Review "God calls us to a risky and sacrificial faith. And yet even Christians give into fear-mongering and the pitfall of 'playing it safe.' Where in the Bible does it say, 'Don't take risks for your faith'? Which of Jesus' disciples avoided danger in witnessing to the risen Christ? Spiritual Grit is an excellent exploration of the mettle necessary for following Jesus, who literally loved us to death and who invites us on an often-reckless adventure to change the world for him." --Richard Stearns, President of World Vision U.S. and author of The Hole in Our Gospel and Unfinished"In their 2010 remake of the 1969 John Wayne classic True Grit, the Coen brothers chose as the movie's theme song the camp-meeting hymn 'Leaning on the Everlasting Arms.' Rick Lawrence's scintillating study of what it means to live in the grip of 'spiritual grit' is a handbook in 'learning to lean' on those 'everlasting arms.' Spiritual Grit is a theological counterpoint to Nassim Nicholas Taleb's excellent Antifragile (2014), but is more fun and illuminating to read." --Leonard Sweet, best-selling author, professor, and founder of and chief contributor to preachthestory.com"We've seen an explosion of literature on the importance of character traits like resilience, endurance, and grit. Yet as I've read the books on the topic, something was missing. Actually, someone. How does grit relate to God? In Spiritual Grit, Rick Lawrence makes this vital connection, demonstrating how a 'desperate dependence on Jesus' helps build this cardinal virtue in our lives. Lawrence is a master storyteller. His powerful anecdotes and insights will equip and inspire you to take the hard, uphill path that ultimately leads to life." --Drew Dyck, Senior editor at Christianity Today's online magazine CTPastors.com, author of Generation Ex-Christian, Yawning at Tigers, and the forthcoming book Taming Dragons."Like never before, our culture is in desperate need of Christ-followers who will do things that others won't do, love in a way that doesn't seem possible, and live with a courage that is divinely inspired. Our world hungers for people with spiritual grit. Rick has written a book that both encourages and challenges us to become the sort of Christ-followers that we know we're called to be, the sort of Christ-followers that embody true grit. I can promise you that this book will fuel your passion for Jesus as it has mine." -- Dr. Lina Abujamra, host of the Living With Power podcast and the radio program Today's Single Christian, author of Thrive, Stripped, and Resolved."When it comes to growing into the mature men and women God is calling us to be, we too often look for the easiest path. We want quick results. We look for low-cost solutions. We look for ease. But what we really need is spiritual grit. That's a core message of Lawrence's book, and he drives it right to the heart with a beautiful combination of grace and honesty. All true growth is by nature uncomfortable, and Lawrence not only does a great job demonstrating how developing spiritual grit is essential to following the real Jesus, but also shows us how to do it, starting today." --Michael D. Warden, author of The Transformed Heart, Leading Wide Awake, and The Pearlsong Refounding trilogy."Our culture sets twin idols on pedestals in our hearts: the gods of Comfort and Convenience. Sometimes it seems we would follow them anywhere: eating things that are no good for us and shortchanging those we love by shirking opportunities to serve. Through deep study of Jesus in the Gospels and lots of examples from his own life and the lives of others, Rick Lawrence shows us how and why it's better to stick with Jesus our shepherd, following him through the valley of the shadow of death, rather than to hang with the god of this age on the shortcut, business-class, direct flight to Easy Street." --Conrad Gempf, lecturer in New Testament at the London School of Theology and author of Jesus Asked and How to Like Paul Again."From one over-functioning parent to another, this is the book you wish you'd read before you knocked yourself out on that dinosaur diorama. Spiritual Grit is awash in stories of grace and resilience, reminding us that discipleship requires durability--and we're not raising kids who have it. With a journalist's laser-sharp observation and a storyteller's spellbinding charm, Rick Lawrence encourages us to love young people better by protecting them less and challenging them more. If we needed permission to let youth actually grow up, Spiritual Grit is the place to start." --Kenda Creasy Dean, Mary D. Synnott professor of youth, church and culture, Princeton Theological Seminary, and author of Almost Christian and The Godbearing Life."Rick has taken my favorite book (the Bible) and combined it with my favorite movie (True Grit). In Spiritual Grit, he helps us learn how to shed the religiosity of Christianity and find a deeper understanding of what being yoked with Christ can truly look like. This is not just another Christian book; it's a field guide to a deeper understanding of what abiding in Christ is all about. Rick doesn't write books, he lives them out in his life and then empties his heart and soul into them. This is one of those books you want everyone to read so they can experience the same beauty as you have." --Tommy Woodard, co-founder of The Skit Guys, filmmaker, and associate pastor of teaching and creativity at Newchurch in Oklahoma City About the Author Rick Lawrence is an author, ministry leader, and the longtime executive editor of Group's Simply Youth Ministry resources. He's the General Editor for the bestselling Jesus-Centered Bible, and is the author, co-author, or editor of 38 books, including The Jesus-Centered Life; The Jesus-Centered Life: 40 Devotions for Teenagers; and the small-group curriculum In Pursuit of Jesus. He's married to a spitfire Irish-Italian, has two teenage daughters, and leads a weekly small group for teenagers in his home.
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