Radical

1. Jesus is Worth Losing Everything For

If Jesus is who he said he is, and if his promises are as rewarding as the Bible claims they are, then we may discover that satisfaction in our lives and success in the church are not found in what our culture deems most important but in radical abandonment to Jesus.

Radical Abandonment. The core message is a call to total surrender to Jesus, not just a casual acceptance. It challenges the comfortable, self-centered Christianity that often prevails in American culture. This means re-evaluating what we value, what we pursue, and what we are willing to sacrifice.

• It's about choosing Jesus over the American dream.
• It's about prioritizing his kingdom over our own comfort.
• It's about embracing a life of radical obedience, even when it's costly.

The Cost of Discipleship. Following Jesus is not a path to ease and prosperity, but a call to self-denial and sacrifice. Jesus himself warned that following him would involve homelessness, family conflict, and even death. This is not a message of fear, but a call to a higher purpose.

• It's about understanding that the cost of not following Jesus is far greater.
• It's about recognizing that true satisfaction is found in him, not in worldly possessions.
• It's about embracing a life of radical obedience, even when it's costly.

A Worthy Exchange. The book argues that the reward of knowing and experiencing Jesus is far greater than anything this world has to offer. It's a call to see Jesus as the ultimate treasure, worth losing everything else for. This is not about deprivation, but about gaining something infinitely more valuable.

• It's about seeing Jesus as the ultimate treasure.
• It's about understanding that true satisfaction is found in him, not in worldly possessions.
• It's about embracing a life of radical obedience, even when it's costly.

2. The Gospel is a Radical Revelation, Not a Religious Routine

We are starting to redefine Christianity. We are giving in to the dangerous temptation to take the Jesus of the Bible and twist him into a version of Jesus we are more comfortable with.

Beyond Superficiality. The gospel is not a set of rules or a religious routine, but a radical revelation of who God is, who we are, and how we can be reconciled to him. It's a call to a deep, transformative relationship with God, not just a superficial adherence to religious practices.

• It's about understanding the depth of our sin and our need for a Savior.
• It's about recognizing that God is both loving Father and wrathful Judge.
• It's about moving beyond clichés and embracing the full scope of the gospel.

God-Centered, Not Self-Centered. The gospel is not primarily about us, but about God. It's about his glory, his holiness, and his justice. It's about recognizing that we are not the center of the universe, but that God is.

• It's about understanding that God's love is not just for us, but for his own glory.
• It's about recognizing that we are not the end of the gospel; God is.
• It's about moving beyond a self-centered faith to a God-centered one.

Surrender, Not Acceptance. The proper response to the gospel is not simply to "accept" Jesus, but to surrender our lives to him. It's a call to turn from our sin, take up our cross, and follow him. This is not a one-time decision, but a lifelong commitment.

• It's about understanding that salvation involves a deep wrestling with our sin.
• It's about recognizing that Jesus is worthy of our total surrender.
• It's about moving beyond a passive faith to an active, obedient one.

3. God's Power, Not Our Ability, is the Key

Apart from me you can do nothing.

Dependence on God. The American dream emphasizes self-reliance and personal achievement, but the gospel calls us to radical dependence on God's power. We are not capable of accomplishing anything of eternal value apart from him.

• It's about recognizing our utter inability to save ourselves or to live a life pleasing to God.
• It's about understanding that our greatest asset is not our own ability, but God's power.
• It's about moving beyond self-sufficiency to a desperate reliance on God.

God's Power in Weakness. God often chooses to work through the weak and the inadequate to demonstrate his own power. He delights in exalting our inability so that his glory might be made known.

• It's about understanding that God's power is made perfect in our weakness.
• It's about recognizing that God's provision is often displayed in ways we could never have imagined.
• It's about moving beyond self-promotion to a life that makes much of God.

The Holy Spirit's Role. The Holy Spirit is the source of God's power in our lives. He is the Comforter, the Helper, the Guide, and the very presence of God living in us. We must desperately seek his power to accomplish God's purposes in this world.

• It's about understanding that God delights in giving us himself.
• It's about recognizing that the Holy Spirit is the key to living a life of radical obedience.
• It's about moving beyond our own strength to a life empowered by the Spirit.

4. God's Global Purpose is Our Great Why

God blesses his people with extravagant grace so they might extend his extravagant glory to all peoples on the earth.

Beyond Personal Blessing. God created us not just to enjoy his grace, but to extend his glory to the ends of the earth. Our lives have a global purpose that transcends our personal comfort and desires.

• It's about understanding that God's blessing is not just for us, but for the sake of the world.
• It's about recognizing that we are called to be a blessing to all peoples.
• It's about moving beyond a self-focused faith to a globally minded one.

The Great Commission. Jesus commanded his followers to make disciples of all nations. This is not an optional program for a select few, but a mandate for every Christian. We are all called to be involved in God's global mission.

• It's about understanding that missions is not just for missionaries, but for all believers.
• It's about recognizing that we are all debtors to the nations.
• It's about moving beyond a local focus to a global one.

A Heart for the World. God's heart is for the world, and our hearts should be too. We should not limit our concern to our own nation or city, but embrace a global perspective that seeks to make God's glory known among all peoples.

• It's about understanding that God's heart is for all nations.
• It's about recognizing that we are called to have a heart for the world.
• It's about moving beyond a nationalistic focus to a global one.

5. Discipleship, Not Programs, Multiplies the Church

The megastrategy of Jesus: make disciples.

People, Not Programs. Jesus' method for changing the world was not through elaborate programs or mass gatherings, but through investing in a few people. He spent his life with twelve men, and they, in turn, went out to make more disciples.

• It's about understanding that people are God's method for reaching the world.
• It's about recognizing that discipleship is a relational process, not a program.
• It's about moving beyond a program-driven church to a disciple-making one.

Going, Baptizing, Teaching. Discipleship involves going to people where they are, baptizing them into the community of faith, and teaching them to obey everything Jesus commanded. It's a process of sharing life, not just imparting information.

• It's about understanding that discipleship is a holistic process.
• It's about recognizing that we are called to share our lives with others.
• It's about moving beyond a passive faith to an active, relational one.

Reproduction, Not Reception. The goal of discipleship is not just to receive the gospel, but to reproduce it in others. We are called to be teachers, not just receivers, and to equip others to do the same.

• It's about understanding that we are called to be reproducers of the gospel.
• It's about recognizing that we are all called to be teachers.
• It's about moving beyond a consumer mindset to a producer mindset.

6. Radical Generosity, Not American Affluence, Defines Us

The cost of believers not taking Jesus seriously is vast for those who don’t know Christ and devastating for those who are starving and suffering around the world.

Beyond Scraps. The gospel calls us to radical generosity, not just giving our leftovers. It's about sacrificing our resources for the sake of the poor and needy, not just giving what we can spare.

• It's about understanding that our wealth is not just for us, but for the sake of others.
• It's about recognizing that we are called to be generous, not just comfortable.
• It's about moving beyond a self-indulgent lifestyle to a sacrificial one.

A Biblical Perspective on Wealth. The Bible does not condemn wealth itself, but it does warn against the dangers of materialism and the love of money. We must be careful not to let our possessions control us, but to use them for God's glory.

• It's about understanding that wealth is a gift from God, not a right.
• It's about recognizing that we are called to be stewards of God's resources.
• It's about moving beyond a materialistic mindset to a kingdom-minded one.

Contentment and Sacrifice. True contentment is not found in having more, but in having Christ. We must be willing to sacrifice our comforts and possessions for the sake of the gospel and the needs of others.

• It's about understanding that true satisfaction is found in Christ, not in possessions.
• It's about recognizing that we are called to be content with what we have.
• It's about moving beyond a consumer mindset to a sacrificial one.

7. Urgency, Not Option, Defines Our Mission

Every saved person this side of heaven owes the gospel to every lost person this side of hell.

A Debt to the Nations. We are all debtors to the nations, obligated to share the gospel with those who have never heard. This is not an optional program, but a fundamental responsibility for every Christian.

• It's about understanding that we owe the gospel to the world.
• It's about recognizing that we are called to be ambassadors for Christ.
• It's about moving beyond a passive faith to an active, missional one.

The Urgency of the Gospel. The reality of hell and the billions of people who are without Christ should compel us to action. We cannot afford to waste our lives on trivial pursuits when so many are in desperate need of the gospel.

• It's about understanding that people are dying without Christ.
• It's about recognizing that we are called to be urgent in our mission.
• It's about moving beyond a casual faith to a passionate one.

No Plan B. God has chosen to use the church as his primary means of making the gospel known to the world. There is no other plan, and we must take our responsibility seriously.

• It's about understanding that we are God's plan for reaching the world.
• It's about recognizing that we are called to be faithful to his mission.
• It's about moving beyond a passive faith to an active, obedient one.

8. Living for Christ Means Dying to Self is Gain

To live is Christ and to die is gain.

Beyond Earthly Security. The reward of following Christ is not found in earthly comfort or security, but in an eternal relationship with him. We must be willing to risk our lives for his sake, knowing that death is not the end, but the beginning of true life.

• It's about understanding that our true home is in heaven.
• It's about recognizing that we are called to live for eternity, not just for this world.
• It's about moving beyond a worldly perspective to an eternal one.

His Sovereignty, Our Safety. Our safety is not found in our own abilities or circumstances, but in the sovereignty of God. We can trust that he is in control, even when we face danger and persecution.

• It's about understanding that God is in control of all things.
• It's about recognizing that we are called to trust in his sovereignty.
• It's about moving beyond fear to a life of faith.

His Presence, Our Satisfaction. True satisfaction is not found in worldly pleasures, but in the presence of Christ. We must be willing to lose our lives for his sake, knowing that he is the ultimate reward.

• It's about understanding that true satisfaction is found in Christ.
• It's about recognizing that we are called to live for his glory.
• It's about moving beyond a self-centered life to a Christ-centered one.

Last updated: January 22, 2025