Bible and Theology Departments, College of Biblical Studies, Houston, TX 

Summary:

Abraham - how often does the church just touch on and breeze by the matter of Israel’s forefather, Abraham? What if information, presentation, and application of Scripture pertaining to the one called from among nations to form a great nation was already done for you? What if the pastor of a congregation has got more to worry about than creating a catchy slideshow or introduction video? And the weekly community groups, that stew over their sermon notes, what if they had questions directly related to the passage and supplied by the pastor? No longer is there a place for distracted, off-topic small groups — Sermon-based community groups are making ground and Logos Bible Software has created a package deal.

This 8-Week program walks through the book of Genesis, particularly the commissioning and the mission of Abraham. For the expositor, the book itself unpacks the pericopes in five easy steps:

1. “Setting the Stage” (the theme, context and historical background);

2. “A Closer Look” (walk through the event while exploring issues of interpretation, original language, and theology)

3. “Throughout the Bible” (Examines the story, biblically)

4. “Beyond the Bible” (Credits ancient documents and extrabiblical/extracanonical texts as well as theologians, church fathers, and contemporary thinkers)

5. “Application” (Concludes the chapter by exploring the event’s relevance to your journey of faith)

Evaluation:

My evaluation? A one stop shop, literally, for everything that you’d need if you desired to walk a class, a small group, or a congregation through the life and times of Abraham. Logos Bible Software has truly done their homework and are preparing materials unlike anyone else in the world of faith-based publications. Not only is the information available, and is it displayed systematically making reader’s use of the information a snap, but it is both sound and supported.

If you have read any of my reviews up until this point, you’ll know that I always comment on how a resource is cited. Does the author appear to be rolling on his/her own opinions, attempting to created followers until they are read in the face? Or does an author consider a broad spectrum of authorship in any given topic? Furthermore, is the authorship well-supported? I am not suggesting you have to follow whatever the “spiritual superstars” are saying, but, typically when you are saying something that no one else is saying or has said, my opinion is that you are treading on dangerous territory. All that to say, the team who has accumulated the material for this product has done their homework and has considered the research and opinions of well-respected, Godly theologians and pastors. (consider also their “further reading” section at the close of every chapter - this provides readers with stepping stones for continuing the conversation if they so desire to)

I seldom give products a “star” rating, but if I would, I would give this a 4.5. This is great for pastors and even professors who desire a cursory understanding of Abraham’s ancient context and means to bring that context to light today. The only pitfall I’ve seen, as I mention this product and Logos Bible Software to others within my church body, is that not everybody is on board just yet with the digital database. Logos Bible Software has attempted to cover dilemma with allowing small group members to purchase a booklet at $9.95 a person. That minor complaint should NOT take away from the greatness of this product. This curriculum package is a sound resource that provides organized, applicable research to the ever-busy pastor. I highly recommend it to all pastors, even instructors who teach in churches.

** This book was provided free from Logos.com with my promise to post an unbiased review.

[GUEST POST]

The story we find ourselves in, that we’re born into at once, and each and every day when we arise, is a story about forgiveness.

In 2010, I traveled to the “land of a thousand hills” on my own dollar to discover that Rwanda’s meta-narrative, as told through many personal and seemingly insignificant experiences and events, is a parable for the world, and each of us in whatever context we find ourselves. The people I met and stories I absorbed altered my ego from those days forward. In the aftermath, I began to reflect theologically and practically about what I’d seen and heard - witnessed. So, I published a book to share my journey with others.

In this thoughtful and challenging book, I mix a typewritten tonic that might be hard to swallow, but is sure to produce a lasting effect. I weave powerful stories about actual people conducting their own truth and reconciliation experiments with an imaginative slant on many sacred texts to help readers understand a major point; to enter the future, and experience the world as it should be, each of us must pass through forgiveness.

You’ll be inspired by true stories of grace and peace and you’ll be encouraged to conclude what we once thought was only possible in a place called heaven can actually be manifest here and now.

My friend Claude Gatebuke is a Rwandan genocide survivor who I’m indebted to. He wrote the foreword to my book. About the project he wrote, “This book is about more than Rwanda. It’s about freeing oneself from hurts of the past that cannot be taken back. It is about looking beyond the satisfaction of seeing another person, unsavory as that person may be, living a miserable life because of their past deeds. The book is about demonstrating how we can all be forgiven not only by God, but also by other human beings for our trespasses. More importantly, it’s about how much freedom we can experience within ourselves, with other human beings, and with God. Regardless of one’s religious beliefs, this book serves as a reminder that forgiving is freedom on earth.”

I want to offer a big thanks to Jason here at Brave Reviews for this opportunity to introduce my book to those of you who frequent his website. Consider downloading Future Is Forgiveness: The Supernatural Remedy to Self & Social Destruction. Write a review, especially if it’s positive. Share the book with your friends. Don’t forget to visit the book landing page at futureisforgiveness.com.

Zachary Hamilton is simply a happily married husband, a grateful father, son, brother and friend, as well as a concerned neighbor and engaged citizen.

Follow Zach’s tweets @zhamilton.

Tuesday Tour Day

Accordance has just recently published a video making mention of the many layers that are at work as you search through your Biblical library. As you learn about all of the tagging and research that has been done in the background of the bible software, watch this short video to learn about the new FLEX SEARCH feature.

Find the video here: YouTube or Vimeo.

Pilgrim Theology: Core Doctrines for Christian Disciples by Michael Horton

CURRENTLY 78% OFF AT AMAZON.COM (as of 4/17/2013)

Click —> here <— to check it out.

Or you can find it on Zondervan’s site.

Official Book Description:

The 2011 award-winning publication The Christian Faith garnered wide praise as a thorough, well-informed treatment of the philosophical foundations of Christian theology, the classical elements of systematic theology, and exegesis of relevant biblical texts. Pilgrim Theology distills the distinctive benefits of this approach into a more accessible introduction designed for classroom and group study.
In this book, Michael Horton guides readers through a preliminary exploration of Christian theology in ‘a Reformed key.’ Horton reviews the biblical passages that give rise to a particular doctrine in addition to surveying past and present interpretations. Also included are sidebars showing the key distinctions readers need to grasp on a particular subject, helpful charts and tables illuminating exegetical and historical topics, and questions at the end of each chapter for individual, classroom, and small group reflection.
Pilgrim Theology will help undergraduate students of theology and educated laypersons gain an understanding of the Christian tradition’s biblical and historical foundations.

• Hardcover: 512 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (February 5, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310330645
• ISBN-13: 978-0310330646
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 1.6 x 9.5 inches

Learn more about the book from our friends at the koinonia (Zondervan) blog:

Infographic Part 1

Infographic Part 2

My own thoughts?

I don’t know how I can say anything negative about this book (and I am not just being nice). It is a Reformed systematic theology for people who don’t want to read a text that feels like systematic theology. He laces countless hours of research and the study of the Word of God with evidence of himself scuffling through the truths and their application.

What I found most helpful was his organization of thoughts and the ease of which he approaches different subjects. Many people, including Horton himself, say that this text is a gutted version of his larger systematic work, Christian Faith. Though gutted by about half the depth as his larger work (Horton took out ~500 pages), Pilgrim Theology is a steller introduction to systematics. Pertinent theological terms are highlighted, typically given their own special attention off to the side, and included in the glossary at the back of the book. Following the glossary, Horton has supplied his (visual) readers with a chart that takes students from the Scriptures to application in an array of concepts (in the same format that he has written his entire systematic theology in, from Drama —> Doctrine —> Doxology —>  Discipline). The chart is followed by Scripture, Subject, and Author indexes.

As far as ease of reading and organization of content, this is a 4.5/5 stars and a text that every student should have on their shelf. I would love to have a copy of his larger work, Christian Faith, to compare this to but until then I say that this is a solid resource for someone seeking a understanding of Reformed theology.

*This book was provided free from our friends at Zondervan.com with our promise of an unbiased summary/review.

Tuesday Tour Day

First stop on the Bible Software tour, and here is a look at the Accordance Bible Software home screen from launch! This just explains the most basic of features, beginning with using and customizing the toolbar.

Watch the introduction video here on YouTube!

I will be incorporating an array of Bible Software Reviews throughout my book review website. I will be featuring reviews from Accordance Bible Software, BibleWorks, and Logos Bible Software. I will be completing the reviews in that order (alphabetically - Accordance, BibleWorks and then Logos). Brave Reviews will also soon be featuring webpages specific to each software platform, so if you just want to learn about Accordance alone you can simply click on the Accordance or software page.

Accordance 10

My advice? Add www.thebravereviews.com to your RSS reader and stay in touch! More advice? Sign up to our monthly newsletter by clicking —> here <— yeah, right there.

The reviews will highlight tools specific to each software platform in hopes to educate my audience on what is offered. This is not a survey of the Bible software programs that seeks to conclude with which one is “best.” The more that I learn and study with each program, the more I see the strengths and weaknesses of each (and, yes, all three programs have strengths and weaknesses).

To wet your whistle a little and introduce you to Accordance, watch this brief three minute video about Accordance 10.

Crucifying Morality: The Gospel of the Beatitudes

My Thoughts:

Morality is such a deep topic. Ethics and philosophy and the ideas that branch to and from the discussion are at most times way beyond me. Ethics, particularly moralism, at its core is the idea that we are to live a “right” way and to judge others accordingly.

Life up until Christ was well saturated in this idea of morality. Even a cursory reading of the life of Christ will tell you that Jesus was different. His teachings were different and his ministry was different. His words and his works were different … and different is good. In fact, it is the Good News. And this Good News, which arguably has the summary of its life application in the Beatitudes, is exactly what R. W. Glenn has honed in on in this text. 

On the topic of morality and its correlation to the Gospels and Christ’s life, Allen Verhey writes, “The Gospels use the tradition of Jesus’ words and deeds to tell his story creatively and faithfully, shaping the conduct and character of particular communities.” (Dictionary for Theological Interpretation of the Bible. Edited by Kevin J. Vanhoozer, Craig G. Bartholomew, Daniel J. Treier and N. T. Wright. London; Grand Rapids, MI: SPCK; Baker Academic, 2005. Page 198). This is the heart and soul of Glenn’s message! Morality as the world knew it was not only done away with by the life and death of Christ — Christ is greater than any moral measuring rod you have.

“You do not have what it takes and your own moral excellence falls short of the goal, yet you have waiting for you in heaven an eternal reward that will more than make up for all your sufferings for Jesus. It will be Jesus himself, so delight yourself in him.” (Crucifying Morality, 113)

With that truth embedded in your mind, which Glenn exposits in great and easy-to-read detail as he travels verse by verse through the Beatitudes, you realize that you have nothing to gain but Christ. All that we, by nature (which is sinful), feel as though we are supposed to live for, is garbage and Christ gives us a new agenda. Himself. His life and His death. Most insightful for me was Glenn’s chapter entitled “Jesus was the Beatitudes.” Glenn was quick to point out the many ways in which Jesus exemplified the Beatitudes, but when he highlighted the fact that Jesus embodied them than that made me want to be more like the Beatitudes. To be more like Jesus, that is.

This is a stellar text on applicable insight into Beatitudes. Laced with relevant passages, Glenn has done his homework and has applied his teaching to himself (be cautious to invest yourself in any author/pastor/professor who hasn’t wrestled himself through the passage he is expositing). Bottom line: Moralists want to be satisfied now. They want to get revenge and have a full stomach and they want to complete everything on their spiritual checklist … but we’re strangers of this world and Jesus is preparing a place for us where we’ll never thirst again. Focus on that place. Focus on the grace-giving Beatitudes. Focus on Christ.

Book Description from Shepherd Press.com:

Christianity is not moralism. Christianity is not religiosity. Jesus was crucified because we are committed to saving ourselves by our religious stamina and moral efforts. The Beatitudes in their simplicity are not commands to be followed, principles to live by, or attitudes to adopt. They profile people who have crucified their own morality in Jesus’ death, resurrection, and rule.

Crucifying Morality walks through Matthew 5:1-12, where Jesus doesn’t prescribe what ought to be in order to experience God’s grace, but describes what is true of people who understand the grace of God.

Includes group discussion questions with each chapter.

Book Endorsements:

“God’s sanctifying work in this Jersey boy is extraordinary. Jesus himself will come alive for you in the Beatitudes like never before.” —David Mathis, Executive Editor, desiringGod.org

“This much is clear — Jesus turns the world upside down. This includes human morality. Read it and learn.” —R. Albert Mohler, Jr.

“I love humor and I love theology. R W Glenn uses both to clear away the fog of confusion from the Beatitudes to show us that it’s all about Jesus.” —CJ Mahaney, Sovereign Grace Ministries

“R W left me hopeful and motivated because he helped me see that the Beatitudes aren’t a moral code for me to achieve. Read and let yourself weep and celebrate.” —Paul David Tripp

“The quest to become moral can turn into just one more self-salvation project. Bob shows that our anchor is that Jesus became like us.” —Tullian Tchividjian, Pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church, author of Jesus + Nothing = Everything

I’m not the only one with an opinion of this book, learn more at the following link: crossfocusedreviews.com

About the Author:

Follow R. W. Glenn on Twitter here: @rwglenn

Follow R. W. Glenn on Facebook here: Facebook

Pick up your own copy at Amazon.com (currently $10)

CURRENT WEBSITE SPECIAL (as of April 4th, 2013): When you buy the paperback edition of Crucifying Morality from ShepherdPress.com, you’ll receive a download link for a zip file containing both the ePub (for iPad, Nook, etc) and Kindle editions as well. Just download the file to your computer, unzip it, and transfer the appropriate file to your ebook reader. (Note: Offer valid only for web orders placed at shepherdpress.com.)

** This book was provided free with my promise to share an unbiased review of this text.

You’re correct —

Brave Reviews has not had a giveaway for a few months, but I’ve been hosting a giveaway at another website of mine that is just getting its feet off the ground. I have had a number of new faces join in the giveaway as they learn about the expansion of Brave Reviews that is taking place at www.jasonbrueckner.tumblr.com.

The winner of the giveaway did not know what he was going to receive - all that he/she knew was that it’d be books. I thought I would tailor the prize package to the winner, in hopes that the books would be more encouraging and that the giveaway winner was not left with books that he thought were super lame. All that said … the prize package [read below to see what is included!] of this giveaway goes to … Matthew Kratz [pictured above with his family]!

Matthew is a pastor of an evangelical congregation in Ontario (finally, some friends in Canada!). He’s married and has two children. He introduced himself by letting me know that every “truth” that he reads is set to the ultimate standard, which is the very Word of God. He doesn’t desire for our opinions to tell us what Scripture says, rather, place the Word center-stage and allow the Wisdom of God to tell us what to think. I think, especially with the array of topics and texts that I’m in at a given time, too seldom do I let Scripture speak for Herself. We always let others speak on behalf of the Word when that is not necessary. So I’ll let Matthew speak for himself, 

“I always start with the praise or critique based on an adherence to the text of Scripture. If a book/testimony/argument does not flow from Biblical justification, then it is mere opinion, speculation or experience. If it is one that cites Biblical reference, then it is one that should be carefully considered.”

God is so good and I pray that these texts exhort you, Matthew, in your study of the Word, in your understanding of this world, and in your personal walk with Christ. Matthew will be receiving:

- Larry Richard’s Bible Answer Handbook

- Garry Morgan’s Understanding World Religions in 15 Minutes a Day

- Richard Foster & Garyle Beebe’s Longing for God 

Unglued: Devotional by Lysa TerKeurst

Pick up a copy at Amazon.com (currently $9.98) or Zondervan.com ($12.99)

The final review of this book actually comes from my wife, who has spent the last two months getting to know both the author, TerKeurst, and the our Great Author better by way of this little devotional. I’ll first tell you about the book before I share with you her endorsement of the book.

Zondervan published this text at the end of 2012, and it weighs in at just over 200 pages. The author is better known for the book which this text’s name echoes, “Unglued” (as well as the book, “Made to Crave”).

Coming from someone who isn’t an avid reader, and only finishes books if they’re worth her time, my wife says that Unglued: Devotional is, “Short but in depth and allowed me to make my devotional times a habit.” Rather than incredibly exhaustive commentary on Scripture, Lysa aims to encourage her readers (primarily women) in their holistic walk - mind, body and soul.

I don’t normally give a rating for books, but Booksneeze.com has asked me to do so … so I’ll share that we rated this book 4.5 out of 5 stars. I would encourage women who question what it means to live holistically, with the consideration of how you eat, sleep and workout, to pick up a copy of this short devotional.

About the author (directly from Amazon.com):

Lysa TerKeurst (www.lysaterkeurst.com) is the New York Times bestselling author of “Made to Crave” and “Unglued” as well as 14 other titles and a speaker who helps everyday women live an adventure of faith through following Jesus Christ. As president of Proverbs 31 Ministries, Lysa has led thousands to make their walk with God an invigorating journey. For over 15 years, her message has enabled women to:

Make the Bible come alive whenever you read it.
Discover how to develop inner peace and security in any situation.
Replace doubt, regret, and envy with truth, confidence, and praise.
Stop unhealthy cycles of striving and learn to love who you are.
Sense God responding to your prayers.

Lysa’s personal adventure of following God captured national media attention when she and her husband adopted two teenage boys from a war-torn orphanage in Liberia, Africa. They never imagined their decision would start a chain reaction within their community, which inspired other families to adopt over 45 children from the same orphanage! Lysa’s amazing story led to appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Good Morning America, The 700 Club, USA Today newspaper, Woman’s Day magazine, and Focus on the Family radio.

Today, Lysa and her ministry team at Proverbs 31 encourage 500,000 women through their daily online devotional. In addition, she co-hosts a 1-minute inspirational radio program aired on more than 1,200 stations around the world. Lysa’s blog averages over 80,000 avid readers per month. Plus, she touches hearts through their monthly magazine, P31 Woman.

Lysa is the award-winning author of 14 books, including her newest New York Times bestselling release, Made to Crave: Satisfying Your Deepest Desire with God Not Food..

Other noteworthy books include:

Becoming More Than a Good Bible Study Girl
What Happens When Women Say Yes To God
What Happens When Women Walk In Faith
Am I Messing Up My Kids?
Capture His Heart
Capture Her Heart
Living Life On Purpose
A Woman’s Secret To A Balanced Life
Leading Women to the Heart of God

Lysa was a Gold Medallion finalist for her book, Leading Women to the Heart of God, and a People’s Choice Award finalist for, What Happens When Women Walk In Faith. In addition, her articles have been published in Focus on the Family magazine, Marriage Partnership, and Crown Financial Ministries’ Money Matters.

Each year, Lysa is a featured keynote presenter at more than 40 women’s events, banquets, and retreats across North America, including the Extraordinary Women conferences and Focus on the Family’s women’s conference, Renewing the Heart. In addition, she hosts the annual She Speaks Conference, which has helped thousands of women gain the tools to pursue God’s calling on their life.

In the midst of her busy schedule, Lysa is an everyday woman who simply seeks to glorify God through her life and family. She and her husband, Art, reside near Charlotte, North Carolina, with their five priority blessings named Jackson, Mark, Hope, Ashley, and Brooke. Join Lysa and discover the everyday adventure that God has waiting for you! www.lysaterkeurst.com

*This book was provided free from www.Booksneeze.com with my promise to post an unbiased review.

Charts on the Book of Hebrews

by Herbert W. Bateman IV

The reality of studying the Bible is that the deeper you dive into your study, the wider the arguments and possible ways there are to interpret a pericope. When knowing a particular way to understand a verse or word, drawing definite lines is not always easy. With the series that Kregel has launched, drawing the lines (literally) has become their main objective.

Bateman has done his homework and you can tell he has spent years pouring over the subject at hand. An easy way to explain the book is to first say that it is divided into four sections:

I. INTRODUCTORY CONSIDERATIONS IN HEBREWS (Authorship, destination, recipients, dating, genre & structure)

II. OLD TESTAMENT AND SECOND TEMPLE INFLUENCES IN HEBREWS (OT quotes and allusions, Jewish cultic system, Second Temple high priesthood, Second Temple messianic figures)

III. THEOLOGY IN HEBREWS (The Godhead, theological themes, words of exhortation

IV. EXEGETICAL MATTERS IN HEBREWS (Interpretive issues, text critical issues, figures of speech, important words).

If you want to know what people have believed throughout the years, all of the way up until the present age, than this book lays information such as that out in a clean and understandable way. Bateman has sorted through the commentators himself, leaving you with the raw data. The same goes for dates or recipients and the like. Bateman supplies a lengthy, well-respected bibliography at the close of his text for further study. Where a text like this is most helpful is in displaying the wide-range of perspectives that the book of Hebrews has stirred. That is not to diminish any one opinion on the book (such as who we are to view is the audience, which in turns has a result on how we interpret the manuscript), rather, a text like this shows the magnitude of God. God has provided a beautifully complex book that begs His children to worship the King, of which all of Scripture speaks of.

This book is great for both scholars and clergymen, professors or pastors. What makes this particularly appealing to professors is the size of the book. It’s 8 1/2 by 11!! That’s perfection if you’re looking to make copies for your students (or, pastors, you can make copies for your audience as well! Churches are allowed to get all studious, too!).

I’d encourage anyone who wishes to tread through the book of Hebrews to pick up a copy, as it gives the learner much broader of a context when seeking to understand the book of Hebrews. Yes, charts can be a little dry sometimes, but it sure does help to organize all of the information that commentaries seem to throw at you.

Publication Information:

Herbert W. Bateman, IV. Charts on the Book of Hebrews.

Grand Rapids, Mich.: Kregel, 2012. 266 pages, pb. $26.99.

Find it at Kregel or Amazon 

:)

Endorsements:

“Herbert Bateman’s latest contribution on the book of Hebrews is truly excellent. I appreciate the effort he put into it. Anyone willing to dig into the treasures of this book of charts will not be disappointed.”

- David Alan Black, Professor of New Testament and Greek, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

“Professor Bateman has managed to distill and organize an astonishing variety of perspectives, problems, and data into charts that provide almost immediate visual access to a wide range of issues and problems that must be faced by all interpreters of Hebrews. His survey of contemporary views provides a judicious cross section of English scholarship on contested areas of Hebrews. The perennial questions of authorship, manuscript support, canon, background, structure, Old Testament citations, and much more are well represented. The range, reliability, and clarity of the charts will make this a gold mine for both beginning and advanced students of this challenging but vital New Testament discourse.”

- Jon Laansma, Associate Professor of Ancient Languages and New Testament, Wheaton College

” Contemporary commentaries and monographs offer rich help for navigating the book, but most students find digging for their treasures overwhelming. Bateman has pulled together a phenomenal amount of useful information in a way that is clear and easily accessible. What a helpful, substantive resource! This will be a standard tool in my classes on Hebrews from this point on.”

- George Guthrie, Benjamin W. Perry Professor of Bible, Union University

“This will be a godsend to students and pastors working their way through this sometimes enigmatic book.”

- Samuel Lamerson, Professor of New Testament, Knox Seminary

“Herb Bateman is eminently qualified to write on Hebrews.”

- David L. Allen, Dean, School of Theology, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

* This book was provided free by Kregel Academic with my promise to post an unbiased review.

This Ordinary Adventure by Christine and Adam Jeske.

Settling down without settling down.

Purchase from IVP or Amazon.com.

Watch the authors discuss their work on Vimeo.com.

How does this book relate to you? How does reading the story of a couple who lives “outside of the ordinary” and does crazy things for years upon years on end, how does this story relate to you? How does a year struggling with diarrhea while tilling gardens in Africa, then transitioning to life in the States (with all its glitz and glamour) relate to you or I?

Put simply - and what appears to be the thesis of the testimony recorded in these pages - God is in it all. God is in and over every scribble of every story ever, ever written. If I can be a little personal, our society loves to look at the macro and overlook the micro work that God is doing in our lives. We love to overlook the details, how God sustains us from month to month (or, how about from moment to moment?). I’m getting preachy and am slowly inching away from the details of the actual book … Sorry!

This text tells the story of friends who become a couple, and in turn, become a family. The stories that they tell are continually intertwined with what they learn about God through it all. Which gets to the point of the book, and the point of our lives, that is summated by Eugene Peterson and also concludes Jeske’s book:

Our stories are interesting, but they are not the point. The point is Christ and His glorification. (paraphrased)

It is to this end that Christine and Adam write and it is to this end that they live. Their testimony should be a lived example for each and every one of us.

I recommend this book to anyone who thinks they’re the center of the universe. You aren’t, God is. If you want to hear the story of two people who understand that, and live that way, pick up this book. A beautiful story.

Back cover (see also ivpress.com) reads:

They started out living the dream. They promised themselves and each other that every day would be an amazing day. They even stuck that phrase—”Amazing Days”—on their refrigerator, like Martin Luther pounding his conviction into a door and launching the next great era of the church. “Ready or not,” they told the world, “here we come.”

They traveled the planet, doing missions and community development work in Latin America, China, Africa. Then they went back home—to the land of shopping malls and manicured lawns. And they wondered what had become of their amazing days.

In This Ordinary Adventure Adam and Christine Jeske mine their experience, from riding motorcycles in Africa to dicing celery in Wisconsin, in search of a God who is always present and who is charging every moment with potential. Read along and you’ll see your life—your ruts and routines, your frustrations and exhilarations—through different eyes, maybe for the first time. You’ll discover the amazing things God is doing in the shadows of even the most ordinary day.

Contents:

1. Dented Dishwashers: Becoming Ordinary

2. The Last Hurrah: Leaving Adventures Behind

3. Faith Muscles: Getting Moving

4. Thorns and Thistles: Work

5. The Cool Table: Identity

6. All I Got for Christmas Was Malaria: Suffering

7. Washing Machine Guilt: Money

8. The Honeymoon Never Ends: Marriage

9. Baby Slaves: Parenting

10. The Revolution: Community

11. Putting on Underwear: Fear

12. Dragonfly Resurrections: Choosing

Epilogue: La Celebración

Appendix: Reader’s Guide/ Discussion Questions

Discussion Questions

Notes

Connect and Share

It’s been summarized as what follows…

• Provides a new perspective on discipleship in everyday life
• Written by a Christian couple who have lived many adventures throughout the world and settled down in suburban America

**This book was provided free from IVP with my promise to provide my friends with a summary and review of the book!

paideia Commentaries on the New Testament presents …

James and Jude by John Painter and David deSilva

Pick up your copy at Amazon.com or Christianbook.com!

I haven’t had the opportunity yet, prior to now, to provide full-fledged commentary concerning a commentary … but I am very excited to make this the first (though I did promote a shorter commentary-like text on the book of Ruth not long ago, this is a much more in-depth study of a book of the bible).

Here’s what is really great about the commentary - the size and the approach to the Word of God. The text is short, real, real short. It is short but that does not seem to take away from the mission of the commentary series (“paideia” is Greek for “education” - and the mission of the commentary is to properly educate people about the book at hand!). An important piece that adds to the brevity of the commentary must be the fact that the authors/editors have not bogged the text down with extensive references and word studies (they have even transliterated the biblical Greek, which some scholars may seem to be an issue but it broads the availability of who can pick up this book and read it). The transliterating of the Greek plays into the second point that I love about this commentary, how it approaches the Word of God. It is not a verse by verse approach to God’s Word. Rather, the scholars approach the Scriptures thought by thought or passage by passage. The section of each exposition that is MOST helpful for me, and will be for anyone who seeks to preach/teach concerning a passage in James/Jude, is “Tracing the Train of Thought.” Crucial to interpretation and exegesis, but often neglected, is placing your passage in its proper context. The Painter and deSilva have worked hard to remind readers of whats happening next and what just happened in these short books.

What I am not that excited about, but was a positive above, is the fact that the authors do not give readers a specific bibliography for each passage of the books. What are important articles/texts to consider if I am preaching on James 3:1-12? A lot of other commentary series offer relevant material at the close of their commentary on a passage, and that would have been really appreciated here.

If you are looking for a tight-knit commentary that makes the plain things the main things and the main things the plain things, than I would seriously suggest the paideia commentary series from Baker Books.

Check it out at Amazon.com.

Editorial Board

Paul J. Achtemeier (emeritus, Union Theological Seminary in Virginia), Loveday Alexander (University of Sheffield), C. Clifton Black (Princeton Theological Seminary), Susan R. Garrett (Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary), Francis J. Moloney, SDB (Salesian Province of Australia)

Official Product Description (from CBD.com)

In James and Jude two respected New Testament scholars offer a practical commentary that is conversant with contemporary scholarship, draws on ancient backgrounds, and attends to the theological nature of the texts.

This commentary, like each in the projected eighteen-volume series, proceeds by sense units rather than word-by-word or verse-by-verse. Paideia commentaries explore how New Testament texts form Christian readers by

* attending to the ancient narrative and rhetorical strategies the text employs

* showing how the text shapes theological convictions and moral habits

* commenting on the final, canonical form of each New Testament book

* focusing on the cultural, literary, and theological settings of the text

* making judicious use of maps, photos, and sidebars in a reader-friendly format

Students, pastors, and other readers will appreciate the historical, literary, and theological insight that John Painter and David deSilva offer in interpreting James and Jude.

Product Information

Format: Paperback

Number of Pages: 288

Vendor: Baker Academic

Publication Date: 2012

Dimensions: 9.00 X 6.00 (inches)

ISBN: 0801036348

ISBN-13: 9780801036347

Endorsements

“I can think of no one more qualified than John Painter and David deSilva to write on James and Jude respectively. They have produced an admirable work, both in its scholarly integrity and in its literary clarity. They have adhered to the goal of the Paideia series in not writing a detailed exegetical commentary but rather ‘attending to the cultural, literary and theological settings of the final form of the text’ and bringing out the rhetorical strategies employed. This increases rather than limits the value of the work, allowing for a focus and clarity that might not otherwise be possible. I recommend this work; no future work on these two letters will be complete without using it.”

Peter Davids, Houston Baptist University

“James and Jude makes an excellent contribution to the impressive Paideia commentary series. John Painter’s commentary on James exhibits all the traits of a master interpreter. The introductory material is rich without being dense or convoluted. The commentary itself is concise and loaded with insight. David deSilva’s commentary on Jude is a gem. Who knew that so much of interest could be extracted from such a brief epistle? Students will benefit greatly from this well-written volume. Veteran scholars are also encouraged to add it to their library.”

Craig A. Evans, Payzant Distinguished Professor of New Testament, Acadia Divinity College, Nova Scotia, Canada

“Painter and deSilva are to be congratulated for taking their readers and the biblical text seriously. They do not dumb down their discussions, but neither do they make brute historical, linguistic, and sociological facts the centerpiece of what they say. In these pages, thoughtful and practical reflection (‘Theological Issues’) always follows a close analysis of the Greek text (‘Tracing the Train of Thought’). The authors teach that understanding is not an end in itself; they insist that a robust faith is alien in any culture and that it is lived.”

James Riley Strange, assistant professor of religion, Samford University; author of The Moral World of James: Setting the Epistle in Its Greco-Roman and Judaic Environments

About the authors:

John Painter (PhD, Durham University) is biblical research scholar and professor of theology at the Charles Sturt University School of Theology. David A. deSilva (PhD, Emory University) is Trustee’s Distinguished Professor of New Testament and Greek at Ashland Theological Seminary.

** I received this title free with my promise to provide a completely unbiased review.

Show Me How to Share Christ in the Workplace by R. Larry Moyer

Find the book on Amazon.com or ChristianBook.com.

Publisher: Kregel Publications, 2012

About the Author: Larry Moyer (ThM, Dallas Theological Seminary; DMin, Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary) is founder and CEO of EvanTell Inc., a global evangelism ministry based in Dallas, Texas. He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Sacred Theology degree from Philadelphia University in 2001 and regularly speaks at evangelistic outreaches, training seminars, and in classrooms across the country. Moyer is the author of several books, including FREE AND CLEAR, 21 THINGS GOD NEVER SAID, 31 DAYS WITH THE MASTER FISHERMAN, and WELCOME TO THE FAMILY (by EvanTell).

Everybody is told to do it. Everybody wants to do it. But from the Great Commissioning to the sixth hour of an eight hour shift, some might say that the Scriptures are just not “practical” enough in showing us how to present the Gospel to our coworkers, to our boss, to the bus or cab driver on the way to work. Personally, I think that Scripture lays out the mandate and the means — worship God with all avenues of your short life — but Moyer’s book gets hands on with us. Moyer’s text doesn’t exposit the commission, rather it exposes the gaps in our confusion. Though a trained theologian, approaching the topic having studied at both Dallas Theological Seminary and Gordon Conwell, Moyer isn’t all “pie in the sky” and theoretical in his instruction to his readers. Moyer weaves personal accounts with stories from great Christian leaders like D. L. Moody, and he shares his own insight, all while grounding his exhortation in solid Scripture.

Each section is summarized with key points so you do not get lost along the way. The book itself is short and the thesis point of each section is both easy to understand and grounded with practicality (for example, I don’t know many authors that summarizes the Church’s message to non-believers in six pages).

The book is short, practical, Scripturally sound, and would be a great resource for a small group of community workplace leaders to travel through together.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Welcome to Your Ministry

Part 1: Pray as You Should

- What does that mean?

- What do we pray for?

- What do open doors look like?

Part 2: Live as you should

- What does that mean?

- What does this look like in the workplace?

Part 3: Speak as you should

- What does that mean?

- How do we speak properly?

Part 4: Know What’s Essential

- What is “sin” and how do we explain it to non-Christians?

- What is our message for non-Christians?

- What does the Bible mean by “believe”?

- What does repentance fit in?

Part 5: Share What You Know

- How do you turn a conversation to spiritual issues?

- What is an effective method for explaining the Gospel?

- How do you follow up?

Part 6: Use Public Speaking Opportunities

- Can anyone learn public speaking in the workplace?

- What’s important in speaking in the workplace?

- How to use your testimony as an evangelistic message.

- Let’s look at a simple testimony.

Part 7: Resources for Workplace Leaders

- How can workplace leaders learn evangelistic speaking?

- Speaking opportunities for workplace leaders.

- Let’s look at a sample message for workplace leaders.

Appendix: “May I ask you a question” booklet

Notes

Back cover reads:

Many Christians believe that ministry is practices only by pastors, preachers, and teachers. But did you know that you are in full-time ministry, too? No matter where you work — in an office, out of your home, or on the road — you have unique opportunities every day to share the gospel. Taking advantage of these opportunities may be easier than you think.

Continuing his popular Show Me series, gifted evangelist Dr. R. Larry Moyer has written a practical guide for sharing Christ in the workplace. Step by step, Moyer shoes what it really means to pray, live, and speak as God directs. He outlines how to apply each at work and also shows how to take advantage of public speaking opportunities to share the gospel.

Whether you are turning workplace conversations to spiritual matters, answering questions of unbelieving coworkers, or just performing your job as a representative of our Savior, SHOW ME HOW TO SHARE CHRIST IN THE WORKPLACE will encourage and equip you to present the gospel with clarity and simplicity.