Book Review: "Jesus Called He Wants His Church Back" What Christians and the American Church are Missing

Book Description

As early as AD 50, Christians had gotten away from knowing who Jesus really is. Our generation is no different.

In every decade we, as Americans, lost something important that we couldn't afford to lose: • In the 1950s, we lost innocence • In the 1960s, we lost respect for authority • In the 1970s, we lost love • In the 1980s, we lost values • In the 1990s, we lost faith • In the 2000s, we lost security • In the 2010s, we lost hope in the future

What can restore what we've lost? Only Jesus. Jesus gave us His name, His friendship, and a commission to accept responsibility for ourselves and for the world. When introduced to His words and ways we'll rediscover the Jesus who:

• Wants His enemies won over, not wiped out • Wants you to stop playing it safe • Believed great things were possible no matter what things are like right now • Was full of grace and truth • Unleashed compassion • Believed no one was too far from God to return to Him • Came to seek and to save that which was lost • Loves the church

Pastor Ray Johnston shares the Jesus of the Bible and how we can be Christians without being jerks. He reveals how the radical message of the gospel calls us to love and serve not only our neighbors but our enemies as well. That’s the Jesus the American Church has missed and needs to meet.

Jesus' mission is clear—risk everything in order to take care of people, starting in our home, neighborhoods, cities, and those in need around the world. That's the Jesus the American Church has missed and needs to meet.

My Review:

Wake up!!   Wake Up!   I feel like I keep being reminded of that Bible Verse and keep hearing people say us Christians need to wake up.   This book shares some shocking stats and stories regarding churches in America.  There is so much meat in this book to think about and I found myself nodding often and agreeing to the points that Author Ray Johnston makes.   

I was drawn in with one of the first stories.   As Ray was traveling to speak at a church he thought once again it would be a church that felt distant and disconnected but rather he showed up to a church that was alive and well.   He asked the Pastor a few questions regarding the health of his church.   I love the pastors response,  when he showed up to be the pastor he went to a board meeting and reserved a seat for Jesus and told his board members they were giving the church back to Jesus because it was his church.   As a Pastors Wife and in a church restart- going on 3 years I feel we walked into a church that was dead and lifeless and even though things have been very challenging and our numbers might be low we are ALIVE and God is able to do what he needs to do with the willing people we have!  It is a big change and we too want Jesus to have full control of his church!   

There are three parts in this book that include:

1. A World Without Jesus

2. Christianity Without Jesus

3. Meet the Jesus Most People Miss

It is time for us to stop losing something each decade and get back to allowing Jesus to fully give us the best life ever!   This book brings the focus back to JESUS and we need many church leaders to remember that the most vibrant life we can have is a life deeply connected to Jesus.  

Thanks BookLook for sending me this book to review in exchange for an honest review.   I was no paid for this book and all opinions expressed are 100% mine.