Chapter 1
The illustration I liked best in this chapter was the one about buying the field containing the pearl of great price. It looks like you're waisting your life's savings but actually you are gaining far more.
The chapter made some good points. We're surrounded by a rich, comfortable, self obsessed culture and it is easy to be caught up in its values. Actually this is really a problem which has confronted every Christian of every age and culture. Of course each culture has its own set of temptations to be drawn into. We all want acceptance and comfort and these are gifts which our Father may or may not give. The important thing is to see these as secondary priorities and Jesus and his priorities as primary. I suspect that is the reason Jesus told the rich young man to sell everything, but did not tell Zacheas to do the same, was because the rich man's central idol in his heart was his wealth and it was the central issue blocking him from coming to Jesus.
Stephen

March 14, 2011 3:39 AM

Chapter 3

Have just read chapter 4 and feel very challenged, especially as included example of one couple older than us who only started serving in challenging situations overseas in retirement. I am trying also to remember my comment yesterday on chapter 3, which I thought I had posted but hadn't. I had been praying for guidance in big and little decisions and for obedience to follow that guidance. I was helped by reference to God giving us the Holy Spirit when we ask for guidance. Was also reminded of comment by Chris's mentor that the blessings are ours but the glory must be God. Have forgotten what else I wrote!

Two questions.

Two questions.
1. “Was I going to believe Jesus?”
2. “Was I going to obey Jesus?”

These were the questions asked by the young pastor of a wealthy 4,000-member church in Alabama.

“Someone worth losing everything for. What radical abandonment to Jesus really means” is the heading of Chapter One in this book. It is an easy read, with challenging comments throuoghout. The pastor and his wife are on a journey, as are many members in the church he leads. We are invited to join in.

Contrasts are made between Christians in the developing world and Christians in the West. In the developing world Christians in many countries must meet in secret, and they live in poverty. They suffer persecution on a regular basis. Compare this with how we live and act. Being a Christian is so easy for us. Oh, we may be ridiculed or laughed at for our faith, and may even be despised. But called in by the local police for a difficult interrogation, perhaps with a beating thrown in? No, not us! We live in a “civilised” country where we are free to practice our faith.

Why then did Jesus warn people that there would be difficulties in following Him? Why did He make it difficult? (see Lke 9:23-25, 57-62 and Mark 10:17-22 for examples).

Why do we make becoming a Christian so easy? Why do we make living as a Christian so easy? The early Christians were told it was their privilege to suffer for Christ (eg. Phil !:29-30). Jesus Himself said to His disciples that they would be persecuted because of Him (eg. John 15:18 to 16:4). Perhaps because we are seeking to be “of the world” as we live in it there is minimal opposition, and minimal impact on the world as well?

What will we make of those two questions? Will they change the way we live?

Why Radical?

Our attention was drawn to this book when it was promoted in the Nov-Dec 2010 issue of Mission Frontiers (http://www.missionfrontiers.org/issue/archive/going-radical). Millions of people are dying and going to hell without the opportunity to hear of God's love for them shown through His Son Jesus dying in their place. The church is very slow to respond to the command given by Jesus to His disciples, and to us, in each of the Gospels and in Acts 1:8 to go and make disciples in every ethnic group in the world. Something radical must happen if there is to be a change.

To help enthuse you, watch the brief video at http://www.radicalthebook.com/home.html. After logging on, choose Radical the Book and move cursor down to video on the left.  You can also read the first chapter of the book for free! If you want, you can listen to the series of 8 sermons given on this topic in the church where the author is the lead pastor (http://www.brookhills.org/media/series/radical/).

Better yet, read and pray through this book. The members of the faith family at Brook Hills in Birmingham, Alabama, have been challenged through this teaching, and many are responding so they can make an impact on the world. May each of us reading this book also be challenged and encouraged to make radical changes in our lives. May our church also be changed so that the world may be blessed.

Some may wish to make comments on what they have read, or on what others have written. This Blog is available for our good, and for the glory of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour.

Wishing you radical blessings,
Noel