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Real: Becoming a 24/7 Follower of Jesus

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"Would people know I'm a Christian if they didn't see me at church?"

This gut-check question was just what Jamie Snyder needed. Like many of us, he sensed his faith had become mechanical rather than meaningful, scheduled rather than passionate. Emboldened, Snyder set out to recapture the sold-out lifestyle of early followers of Jesus.

Here he shares how to live the life Jesus desires of us, a life defined by

Unbridled generosity
Daring courage
Rebellious joy
Risky faith
Relentless hope
Scandalous grace
Mad love

Be challenged. Be encouraged. Be a 24/7 follower of Jesus.

"This book will inspire you to take risks and step outside your comfort zone."
--Kyle Idleman, author of Not a Fan

178 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2013

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Jamie Snyder

7 books3 followers

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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
Profile Image for Mark.
2,505 reviews52 followers
November 19, 2013
There have been a few non-fiction books that I have read this year that have really impressed me, and this one falls into that category. It isn't a long book, coming in at only 173 pages, but it is packed full of great writing.

The author goes with the premise that too many Christians are not just putting on their Sunday best in clothes on Sunday, but their Sunday best everything, and we need to live the same all week as we do on Sunday.

To be honest, the book is rather convicting, and will cause most readers to mentally flinch, but its a great book that needs to be taken to heart and should cause the readers to examine their own lives and put more effort into being real.

One of the most challenging chapters in the book was on carrying our cross. Jamie describes what the cross meant back in Jesus' day, and what it truly means to carry one's cross nowadays, and I am afraid too many of us really aren't getting it.

This book has discussion questions and a prayer at the end of each chapter, and though it can be read alone, it would make a great book for a study group.

This does rank among the best and most challenging books I have read this year, and I'd highly recommend it.
Profile Image for Melanie.
2,215 reviews599 followers
March 4, 2016
Real was a great nonfiction! I loved the questions at the end of each chapter and the content was very good. Made me think.

I definitely recommend this book.

*I received a complimentary eBook copy of this book for my honest review. As always, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*
Profile Image for Michael Andrzejewski.
11 reviews3 followers
November 25, 2013
“If Sunday didn’t exist, would anyone know I was a follower of Jesus?”

Have you ever asked yourself that question? I hadn’t, not with those exact words, until I read Jamie Synder’s book, Real. Published by Bethany House, Real reads in the same vein of David Platt’s Radical and Kyle Idleman’s Not A Fan. It flows well, keeps you wanting to read and learn and grow in Christ.

The more I write, the more it seems like the other shoe is going to drop. It seems like there will be a “but…”

But, there’s not. It’s a solid, fundamentally sound book that doesn’t knock it completely out of the park, but slides head first into third for a triple. It’s a good book. A very good book.

However, it may take some time to grow on you. Take it in slowly, like 18 holes on a Tuesday at 10:30. Don’t get in a hurry to finish. Don’t rush to the next chapter. Read it and let it soak in.

Snyder had already won me over by the time that he told how he began to recover from the Simon complex, but if he hadn’t he definitely would have here. Taken from a passage in Luke 7, Snyder gives a name to a complex that affects Christians around the world. It is a Pharisaic state of mind that creates boundaries and judges others without knowing their back story or motivations. Snyder presents the complex and then confesses of having suffered from it.

I wasn’t ready to hear about his recovery. When I read the accompanying story of his recovery from the Simon complex, I shut my computer, bowed my head and asked for forgiveness. I asked for the Lord to cure me of this same complex.

Please.

One of the treatments for the Simon complex that Snyder details in Real is, “…to be willing to intentionally stretch the boundaries of God’s grace in practical ways.” For our author, it meant showing the love of Christ to someone very different than him, an Iranian Muslim abortion doctor.

It wasn’t about judgment. It wasn’t about doctrine. It wasn’t about condemnation of sin.

It was about stretching boundaries with love, and it made an impressive impact on me.

Real isn’t full of religious jargon or clichés. It isn’t written in pastor-speak. It’s real. It tells you that, “…following Jesus is simple, but it is certainly not easy.” It reminds us that “Some pretend to have courage, some actually do.”

It provokes its readers to shun the Sunday-centric church culture and live their lives as if every day were Sunday. It doesn’t cut corners. It hits the mark with its authenticity and honesty.

Snyder didn’t write a book to sell one. He wrote a book because he had something to say. It’s not perfect, but it is genuine, and that’s why you should take a look at it.


As always a special thanks goes out to Bethany House Publishers for providing me a free digital copy of this book in exchange for this review.
Profile Image for Stacie Wyatt.
Author 4 books16 followers
May 3, 2014
I read Read in exchange for review from Bethany House. The book teaches people how to become a 24/7 follower of Jesus Christ. I been reading the book for a few weeks now and I love the book.

Awhile ago in Church, someone had said we need to be followers and not fans of Christ. So many Christians identify with Christ (like myself), but don't truly follow Christ's commands. Here I am a few years ago having premarital sex, yet going to church praising the Lord every Sunday. Cussing out relatives. Being disobedient to the word.

The book says there is a cost when we follow Christ, yet there is also a cost when we choose not to follow Christ.

"Truth never looks away. You can pretend truth doesn't exist, you can close the eyes of your heart, you can simply turn and look the other way, but truth never looks away or blinks." (p. 13).

"If Sunday din't exist, would anyone know you where a follower of Jesus?.....Most people conclude someone is a Christian or not based on that person's Sunday religious activities and behaviors. You may not even be inclined to advertise your faith, but inevitably if you attend church long enough, it will come out in conversation. So, if Sunday didn't exist, you would no longer have a building to point to as being the place you attend church...If Sunday didn't exist, we would no longer be able to use our Sunday activities as evidence that we are followers of Christ." (p. 15)

The second passage is what got me reading the book more. Snyder author said many Christians put so much emphasis on Sundays, yet not following Christ during the week. If your faith on Sunday does not align up with your beliefs then the week, then something has to change.

Each chapter in the book is short. Each chapter also has a reflection and discussion, in addition to a prayer. The first chapter's questions, for example, deals with how people view Sunday? Does your faith spin on the axis of Sunday? (p. 23).

I loved the book. I do recommend the book as individual or small group bible study.
Profile Image for Mariejkt.
388 reviews4 followers
October 27, 2013
Quick Summary
Real by Jamie Snyder is a good book about asking the question of are you Sunday only Christian or do you live the faith everyday. It dwells in many different subjects around our faith in Jesus from our joy, generosity, our love for others and more. At the end of each chapter is some questions that you can answer for discussion or more reflection and a prayer at the end of the chapter.


My thoughts
Now I have to admit at first I was not sure if I would enjoy this book but I really did. Mr. Snyder really asks and makes you think about are a Sunday Christian in other words if someone seen you outside of church on Sunday would they know that you are a Christian. I have to agree with the question cause sometimes it seems like our attitudes are lets hid up in our Churches and hide our faith the rest of the week. That is wrong when there are Christians in other countries that are dying just cause they are Christian and I mean dying not just oh they called you name. He wrote one thing that really stood out to me and I realized he so correct. He said, "Why is it that some of the same people who once ran hard and fast toward Jesus in the Gospels are now running equally hard and fast away from Jesus' church?" The prostitutes, the tax-collector, the people who society called low used to run to Jesus now if you say that you are a Christian they usually run from you as they figure they will be judged and not shown Jesus' love. We need to remember as church to love others not just hole ourselves up with others who act just like us. Will you show love to person not dressed like you, the homeless, the mentally ill, the smoker, who comes to your church or you see every day or will you ignore or look down on them? This book really reminded me to show Christ love to everyone especially the ones that are hard to love or society says they are hard to love. I recommend this book highly.

I received this book from BethanyHouse publishing for my honest review and was not required to give a positive review.
Profile Image for Jill.
421 reviews
November 20, 2013
Would people know you are a Christian if they didn’t see you at church? Are you a Sunday-centric Christian? What are you willing to do as a follower of Jesus? Leave your home? your job? Forgive those who persecute you? Are you willing to be beaten and imprisoned for your faith? Are you willing to die?

Have you asked yourself these questions? What if you had to answer these questions before you decided to follow Jesus? What if you not only had to answer the questions but follow through with them as well?

In his book, “Real“, Jamie Snyder challenges readers to live a sold-out life to Jesus just as the twelve disciples did. In the three parts of “Real”, Snyder poses the questions we need to ask ourselves, gives portraits of the real life we should be living out, such as unbridled, daring, rebellious, risky, relentless, scandalous and mad, and the right answers such as following Jesus is a full-time prospect; we are called to be good news to people; unite people to Jesus not to church and turn the world upside down in the name of Jesus.

Snyder asks hard questions and gives tough answers. ”Real” puts you on the spot and makes you think–hard. If you aren’t willing to evaluate your faith and your motives, stay away from “Real”. If you want to experience real faith and become a real follower of Jesus, let Jamie Snyder show you the right questions to ask to evaluate your faith. ”Real” would make for some interesting and lively discussion for a small group study.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group, as part of their Book Review Blogger Program. 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 Abigail.
111 reviews30 followers
December 5, 2013
Even though this was a rather short book, and easy read, I found Real to be very thought provoking and at times, convicting. Snyder takes on the task of posing the question we should all be asking ourselves: if it weren't for Sunday, would anyone know we were Christians?

Snyder proceeds to step by step evaluate seven aspects that define a life dedicated to Jesus, including unbridled generosity, daring courage, rebellious joy, and others. Despite its short length, this book touches on so many aspects of being a following of Jesus. Probably my favorite quote of the whole book was at the end, literally one of the last pages where Snyder says, "Political and religious leaders of the day even accused the church of turning the world upside down in the name of Jesus. [...] I would love to be accused of turning the world upside down in the name of Jesus."

I liked that each chapter ended with questions, which makes this a great book to use for a youth group, Sunday school, or other small group study. It's an easy read--I made it through it in only a few days despite work, school, homework, and being sick. But at the same time, I found it challenging in a lot of ways. Definitely worth the read!

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher for this review. These opinions are my own; I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated for this review.
72 reviews1 follower
November 19, 2013
Jamie Snyder challenges the reader with this question: "If Sunday didn't exist, would anyone know you were a follower of Jesus?"
The early church turned the world upside down. Communities knew who the Christians were, and the church grew rapidly.
Snyder describes the characteristics of a 24/7 Christian as possessing:

Unbridled generosity
Daring courage
Rebellious joy
Risky faith
Relentless hope
Scandalous grace
Mad love

If we were to examine our Christian walk, could we see these qualities?

"When a student sought to follow a rabbi, he was hoping to take on the rabbi's yoke--the system of beliefs and interpretations the rabbi had either developed or carried on from previous generations."

Snyder explains that "when a rabbi preached his own yoke, it was said that he taught with authority."

If a student wanted to follow the rabbi, the rabbi asked him many questions, and if the student passed the test, the rabbi said, "Come, follow me."

As a disciple, the student left family, friends, community, everything, in total surrender to the rabbi.
Jesus simply says, "Come, follow me."

Have you left everything to follow Jesus?

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group, in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for Hope.
822 reviews46 followers
January 6, 2015
I received a copy from Bethany House Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

Real by Jamie Snyder makes you think about your faith. Where do you stand on the line between barely there and urgently seeking the light? We've become a people of do whatever is right for you, whatever feels good. The church has acquiesced to this mindset as well, like a spell cast over the castle in Sleeping Beauty. Snyder calls for a wakeup, but not in a shaking-fists-going-to-hell sort of way. He calls us back to the faith of the early church: generosity, hope, love, faith, etc.

This book would work well as a small group study or personal devotional. There are short chapters followed by thoughtful questions and a prayer. Snyder's writing style pushes without nagging, challenges without overbearing. This is a book for anyone seeking meaningful over mechanical faith. Put down your cell phone and pick up a copy of this book!
Profile Image for Karin.
942 reviews18 followers
December 18, 2013
So I went through one of those frenzies of entering every giveaway, and when Goodreads emailed to say I'd won this book, I said "meh, I'll read it, review it, and give it away". I don't like the title. To me it was a big red flag that this was going to be some crazy southern Bible-thumping feel-goodness. Ugh. I hate that stuff. So imagine my surprise when I started reading and discovered a legitimate, authentic look at what Jesus was really like and what He called us to emulate. Now you have my attention. And while I don't usually go for discussion books, the fact that it has points to ponder at the end of each chapter really added to the reading experience. I will still be giving it away, but only as I lend it to my friends. I will definitely want it back. Well played Snyder. Well played indeed.
Profile Image for Arwen.
645 reviews
May 5, 2017
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers. This book is good for Christians who like:

Lists.
Adjectives.
Short Sentences.
Easy Reading.

The book asks a great question that has kept my thinking (Would anyone know I am a Christian if Sundays didn’t exist?), but the meat of the book is weak. The ARC I received feels like a draft and not a finished piece. And with the number of one word lines it feels like they were attempting to stretch it out to make it seem like the idea could possibly be book length. I know it is the trend right now for Pastors to write books, but maybe, just maybe not every pastor is cut out to be a writer. If you want to be challenged by these same ideas by a good writer try out Mark Scandrette. “Practicing the Way of Jesus” and “Free” are ten thousand times better than “Real.”
13 reviews8 followers
September 21, 2016
This book challenged and inspired me. It forced me to take a hard look at myself, and admit some serious shortcomings. However, I felt inspired by the descriptions and examples of Jesus' love to be a better follower of Jesus..
Profile Image for Darrin Niday.
175 reviews1 follower
August 6, 2016
Enjoyed the book a nice follow up to Radical, short and to the point chapters, with plenty of Bible references. For a first time writer I thought it was well done.
Profile Image for Milton Louie.
670 reviews3 followers
August 16, 2014
This books asks if you are a real Christian not just on Sundays but every day. Covers what is considered a real follower of Jesus. B
Profile Image for Austin Knight.
2 reviews3 followers
May 25, 2016
Great read. Opens your eyes to what it takes to be a Christian Sunday-Saturday. Not just on Sunday's.
Profile Image for Anne Snyder.
151 reviews1 follower
October 6, 2016
This book is written by my second cousin and addresses the topic of legalism, and following Christ with our lives, not just by keeping a few rules or showing up in church on Sundays.
Profile Image for Bethany.
413 reviews
August 23, 2016
4.5 stars

Very insightful. Introduced and taught some things that I have never thought about.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews

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