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Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Radical Together

Last year I read David Platt's book Radical:  Taking Back Your Faith From the American Dream, and was blown away!  So, when I saw that Waterbrook Multnomah had Radical Together:  Unleashing The People of God For the Purpose of God available for review this year, I jumped at the chance to read this follow-up book.  To be quite honest, I was thinking, "What more could David Platt possibly have to say that he didn't already say in Radical?

I have to tell you, I was pleasantly surprised and equally if not more blown away, AGAIN!

I even commented to my husband that if he weren't a minister and we weren't serving already in a church of our own, I would want to be a part of what is going on in Birmingham, AL at the Church at Brook Hills!  However, one of the things Platt makes very clear in his book is that every believer and every church can live in radical obedience to God.  He is very humble in saying he nor his church has it all together.  They are learning and conforming to what God reveals to them as His will on a daily basis.  That's why he encourages in Radical Together for us all to "take the next step from radical followers of Christ to radical communities of faith."  

Just to give you a taste of what to expect from Radical Together, you can read the introduction by going HERE.

To further peek your interest, here's the book trailer:


Radical Together is a short little book, only about 123 pages.  But don't let that fool you into thinking you'll read it quickly.  Just as he did in Radical, Platt makes you really think about you and your level of commitment in your local church and your church's level of commitment in the making the glory of God known to the world.  Also, my fears of this book just being a re-wording of what was already said in Radical were found to be completely unjust.  While Platt does refer a few times to concepts introduced in Radical, I saw Radical Together as an opportunity to understand how I can link arms with my brother and sisters in my church to accomplish God's purpose in the world.

Consider these statements by Platt from the book:
"Who can fathom the potential of the church when we stop programming ministry for people and start propelling people into ministry?"  (from the chapter entitled "The Genius of Wrong:  Building the Right Church Depends on Using all the wrong People")
"Any Christian and any church desiring to obey the command of Christ in the world and longing to see the coming of Christ at the end of the world must possess a God-centered, gospel-driven tenacity that is ready to endure an intense spiritual battle."(from the chapter entitled "Our Unmistakable Task:  We are living and longing for the end of the World")
"I know of no greater motivational tool for the church than a glimpse of the sovereign, holy, majestic God who is worthy of all worship, who is high and lifted up.  This vision alone will compel a church to radical, risk-taking, death-defying obedience to the purpose of God in the world.  For when our faith communities actually believe that God deserves the praise of all peoples, then our humble worship in the church will lead to an urgent witness in the world."  (from the chapter "The God Who Exalts God:  We are selfless followers of a self-centered God")
Radical Together includes a discussion guide and Platt encourages the reader to take the book and go through it together with a small group of people you serve alongside as well as leadership teams.

You won't waste your time or money on this book.  I highly encourage you to get it.  Read it.  Live it!!!

The book can be ordered from the publisher by going HERE.

Or if you frequently use Amazon.com, you can order by following the link below:














Blessings,
Jennifer

1 comments:

Melissa said...

I was wondering if this would be a repeat. Glad to hear it's not.