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Godspeed: Making Christ's Mission Your Own
Have you ever felt like there’s a higher calling for your life? Something more than the mundane weekly routine of work, eat, sleep, play, and church? In Godspeed , Britt Merrick challenges us to step out of our little, self-centered lives and step into God’s grand mission—His plan to restore, redeem, and renew the world. Your heart has been aching for something more, and this is it. Join His mission and change the world.
256 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2012
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409 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
August 25, 2012
If you are ever wonder what keeps the church from being effective, this read has a balanced look at what it means for Christians to be on Christ's mission. It starts out that all mission is for the glory of God and also because humanity is healed in worshipping God according to the word. God is revealed is in scripture and in the work of Jesus. I liked that it was stressed that God's glory is the driving force for mission not the plight of humanity. That might seem selfish or backwards, but God's glory is when Christ is in His rightful place upon the throne, humanity is healed. Sin will continue until that happens. There is a progression in this book that is beneficial to the reader from the Father's Mandate-that mission is not about people to the Kingdom the upside down order. I liked how he took the teaching of Jesus and brought to our day. With what we do that is wrong to what our focus needs to be. Very gospel centered and also repentance centered. It was interesting that this week, I had lunch with an old friend that I use to go to church with and we were talking about sin and repentance and I shared with her that we can always have hope because when we live a life of repentance, that is when our life is transformed. I was surprised by what she told me that for all the years that she has gone to church, that repentance in living in that lifestyle, she has never heard from the pulpit. It got me thinking how can the church be effective without repentance. Can the church be effective? I liked and appreciated Britts teaching on this. Many teachers are either to liberal in their teaching or to conservative. Each leads to error and can give us a wrong preception of who God is.
June 14, 2012
While "Godspeed: Making Christ’s Mission Your Own" would not be the first missional book I’d recommend — even to conservative evangelicals (who are the primary audience for this book) — I’m still grateful for it (and other books like it). Why? Because hopefully books like "Godspeed" will introduce readers to other missional writers and broader kingdom theology.
Written by evangelical megachurch pastor Britt Merrick (and endorsed by a host of other evangelical megachurch pastors), the book builds on a sermon series on “Missio Christi,” the term coined by Merrick, because, well, the domain name MissioChristi.net was available so he bought it and set it up as a platform for his Reality church to “talk about theology as a community and share stories of what God was doing.” (I’ve gotta give him credit for that creative and entrepreneurial move — and for repurposing his sermon content into this book!)
There are a lot of question marks in the margins of my copy of "Godspeed," things I found questionable or that rubbed me (as a post-/progressive evangelical) the wrong way. Catchy slogans like “Missio Christi” and “living at Godspeed” do nothing for me, but Merrick also includes some great missional thoughts from Darrel Guder, Miroslav Volf, Michael Frost, Shane Claiborne, and others. Hopefully "Godspeed" readers will skim through the footnotes and then go and read some of the original source material.
Read my full review at Patheos:
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/missiona...
Written by evangelical megachurch pastor Britt Merrick (and endorsed by a host of other evangelical megachurch pastors), the book builds on a sermon series on “Missio Christi,” the term coined by Merrick, because, well, the domain name MissioChristi.net was available so he bought it and set it up as a platform for his Reality church to “talk about theology as a community and share stories of what God was doing.” (I’ve gotta give him credit for that creative and entrepreneurial move — and for repurposing his sermon content into this book!)
There are a lot of question marks in the margins of my copy of "Godspeed," things I found questionable or that rubbed me (as a post-/progressive evangelical) the wrong way. Catchy slogans like “Missio Christi” and “living at Godspeed” do nothing for me, but Merrick also includes some great missional thoughts from Darrel Guder, Miroslav Volf, Michael Frost, Shane Claiborne, and others. Hopefully "Godspeed" readers will skim through the footnotes and then go and read some of the original source material.
Read my full review at Patheos:
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/missiona...
September 6, 2012
Great book answering the question that many have right now: What does it mean to live on mission?
Britt holds to a belief that I share about living out the Christian life: Find out what God is already doing around you, and then join Him there. There is no need to reinvent the wheel and when it comes to living on mission there is no need to create a new fancy ministry. Just find out where God is already redeeming and restoring and join him there.
Great use of the scripture to give examples of Christ on mission as He ignores cultural norms, defies social boundaries and challenges the nature of justice to show grace and mercy in the lives of the lost.
Really really liked the discussion in this book. It has changed me.
Britt holds to a belief that I share about living out the Christian life: Find out what God is already doing around you, and then join Him there. There is no need to reinvent the wheel and when it comes to living on mission there is no need to create a new fancy ministry. Just find out where God is already redeeming and restoring and join him there.
Great use of the scripture to give examples of Christ on mission as He ignores cultural norms, defies social boundaries and challenges the nature of justice to show grace and mercy in the lives of the lost.
Really really liked the discussion in this book. It has changed me.
July 15, 2012
I've watched the Reality churches grow and attend them whenever I'm near one. I've been praying for Daisy since she was first diagnosed. I loved this book. I felt like I was hearing Pastor Britt's heart. I am encouraged to be on mission right where God has placed me, in a church office!
May 14, 2017
This book is top notch. It causes you to rethink how you are involved in the mission of Christ. No longer is sending someone else on mission the only acceptable way to be a part of the global mission.
I've read this book three times, and each time it affirms what we are called to do as a believer.
Read this book. 👌🏻
I've read this book three times, and each time it affirms what we are called to do as a believer.
Read this book. 👌🏻
August 6, 2020
Desperately needed today
In light of recent events ongoing in our world, there has never been a greater need for the church to do mission. This book is both a breath of fresh anointing as well as a powerfully convicting. Strongly recommended reading and even deserves rereading.
In light of recent events ongoing in our world, there has never been a greater need for the church to do mission. This book is both a breath of fresh anointing as well as a powerfully convicting. Strongly recommended reading and even deserves rereading.
October 20, 2024
This is one of those books that is written very well and biblically sound. It’s more of a book and concepts I want to point to others and encourage to come alongside and build up the local and foreign body of Christ. I gave it 4 stars primarily because I didn’t learn anything new; but feel it would be beneficial for others that haven’t read 132 christian books this year🤷♂️
February 21, 2018
So much to chew on and digest in this book and one of my favorite books I’ve read to date. Honestly cannot put all my thoughts into words, but HIGHLY recommend if you are looking to be challenged in your faith and go deeper.
August 10, 2023
The author, Britt Merrick, encourages Christians to join Christ's mission. He gives many examples of how Christ dealt with people in the New Testament, interspersed with examples from his own life, particularly the cancer suffered by his young daughter Daisy.
February 7, 2018
This was a message written from a very American perspective and directed at the American church. Merrick wrote some very good thoughts on missology in this book.
September 6, 2019
Excellent book to implement the Missio Christi gospel message in our world around us.
February 18, 2023
Excellent book about living on mission for Christ.
July 3, 2012
Godspeed: Making Christ’s Mission Your Own is specifically directed at American Christians, but the principles apply in other Western countries. It would be easy for me, sitting here in New Zealand, to say that because this book is specifically focussed on American Christians, it is not talking about me, my friends or my church. But it is. While the American church might display more of the faults Merrick speaks of, that is merely a function of size. Those same faults exist in New Zealand and in England (where I lived for ten years), and no doubt in other countries too.
Merrick speaks about “Incarnational Christianity”, which means that “we’re called out of the world in worship to God while being sent into the world as witnesses of God”. This struck me as an interesting point, and one that many Christians miss. I know many Christians who homeschool their children to prevent them being influenced by worldly things, yet Merrick would say they were missing half the message.
As with many of the best Christian non-fiction books, the author is giving their personal testimony, sharing what has impacted and changed their life. It is 'I found' rather than the lecturing 'you should' tone that some authors take. Godspeed is much more readable and teachable because of that underlying spirit of humility.
Unfortunately, the message of Godspeed runs the risk of being obscured by the vocabulary, especially in the opening chapters. Most authors tend to follow the rule of never using a complex word where a simple one will do. Merrick (or perhaps his collaborator) seems to take the opposite approach. I thought I had a good vocabulary, but I have never heard of terms like missiologically, ecclesiocentric, cosmocentric and anthropocentric (I find that am not alone. My 2010 edition of the Oxford Dictionary of English, which defines over 350,000 words, has only heard of two of these words, implying that the other two are either very new, or the author made them up).
Fortunately, these terms were explained, even though some others were not. Perhaps a Bible college graduate can explain the concept of the Biblical metanarrative. I can't. Nor can my dictionary. Godspeed becomes much more readable after the first chapter, after the author abandons the theological terms and starts using more everyday language. Well worth reading, if you can get past the opening chapters.
Thanks to David C Cook and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review. This review also appears on my blog, www.christianreads.blogspot.com.
Merrick speaks about “Incarnational Christianity”, which means that “we’re called out of the world in worship to God while being sent into the world as witnesses of God”. This struck me as an interesting point, and one that many Christians miss. I know many Christians who homeschool their children to prevent them being influenced by worldly things, yet Merrick would say they were missing half the message.
As with many of the best Christian non-fiction books, the author is giving their personal testimony, sharing what has impacted and changed their life. It is 'I found' rather than the lecturing 'you should' tone that some authors take. Godspeed is much more readable and teachable because of that underlying spirit of humility.
Unfortunately, the message of Godspeed runs the risk of being obscured by the vocabulary, especially in the opening chapters. Most authors tend to follow the rule of never using a complex word where a simple one will do. Merrick (or perhaps his collaborator) seems to take the opposite approach. I thought I had a good vocabulary, but I have never heard of terms like missiologically, ecclesiocentric, cosmocentric and anthropocentric (I find that am not alone. My 2010 edition of the Oxford Dictionary of English, which defines over 350,000 words, has only heard of two of these words, implying that the other two are either very new, or the author made them up).
Fortunately, these terms were explained, even though some others were not. Perhaps a Bible college graduate can explain the concept of the Biblical metanarrative. I can't. Nor can my dictionary. Godspeed becomes much more readable after the first chapter, after the author abandons the theological terms and starts using more everyday language. Well worth reading, if you can get past the opening chapters.
Thanks to David C Cook and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review. This review also appears on my blog, www.christianreads.blogspot.com.
September 12, 2013
An exhortation to Christians to seek to move at "God-speed," looking at their own lives and communities missionally, and seeking to reflect Jesus in word and deed.
The author draws from personal experiences, applications from Biblical narratives, and other illustrations to demonstrate a "missional at home" perspective. Much of what the author says is consistent with modern Evangelical focuses and themes; the very concept of missional living is quite the fad. He speaks about how the mission is about the purpose of God; that we are called despite our inadequacies; how we are to proclaim without getting lost in judgment; the willingness to glorify Jesus in all of life, even the mundane; the need for vulnerability in Gospel living and proclamation; the marriage of seeking justice and righteousness socially and spiritually; generosity and liberality; trusting in the power of God; using discernment; and a great conclusion on the importance of prayer.
The author is Evangelical and some of the peculiarities of Evangelical Christianity are present. Even if the author's exhortation is consistent with a lot of the messages being put forth, especially from the "younger" Evangelical set, it still has a lot of value in terms of attempting to see how faithful living and proclamation of the Gospel in our lives might look in our own day, age, and especially place.
The author draws from personal experiences, applications from Biblical narratives, and other illustrations to demonstrate a "missional at home" perspective. Much of what the author says is consistent with modern Evangelical focuses and themes; the very concept of missional living is quite the fad. He speaks about how the mission is about the purpose of God; that we are called despite our inadequacies; how we are to proclaim without getting lost in judgment; the willingness to glorify Jesus in all of life, even the mundane; the need for vulnerability in Gospel living and proclamation; the marriage of seeking justice and righteousness socially and spiritually; generosity and liberality; trusting in the power of God; using discernment; and a great conclusion on the importance of prayer.
The author is Evangelical and some of the peculiarities of Evangelical Christianity are present. Even if the author's exhortation is consistent with a lot of the messages being put forth, especially from the "younger" Evangelical set, it still has a lot of value in terms of attempting to see how faithful living and proclamation of the Gospel in our lives might look in our own day, age, and especially place.
June 3, 2012
What is your purpose as a Christian? What about the purpose of your church? Are you willing to make the sacrifices to follow your God given mission?
This book leads you to a better understanding of what it means to follow Christ. The author uses the life of Jesus here on earth as a guide. If you are a Christian then the Lord does have a certain purpose for you. According to this book finding that purpose is actually easy, you just need to use Jesus as your example.
There is helpful information in the book that will guide you to a better understanding of what you should be doing to further the message of Jesus. I found most of this book to be interesting but parts were tedious so I only gave the book 4/5 stars.
I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the copy of this book I enjoyed reading. I gave an honest review based on my opinion of what I read.
This book leads you to a better understanding of what it means to follow Christ. The author uses the life of Jesus here on earth as a guide. If you are a Christian then the Lord does have a certain purpose for you. According to this book finding that purpose is actually easy, you just need to use Jesus as your example.
There is helpful information in the book that will guide you to a better understanding of what you should be doing to further the message of Jesus. I found most of this book to be interesting but parts were tedious so I only gave the book 4/5 stars.
I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the copy of this book I enjoyed reading. I gave an honest review based on my opinion of what I read.
November 25, 2012
Missional
This is one of those words that is used by neo-Reformers, the Emergents, Christian Hipsters, and many others. At one point this word almost became irrelevant because so many different people claimed it as their own.
This book goes a long way in reclaiming missional.
Why this books does a good job:
- It emphasizes humility for the believer.
- The book calls for Christians to have Christ-like compassion for the world.
- It addresses how hypocrisy in maintaining "Churchianity" (man-made rules) significantly harms our witness.
- It calls us to live of faith in a tangible way.
Read, then go be missional!
This is one of those words that is used by neo-Reformers, the Emergents, Christian Hipsters, and many others. At one point this word almost became irrelevant because so many different people claimed it as their own.
This book goes a long way in reclaiming missional.
Why this books does a good job:
- It emphasizes humility for the believer.
- The book calls for Christians to have Christ-like compassion for the world.
- It addresses how hypocrisy in maintaining "Churchianity" (man-made rules) significantly harms our witness.
- It calls us to live of faith in a tangible way.
Read, then go be missional!
August 5, 2012
Godspeed is a great book that will encourage and challenege readers in their Christian walk/mission. Merrick explores what it looks like to be on mission with God, Christ and the Holy Spirit. He looks at how Christ was sent on mission and gleens some insights from his ministry. This is not a share-Jesus-with-everyone-you-meet book, but rather it takes a deeper look at missions. He explores such topics as justice and mercy, incarnational living, touching the untouchable, and the kingdom of God.
This would be a great book for anyone seeking to live the adventure of mission.
This would be a great book for anyone seeking to live the adventure of mission.
August 5, 2012
Godspeed is a great book that will encourage and challenege readers in their Christian walk/mission. Merrick explores what it looks like to be on mission with God, Christ and the Holy Spirit. He looks at how Christ was sent on mission and gleens some insights from his ministry. This is not a share-Jesus-with-everyone-you-meet book, but rather it takes a deeper look at missions. He explores such topics as justice and mercy, incarnational living, touching the untouchable, and the kingdom of God.
This would be a great book for anyone seeking to live the adventure of mission.
- Curtis
This would be a great book for anyone seeking to live the adventure of mission.
- Curtis
July 9, 2013
"Godspeed" is not simply a book about missions, church or trying to be more Christ like and follow along in the footsteps of the mission of Christ. This book is (more importantly) a book about the person of Jesus Christ, and how we as His image bearers can encounter, engage and exalt Him in our lives by living in the purpose of the mission of Christ here on earth.
There really is no groundbreaking information covered in this book, but the author provides a well needed kick in the pants and a sense of purpose for believers today.
There really is no groundbreaking information covered in this book, but the author provides a well needed kick in the pants and a sense of purpose for believers today.
September 9, 2014
This is a book about how we can live out the mission of God and understand how He equips us to live like Jesus did. It was pretty straight forward and simple to understand with some good examples in it. Basically, reach people where they are rather than expecting them to just come to your church to change. That's my summary of the book.
February 16, 2013
It's sad that a book telling people "how to love" had to be written, yet, it did. Britt's challenges are 100% truth-based and I think back to lessons learned during Godspeed discussion on a daily basis. I'm challenged to live on mission more than ever!!
Makes a great small group discussion book.
Makes a great small group discussion book.
January 31, 2016
Power of Christ in our lives
Britt Merrick has a wonderful writing style that makes understanding how to follow and live in mission. Great illustrations to bring his message to light.
Britt Merrick has a wonderful writing style that makes understanding how to follow and live in mission. Great illustrations to bring his message to light.
January 3, 2013
A great wonderfully balanced book! Paradigm, heart and mind-shift for the church - focussing on being on mission with Christ without going on missions for Christ.
August 18, 2017
Exceptional!
November 20, 2015
Godspeed is a very powerful and theological book. How challenged and encouraged I was in reading this book. This is a book that every disciple of Jesus needs to read.
March 23, 2016
challenging but enjoyable read
January 10, 2013
Can't get my nose out of this book! So glad I picked it up!
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews