What if Christians' irresistible faith became the best advertisement for Jesus?

What if Christians Became the Best Advertisement for Jesus?

Posted on by Michele Morin

The philosophical underpinnings of Christianity point the way to a community where each one competes to show maximum honor and respect to the others. The Bible describes a rule of life that values individuals as carriers of the image of God and the church gathered as a place to be refueled for maximum impact when scattered. Biblical Christians made the world better wherever and whenever they showed up.

If we could pull this off, it seems as if every church in North America would have to launch building or church planting programs to accommodate the masses lined up at their doors. Unfortunately, this is not the case, and in
Irresistible Faith: Becoming the Kind of Christian the World Can’t Resist, author and pastor Scott Sauls invites readers to mind the gap between the life of faith described in the Bible and the one that gets practiced here on the ground in the 21st century. With so much at stake, and so much good that could be done, Sauls describes what it means to abide in an “irresistible Christ” (1) and to live in such a way that we do not contradict his teachings at every turn.

What Does Irresistible Faith Look Like?

With a three-part road map, Irresistible Faith plots a journey back toward lived-out doctrine that is winsome and compelling:

1.  Draw close to Christ by taking his righteousness. Think his thoughts after him by immersing our brains in Scripture and allowing God’s Word to shape our understanding of suffering and the objects of our affections.

2.  Live in intimate community with other believers in which members speak life-giving words over one another. This transparent living invites mutual correction based in a spirit of loving concern Sauls refers to as “soul surgery.” (79) This is the essence of true gospel living for all of us, for we are “desperately in ruins and graciously redeemed.” (91) Martin Luther said it well:

“We are saved by faith alone, but not by a faith that is alone.” (94)

3.  Carry all this gloriously generated grace out into the world. Share it with the poor. Broadcast it through our words and our worship, our work and our play, and let the overflow leave transformed lives in its wake.

We Can Do Better Than This!

We bury the winsomeness of our Savior beneath tactics designed to preserve and heighten our comfort and our control. Fear keeps us inside our fortresses, making decisions based in self-preservation.

We can do better than this! Empowered by the Spirit, our lives and our love serve as ambassadors for a faith that “leaves people, places, and things better than they found them.”

Simply irresistible!

Many thanks to Thomas Nelson for providing a copy of this book to facilitate my review, which, of course, is offered freely and with honesty.

Committed to redeeming the resistible church,

michele signature[1]

I reviewed Scott Saul’s first book back in 2015 —Jesus Outside the Lines: A Way Forward for Those Who Are Tired of Taking Sides. Also, Scott’s church has pioneered The Nashville Institute for Faith and Work, an organization the aims to equip, connect, and mobilize Christians to integrate their faith and their work for the flourishing of Nashville and beyond. Click here for more on the ways they’re sharing irresistible faith in their areas of influence.

I  am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon.com. If you should decide to purchase Irresistible Faith: Becoming the Kind of Christian the World Can’t Resist or Jesus Outside the Lines: A Way Forward for Those Who Are Tired of Taking Sides, simply click on the title (or the image) within the text, and you’ll be taken directly to Amazon. If you decide to buy, I’ll make a small commission at no extra cost to you.

 

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Published by Michele Morin

Michele Morin is a Bible teacher, writer, reader, and gardener committed to the truth that women can become confident Christ-followers and students of God's Word. She has been married to an unreasonably patient husband for thirty-plus years, and together they have four sons, four daughters-in-love, and six adorable grandchildren. Michele loves hot tea and well-crafted sentences, poems that stop her in her tracks, and days at the ocean with the whole family. She laments biblical illiteracy and advocates for the prudent use of “little minutes.” She blogs at Living Our Days, and you can connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter.

74 thoughts on “What if Christians Became the Best Advertisement for Jesus?”

    1. Yes, easier “read” than done. And yet our faith, in its purest form is so compelling–we see it best maybe at this time of year because of all the hope of resurrection. May we find grace to get out of the way and let the true TRUTH speak clearly through our lives and in our deeds.

      Liked by 2 people

  3. Excellent review (as always) and it sounds as if the author has nailed the reality of what is NOT happening and could explain the decline of Christianity in the West. Thanks for exposing me to such a good message! Have a blessed day ahead!

    Liked by 1 person

  6. This sounds like a much-needed message! It would make a huge difference if we were better at living out our faith and treating people like Jesus did. Jesus said his followers would be known by their love for one another and too often that is not what the church is known for today.

    Like

    1. Yes, I’m looking forward to following up this good thinking with Rebecca McLaughlin’s book about the objections to Christianity. I’ve heard that she does a good job refuting them with calm and clear-eyed truth.

      Liked by 1 person

  8. You keep adding to my TBR list, and I can’t keep up! LOL This looks like a great book! I love the three parts because they are in order of importance and they are all essential (yet easily forgotten!) Thanks for the recommendation!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I have found Scott Sauls’s writing to be so challenging, and yet he brings readers along with such graciousness. I come away thinking, “Yes, with God’s help I can do this.”

      Like

    1. Thank you, Laurie!
      We vacationed in Delaware, so I was in your neck of the woods, admiring all the green and wondering how in the world you ever dare to run along those narrow twisty roads of Lancaster County!

      Liked by 1 person

  10. I am a big fan of Scott Sauls’ writing – and a big fan of living in community with my home church – as I may or may not have mentioned a time or two. 😉

    Like

    1. Yes, Jerralea, when I think of you, I also have an image in my mind of a supportive and surrounding church family. I’m sure you are a special blessing to them because of your commitment and your energetic support!

      Like

  11. Our church is currently reading through Acts together, and it’s interesting that these three points often set off a wave of persecution. Yet somehow the light gleamed forth even more brightly against the darkness. It’s a paradox, and a testimony of His grace, that people came to Christ in droves at a time when it was so dangerous to do so.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Absolutely!
      We have no idea what it meant to follow Jesus in those dangerous days. So often, our idea of Christianity has more to do with comfort and control than with the truth of the gospel.

      Like

  12. Michele, you’ve done it again! Yet another one of your reviews has added to my to-read list. At this rate, I’ll have to take a reading vacation for about a year. 🙂 This book in particular lines up so well with something I’ve been thinking of a lot lately. How can I better demonstrate a life of following Jesus in such a way that those who don’t know Him desperately want to?

    Liked by 1 person

  13. I’m making a new prayer-card reminder for my stack (which is what I use instead of a list) to remind me: “Lord, keep me mindful of my words and worship, work and play, that can create an overflow of transformed lives in its wake–with you as my Guide and Empowerer.” Thank you, Michele!

    Liked by 1 person

  14. Sounds like another excellent book, Michele. I’m not sure if I have enough days and years left to read every book I would like to read. But it makes it so much easier when you give your concise reviews. You get right to the point and make the book so appealing. I have been asked to do a book review at a ladies’ half-day of prayer this Saturday at my church on Touch the World Through Prayer by Wesley L. Duewel. I am skimming through it again now as it has been several years since I read it.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It makes me smile to think that I’m saving you some time and helping you to choose books. I also have a never-ending to-be-read list in the back of my journal that I just keep carrying forward over the years.
      Good for you that you are sharing books with your ladies. Maybe that’s something I should add to my group . . .?

      Liked by 1 person

  16. Thanks Michele for this book suggestion. Adding it to my list. As Christians, we ARE an advertisement for God— sometimes maybe not as good as we should be. Thanks for linking up at InstaEncouragements and thanks for this great reminder!

    Liked by 1 person

  18. This sounds like a great book, Michele. But this statement . . . “We bury the winsomeness of our Savior beneath tactics designed to preserve and heighten our comfort and our control. Fear keeps us inside our fortresses, making decisions based in self-preservation.”

    . . . convicted me. I have been too much about my own comfort and not enough about trusting the Lord. He’s working with me on this. Thanks for the reminder of where my focus should be.

    Like

  19. I think your blog title says it all, “What if Christians Became the Best Advertisement for Jesus?” Great 3 points for us to practice.

    Like

  22. Simply irresistible. If Jesus were walking around in the flesh today (as he should be through us!, but we know how that goes), I feel he would be irresistible. May we step up our game to draw others to the beauty of Christ. Thanks for sharing about this book, Michele.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I certainly appreciate this reminder that Jesus is walking around in my humanity, and it’s my earnest hope that I will make him visible and even tangible by my words and in my deeds.
      Always so good to hear from you, Lisa.

      Like

  23. This looks like a very edifying book.

    Our ladies small group is studying the book of Philippians and last night’s homework was on Philippians 1:27 “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel” which fits in well with the message of this book.

    Thanks so much for sharing.

    Liked by 1 person

  24. Sure would be nice if more people practiced the teachings of Christianity or were more Christ-like. I guess we’re a messy mix of fallible creatures.

    Like

  25. you’re absolutely right, Michele. we can do far better than this, we’ve been created for something more holy, more healing, more encouraging.

    sad to say that Christians are known more for what they don’t like or don’t do than by Who we say we adore and worship. thanks for this challenge … much needed.

    Liked by 1 person

  27. Great review! The three-part road map is the foundation of the church I currently am part of. It works but we have so many churches competing instead of linking arms that the work is not effective.

    Liked by 1 person

  31. Yes! This is world-changing truth, Michele! May we take the call to live it out seriously, and may it all flow from that quiet place of intimacy with the Father! This was a great way to start my Monday reading!

    Like

    1. I’m sorry about this particular disappointment, Tina. I think it’s a continuing struggle for many. And I appreciate your faithfulness to your own convictions and your commitment to your family.

      Like

  34. Your post resonates with me and Im sure others as well. Thank you for stopping by to share your message last week as this week it gives me the chance to include you in my Friday Features!! Your post has been Pinned and will be shared on Instagram!!!

    If you haven’t had a chance be sure to stop by and share again.
    Happy May!!

    Liked by 1 person

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