Christianity Beyond Belief: Following Jesus for the Sake of Others

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There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later. This is a wonderful book by Todd Hunter. I love Hunter's definition of a disciple: The chapter on the Holy Spirit is worth the price of the whole book. There are certain things we Christians believe, but they are worthless unless they are lived out in real lives of service and love to others. A book worthy of all the endorsements it has received.

I've just begun to read this book and I'm so inspired I had to write a short review. I feel that Todd put to words in an organized fashion things that I've been wrestling with the past 10 years. He helps me think about how to articulate what it means to love God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength with language that is accessible to today's culture. I highly recommend this book. I've been sharing what I'm reading with friends and they are interested and want to read the book so we can talk about it together.

Actually, I'm going to use this book for the next section of my 3 is enough group.

Kindle Edition Verified Purchase. This book condenses theology, praxis, and inspiration. Todd is a clear thinker and has the heart of an evangelist-pastor. One person found this helpful. I hope to write a proper review in several weeks. I'm about half way through the book and am so excited by what I've read so far that I am planning a sermon series I'm a pastor of a small church in Virginia titled "Beyond Belief. What difference does believing all that we state we believe in the Creed, through a statement of faith, or even in our personal slate of beliefs make in our lives? How are we different or are we?

I may say, "I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth I think Todd Hunter's "Christianity Beyond Belief" will help me to further flesh this out to the congregation I pastor.

But I am a biased critic. I first met Todd I call him Todd like we're buddies even though he wouldn't know me from Adam at a small conference held at a Vineyard church in Southern California back in about Also at that meeting were guys like Spencer Burke and Doug Pagitt. I had never even heard of Todd Hunter when I came to the meeting. I was tired of corporate church and pastors that seemed to act more like CEO's than servant leaders. So I walked in to this gathering with fairly low expectations. I had arrived a bit early and thought I'd see what I could do to help those who were preparing the room for the meeting.

I asked a man who was stacking the tables with sodas and bottles of water and other goodies if I could be of assistance. I had no idea that he was Todd Hunter, the main speaker for the event. Unbeknownst to Todd, his actions and words that weekend gave me new hope for the Church and began to kindle in me a willingness to even consider becoming a pastor. Through this meeting, I was exposed to the emergent movement, a number of theologians such as Dallas Willard who was quoted more than a few times that I was unfamiliar with, and I gained a growing sense that church could be much more than just as Sunday morning show.

More importantly, I found that there were others out there who took seriously the notion that our faith should lead to tangible transformation in our lives and in the world around us. I really like having this book on my ipad.

This book makes clear that there is a choice for my life. I can live in frustration and depression trying to make my own way. Or I can choose to align my life with the Kingdom's purposes and rhythms, living a light and free life. Good Christian Evangelism info. I did not need to look beyond Todd Hunter's opening acknowledgements to find something that I could appreciate.

His broadmindedness was evident no small thing in his claim of indebtedness to viewpoints as diverse as Greg Laurie and Chuck Smith on the one side and John Wimber on the other. Along with others, I have had reservations about the latter's teachings, but I see in Hunter's writing a maturity that has drawn from the best of his influences while avoiding the controversial.

Christianity Beyond Belief: Following Jesus for the Sake of Others

If you appreciate their teachings and writings, you will enjoy this book. In the foreword, Eugene Peterson sets the stage for what is to follow: He defines eternal life as "the quality of life derived from and lived within the kingdom of God. It is personal, intimate communion with the Trinity.

This keeps Christianity from being reduced, as it has been in our day, to just a personal relationship with God. This is a much broader view of salvation than just "inviting Jesus into your heart" and escaping hell.

He argues that this makes "the forgiveness of sins the sole plot line. The following four concepts are unpacked in detail: Cooperative friends of Jesus 2. Living in creative goodness 3. It is teaching others how to follow Jesus — it is being faced with the difficult decisions of life — it is praying with a lady on the verge of suicide and hoping beyond hope that Jesus shows up — it is giving out a box of food to a hungry person while praying for the presence to God to come and tear down the injustice and pain that surrounds them. It is Christianity beyond believing.

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Hunter's book can be divided into three sections: The first section was excellent, beautiful, even compelling. I would give the first three chapters 5 stars as they painted a picture of the kingdom of God and our calling to the kingdom through Jesus Christ. It was a wonderful section. The second section was OK. I would give Hunter's book can be divided into three sections: I would give it 2 stars.

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Although it fleshed out the picture of life in the kingdom, it did not compel me. More than anything, this is probably because the first three chapters were so good that I expected the rest to be equally good. This section had good ideas but that's it--they're good, not great. This section is the main reason that I read the book--hoping to gain some insights for discipleship groups.

While I liked the general idea of TIE groups, and I thought he did a fair job of presenting why they are superior to traditional small groups, I thought this section could have been significantly longer and more descriptive. He has more information on his website www. Overall, the book is worth the first three chapters, but I would recommend skimming the rest of it! Aug 26, Jon Sedlak rated it liked it. I gave this book by Bishop Hunter three stars primarily because I liked his book on temptation better, and that one definitely deserves more than three stars, whereas this one didn't jump out to me as much.

This book is very similar, only it uses different stories and approaches of one aspect of his temptation book. A bunch of ideas and materials cross over from book to book though, so it felt very familiar right away. Tracy Olson rated it really liked it Aug 03, Scott Berglan rated it liked it Sep 02, Ann rated it really liked it Jan 08, Jason Smith rated it liked it Oct 09, Marcy Monnahan rated it liked it Jan 09, David Housholder rated it it was amazing Apr 04, Mark Moore rated it really liked it Dec 02, Nathan Long rated it liked it Sep 08, Chris Diehl rated it it was ok Jul 12, Brent Colby rated it really liked it Nov 29, Steve Farson rated it really liked it Sep 07, Justin rated it liked it Jan 17, Kelly A Bryant rated it it was amazing Dec 25, Which means that eternal life--abundant life--begins on earth, as soon as we become a follower of Jesus.

Drawing from his leadership and ministry experience as president of Alpha USA and from his own study and life experiences as an ordinary Christian, Hunter calls us to reframe our salvation and discipleship to focus on life, instead of just heaven and hell. God's intention, he says, is for us to become God's cooperative friends, seeking to live consistent lives of creative goodness for the sake of others.

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These pages lead us into this abundant way of living, offering the whole scope of God's story and how you fit into that guidance on the Holy Spirit's role and power in your life creative ways to love, serve and respond to seeking friends help for starting a "Three Is Enough" small group Jesus came that we might have life--not just in heaven, but here on earth where he walked and lived among us.

And your friends who are hurting, hopeless or hungry for something real need to see what difference life in Christ makes. This timely, biblical paradigm from Todd Hunter will inspire and equip you to live your days with intention, participating in God's work in the world today. It just might change the way you look at life forever.

The Problem with Getting Saved.

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