It's Not What You Think: Why Christianity is About So Much More Than Going to Heaven When You Die (Bible Study Book) - Softcover

Bethke, Jefferson

4.26

2,067 ratings by Goodreads

9781430031963: It's Not What You Think: Why Christianity is About So Much More Than Going to Heaven When You Die (Bible Study Book)

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1430031964 ISBN 13: 9781430031963

Publisher: Lifeway Press, 2015

View all copies of this ISBN edition:

New York Times best-selling author of Jesus > Religion challenges the accepted thinking of contemporary Christianity with the world-changing message Jesus actually brought.

Jesus was most upset at people for seeing but not seeing. For missing it. For succumbing to the danger and idolatry of forcing God into preconceived ideals. What if there were a better way? What if Jesus came not to help people escape the world but rather to restore it? Best-selling author and spoken word artist Jefferson Bethke says that Christians have the greatest story ever told but we aren t telling it. So in this new book, Bethke tells that story anew, presenting God s truths from the Old and the New Testaments as the challenging and compelling story that it is a grand narrative with God at the center. And in doing so, Bethke reminds readers of the life-changing message of Jesus that turned the world upside-down, a world that God is putting back together."

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

Book Description:

It's Not What You Think Bible Study Book includes a small-group experience for six sessions, individual study opportunities, applicable Scripture, and tips for leading a group.

God has always planned for us to experience so much more than our limited minds could grasp. Over the years we've drifted further away from God's original design, and the story He tells in Scripture is lost in translation for most of us. If a life of religious duty that leads to a timeless existence with a distant Deity seems unfulfilling, that's because it was never what God intended.

In the beginning there were unity and order in all of God's creation. Humanity's sinful rebellion ripped everything apart in a painful fracture to the whole cosmos. But God is restoring all of creation through Christ and continually bringing heaven and earth back into alignment. That intersection of heaven and earth is a place where God is moving among His people. We find rest, peace, beauty, and truth in His presence.

The Christian life isn't about escaping this world to get into the next; it's about experiencing God's kingdom coming and His will being done on earth as it is in heaven. Yes, the gospel promises eternal life, but it starts now, not after we die. Don't wait to experience the abundant life available in Jesus.

This Bible study pulls the original context of key biblical themes into our current understanding to unlock an exciting reality—one that isn't new, just forgotten. With his signature style of passion and honesty, Jefferson Bethke invites you to join him on this journey into the overlapping space between heaven and earth.

Features:
-Biblically rooted and gospel-centered content
-Leader tips
-Individual study opportunities for ongoing spiritual growth
-6-session study with group and personal components

Benefits:
-Break through the mundane to a greater level of devotion to the gospel.
-Challenge yourself and other believers to get more out of their faith for the sake of the kingdom.
-Get a biblical understanding of God's kingdom.
-Help believers avoid stagnancy in their Christian lives by putting their faith into action.
-Reveal ways for believers to create pockets of heaven in their communities and relationships.

About the Author:

Jefferson Bethke is the author of New York Times bestseller Jesus > Religion. Bethke's message connects at a heart level with an audience ranging from atheists to nationally recognized religious leaders. He lives in Maui, Hawaii, with his wife Alyssa, and his daughter, Kinsley.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.