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Branded: Sharing Jesus with a Consumer Culture

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The church spends $1.5 million for every one new follower of Jesus. Apple sells 26 iPads every minute. What is it that makes Apple so exciting and Jesus so boring? What is it that compels someone to bring their iPod everywhere and their Bible nowhere? In a marketing. Jesus is a life-changing product with lousy salespeople-people who are intimidated and embarrassed by the word "evangelism" and who show more enthusiasm for their gadgets than their God. What would life look like if we could market our faith like Nike and Apple market their products--sharing relationally, from person to person? Using examples from these and other successful companies, author Tim Sinclair challenges Christians to throw out their casual attitudes toward faith and sign on for a marketing campaign for the Savior. Written with the wit and wisdom of an experienced marketer, Branded peels away the feelings of fear and shows readers how to share their faith in ways that are honest, authentic, and, most importantly, effective.

144 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2011

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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
Profile Image for Jeremy Cork.
47 reviews
July 18, 2017
Over half-way through. This book relates simple product marketing concepts to Jesus. Evangelism is not the same as we once knew it. The author suggests a more modern, culturally-relevent means to sharing Jesus, simillar to that of a popular, successful company.

Finished - Best chapter in the book, "What If"....The author discusses a concept called "green-light thinking" - a brainstorming sessions where anything goes - say it out loud and get it on the 'white-board"...he then goes into some green-light thinking of his own and comes up with a list of What-ifs that essentially amount to be A Church Without Walls. I would read this book again just to read that chapter. I would recommend this book just for that chapter."
Profile Image for Connie.
255 reviews2 followers
February 8, 2020
Opening the door to realization that today’s evangelism isn’t your dad’s evangelism. Interesting read. Kind of proved what I thought. I was still left with the question, “ How do we get them to know why we have?” At the same time, this book may open the eyes of those who think an old timey hymnal and a pulpit is all you need.
Profile Image for Matthew.
367 reviews1 follower
July 13, 2017
Some good moments, but a seemingly disturbing trend in so connecting with the trends of the culture that the spiritual disciples can take a back seat.
Profile Image for Daniel Barr.
3 reviews1 follower
February 18, 2024
What a good and interesting take on the topic. I wasn't sure what I was going to think when I read the synopsis of this book...but it's eye opening!
Profile Image for Lori McKinley.
108 reviews44 followers
January 10, 2012
I have a love/hate relationship with this book. It had me at hello but it lost me when we tried to move in together. I discovered there were a few things that made us incompatible, and I've been mourning ever since.

Let's start with what I love. The first line, the hello if you will, caught me immediately; "It's weird. I'm a Christian, and even I don't like us very much." As one who has been known to state, "Lord, save me from your followers (of which I am one).", I could relate to this wholeheartedly. I don't know if it's because I became a Christian as an adult or if it's because of my heart-on-my-sleeve personality, but I can't stand the insincerity and pretending anymore than the author. I was nodding in agreement as I read the closing lines of the introduction; "...sharing Jesus with today's culture has everything to do with being personally branded by Christ. With forever being changes by Jesus. With being permanently marked by our Savior. I can't promise you the process won't hurt a little, but I can promise you it will be well worth it."

He describes his book as more of a "pep talk" than a "playbook" and as such it works well. He is correct in saying that we need to dump our checklists and our "one-two-three process for leading a friend to Jesus". I don't want people to believe in Jesus "just because" and I'm one of the ones asking the hard questions sometimes, so I agree that we need not fear these. If Christianity is true, then it will stand despite persecution, despite questioning, despite training people to think for themselves and to be themselves. I'm not interested in playing church and I agree with much of what is presented in this book. Life is messy, Christianity is messy, and we can't over promise that life is easy with Jesus so just give him a try.

It ain't. But there is joy and strength to be found in the mess, in a relationship with a living God who walks the messy road with you. That's the truth. And that's the "branding" I hope to portray through my very messy life.

I was in love with the pep talk. We were on the same page and when it moved to the playbook chapter with practical application I was ready for the author to bring it home. And there's where he lost me.

As a pastor's wife I felt sucker punched when many of the suggestions seemed to draw people away from the local church rather than working within the church family to live out our faith in real and meaningful ways. I became concerned that some of the suggestions would be detrimental to those struggling or those new to the faith, as well as the church body as a whole. It seemed as thought there were an underlying attitude towards the church structure. I'm frequently disappointed in the western church model and often wish my husband had been called to be a plumber instead (GRIN) but believe the church body to be God's design for his people. We need each other for encouragement and we can do more to "re-brand" Christianity together than we can do on our own. Although some suggestions were excellent (start that neighborhood poker game, befriend those considered unlovely, etc. I'd add have a Grubby Sunday but we pretty much come as we feel comfortable at our church already!), the ones that concerned me did so to the point that I no longer felt comfortable recommending the book. Our church has many newer Christians who are not in a "religious rut", as well as those of us who may be in more of a discouragement rut than anything else, and my fear is that there would be confusion and more harm than good done. I also found some of the suggestions to be inconsistent and illogical. For instance, how do you provide free activities to the community if you're telling people to buy their neighbor kid a new bicycle rather than give their offering?

I'm left with mixed feelings on the book. Much of what he has to say needs to be said. Much of what he says reflects my heart as well. But my concerns for people not able to discern his target in chapter 13 (those in religious ruts), and the harm that could come if they choose to use these suggestions as an excuse, keeps from me embracing it completely. Maybe I am being too protective, I don't know, but there's something here that leaves me wanting.

*Disclosure: I received a copy of this book at no cost through LitFuse Publicity. This review originally appeared on my blog, along with a Q&A with the author where he graciously agreed to respond to my criticisms.
Profile Image for Sunflower.
268 reviews42 followers
July 12, 2011
Reading, "Branded" by Tim Sinclair, I had really mixed feelings about attributing sharing the Gospel on the same level as marketing, but this is a book, that like all books, have to read with discretion and in context of what exactly is trying to be reached overall and taking care too, not to be too picky to see the context of the book. It is easy for someone to think, what does marketing have to do with sharing the Gospel and bring up with it, negative connotations of what marketing would imply.
With,"Branded", Tim Sinclair shares with wit and observations of ways sharing one's faith to help better connect with many, in today's world, who may not be speaking the same language that is being taught in our churches.

On page 95 of "Branded", Tim relates an experience he had on the road and goes, "He was creating a first impression without every looking me in the eye. He was pushing me away before I had the chance to get close. From hundreds of feet away, it was clear that his interests, values and personality couldn't be more different from mine".

Tim continue with later on,"Again, its not about changing our message. It's about changing the method with which we share it".

This is not an easy book to read; It will take people out of their comfort zone and that is sometimes a good thing and a necessary thing.

In the last chapter, "What If"; After the shock, of wait, but this isn't what I'm used to hearing passes, Tim, offers some down to earth, biblical based reasons that really challenges the follower of Christ, to re-evaluate how they are thinking and approaching sharing the Gospel to others.

The book doesn't advocate, not sharing the Gospel, but rather, take a careful look of how the Gospel is being shared.

Tim offers this challenging look on page 39, "...But what happens when we step out into the real world, where situations aren't so cut-and-dried"?

I like "Branded" because its' both a hard, "ouch" book to read and also a, "hey, this isn't a watering down but rather, look how are we approaching look at things".

My intial thought was..whoa whoa...lukewarmness to is this just over the fence, cold, but then realize, its a witty, but honest and hey, real life look of how are we sharing His word...sometimes, its just a simple, honest, "Hey I'm just there" approach"...a non-one size fits all, but its not about , "Fine whatever" approach either.

Tim hits the issue on the head when he shares on page, 35,"Applying faith to this equation then would indicate that for non-Christians to value Jesus, they need to see that He can meet their needs and they need a favorable perception of Him. They need both head knowledge and heart feeling. They need information and inspiration. One side without the other is useless. Or in this case, worthless".
This brought me to mind,
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; (1 Peter 3:15, New King James Version)

"Branded" is a book that will gently, though firmly and lovingly, though at times, it may not feel like that, show, how in today's multimedia, social media, consumer based, marketing based, ad-driven world, that we can share the Gospel without changing the message and still hold on to His Word.
Profile Image for Carol.
32 reviews1 follower
April 1, 2013
Book Description:
Can they overcome the past to find a brighter future together?

Major Jack Novak has never failed to meet a challenge--until he meets army nurse Lieutenant Ruth Doherty. When Jack lands in the army hospital after a plane crash, he makes winning Ruth's heart a top-priority mission. But he has his work cut out for him. Not only is Ruth focused on her work in order to support her orphaned siblings back home, she also is determined not to give her heart to any man.

As the danger and tension of World War II rise to a fever pitch, Jack and Ruth will need each other more than ever. Can Jack break down her defenses? Or are they destined to go their separate ways?

From the English countryside to the perilous skies over France, A Memory Between Us takes you on a journey through love, forgiveness, and sacrifice.

A Memory Between Us is the second book in the WINGS OF GLORY series, which follows the three Novak brothers, B-17 bomber pilots with the US Eighth Air Force stationed in England during World War II.

My Review:
Ruth is a WW2 nurse, working overseas to support her siblings who have been orphaned and are all in the care of family members. The work is hard, there is conflict between nurses and Ruth is a kind nurse, but distant in her personal lives.
When Jack Novak tries to break through her hard as metal exterior while injured and under her care, he has no idea the task he has before him. Cocky, proud and sure of himself, she is a challenge for him that he loves. But will he be able to see how his pride is hurting others or even endangering them? Will the same pride keep him from a relationship with Ruth?
How can Ruth deal with the demands for money from home? Should she take a more dangerous job, just because of the money?
This book is a sweet romance, but also very realistic, I felt like. It deals with the true life faults that would come into play when you have any two relationships between people. Both Ruth and Jack have sin issues they needed to deal with and I loved seeing how the author had God work in both of their lives. When I read a historical fiction, I love it to feel authentic. I want to hear the historical facts interwoven in the story, I want to feel the characters humanness. This book has it all! For one thing….you know the term “Giving you flak”…I did not know that came from a term from bombs and airplanes. The only complaint I would have about this book, is it really was not long enough!!

The Author:

Sarah Sundin is an on-call hospital pharmacist and holds a BS in chemistry from UCLA and a doctorate in pharmacy from UC San Francisco. Her great-uncle flew with the US Eighth Air Force in England during WWII. Sarah lives in California with her husband and three children. This is her second novel. For more info please visit her website at www.sarahsundin.com!

The Contest:
Contest Code for Memories and Movies Giveaway! HTML code is below following this post.
The Movies and Memories Giveaway from Sarah Sundin!
Sarah Sundin presents The Movies and Memories Giveaway in honor of book 2 in the Wings of Glory series. A Memory Between Us is available for purchase wherever fine books are sold. From the English countryside to the perilous skies over France, A Memory Between Us takes you on a journey through love, forgiveness, and sacrifice.

Profile Image for Taneil.
127 reviews57 followers
September 2, 2011
What if we stopped being timid and cowardly about sharing our faith, and actually thought about it long enough to realize that plastering on a Christian t-shirt is more than likely going to turn someone away than bring them closer? What if we became intentional in our desire to bring others to Christ, instead of wearing a Christian t-shirt and hoping that at least one person in the crowd will be changed by something it took you no effort to do?

Branded is about setting aside our complacency and taking steps to share the Gospel message in a way that is effective and relevant. The author takes you through the reasons he wrote Branded, stating the case as he sees it, shares that we don't need to change our mission but merely our tactics, and gives us ideas and practical ways we can start making changes for the better.

Personally, I wasn't terribly impressed by this book. I felt it to be slightly repetitive, and contemporary and modern (not in the positive sense of the word). Several of my issues may seem immaterial or nit-picky, but I felt that they reveal the heart of the matter, in subtle ways.

First off, the author seems to endorse the use of the Message, which I am strongly against. No, the Word of God does not need to be dumbed down, or "made relevant" as people of today say. That is complete and utter bunk, and no, I don't need to say "story" instead of testimony, for people to understand what I'm talking about.

Secondly, on page 111, he is beginning to give some practical ideas on how to get started with marketing the Gospel in love, rather than show, and in suggestion three, he made a remark that really incensed me. He said,

"What if we enrolled our children at a state school, or community college, instead of a Christian University - and then used the money we saved to do something bigger than ourselves? Something God-sized? Something with eternal impact?"

I felt these remarks to be either ill-written, or completely wrong. There are a million other ways we could cut our extravagant lifestyles in order to make an eternal impact on people outside the family, without compromising the integrity of our children's school atmosphere. Is investing wholeheartedly in the lives of our children a waste of our eternal impact? I think not! Are we supposed to be so driven to make disciples of all men that we neglect discipling our own children? I shudder to think so.

Overall, this book is not one that I would recommend to others, simply because I felt that the general idea of the book (showing Christ's love in a non-threatening, relational way) can be found in many other ways. The book "Revolution in World Missions" is one that immediately sticks out to me. It does not specifically cover the same topic, but I think you can get all that you are looking for from it, instead.
Profile Image for Theresa.
95 reviews9 followers
July 2, 2011
Branded uses the analogy of marketing in our culture and how we as Christians can and should present Jesus in a similar way. He is, after all, the most important "product" the world will ever know. Mr. Sinclair asks how an apathetic Christian can effectively market Jesus to the unbeliever.

What would the world look like if today's Christians started marketing Jesus, through our daily actions with those around us? What if we, as Christians, practiced what we preached? What if we got out there and touched the untouchables, helped the helpless and gave to those in need, just as Jesus did? Quietly and selflessly, all while humbly serving those around him, with love and honor. What if we lived our lifes and conducted ourselves in a way that would make non-believers interested in knowing Jesus?

He encourages Christians to leave their platitudes behind, to get out there and minister to those in need. To tell them about Jesus in a way that makes sense to them. We need to show people who Jesus is by the way we live our lives, not by speaking platitudes, wearing "I love Jesus" t-shirts and posting snippets of scripture on our facebook status'. We are missing out on the relationship we should be having with peoople. We need to market our faith in a way they can relate to.
As non-Christians begin investigating what Jesus is all about, it's not really Him they're testing . . . it's us. They're looking at our lives to see if we live up to all the hype. They're looking at our attitudes when life throws us a curve that wasn't on the test. I've never been able to track down who said it first, but one of my favorite quotes is, "People are like tea bags. You find out what's really inside when you put them in hot water." How true.
--pg. 39 of Branded: Sharing Jesus with a Consumer Culture by Tim Sinclair

Branded is an easy to read book, with paragraphs that are short, sweet and to the point, with lots of white space. Each point made is illustrated by a story most can relate to. The book is laid out in a way I've become accustomed to reading, thanks to the internet. I personally haven't reached the apathetic point that Mr. Sinclair speaks of, being such a young Christian (and still on fire for Jesus!), but I will keep this book around and re-read it, just to keep the fire fresh in my mind.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free through the LitFuse Publicity Group blog tour program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
Profile Image for Michelle Padrelanan.
37 reviews14 followers
July 8, 2011
I have to admit that I didn’t know what to expect from Tim Sinclair’s book – Branded – Sharing Jesus With A Consumer Culture. The large question at the back of the book “How Do We Market Jesus?” made me curious enough to open the book and start reading it.

As I read through chapter after chapter, I began to develop some strange feelings. I am starting to wonder who Tim Sinclair really is? He seemed angry to me. Angry at the old ways of evangelism, confronting Christians about their way of living, how they are reaching out to others and sharing Jesus. After the seventh chapter, I decided to put the book down and give it a rest.

When my family attended the Sunday worship the following Sunday, we found out that the youth were leading the worship. We began with a Praise and Worship time that was so energetic made even noisier by the group of youths sitting in front banging their heads to the music. In the middle of the service, the youth pastor showed us a video of some of the youth talking about their growing faith in God.

It was there that I realized that much of what Tim Sinclair said in Branded: Sharing Jesus with a Consumer Culture was right. Here I was observing it in reality. This church knew the way to reach the youth was to accept them for who they are. They came to church dressed in their regular youth clothes, they have their own youth service where they are free to worship God the way they want to, and they learned about God through the help of their disciplers.

As I continued to read Branded, slowly I understood where Tim Sinclair was coming from. He is a marketer who has helped businesses such as McDonald’s to market themselves effectively. In this book, Tim teaches us to think about Jesus as a brand and how to market the Jesus brand effectively to others. He does this by asking us to open our minds and think out of the box. I am especially challenged by his last chapter “What If” where he talks about ‘Green Light Thinking’. ‘Green Light Thinking’ is a brainstorming session where everyone pitches ideas and no idea is wrong. The ideas in this chapter that he pitches to his readers will touch you, open your mind and challenge you to actually do it.

Branded is not a hard book to read because the chapters are short, the writing is humorous, the concepts are clear. Most of all, it is based on the Bible. A Christian would be bothered and challenged upon reading this book. He would be definitely be encouraged to try out his ideas in reaching people for Christ.
You can check out other reviews of Branded here.
Profile Image for Victor Gentile.
2,035 reviews66 followers
June 11, 2011
Tim Sinclair in his new book, "Branded" published by Kregel Publications shows us how we can be "sharing Jesus with a consumer culture".

When you go grocery shopping and you are in, let's say, the laundry products aisle, do you scan all the products looking for the best price with the most volume or do you go to a specific product whether it is on sale or not? Most of us would probably say that we go to the specific product. That product is what our mothers used and that is what we use and, more than likely, that is what our children will use. That is the power of branding. Despite the fact that there may be better and cheaper products out there we will gravitate towards that one product regardless.

Tim Sinclair asks us why we can tell others about the products we use in an exciting manner but when it comes to Jesus we are boring? The answer: Marketing. We, as Christians, are intimidated by the "evangelism" so we get shy and embarrassed and our whole presentation loses enthusiasm. Tim Sinclair in a very conversational manner works us through the situation as it is and then gives us solid ground on what we really should be doing. "Branded" shows us that the way Paul did it when he entered a Gentile city is the way we should be doing it now. We need to show who Jesus is by what we do and say. This is a great book and should be read more than once. "Branded" will confront your thinking, might even make you uncomfortable but that is only for a while until you realize that you were challenged. This book will help change your thinking, your attitude and how you deal with others. I highly recommend it.

If you would like to listen to interviews with other authors and professionals please go to www.kingdomhighlights.org where they are available On Demand.

To listen to 24 hours non-stop Christian music please visit our internet radio station http://www.kingdomairwaves.org

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Profile Image for Melanie.
430 reviews32 followers
May 21, 2011
We are a consumer culture and often times try to ‘sell’ Jesus to our friends and family by wearing Jesus Saves t-shirts, bumper stickers, and hats. We put snippets on FB and our blog about Jesus and the Bible. We are missing out on the relationships with people, and showing them how we are ‘personally branded’ by Jesus.

Tim Sinclair writes “Branding Jesus (and becoming branded by Him ourselves) will require rethinking the way evangelism has always been done. It will require challenging the status quo. It will require questioning the effectiveness of our current methods. It will require regaining our passion, reenergizing our base, and rebuilding our personal outreach strategies from the ground up”. Basically we can’t continue doing things the same ways we have been doing them for years. The culture is changing and the people are exploring options other than Jesus. Many think that they don’t need Jesus and that He has nothing to offer them.

We as Christians don’t always “get a specific culture or worldview.” And to understand them better and effectively reach them we need to be prepared to speak to their ‘reality’.
We can’t market something that people don’t want. We can’t push Jesus on those who don’t see a need for Him. We need to be changed and renewed ourselves, being honest in our relationship with Him, the good yes, but also that the life of a Christian isn’t about perfection, nor is it without pain.
Branded was a good analogy of the practice of marketing in our culture and how we present Jesus in a similar fashion. Tim Sinclair’s theme of marketing worked well through the book, and put into easy language a theme we have heard often. Go out and meet people where they are at.

Tim Sinclair brainstormed some ideas on a ‘white board’ in one chapter, and though some sounded interesting there were others I was like ‘what!’ toward. Take them with a grain of salt, take the ones you are comfortable with and see if you can impact our culture today by showing how you are branded with Jesus.

I received a free copy of this book from Litfuse.
Profile Image for Miriam Jacob.
238 reviews
June 27, 2015
How do we share Jesus with a consumer culture? In "Branded: Sharing Jesus with a Consumer Culture," Tim Sinclair boldly declares that sharing Jesus has absolutely nothing to do with mass-marketing and everything to do with being personally branded by Christ, permanently marked by our Saviour. BRANDED is a clarion call to turn the Christian hourglass over, to make drastic changes in order to see new progress. It is all about branding Jesus and becoming branded by Him ourselves. Tim Sinclair specifies that when it comes to sharing Jesus with the world around us, it is crucial that we acknowledge our own unique talents and abilities and use them effectively to reach out to people within our own circle and sphere of influence. As Tim states so clearly, there is no "one-size-fits-all" methodology. How do people see you? When they look at you, what do they see? Do they see love? When love is authentically lived out in a person's life, it stands out brightly in today's world. Do they see you as a lover of Jesus who cannot help but share Him? Do you speak about your love for Christ to the world? As a Christian, you inadvertently advertise Jesus wherever you go. Tell your story with your own particular flair and style, boldly, confidently, as open and honestly as you can. Show the world how Jesus can make a striking and significant difference in your daily life. The story of your walk with Christ is your most powerful tool. Be a bright and shining example of the extraordinary power of Christ to transform a person's life and make it totally new! Make those around you want to believe! Your own life is your greatest testimony! Remember the words of St. Francis of Assisi: "Preach the gospel at all times - if necessary use words." Tim Sinclair, a top-flight communicator in today's hi-tech, consumer-oriented world, exhorts Christians to promptly sign on for a world-class marketing campaign for the Saviour and to share their faith honestly in authentic ways for God's glory.
Profile Image for Katelyn Bolds.
Author 1 book77 followers
May 1, 2012
“It’s weird. I’m a Christian, and even I don’t like us very much,” says Tim Sinclair as he opens his book Branded: Sharing Jesus with a Consumer Culture. The problem with Christians, Sinclair explains, is that we have a problem when it comes to “marketing Jesus.” Instead of showing, sharing, and spreading the Gospel the way we should, we have been fretting over the details. Throughout the book, Sinclair guides readers to draw their own conclusions but focuses on representing God and building relationships with others to “show, share, and spread [Jesus].”

Sinclair does a brilliant job interspersing humorous quotes and personal anecdotes with convicting statements. His casual, conversational writing allows the readers to fly through the 143 pages, spending as much or as little time as they want in deep thought or discussion if reading with a group. If unable to read the book all at once, readers are sure to enjoy the short chapters.

Within each of those chapters, the author directs his attention to a certain point associated with marketing Jesus to the consumer culture of the 21st century. As Sinclair wrote, “Missions don’t change. Tactics do (or should).” The mission will always stay the same; “[Jesus] said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation’” (Mark 16:15). However, the tactics of relating Jesus to the fast-paced “now” culture needs to be shaken up. Christians need to represent God in a way that is neither weak nor hypocritical.

Sinclair writes in an inspirational, instructional way that all readers will relate to and understand. In the end, readers are left to draw their own conclusions but are pointed in the right direction...

See the rest of the review at http://www.christianbookpreviews.com/...
Profile Image for Laura.
Author 39 books654 followers
June 23, 2011
Title: BRANDED: Sharing Jesus with a Consumer Culture
Author: Tim Sinclair
Publisher: Kregel Publications
May 2011
ISBN: 978-0-8254-3894-3
Genre: Inspirational/Evangelism

Marketing…It’s just not a word that most people think of in terms of Jesus. Yet, Tim Sinclair, a professional marketer, maintains that marketing is actually what evangelism is.

We put “Jesus Saves” bumper stickers on the back of our cars, yet we drive 80 miles per hour and are rude to other drivers. We wear WWJD bracelets, yet we lie, sport bad attitudes, and talk badly. We go to church on Sunday, yet Saturday night we’re the beer drinking womanizer at the local bar. No wonder people have stopped listening! We say we’re a Christian, and they see us living like everyone else all the time. Except for an hour on a Sunday.

Tim Sinclair says that most Christians have a problem with –ing. We are good at say-ing, but bad at act-ing. He has a point. There is that old adage, do what I say, not what I do. Remember that one? It is time we start practicing what we preach. Putting our words into action. And living what we say we believe.

BRANDED: Sharing Jesus with a Consumer World is a well thought out book that will bring you to your knees with conviction one minute and have you laughing the next. If you are trying to evangelize a lost and dying world, then you need to pick up BRANDED and read it for yourself. It will give you something to think about, and something to do about it. Discussion questions for each chapter are included at the end of the book. $11.99. 144 pages.
Profile Image for Mark Clements.
27 reviews3 followers
November 13, 2011
Sinclair brings an interesting perspective to how Christians are perceived in culture. He's very insightful and honest about how more and more churches and believers are "marketing" Jesus instead of living faithfully and embracing a Christian worldview. I agreed with so many of his observations but I was a little anxious to hear how he would apply his exhortations to live for Christ in front of people instead of just slapping a bumper sticker on your car. Some of his comments along the way gave me an idea but I was hoping he would quantify what he meant. Unfortunately, he did.

He lists some interesting things to do that were thought provoking but in the main the applications were really not very discerning. Using some or all of a vacation on ministry is a great idea as is maybe saving the vacation money and using it for benevolence or mercy ministry. Volunteering in community projects is also a good idea. Skipping church to host a neighborhood poker party is not so good. Neither is going to the bar with your friends as a way to understand how they might feel out of place when coming to church with you.

Sinclair's premise is a good one--it's a believer's life and his relationships with other people that really advertise the Gospel with the maximum impact. I would simply assert that you can do that without endangering your testimony or placing your witness in question in an effort to "understand" how unchurched people feel or perceive what we believe and how we live.
Profile Image for Meg Hykes.
10 reviews29 followers
June 14, 2011
When I first read this title on the list of books from Litfuse blog tours I thought - sounds interesting! I am so thankful they chose me for this tour - this book was even better than I thought it would be!

I was completely hooked as soon as I read the first line just in the Introduction, "It's weird. I'm a Christian and even I don't like us very much." I have said this to my husband many times! I think we have all met or known some one who seems to give Christians a "bad name".


I can honestly say that after reading this book I have become very convicted about myself and whether or not I am successfully representing Jesus. I love the way Tim Sinclair has written this book and with the discussion questions at the end he has really made it a great read for your small groups.


Bottom line - this book is fantastic for your adult small groups as well as your Junior/Senior High/College Students. For any and all Christians who want to be a "Marketer For Jesus". Buy Two, Read One and Give The Other One Away!

WWW.meg-homeschoolinmama.blogspot.com
Profile Image for writer....
1,369 reviews85 followers
July 17, 2011
i consistently wavered between picking up, being frustrated then setting this book back down.
it is entirely an American evangelical view which precludes the thought there actually are other Christians who are believers and who are living their faith. just that we're outside of this author's realm of knowledge or belief and we live our faith differently but effectively.

i don't connect with Tim's premise of a need to endorse and 'market' Jesus - that somehow people have problems with Jesus - when in fact it's this type of representation by supposed Jesus followers wherein lies the problem. i tried reading the book again. this time from the back. hoping there'd be some concluding thoughts in which i could find commonalities.

finally, some suggestions for Christian talk to be brought into a reality of walk. some authenticity of living Christ, being Christ to others and dare i say it? as in liturgical Christianity, seeing & serving Christ in others.

cheers to chapter 13, 'Green Light Thinking'! exactly what's needed! but it's still not Jesus needing marketing ...

Profile Image for The Loopy Librarian.
382 reviews38 followers
July 11, 2011
WARNING: Do not read this book unless you are willing to be convicted of being a complacent Christian. If you want to continue to witness to people in the ineffective ways that used to work before but no longer do, don’t go anywhere near this book. It will scare you. It will shake your foundation. It might even {shudder} make you want to do something different. I gave this book four out of five stars on Goodreads. I would have liked more examples of people who had done some of the radical things that Tim suggests in his book and the results that occurred. Overall though, I say, “Wow!” and “Amen!”
Profile Image for Aaron.
Author 20 books140 followers
July 12, 2011
My full review is available at Blogging Theologically:

ver the last several years, a new wave of books have shown up on the shelves all looking at the question of how do we share Christ in a culture with increasingly no knowledge of Him and more options than ever before? Tim Sinclair’s Branded: Sharing Jesus with a Consumer Culture is the latest to enter the conversation. In Branded, Sinclair seeks to encourage readers in reinvestigating how they’re “marketing” Jesus to those around them. The result is an enjoyable, but often very frustrating, book...
Profile Image for Amber French.
49 reviews3 followers
July 31, 2011
I didn't know what to expect with this book but really liked it. Though the material was deep it was presented as a quick read and I wanted that. I didn't want a book I had to read slowly to absorb it all. Sinclair writes in such a way that I wanted to keep reading. The chapters were short but full of info. When I finished it, I was left with a sense to need to do something with what I'd just read. To share my Jesus with others.
Profile Image for Ariel.
140 reviews
May 31, 2011
This is the first non-fiction book I have read in awhile, and I was afraid it would be too dry or boring to finish. I was pleasantly surprised by how refreshing it was! Tim Sinclair uses current analogies to spur Christians into action and sharing their faith in a more personal way. Jesus isn't an object, so why should we treat Him as such? This book incorporates humor and truth to bring Christians to the realization that we need to change our evangelistic tactics.
Profile Image for Bill Sleeman.
780 reviews10 followers
September 5, 2011
I have just started this book for a Mens Class that I am leading at my Church. The topic is one that many of us in the class have said we don't do well - stepping out and speaking about faith is always hard.

Completed this last week. It is a good introduction to what we often get wrong when we talk about our faith. I particularly liked that the author Tim Sinclair doesn't say "Do This" but rather "think about this...before you speak."
Profile Image for Gina Cummings .
1,156 reviews5 followers
August 26, 2011
*I won this book on the Goodreads Firstreads giveaway.*

I enjoyed this quick read, which addresses how Christians "market" Jesus. It was thought-provoking and would be excellent for a Bible study or small group discussion.
Profile Image for Darlene Hull.
308 reviews41 followers
September 5, 2011
Great book; very well written. Excellent insight into the mindset necessary if we're going to be able to continue to truly win people to Jesus. A great wake up call to the modern believer about authenticity, creativity, compassion, and getting out of the box.
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