Radical

by David Platt

Though this is not a book college ministry, it is a must read for every believer. We would call it the most influential Christian book of 2010. What does a gospel-centered life look like? What does it look like to seriously follow Jesus today? How has culture and the American dream impacted the Church? What about themes in scripture we often overlook like sacrifice, dying to oneself, suffering for the cause of Christ, discipling the nations, giving up all to gain Christ, and other such things that Jesus spoke about often? Platt explores these topics from the word of God and his personal life that make this book challenging, thoughful, and fun to read.

Why are more and more people leaving the church? Maybe because our Jesus is an anemic facimile that really no longer resembles the Jesus of the bible, but the Jesus of our culture. Platt destroys these misconceptions and it is glorious. Christ is once again someone we obey, follow hard after, and  lay down all of our life for…daily. Christianity is once again a cause worth dying for. The Great Commission is once again the central task and call of every believer in the Church.

The American dream and our American Jesus are false, evil, and wrong. They distort, confuse, and distract us from simple trust and obedience to Jesus.

Platt convincingly using great stories challenges us to get serious about following Jesus. The book ends with an “experiment” that is simple yet profound. 1) do a cross cultural mission 2) read the bible in the a year 3) give financially and sacrificially to something 4) pray for the world 5) multiply your life with others. Sounds simple? but is it? How many of us really do it? what if your small group did it for a year?

Your students vision will be challenged and expanded greatly as their heart and vision align with God’s. Platt lifts up God, his calling on our lives, the real task of the church to its right place in our lives. Whenever truth exposes a lie that almost everyone believes it is provacative, paradigm shifting, makes for good discussion. You will need to process this book, not just read it. Radical is thoroughly biblical and well researched as well as interesting to read. You can find it in e-book, audio book, and print. There is also and a sequel called Radical Together.

Best Quotes

Our More Comfortable Jesus: “He is a nice middle class American Jesus. A Jesus who doesn’t mind materialism and who would never call us to give away everything we have… A Jesus who fine with nominal devotion that does not infringe on our comforts, becuase after all, he lovves us just the way we are. A jesus who wants us to be blanced, to avoid dangerous extremes, and for that matter, danger all together. A Jesus who brings comfort and porsperity as we live out our Christian spin on the American Dream.” p.13

“There will always be millions and millions of people who do not hear as long as we continue to use spare time and money to reach them.”

“This is a cause worth living for. This is a cause worth dying for. It is a cause worthy of moving urgently on…Some wonder if it is unfair for God to allow so many to have no knowledge of the gospel. But there is no injustice with God. The injustice lies in Christians who possess the gospel and refuse to give their lives to making it know among those who haven’t heard. That is unfair.”

“Do I really belive that Jesus is so good, so satisfying, and so rewarding that we will leave all we have and all we own and all we are in order to find our fullness in him?”   p. 18

“God has given us excess, not so we could have more, but so we could give more.” p.127

(there are so many in this book!)

How to Use

• I buy this book in bulk (you get a good discount too) and give it out more than any other book. It is great for students, volunteers, leaders, staff, and and even donors. These are the truths you want people all the people in your ministry committing their lives to
• This is a great book study for almost any group, especially using the bible study guide to help you.
• This book and Live Life on Purpose are the first books I would give students to give them a heart for the nations. Our God is a global God and he has a global mission. This book is a must if you want to see students mobilized for world missions.

Conclusion

Are we molding Jesus into our image or is He molding us into His? Is he really worth everything I have, everything I am, everything I love? Will I live for the one thing, the chief task, Jesus has given to all his followers: bring His glory and salvation to all people groups of the world? May this book increase the tribe of “radical followers of Jesus” who say no to the American Dream and yes to eternal glory in Christ.

This book does not have a college version nor do we know how successfully this book has been used on campus (although we think it could be).