Irresistible: Reclaiming the New that Jesus Unleashed for the World

A book for anyone who cares deeply about the future of the church.Once upon a time there was a version of our faith that was practically . . . irresistible. But that was then. Today we preach, teach, write, and communicate as if nothing has changed. As if "The Bible says it," still settles it.It's time to hit pause on much of what we're doing and consider the faith modeled by our first-century brothers and sisters who had no official Bible, no status, and humanly speaking, little chance of survival.What did they know that we don't?What made their faith so compelling, so defensible, so irresistible?Buckle up . . . you're about to find out. More importantly, Andy will invite you to embrace the version of faith that, against all odds, initiated a chain of events resulting in the most significant and extensive cultural transformation the world has ever seen. A version we must embrace if we are to be salt and light in an increasingly savorless and dark world.This expanded, softcover edition includes a helpful Q&A where Andy answers several common--and controversial--questions including:What is the role of Scripture in the Christian life?How should we use the Old Testament in discipleship?How do you avoid "burying the lead" in evangelism?What are the differences between the Old and New Covenants?Why should we make love the focus of our faith?Andy also shares thoughts on how to make the New Covenant the basis of your preaching and some ideas on how to begin in sharing your faith with others. This bonus material is a helpful complement to the message of Irresistible and useful in conversations and discussions about the book."More than any other book I've read in years, Irresistible has stretched my view of Scripture. I can't hear or read a passage from the Old or New Testaments without thinking about Andy's provocative insights. If you and I take this book seriously, our lives and our churches will never be the same."--Kara Powell, PhD, executive director of the Fuller Youth Institute and coauthor of Growing Young"Irresistible is like a once-in-a-generation shot across the bow. Andy Stanley takes a lifetime of accumulated insight and wisdom about the Christian faith, history, and why the church isn’t connecting with our current culture, and combines them together in a masterpiece work."--Carey Nieuwhof, author and founding pastor, Connexus Church"Warning: This book will set you and your ministry back--back to the first century and the approach to advancing the gospel modeled by Jesus and the apostles. Andy reminds us that the resurrection was at the center of the first-century apologetic. Then he challenges twenty-first century believers to reclaim it as the center of ours as well. I agree with Andy--this approach changed the world once. I'm convinced it could do so again. Read and apply now!"--Frank Turek, Christian author, public speaker, and radio host"This book challenged me to rethink my thoughts about the Old Testament, discuss with fellow believers what I was learning, do more connecting and less correcting of others, and be salt and light, making things better and brighter. I love how Andy loves people . . . ALL of them."--John Maxwell, author of The 360 Degree Leader"It's time for the church to rethink how it presents a timeless gospel to this generation. In Irresistible, Andy Stanley challenges us to make sure we handle the Scriptures with the kind of integrity that compels everyone to seriously consider following Jesus. Any Christian who reads this book will suddenly find themselves embracing the mission of Jesus with a new passion."--Reggie Joiner, author; founder and CEO of Orange"Andy Stanley takes you on a historic journey to rediscover the first-generation passion of what it means to faithfully follow Christ. This book will knock you off center, push you out of complacency, and reawaken an unshakable faith that cannot be ignored."--Craig Groeschel, pastor of Life.Church and author of Hope in the Dark--Believing God Is Good When Life Is Not
Jesus's arrival signaled that the Old Testament was fulfilled and its laws reduced to a single verb--love--to be applied to God, neighbor, and enemy. So, what is required if we want to follow Jesus’s example and radically love the people around us? We almost always know the answer. The hard part is actually doing what love requires.