A Radical Giveaway

UPDATE THURSDAY at 7:40 PM: Winner!

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Timestamp: 2010-05-07 00:36:15 UTC
Congrats to Mo & Barbi. Email me your address, Barbi, and I'll send the book your way.

* * * * *
Rarely does a non-fiction book come along that resonates with me like this one does. I had been thinking about and wrestling with some of the very things mentioned in this book, and at the same time it stepped all over my toes. In fact, I think Radical by David Platt should come with a warning: "Reading this book may turn your view of the gospel - and your life - upside down."

Radical
Taking Back Your Faith From the American Dream
by David Platt
(Multnomah)
Format: Trade Paperback
Other Formats: eBook
On Sale: May 4, 2010
ISBN: 9781601422217

ABOUT THE BOOK (publisher's info):

IS JESUS WORTH THIS TO YOU?

It's easy for American Christians to forget how Jesus said his followers would actually live, what their new lifestyle would actually look like. They would, he said, leave behind security, money, convenience, even family for him. They would abandon everything for the gospel. They would take up their crosses daily...

BUT WHO DO YOU KNOW WHO LIVES LIKE THAT? DO YOU?

In Radical, David Platt challenges you to consider with an open heart how we have manipulated the gospel to fit our cultural preferences. He shows what Jesus actually said about being his disciple--then invites you to believe and obey what you have heard. And he tells the dramatic story of what is happening as a "successful" suburban church decides to get serious about the gospel according to Jesus.

Finally, he urges you to join in The Radical Experiment --a one-year journey in authentic discipleship that will transform how you live in a world that desperately needs the Good News Jesus came to bring.

ALSO AVAILABLE!

The Radical Question: What is Jesus Worth to You? is a pocket-sized booklet, an excerpted version of this book available in a special 10-pack, ideal for church giveaways, welcome packets or small group distribution. You can request a free copy here. The 10-pack is available for $19.90.






ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
DAVID PLATT is the pastor of The Church at Brook Hills, a four-thousand-member congregation in Birmingham, Alabama. Widely regarded as an exceptional expositor, David has traveled and taught around the world. He holds two undergraduate and three advanced degrees, including a doctorate from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. David and his wife, Heather, live in Birmingham with their family.

MY THOUGHTS:
This is one of those books that I have a love/hate relationship with. I love it because it speaks truth. And I hate it because it speaks truth! David Platt minces no words as he discusses what following Christ truly means. And it is diametrically opposed to the American dream. To the prosperity gospel. To our culture's "you deserve it" mentality. And to our self-centered, church-hopping, "what can God do for me" culture.

This book

explore[s] the biblical gospel alongside our cultural assumptions with an aim toward embracing Jesus for who He really is, not for who we have created Him to be. [The book looks at] the core truth of a God-centered gospel and see how we have manipulated it into a human-centered (and ultimately dissatisfying) message. (p. 21)

The American dream and our culture is 180 degrees opposite of the Bible's assertions. We are told that we are good and can accomplish whatever we want to if we just work hard enough. The Bible, however, tells us that we are dead in sin and that apart from Christ, we can do nothing. "While the goal of the American dream is to make much of us, the goal of the gospel is to make much of God." (p. 47)

Beyond mere words, however, David Platt challenges the reader to conduct The Radical Experiment. This one year experiment is comprised of five components (all, which work in tandem to make a radical change in the believer's life. The result of this radical obedience, he asserts, will be radical abandonment to Christ.

That's just the tip of the iceberg. It's tempting to quote the whole book; there's that much good stuff in here. (The companion booklet is also excellent and would be a great gift to whet someone's appetite!) There is much to ponder, and more importantly, much to act on. You'll just have to read the book for yourself, and I urge you to do just that.

Just be sure you're wearing steel-toed boots!

You can read the first chapter here.

This book is available directly from the publisher or from Amazon and other bookstores. The Radical Question is available from Amazon.

Find out more at www.RadicalTheBook.com

GIVEAWAY!
The publisher has provided an additional copy of this book for me to give away to one of you. Leave a comment on this post 12:00 noon CDT Thursday (5/6/10) and I will draw a winner. US Residents only, please. If you don't have a blog, please include an email address in order to be entered into the drawing.





Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group as part of their Blogger Review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”