Christianity Beyond Belief

What If You Knew You Were Going to Live Tomorrow?You've prayed the sinner's prayer. You know that if you die tonight, you'll go to heaven. But Todd Hunter believes Christianity is a life, not merely a secure death. 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. 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 groupJesus 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.



Peterson, now retired, was for many years James M. Houston Professor of Spiritual Theology at Regent College in Vancouver, British Columbia. He also served as founding pastor of Christ Our King Presbyterian Church in Bel Air, Maryland. In addition to his widely acclaimed paraphrase of the Bible, The Message (NavPress), he has written many other books.



Bishop Todd D. Hunter (DMin, George Fox University) leads the church-planting initiative Churches for the Sake of Others (C4SO), a diocese of the Anglican Church in North America. He is the founding pastor of Holy Trinity Church in Costa Mesa, California and is the author of several books, including Christianity Beyond Belief, Giving Church A Second Chance, The Accidental Anglican, and Our Favorite Sins. He is also a teacher, writer, and consultant for his ministry, Society for Kingdom Living, which helps pastors and lay leaders reach a generation that has been disenfranchised from the church. Formerly national director at Vineyard Churches USA and then at Alpha USA, Hunter serves on the board of directors and executive committee of Alpha as well as on a number of other ministry boards, including Renovaré and Soul Survivor. He is an adjunct professor of evangelism and contemporary culture at George Fox University, Fuller Seminary, Western Seminary, Vanguard University, and Wheaton College, and has two adult children with his wife, Debbie.

Foreword by Eugene H. Peterson


Acknowledgments
Part One: A New Understanding of What It Means to Be a Christian


1. What If You Knew You Were Going to Live Tomorrow?
The Problem with Getting "Saved"


2. Jesus' Surprising Gospel
It's the Kingdom Now, Not Just Heaven Later


3. It's Our Life That Counts
Aligning with God's Story


4. The Role of the Church
Jesus Is Not Just Your Personal Savior
Part Two: A New Way to Live


5. Cooperative Friends of Jesus
Maybe Jesus Didn't Intend to Start a World Religion


6. Consistent Lives of Creative Goodness
Apologetics of Another Kind


7. For the Sake of Others
Jesus Could Have Done Backflips on a Donkey


8. Through the Power of the Holy Spirit
No Big Hair, No Bizarre Behavior, Just Power for a Purpose


9. Inviting Others to Live a New Way
A Fresh Approach to Sharing Our Faith


10. Three Is Enough Groups
A New Way to Live


Appendixes


1 Triads: The Theoretical Basis for Three Is Enough Groups


2 The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit


3 The Message: A New Testament Tour of Life


Notes

"Without bashing the church and by avoiding the controversies that divide the church, Hunter teaches seekers how to live a new way and how to invite others to do the same."



"Hunter challenges that new converts are left wanting true spiritual transformation if we reduce the gospel to forgiveness alone. In response, Hunter offers a kind of new "four spiritual laws." Some great illustrations and solid nuggets worth underlining here."



"A really important book by a frontline leader in contemporary church planting on a discipleship model."



"Christianity is not just about getting people "saved" - it's not thy kingdom come later, but thy kindfom come now; about living the kindgom today, not just getting heaven later. The goal of Christianity, he proposes, is spiritual transformation into Christlikeness in the here-and-now."



"Todd Hunter says eternal life starts now, so he poses a different series of questions: "If we knew we were going to live tomorrow and eternally, what would we do? Who would we follow? Around what narrative would we organize the various aspects of our life?" Hunter's answer is spelled out in four simple phrases that he fleshes out in this helpful book: "God intends for the followers of Jesus to be his (1) cooperative friends (2) seeking to live in creative goodness (3) for the sake of others (4) through the power of the Holy Spirit."



"This book was very inspiring."



"Refreshing in the theology that it offers us. Hunter offers a new and corrective view of the Christian faith for those who are dissatisfied with evangelicalism. Hunter offers what I believe are some essential critiques but he does so in a gentle and engaging way."



"Hunter calls believers to reframe their discipleship to focus on life, not just the consequences of death. He encourages pastors and leaders to disciple new Christians to follow Christ in this life; to go beyond making sure they don't go to hell when they die."



"Christianity Beyond Belief will change your religion. And that's a good thing."



"There is a distinct yet distant drumbeat emerging in the church. It is calling Christ-followers to get in step with their Lord by going beyond simple belief into a participation now in the future kingdom life of the triune God, and thus to become players now in God's story. In Christianity Beyond Belief, Todd Hunter, a seasoned prophetic voice and a lover of the church, has sounded this kingdom cadence. With both clarity and passion he challenges the church, for its own good, to march to this ancient but newly emerging beat." weniger anzeigen expand_less