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Customer Reviews for Multnomah Books Unleashing a Radical People: Six Truths That Change How Churches Change the World - eBook
Multnomah Books Unleashing a Radical People: Six Truths That Change How Churches Change the World - eBook
Average Customer Rating:
(56 Reviews) 56
Rating Snapshot (56 reviews)
5 stars
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53 out of 5695%customers would recommend this product to a friend.
Customer Reviews for Unleashing a Radical People: Six Truths That Change How Churches Change the World - eBook
Review 1 for Unleashing a Radical People: Six Truths That Change How Churches Change the World - eBook
Overall Rating:
Continuing to challenge 'status quo' Christianity
Date:February 15, 2013
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
If you feel like the experience in the church you attend is not as fulfilling as it could be and that the Scriptures call for more from the body of Christ, then you will like this book by David Platt. The author continues to challenge how church is conducted in American Culture. He provides many thought provoking points to consider and questions to contemplate.
As Platt indicates, he does not have all of the answers, and there may be other ways to bring praise and glory to God. However, this book will certainly assist you in initiating important discussions and considering other perspectives for how to steward time, talent and treasures that are given to us by God.
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Review 2 for Unleashing a Radical People: Six Truths That Change How Churches Change the World - eBook
Overall Rating:
Date:January 8, 2013
Cindy
Location:Owensboro, Kentucky
Age:45-54
Gender:female
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
This book was a Christmas gift and I was able to purchase it and several others since it was half of what I would have spent in the local stores.
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Review 3 for Unleashing a Radical People: Six Truths That Change How Churches Change the World - eBook
Overall Rating:
Platt Does It Again
Date:August 28, 2012
Greg
Age:45-54
Gender:male
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
David Platt is an author, speaker, and preacher who continually challenges my church paradigm. He did it in his first book, “Radical” and did not disappoint in his follow-up book “Radical Together.” I never know for sure if I enjoy reading Platt’s books but I know I must read them. I am always convicted, challenged, confirmed, and compelled by Platt’s writing. “Radical Together” was no different.
What is the vision of the church? Are we more concerned with the comforts of our call or the cost of reaching people? As you read Platt, you realize there are very few people who have a greater passion for reaching all people groups in the world. He gives some amazing numbers of the unreached people groups across the world. Believing it is the task of the church to reach all people groups, he challenges the church to be radical in completing this task to usher in the return of Jesus Christ.
To accomplish this, the church must begin to remember she has been “entrusted by God with stewards of God’s Word to equip God’s people to be servants with God’s Word” (pg 71). The church must regain her focus on equipping people and not just planning events. Platt will argue throughout the book of the importance of a selfless people serving a self-centered God. We must our eyes off of our comfort and put them squarely on the greatness of an all-mighty and all-sufficient God.
If I were to sum up Platt’s ideas I would with two quotes of the many I underlined while reading “Radical Together:” “We want to see God glorified by people everywhere because God wants to see himself glorified by people everywhere” (pg 106). “Radical Together” takes the ideas of “Radical” and asks the question “How can we in the church best unleash the people of God in the Spirit of God with the Word of God for the glory of God in the world?” (3, 125).
I am always convicted and challenged by Platt. I would highly recommend the reading of “Radical Together.” Be ready to be challenged. Be ready to ask yourself in you are more concerned with the comforts of following Christ or are you willing to submit to His Lordship and accept the cost of fowling. As a Christian, are you ready to get busy in getting the Gospel to every people group in the world to help usher in the coming of our Lord? If that is a challenge you are ready to undertake, take a moment to read “Radical Together.” It is an easy read yet a challenging read.
I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.
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Review 4 for Unleashing a Radical People: Six Truths That Change How Churches Change the World - eBook
Overall Rating:
Challenging Book
Date:July 10, 2012
JimF
Location:Montrose, PA
Age:45-54
Gender:male
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
In Radical Together, David Platt picks right up where he left off in his previous book Radical. The book is easy to read but thought provoking and convicting. Platt calls the church to be the church by moving away from their comfortable and self-centered way of doing church to a gospel centered focus that drives churches to work for and serve others.
He challenges readers that some of the worst enemies for Christians are the good things in the church. Platt believes that we substitute church activities for kingdom purposes. He encourages all Christ followers to be holding all things before Christ and to consider the kingdom work to which they are called. Christians are challenged to make the best use of time, resources and talents so that God’s kingdom might be known.
Platt challenges the belief that once a person becomes a Christ follower they should sit back and relax in the hope of their faith. Rather Christians should be working together to make a huge difference for the Kingdom. He gives practical examples of how that may happen in the life of the church and the lives of indivdiuals.
The book is a call for church to equip believers in their churches so that those believers can go out from the church and share the life changing hope of the gospel. Radical Together is an excellent read and a book I plan on reading again soon.
He challenges readers that some of the worst enemies for Christians are the good things in the church. Platt believes that we substitute church activities for kingdom purposes. He encourages all Christ followers to be holding all things before Christ and to consider the kingdom work to which they are called. Christians are challenged to make the best use of time, resources and talents so that God’s kingdom might be known.
Platt challenges the belief that once a person becomes a Christ follower they should sit back and relax in the hope of their faith. Rather Christians should be working together to make a huge difference for the Kingdom. He gives practical examples of how that may happen in the life of the church and the lives of indivdiuals.
The book is a call for church to equip believers in their churches so that those believers can go out from the church and share the life changing hope of the gospel. Radical Together is an excellent read and a book I plan on reading again soon.
I received a free copy from Waterbrook Publishing but was not influenced to provide a positive review.
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Review 5 for Unleashing a Radical People: Six Truths That Change How Churches Change the World - eBook
Overall Rating:
Radically Revolutionary
Date:April 16, 2012
Amanda
Location:Montana
Age:35-44
Gender:female
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
Radical Together by David Platt
I welcome any opportunity to read a David Platt book so when Blogging For Books made “Radical Together” available for review, I jumped on the opportunity to soak up the words.
I was not disappointed.
It was a non-stop adventure through what it means to be radical together as a church. He sets the tone for this theme with the opening question on page 3:
How can we in the church best unleash the people of god
In the spirit of god with the word of god
For the Glory of god in the world?
In the spirit of god with the word of god
For the Glory of god in the world?
How, David? Well… he tells us how and he does it by addressing six main points:
1. One of the worst enemies of Christians can be good things in the church
2. The gospel that saves us from work saves us to work
3. The word does the work
4. Building the right church depends on using all the wrong people
5. We are living and longing for the end of the world
6. We’re selfless followers of a self-centered god
1. One of the worst enemies of Christians can be good things in the church
2. The gospel that saves us from work saves us to work
3. The word does the work
4. Building the right church depends on using all the wrong people
5. We are living and longing for the end of the world
6. We’re selfless followers of a self-centered god
However, there is a warning I would issue here; if you are not ready and/or willing to make radical changes, you will fight against the radical ideas David proposes. Radical ideas like:
- The last thing you and I want to do is waste our lives on religious activity that is devoid of spiritual productivity—being active in the church but not advancing the kingdom of God.
- As Christians today, you and I can easily deceive ourselves into thinking that dedication to church programs automatically equals devotion to kingdom purposes
- David Platt challenges us to let go of the good things in order to achieve greater purposes.
- As Christians today, you and I can easily deceive ourselves into thinking that dedication to church programs automatically equals devotion to kingdom purposes
- David Platt challenges us to let go of the good things in order to achieve greater purposes.
I think we can all admit, letting go isn’t easy and letting go of what seems good is even harder. His challenge, after his stated thesis, unrolls in this claim:
Put EVERYTHING on the table.
Meaning, bring all things before God for His approval, no matter how good you think they are. And in this, David begins to show radical submission, radical work for the Lord, radical sacrifices, and radical living.
He does all this first and foremost by sharing what God’s Word says about every single topic his thesis sets out to address. He challenges people, churches, and preachers to remember: God’s Word does all the work, we are but instruments for Him to use in spreading it.
I could talk, in great excitement, for hours on the lessons and encouragement gained from this little book. It was an easy read with a tough but great message for modern times. It includes resources for small group study and links to his and other websites which contain further FREE resources helpful in growing radically together.
Soaking up this information may have only taken a few days… but the impact will certainly last a life time. A must-read for every Christian, and especially for every Christian in a leadership position.
Be radical, Jesus was.
Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.
- Matthew 10:39
- Matthew 10:39
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Review 6 for Unleashing a Radical People: Six Truths That Change How Churches Change the World - eBook
Overall Rating:
The How-to After the Ought-to
Date:April 2, 2012
sgagne
Location:Pensacola, FL
Age:25-34
Gender:male
Quality:
4
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
4
out of
5
Radical Together: Unleashing the People of God For the Purpose of God, by David Platt, was a good book. I would describe the this book as more of the “how-to,” compared to the first of the series as the “ought-to.”
To be honest, It started well, but then began to drag a bit. This is when I put it down, and didn’t get back to it for a while.
I started to lose interest because I felt as though it was beginning to be redundant, repeating ideas covered in the first book (Radical), and retelling stories that might as well have been the same ones, even if they weren’t. I felt as though it was beginning to be redundant, repeating ideas covered in the first book (Radical), and retelling stories that might as well have been the same ones, even if they weren’t.
I hope I didn’t lose you there… but I think I made my point.
Fortunately, I was determined to finish.
Fortunately, I was determined to finish.
This was a review copy provided by WaterBrook Multnomah, after-all, and I wanted to be honest, as well as finally get a new book (as if I don’t already have plenty others to read)…
I am glad that I chose to finish it!
I am glad that I chose to finish it!
Once I got back into the book, it began to improve.
Platt finishes really strong with some great chapters on the church, prayer, seeker-sensitivity, and God himself.
Platt finishes really strong with some great chapters on the church, prayer, seeker-sensitivity, and God himself.
I would recommend this as a good read to follow-up the first book with, but just a heads-up that there is some repetition there is some repetition.
Onward toward the “radical” call…
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Review 7 for Unleashing a Radical People: Six Truths That Change How Churches Change the World - eBook
Overall Rating:
Outstanding guide for reaching others for Christ
Date:March 9, 2012
Arthur Hot
Location:Belding MI
Age:45-54
Gender:male
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
I liked this book better than the previous book Radical, but that is only because I was deeply convicted by the first book. Bottom-line we need to allow the Spirit to work in our lives to reach others for Christ.
We need to build relationships and build disciples for Christ.
This is a great resource for small group study and building the Church to reach the lost.
Another great resource is The Master Plan of Evangelism by Robert Coleman.
1 John 3:16-18 It is time for ACTION
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Review 8 for Unleashing a Radical People: Six Truths That Change How Churches Change the World - eBook
Overall Rating:
Thought provoking book!
Date:February 29, 2012
JessicaTurner
Location:Dallas, TX
Age:25-34
Gender:female
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
When I first noticed the title Radical Together, I wondered if it was any different than the book, Radical. I read Radical as soon as it came out and fell in love with the book. My 13 year old read it as soon as I finished it. We were speechless. We started listening to some of David Platt's sermons and tried getting a feel for what he is doing in this world. I was concerned that I might find Radical Together boring, but that is far from the truth. The book was very well written and has a lot of detail not mentioned in Radical. If you are on fire for the Lord and are ready to stop pursuing the "American Dream" and do something for the world, I would strongly recommend this book! Here is a link to an excerpt of Radical Together: http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9781601423726&view=excerpt. This book can change your life if you will let it. I received this ebook for free from Waterbrook Multnomah in exchange of an honest review. I read this book in it's entirety and did not have to post a positive review.
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Review 9 for Unleashing a Radical People: Six Truths That Change How Churches Change the World - eBook
Overall Rating:
Date:February 22, 2012
mike
Location:Philadelphia, Pa
Age:35-44
Gender:male
Quality:
4
out of
5
Value:
4
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
4
out of
5
good, easy read and easy to generate provoking thoughts....
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Review 10 for Unleashing a Radical People: Six Truths That Change How Churches Change the World - eBook
Overall Rating:
Brings up great points about the current church
Date:February 19, 2012
Aadel
Location:Junction City, KS
Age:25-34
Gender:female
Quality:
4
out of
5
Value:
4
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
4
out of
5
If I had to describe the book Radical Together to you in one short phrase it would be this:
Trusting in the power of God to work in the people of God to do the work of God.
The book is short- just shy of 130 pages. But the points that are covered clearly represent the author David Platt’s heart. His desire for transforming Christian fellowship guides his words. This transformation includes the maturity of the believers, the spreading of the gospel, and giving God all the glory for the work that is done.
Let’s be honest. As long as church consists of normal routines and Christianity consists of nominal devotion with little risk, little sacrifice, and little abandonment, then we can do this on our own. But what happens when we give ourselves to something that is far greater than what we can accomplish on our own?
Overall, I enjoyed this book. I think it brings up some valid points that need to be discussed in churches today. Our focus can go astray and get off-kilter from what God intends for us. We often look to the abilities of people and programs of churches rather than to the all-powerful source.
I did have some trouble with a few of the points. In chapter five David talks about spreading the gospel to the ends of the earth, to every people group, rather than focusing in on our own neighborhoods and communities. While I agree that we need to have a world mission focus, I don’t necessarily agree that it should be either or. I don’t think he intended to sacrifice local mission work with international since he does talk about reaching out to the community as a church body in other places in the book.
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Review 11 for Unleashing a Radical People: Six Truths That Change How Churches Change the World - eBook
Overall Rating:
4 Stars for Radical Together
Date:February 11, 2012
haido
Quality:
4
out of
5
Value:
4
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
2
out of
5
5 star = It was great!
4 star = It was good
3 star = It's okay
2 star = It was bad!
1 star = It was terrible!
4 star = It was good
3 star = It's okay
2 star = It was bad!
1 star = It was terrible!
I wanted to give this book 4.5 stars but there were two big problems with it and semi-ruined the book for me. The book has some great points and is worth the read if you have the time. One main issue other reviewers mentioned, this book is missing the gospel and this is terrible because all the way on page 27, the author tells readers to put down the book "and place your faith in [Christ]" "if you have never trusted Christ like this." But the book is missing the gospel! So how can an one place their faith in something they don't really understand? To his credit, Platt is writing for believers and states this in the beginning of the book, but then still this call to "place your faith" in Jesus is odd without a deeper explaination of the TRUE gospel of repentance vs the false gospel of "read the paragraph and make a decision".
The biggest issue I had with this book were pages 80-104... these pages made me want to throw my book out. All the great ideas and theology and the "focus on God's will for the church instead of our comfortable cush lives and desires" nearly went out the window, when I reached these pages. Platt takes "preaching the gospel to all nations" to an extreme compared to most Christians. Now, some of you will agree with Platt and if so, I recommend you read the book. But for the rest of us, this teaching adds more false legalism to scripture than the Bible truly says. Platt believes and teaches readers that "Jesus Christ will NOT return until Christians have taken the gospel to ALL tribes of peoples" - all nationalities or races - of which he claims there are "about 6,000 tribes who have not received the gospel and this amounts to 2 billion people". Platt tells us that the world must be Christianized in order for Jesus to return. So Platt's entire focus is on preaching to these 6,000 tribes RATHER than preaching to the 4,000 tribes who have "heard" the gospel. Platt does say the lines on "who has heard the gospel" and "who hasn't heard" are drawn up by people, so they aren't perfect, but Platt still emphasizes that our main missions and evangelism duties are to focused on those 6,000 tribes - RATHER than your own home down, another state, or one of the 4,000 tribes. I strongly disagree with Platt's interpretation of Matthew 24:14. Although at one point, he tries to say that he is not discouraging people from preaching to the people in their own cities, he contradicts himself when he writes, "Satan, in a sense, is just fine with missional churches in the West spending the overwhelming majority of our time, energy, and money on trying to reach people right around us. Satan may actually delight in this, for while we spend our lives on the people we see in front of us, more than 6,000 people groups for generations have never even heard the gospel and remain in the dark."
If you read carefully, you can see the "good intentions" of the author, but he gets lost in man-made thinking, weak arguments, bad motivations for evangelizing, and poor unclear writing at times. Platt seriously does touch on some great things and some of his writing is clear. Platt does an excellent job telling Christians to stop being so self-centered and be more god-centered. He challenges us to have our priorities straight and to make sure we are spending our money where it counts. For that part of his book, I give him 4.5 stars. It's very good, but not quite "outstanding/out of this world."
This book review was done for Thomas Nelson publisher in exchange for the book
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Review 12 for Unleashing a Radical People: Six Truths That Change How Churches Change the World - eBook
Overall Rating:
Great theme
Date:November 17, 2011
Hernando
Location:Chandler, AZ
Age:45-54
Gender:male
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
4
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
4
out of
5
Good bok, stright to the point. We all should follow his advice.
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Review 13 for Unleashing a Radical People: Six Truths That Change How Churches Change the World - eBook
Overall Rating:
Abandonment to God
Date:November 8, 2011
JonB
Location:Leola, PA
Age:55-65
Gender:male
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
4
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
In this “sequel” to Radical, David Platt sets before himself a single goal. Based upon Scripture, he seeks to clarify “the practical implications for how a right understanding of the church fuels a radical obedience among Christians.” Better said, he hones in on this basic question: How can believers be mobilized to fulfill God's design (that they walk “... in single-minded, death defying obedience to one objective, the declaration of his gospel for the demonstration of his glory to all nations.”)?
In the book, Platt explores six notions that he sees as critical to walking in radical obedience to Christ:
The worst enemy of Christians is good things in the church. (I.e., in many cases, the church is not doing what is best, and we can know what that may be, if we would only question all that we are doing and allow Christ “to determine what needs to stay and what needs to go.”)
The gospel that saves us from work saves to work. (I.e., we need to appreciate that the fruit of God's gracious gift of salvation, our works of righteousness, is also a gift from God.)
The Word does the work. (I.e., we need to rightly understand that the it is the Word that has transformed and continues to transform lives, as we walk with his Spirit.)
Building the right church depends on using all the wrong people. (I.e., God's purpose is for all of his followers to be engaging the world with the Gospel.)
We are living – and longing-- for the end of the world. (I.e., the end will come when people from every ethnic group have heard and responded to the gospel, so fulfilling the Great Commission hastens that day.)
We are selfless followers of a self-centered God. (I.e., true followers know that death to self is required, and that our God, as Lord, Master and King, is free to spend our lives however he pleases, that he alone may be exalted.)
As he does this, he relates the experiences of the Church at Brook Hills in their journey of obedience, to provide context and to unpack the realities of what it looks like to live lives abandoned to God. These are not shared as a model to be followed or self-directed praise; I found them to be a great encouragement to pursue the better ways that are a part of God's plan.
This book should a “must read” for all leaders within any local church that is serious about mobilizing the people they lead to whole-heartedly follow Christ and take the gospel to folks near and far. But the reading must be followed by the hard questioning, grappling, obeying the Word and “relentless prayer.” A “must,” as well, as Platt stresses, is that leaders realize that the sheep will likely never be what they cannot see in their shepherds.
By the way, if your church leaders have not read Radical, this should not, in my view, hinder their reading and positively responding to this book, and moving to a position where God can speak to needed changes in the the way your church seeks to minister.
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Review 14 for Unleashing a Radical People: Six Truths That Change How Churches Change the World - eBook
Overall Rating:
Great Follow up Book to Radical
Date:October 26, 2011
Pastor Russell
Location:Canton, GA
Age:35-44
Gender:male
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
4
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
Radical Together by David Platt follows his prior book Radical. To really get the most out of this book I would suggest that you read Radical first. This will provide a back drop for the flow and purpose of his second installment. In Radical Together, David presents six chapters that will pave the way for disciples of Christ to become all that Jesus intended us to be as disciple makers. He points out issues that are hindering individuals and churches, and then biblically constructs the antidote to the problem. His book is bold to say the least, but it is theologically sound and challenging.
David’s writing style is easy to read and is filled with real life stories of what happens when God’s people are unleashed for the purposes of God. This book reinforced many different areas of my own call that God has placed on my life. Yet I was challenged to become even more radical in laying everything on the table for the sake of the call. It is so easy get wrapped up in ministry that we end up missing the very substance of the relationship that Jesus desire with each of us. Radical Together is a book that challenges us to keep Jesus and his Word at the forefront of all we do as believers.
I received this book for free from WaterB
rook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.
I received this book for free from WaterB
rook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.
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Review 15 for Unleashing a Radical People: Six Truths That Change How Churches Change the World - eBook
Overall Rating:
Read this book NOW!
Date:September 27, 2011
Justus Guys
Age:55-65
Gender:male
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
Life will never be the same after reading this book! This is an incredibly moving account of what Christian community can look like when the people of God look to the Word of God to hear the heart of God. His Story and the journey of one congregation should move believers everywhere to live as He designed and desires us to.... Read this book NOW!
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Review 16 for Unleashing a Radical People: Six Truths That Change How Churches Change the World - eBook
Overall Rating:
Convicting and powerful book
Date:September 25, 2011
mattparks35
Location:Joplin, MO
Age:18-24
Gender:male
Quality:
4
out of
5
Value:
4
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
Coming right out of the buzz from his New York Times Bestselling book, Radical, Pastor David Platt amends a refreshing addition in Radical Together. Taking the lessons from his first book, Platt projects them into a community of believers. He illustrates, “The force of a single drop of water descending the Andes is miniscule. Similarly, as long as individual Christians journey alone—no matter how ‘radical’ they are—their effect will be minimal.” Platt challenges believers to live in community as radicals. The six challenges that make up the six chapters of this short yet dense work are convicting alone, but coupled with Platt’s down-to-earth communication and personal stories of his own convictions it makes for 130 pages of timeless wisdom. The only negative feature of this book is that it is so short. Platt’s words left me longing for Christ’s revolutionary teachings and wanting to be more and more like Him and less and less like this world. This book has been influential in reconnecting my focus to God and not on this world’s pursuits as well as an encouragement to get on board with what God is doing in this world. If after reading this book you have not been changed, then you need to read it again and stay awake this time.
I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.
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Review 17 for Unleashing a Radical People: Six Truths That Change How Churches Change the World - eBook
Overall Rating:
A ministry-changing book
Date:September 24, 2011
Marta
Quality:
5
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5
Meets Expectations:
5
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This book picks up from the book RADICAL with practical challenges to implement ministering radically for Christ. This book is not just for ministry leaders. Lay people will come away convicted and challenged to live for Christ in a way that has an impact on the world.
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Review 18 for Unleashing a Radical People: Six Truths That Change How Churches Change the World - eBook
Overall Rating:
Solid Practical Theology
Date:September 18, 2011
Liam Moran
Location:Kenosha, WI
Gender:male
Quality:
5
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5
Value:
5
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Meets Expectations:
5
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Book Review: Radical Together by David Platt
Radical Together is the recent release by Multnomah Books (2011, 148 pages) which is the follow up to Platt's New York Times best seller Radical.
Platt holds a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism (A.B.J.) from the University of Georgia, and a Master of Divinity (M.Div.), Master of Theology (Th.M.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He has previously served at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary as Dean of Chapel and Assistant Professor of Expository Preaching and Apologetics, and as Staff Evangelist at Edgewater Baptist Church in New Orleans.
Introduction
In his first book, Platt explores how the gospel affects our lives as Christian in terms of practicial living. Given the eternal nature of our calling and charge to reach the lost for Christ, Platt contended that as evangelicals we do not have time to waste pursuing a Christian version of the "American Dream." In essence, discipleship itself is radical in nature.
In this book, Platt has sought to continue on with that same premise. His intent is clear. He writes:
In Radical Together, I want to consider what happens--or can happen--when we apply the revolutionary claims and commands of Christ to our communities of faith. I want to contemplate the force of a people who come together to enjoy God's grace in the church while they extend God's glory in the world. And I want to propose that a movement of such people in such churches has the potential to permeate nations with the praise of God (p. VIII).
Platt engages his readers with one question in mind, "How can we in the church best unleash the people of God in the Spirit of God with the Word of God for the glory of God in the world?"
The book has six chapters which are the six driving ideas in the book:
1. The worst enemy of Christians is good things in the church.
2. The gospel that saves us from work saves us to work.
3. Building the right church depends on using all the wrong people.
4. Building the right church depends on using all the wrong people.
5. We are living--and longing--for the end of the world.
6. We are selfless followers of a self-centered God.
Overview
Platt points out that when he came to his church, there were a lot of "good programs." He challenged his church though that with the programs they had and with the money that was being spent, was this the best way to allocate the Lord's money? Platt urges his readers and his church to think the beyond the local to the global mission of reaching the lost for Christ.
Platt's desire is to see the church prioritize her spiritual priorities. Some churches get so caught up in programs that the actual ministry to the flock is superseded by the very program that seeks to minister to them.
Platt has a desire to get his readers to see their true purpose and calling as believers in Christ. The call to discipleship is radical and many are confused as to how that takes shape in a corporate setting. Throughout the book, Platt offers practical guidelines on how he has seen the Lord move in his church to address the critical ministry issues of the day while offering motivation for others to do the same. He does all this while exhorting believers to have a high view of God while seeking to bring glory to Jesus Christ.
Conclusion
Some bloggers have referred to Platt's books as "radical theology." I think this is a misnomer. This book is practical theology. I think that our call to discipleship is radical by nature. I don't think Platt makes it anymore radical than it is.
Overall, Platt really ddin't say anything new. This book along with his last one is selling so well because it offers a biblically balanced alternative to the "seeker" driven and purpose driven philosophy of ministry and the emergent movement.
I think readers will find this book an enjoyable and challenging read. It takes a lot of hard work to change the culture of any church. And Platt was able to do this with his church with enormous growth and as a result his church is changing lives all across the globe. I found the insights to have been fresh and practical while at the same time theologically engaging. I believe Platt accomplished what he set out to do in this book. I recommend it.
Disclaimer: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. Many thanks to them.
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Review 19 for Unleashing a Radical People: Six Truths That Change How Churches Change the World - eBook
Overall Rating:
Excellent!
Date:September 16, 2011
Quality:
5
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5
Value:
5
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Meets Expectations:
5
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I just finished reading Radical Together and I think it was a fantastic little book. It was straight forward and to the point. I will say that I haven't read Radical yet but I will after reading this one. The concepts are difficult to read about yet the truth that rings through is undeniable. I think every follower of Christ needs to be wrestling with the types of questions Mr. Platt puts before us in this book. I like that he did a follow up to the original that has numerous examples of people who have decided to do something "radical" and the change its made in their lives and community. I am challenged by this book and that seems to be the point.
I received this book free from blogging for books in exchange for my review.
I received this book free from blogging for books in exchange for my review.
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Review 20 for Unleashing a Radical People: Six Truths That Change How Churches Change the World - eBook
Overall Rating:
Tired of playing church!
Date:September 14, 2011
Quality:
5
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5
Value:
4
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Meets Expectations:
5
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5
David Platt is a powerfully fresh voice within the evangelical community. His unassuming manner forces older pastors (such as myself) to re-evaluate our entire approach to ministry, making certain that we are working to truly further the spread of the Gospel and thus hasten the return of our Lord. The success of his first book, "Radical," which summoned Christians from their comfortable pursuits of the American Dream, is compellingly followed up by "Radical Together," a similar call to the church corporately. Platt writes in a manner that is read easily but applied with greater difficulty. The reason is that he takes dead aim at the complacency of western believers who have sacrificed the Great Commission on the altar of "ministry programs," "meeting places," "worship performances," and "paid professionalism." Platt challenges us to re-examine "church" within the context of the New Testament, as well as in the manner believers in other parts of the world worship and serve the Lord. His thesis is that pastors and other local church leaders begin "unleashing the people of God for the purpose of God," as his subtitle suggests. I received my copy by responding to a promotional offer by Mission Frontiers (missionfrontiers.org), an organization whose ministry I both support and recommend. I intend to purchase additional copies for my church board and other leaders. What a wonderful privilege to be able to play a role in the grand climax of history and welcome the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. The final push will require sacrifice on the part of believers, but the promised reward of seeing God eternally glorified by every people group far outweighs any risk. May the Lord raise up an army of visionary leaders like David Platt who refuse to allow us to simply "play church" while the challenge of making the Lord's name known to all nations remains.
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