Jesus Manifesto by Leonard Sweet & Frank Viola

Is your pastor preaching on finances? Does he spend 6 weeks on the workplace? Is your church concerned with how to better your life? Sweet and Viola would say that your church is missing the point.

In Jesus Manifesto they explain that the church has moved away from their first love. Many in the church have heard that term before - first love. This refers to our relationship with Jesus Christ. Like the Colossians, some churches are more interested in becoming self-help groups (Which is actually an oxymoron) instead of proclaiming Christ to the world and surrendering our life to the Life of Christ.

Things get a little confusing throughout this book as you read some of the chapters that seem to speak in endless circles. Maybe it's because I don't quite see the problem this book is trying to address.

They believe if you are to preach on topics other than Jesus, you must focus the topic on Christ.

I guess I've always experienced sermons like this.

I'm assuming this book takes a swipe at the Emerging Church and their social justice push. These churches are wisely wanting to be the hands of God, but the forget to bring Him along.

With most of Sweet's books, this is a great read.


This book was provided for review by Thomas Nelson Publishing.