Jesus wants to train us to live his life: Reading the gospels and Acts as manuals of practice for disciples - Couverture souple

Attwood, Andrew

Couverture souple

ISBN 13 : 9798282143836

Editeur : Independently published, 2025

Synopsis

Is it possible that we may have missed a key purpose of the gospels?

This book may dramatically affect how you read and respond to the story of Jesus. 

Using 57 questions and answers, this study book explores how the gospels and Acts are more than biographies. As well as calling readers to trust in Jesus Christ, the gospels include instruction and practices for us to imitate - to a level you may not have realised before. Andrew Attwood argues that Jesus and the early church modelled a life and mission to be adopted as the radical norm.

The author introduces the gospels from an historical perspective, then focuses on how Jesus related to God. This model relationship was then demonstrated by his Spirit-led, disciple-making mission - a way of life to imitate. The author proposes that these reliable eye-witness stories were carefully structured by the authors as manuals for future followers. 

The prominence of the first disciples in the gospels helpfully illustrate Jesus’ method and model of training. By design, gospel readers are invited to join in with the Twelve and the Acts church, hearing and obeying the teachings of Jesus like the first disciples did. His emphasis on a shared life, operating as a family on mission became a template for the emerging church. The evidence in Acts and apostolic letters demonstrate that Jesus effectively trained them to carry on his mission in his physical absence. 

The promise of ‘Jesus on the inside’ is explored, given after his ascension, which explains how the first Christians were so effective. Further study shows that as well as Acts 2 church, Gentile churches and followers like Paul continued to live out the Spirit-filled life and practices of Jesus. This approach shaped church practices well into the first two centuries.

In the light of these conclusions, a training plan for mission-minded Christians is summarised. A brief critique of later Christianity, and how it began to depart from Christ’s training in the 3rd Century poses a challenge to the common traditions of church life today. We all have lessons to learn.

Test the evidence for the gospels and Acts as story-form manuals of practice. This book is offered as an invitation to rediscover this purpose of Christ’s story, embracing Jesus as our risen trainer, so we might learn to live his life to the full today.

Détails de l'édition

• Éditeur: Independently published
• Date d'édition: 2025
• Langue: anglais
• ISBN 13: 9798282143836
• Reliure: Broché
• Nombre de pages: 164
• Coordonnées du fabricant: Manufactured by Amazon on behalf of the author; https://www.amazon.fr/hz/contact-us; ; c/o Amazon Media EU S.à.r.l., 38 Avenue John F. Kennedy; Luxembourg; L-1855; Luxembourg