I’ve been wondering why the Christian walk seems so hard. I don’t seem to know how to do everything I’ve heard and read that I should be doing. Are there enough hours in the day? I’ve asked close friends what I’m missing, why it seems impossible to do what I’ve been told I’m supposed to be doing.
Then I received a copy of Jesus Manifesto: Restoring the Supremacy and Sovereignty of Jesus Christ by Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola. I read the book, and it has changed my life. Now I understand what I’m missing. In the words of the authors, “When Christ is not central and supreme in our lives, everything about life shifts out of orbit and moves out of kilter. . . . Christianity is not fundamentally about following a book . . . . It’s about following a person and living out of His life.”
What’s fundamental and necessary is Jesus Christ. Jesus Manifesto is a call to return to relationship. Sweet and Viola present Christ in all His wonder and majesty and glory and invite the reader to relate to the living Christ.
Are you struggling in your Christian walk? You need to read this book. Are you walking in intimate fellowship with God? You need to read this book. The truths in this book are both simple and profound. This book should be on every Christian’s bookshelf and should be read regularly to make sure you haven’t lost your focus!
Thomas Nelson is releasing Jesus Manifesto: Restoring the Supremacy and Sovereignty of Jesus Christ by Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola on Tuesday, June 1, 2010. The book will be on special discount from Amazon.com on the release date. You can learn more by going to www.theJesusManifesto.com.
Note: I received a FREE review copy of Jesus Manifesto, courtesy of Thomas Nelson Publishers and Present Testimony Ministry. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Sounds like a good book. I am a fan of Leonard Sweet.
Just curious… Could you share a couple of quotes from the book that were enlightening to you. It sounds like the book spoke to you specifically. I would love to know how you are thinking differently about your faith because of the book.
Larry,
I included a couple of quotes in my review. Here are a few more that have changed the way I’m “walking”:
“. . . preeminently important is Jesus Christ Himself. He is more significant than any ministry, no matter how good or noble.”
“It is critical for us, then, to learn that the life of Christ is within us. And by following that life and yielding to it, we can display the same Jesus that shook the world, conquered sin and death, set the captives free, and lives forevermore.” (This one is particularly exciting to me. I want to show that Jesus to the world!)
“You, then, are the victim of a divine conspiracy. You have become the habitat of the living God. . . . Knowing Christ as your ‘rest’ and allowing Him to live His life through you is one of the most freeing things that you can know as a Christian.”
I guess what it boils down to for me is this: Everything I’ve been trying to do is difficult because I’ve been doing it on my own rather than letting God live it through me. I know Christ is supposed to be everything, but I’ve been acting like it depends on what I do, on me.
~Jennifer
I was debating on whether to pick up this book tomorrow (Frank is eager for people to buy the book tomorrow (particularly) from Amazon to increase its ranking), and I think your review has tipped me. I have all of Frank’s other books and they’re very good, but when I read the several page paper, The Jesus Manifesto, I found it dry. But since you liked the book so much, I’ll pick it up.
As an interesting aside — Frank’s motivation to have the book hit #1 is about getting it into the hands of God’s kids, not about money. He doesn’t take any profits from the sale of his books.
Blessings, Cindy
Cindy,
Sweet and Viola say at the beginning of the book that they have written it in a “devotional tone” as a way of treating Jesus and the discussion of Him with proper reverence. So, truthfully, it’s not the easiest reading ever, but it is so worth the effort. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
I didn’t know that about Frank, but that’s great!
On an entirely different topic, I noticed that you’re switching your blog from WordPress.com to WordPress.org. I’ve been contemplating a switch myself and would love to discuss how that’s going! I’m nervous but think I’ll eventually want to make the leap!
~Jennifer
Hi, Jennifer
Sure — drop me an e-mail anytime. I’m not a big techie, but it’s not going horribly. A little confusing at times. I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of the books I ordered. Ha! Should have known I wouldn’t get by without new books.
Cindy
Thanks! I’ll send you an e-mail sometime this week. When you get the books, I’d like to know which ones you find the most helpful. (I love books too!)
~Jennifer