Jared C. Wilson

Too many discipleship books are written for clean, perfect people who know all the right Sunday school answers. The Imperfect Disciple is for the rest of us--people who screw up, people who are weary, people who are wondering if it's safe to say what they're really thinking. For the believer who is tired of quasi-spiritual lifehacks being passed off as true, down-and-dirty discipleship, here is a discipleship book that isn't afraid to be honest about the mess we call real life. With incisive wit, warm humor, and moving stories, Jared Wilson shows readers how the gospel works in them and in their lives when - they can't get their act together - they think God is giving them the silent treatment - they think church would be better without all the people - they're not happy with the person in the mirror - and much more Wilson frees readers from the self-doubt and even the misplaced self-confidence they may feel as they walk with Jesus down the often difficult road of life. The result is a faith that weathers storms, lifts burdens, and goes forth to make more imperfect disciples.

Grace for People Who Can't Get Their Act Together

The Imperfect Disciple

From a "unique and distinctive" (Kyle Idleman) writer who "make[s] us appreciate the greatness and grandeur of the gospel" (J. I. Packer) comes a warning about how the "father of lies" attempts to mislead us, packaging destructive ideas in the guise of spiritual truth. Not every lie sounds untrue. Some just sound right. And some are repeated so often that they virtually become "common knowledge." This is what makes lies about God so dangerous. So we have to ask, what might God's enemy want us to believe to lead us astray? And would we even see it happening? Award-winning writer and pastor Jared C. Wilson brings us this compelling and enlightening exploration of the popular and oftentimes pleasing ways spiritual darkness masquerades as light. With sharp insight, warm humor, and a shepherd's heart, Jared Wilson examines eight lines popular with too many Christians--eight lies the enemy wants us to believe--and provides eight lines of counterattack to help us regain our footing. Wilson names the lies-- including "God Just Wants You to Be Happy," "You Only Live Once," and "Let Go and Let God,"--and then reveals why they appeal to us, shows how they harm us, and provides ways to counteract them. We can renounce Satan's counterfeit gospel, but first we must see it for what it is. Jared Wilson shows us how.

Eight Lies about God That Sound Like the Truth

The Gospel According to Satan

Matt Chandler

Using Paul's radical letter to the Philippians as his road map, Matt Chandler forsakes the trendy to invite readers into authentic Christian maturity. The short book of Philippians is one of the most quoted in the Bible, yet Paul wrote it not for the popular sound bites, but to paint a picture of a mature Christian faith. While many give their lives to Jesus, few then go on to live a life of truly vibrant faith. In this disruptively inspiring book, Chandler offers tangible ways to develop a faith of pursuing, chasing, knowing, and loving Jesus. Because if we clean up our lives but don't get Jesus, we've lost! So let the goal be Him. To live is Christ, to die is gain—this is the message of the letter. Therefore, our lives should be lived to Him, through Him, for Him, with Him, about Him—everything should be about Jesus.

To Live Is Christ to Die Is Gain

How God's Perfect Love Fills Our Deepest Longing

Love Me Anyway

Gospel wakefulness

How Christianity's Unmatched Truth Answers the Deepest Longings of Every Human Heart To the popular objection Aren't all religions basically the same? pastor and author Jared Wilson answers with an enthusiastic No! Christianity is not merely one among many similar options. It is categorically different--and it's these differences that make it so compelling. In Unparalleled, Wilson holds up the teachings of the Bible to the clear light of day, revealing how Christianity rises above every other religion and philosophy of the world, and how its unmatched truth answers the deepest longings of every human heart. He provides an overview of Christianity's key claims showing how, from top to bottom, it is distinct from all other competing ideologies, religious and secular. Christians will come away with a fresh sense of the truth of their faith and nonbelievers will be compelled to consider the relevant claims of Christianity in a drastically new light.

How Christianity's Uniqueness Makes It Compelling

Unparalleled

reveling in the excellencies of Jesus

Gospel deeps

"Evil has come to Texas. What will four reluctant strangers do about it? Something strange is happening in Houston and its rural suburb, Trumbull. It starts with the bizarre mutilation of a farmer's cow, setting off rumors of UFO sightings and alien visitations. It's all an annoyance for the police, who'd prefer to focus on the recent murders in the area. Mike Walsh, a journalist with a nagging editor and a wife who's left him, finds himself inexorably drawn into the deeper story creeping up on all who dare get close enough; a grizzled small town police captain, a disillusioned pastor, and a little old man. They are unlikely allies, joining forces against the otherworld."--Back cover.

Otherworld

Following up where The Storytelling God left off, this book by Jared Wilson examines Jesus's miracles as recorded in the Gospels, defending their historicity, explaining their meaning, and highlighting their significance for Christians today.

Seeing the Glory of Jesus in His Miracles

The Wonder-Working God

Written in the voice of a trusted friend, this book gently challenges pastors to rethink the “attractional” church model in favor of an explicitly biblical approach that is gospel focused, grace based, and fruit oriented.

A Gentle Manifesto Against the Status Quo

The Prodigal Church

The gospel isn't just our ticket into heaven; it changes everything about everything. In this book, Jared Wilson shows what the gospel means for every aspect of our lives and our world--nothing remains unchanged by God's story.

How You, Your Pets, and the Swiss Alps Fit Into God's Plan for the World

The Story of Everything

Ministry can be brutal. Discouragement, frustration, and exhaustion are common experiences for all church leaders, often resulting in a lack of joy and a loss of focus. Aiming to encourage and strengthen pastors in particular, Jared Wilson helps readers rediscover the soul-satisfying gospel of grace as he creatively merges biblical exposition and personal confession. In addition to covering topics such as holiness, humility, and confidence, Wilson explores the nature of pastoral ministry through the lens of the five solas of the Reformation. Full of real-world examples from the author’s own life and ministry, this book reminds all pastors that their justification is not found in ministry success or audience approval, but rather in the finished work of Christ.

Applying the Work of Christ in Your Life and Ministry

The Pastor's Justification

There may be no more powerful desire in the human heart than to be loved. And not just loved, but loved anyway. In spite of what we've done or left undone, in spite of the ways we have failed or floundered. We long for an unconditional, lavish love that we know intrinsically we don't deserve. If you are tired, sad, yet always longing, bestselling author Jared C. Wilson has incredible news for you: that kind of love actually exists, and it is actually something you can experience--whether or not you're in a romantic relationship. In his signature reflective, conversational, and often humorous style, Wilson unpacks 1 Corinthians 13 to show us what real love looks like. Through engaging stories and touching anecdotes, he paints a picture of an extravagant God who not only puts the desire for love into our very souls but fulfills those desires in striking, life-changing ways.

While pastoring for the past fifteen years, Jared Wilson has become known in contemporary evangelicalism for his passionate, gospel-centered writing and teaching. Following Wilson’s well-received publication of Gospel Wakefulness, he writes Gospel Deeps as a “next step” to establishing the need for astonishment, which begins by looking at the astonishing things God has done in and through Christ. Wilson holds up the gospel like a diamond and examines it facet by facet, demonstrating the riches of its implications. This book serves as a valuable contribution to the emerging canon of gospel-centered literature, in the spirit of John Piper’s Pleasures of God and Tim Keller’s emphasis on a “robust gospel,” and continues in the glory-reveling legacy left by Jonathan Edwards, John Owen, and the like. The distinctiveness of Gospel Deeps is found in Wilson’s winsome and frequently ecstatic writing voice, as well as his unique approach to showcasing the gospel’s beauty.

Reveling in the Excellencies of Jesus

Gospel Deeps

We may know the gospel. We may believe it—even proclaim it. But we also may assume the gospel and become lethargic. In this book Jared Wilson seeks to answer the central question, how do we experience and present the gospel in a fresh, nonroutine way in order to prevent ourselves and others from becoming numb? His answer may be surprising: “by routinely presenting the unchanging gospel in a way that does justice to its earth-shaking announcement.” We don’t excite and awaken people to the glorious truths of the gospel by spicing up our worship services or through cutting-edge, dramatic rhetoric, but by passionately and faithfully proclaiming the same truths we have already been given in Scripture. Wilson’s book will stir churches to live out the power of the gospel with a fervent, genuine zeal. After an explanation of the term “gospel wakefulness,” Wilson unpacks implications for worship, hyper-spirituality, godly habits, and sanctification, as well as other aspects of church life. Pastors, church leaders, and all in ministry, especially those who are tired or discouraged, will be uplifted, emboldened, and empowered by this book.

Gospel Wakefulness (Foreword by Ray Ortlund)

Many evangelical churches face the problem of the open "back door"--even as new people arrive, older members are leaving, looking for something else. Combined with this problem is the discipleship deficit, the difficult truth that most evangelicals are not reaching the unchurched at the rates they think they are. In fact, many of the metrics that we often "count" in the church to highlight success really don't tell us the full story of a church's spiritual state. Things like attendance, decisions, dollars, and experiences can tell us something about a church, but not everything. To cultivate a spiritually healthy church we need a shift in our metrics--a "grace-shift" that prioritizes the work of God in the lives of people over numbers and dollars. Are people growing in their esteem for Jesus? Is there a dogged devotion to the Bible as the ultimate authority for life? Is there a growing interest in theology and doctrine? A discernible spirit of repentance? And perhaps most importantly, is there evident love for God and for our neighbors in the congregation? Leading a church culture to shift from numerical success to the metrics of grace can be costly, but leaders who have conviction, courage, and commitment can lead while avoiding some of the landmines that often destroy churches. Wilson includes diagnostic questions that will help leaders measure--and lead team transparency in measuring as a group--the relative spiritual health of their church, as well as a practical prescriptive plan for implementing this metric-measuring strategy without becoming legalistic. Most attractional church models can lean heavily on making changes to the weekend worship gatherings. And while some of these changes can be good, thriving grace-focused churches are driven by a commitment to the gospel, allowing the gospel to inform and shape the worship service and the various ministries of the church.

Uniting Church Growth Dreams with the Metrics of Grace

The Gospel-Driven Church

In this ten-week accessible study, Jared Wilson provides a clearer picture of Jesus through the story of Ruth, which he presents as a historic living parable of Christ's love for his church. Ruth: Redemption for the Broken can be adapted for one-to-one discipleship, small group, or large group settings. The comprehensive leader's guide is included in the text, making it an easy-to-follow structure to engage men and women. By studying the book of Ruth, readers can enjoy the romance and drama of this compelling story while understanding how it applies to their own lives--finding Christ's undying love for them through this unforgettable biblical narrative. Jesus is the "truer and better" of every character in the book of Ruth, and everything in the Bible points to him. Wilson anchors his message in Scripture, guiding readers to better understand the themes in the book of Ruth. When everything falls apart, cling to Jesus, the one who clings to you. Find in the story of Ruth the start of a real love story--but probably not the one you think. Ruth reveals the truth that there are no sinners, no failures, and no victims so far gone that the sovereign hand of the Lord cannot reach, rescue, and even rev(more...)

Ruth: Redemption for the Broken, Study Guide with Leader's Notes

In The Gospel-Driven Church, author and pastor Jared C. Wilson shows how to lead a culture shift in a church from a focus on numerical success to the metrics of grace. He includes diagnostic questions that will help leaders measure--and lead team transparency in measuring as a group--the spiritual health of their church.

Jared C. Wilson

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