How to Die: Chaos, Mortality, and the Scandal of Christian Discipleship

by Joshua S. Porter

For readers disenchanted with institutionalized religion and seeking a radical approach to faith, How to Die offers a profound weaving of reimagined biblical narrative, personal story, poetry, parables, and ancient creeds. With a passion for rekindling the spirit of discipleship, Pastor Joshua S. Porter
  a unique blend of storytelling, liturgy, and practical spirituality that transcends traditional boundaries and engages with our modern challenges; a gritty, realistic narrative of the Bible that helps us think about faith in a fresh way; an unorthodox approach to capturing an orthodox vision for following Jesus.
How to Die serves as a provocative handbook for discipleship, inviting spiritually hungry readers to engage with the radical and transformative message of Christianity as they rediscover the subversive power of the gospel.

Genres: Christian, Christian Living

272 pages, Paperback

Published August 5, 2025

About the author

Joshua S. Porter is pastor of teaching and creative vision at Van City Church in Vancouver, Washington. He is also a former member of the experimental art-punk band, Showbread, and the author of With All Its Teeth, Death to Deconstruction, novel Punk Rock Vs. the Lizard People.

Find out more and connect with Joshua at joshuasporter.com.

Reviews

[Whitney DePaoli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very inspiring. I particularly loved the stories and parables of the Bible retold in such an immersive way, with detailed imagery and context that made me feel so much more for the Biblical texts.

[Tim Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

How To Die has such a lovely cadence and rhythm that not only paints vivid mental images, but stamps the soul with wonder and beauty as you revel in the reality of what it means to be the beloved of Jesus.

A mix of poetry, immersive storytelling, and Scriptures re-told to a modern audience, I would find myself lost in another time, in another’s shoes, feeling deeply for characters from Scripture in ways I had not before, and then seeing it’s really the same today, the same for me.

“Love intervenes.”

[Kendra · Rating 5 out of 5]

“She sees then that while God did not engineer her suffering, he did design her redemption—glorious to behold. As she passes through the sea, her heart begins to thaw. An old callus warms, erodes, and falls away.”

I loved this, found myself not wanting to put it down. This book is so uniquely and beautifully written. The way he retells well known biblical stories brings the passages to life. A piece of art for the world to read!!

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is an odd collection of essays and creative fiction. The essays are on various topics from sex to using oaths, from showing mercy to murder, from money to identity. The creative stories consist of fascinating retelling of Bible passages. He brings Bible stories to life with imaginative scenes. An example is the wail of a mom as the Egyptians take away her child to throw it into the Nile. Other imaginative stories include retelling of Jesus' parables and events in church history. He has even created a few parables of his own.

Porter says God “has wired our brains for stories...” (120) He is a wordsmith and creates engaging stories. Even many of the essays are in sort of story form.

I am unsure of the value of this collection of writings. I liked the imaginative retelling of biblical stories and events. They inspired me to live into them, imagining them for myself. Most of the essays are interesting and suitable for discussion in a small group. I did think there would be more about the idea of dying, about the Lord's call to give up our lives for Him. There was a bit at the very end but that is all I could identify.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

[Tucker Dobson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not what you may be expecting. Content specifically aimed at outlining spiritual disciplines accounts for only about 15% of the book.

And I do think that's for the best. We're often very practical in our business driven, capitalistic, utilitarian sort of American culture. If it isn't of obvious practical importance, we don't like to sit with it. This book is an opportunity to reorient how we think about life with Jesus: it is restful.

This is a book full of meditation on the great big love story we're caught up in. It contains prayers and creeds to read out loud and recite. It reframes parables in a way that makes their impact immediate.

And why? Why this artistic amalgam? I think it's because Josh would rather not convince you of the usefulness of discipleship, its benefits of mental and spiritual health (though he does make note of such things once or twice). I think he would rather paint a picture of the Master so compelling and beautiful that the practices of discipleship just make sense. Health lasts for a while; He abides forever.

With me as the audience, at least, he has succeeded. All I can conclude at the end is, "I love the master. I want to serve Him." Nothing else will motivate me at the deepest level.

[Keana Zoradi · Rating 5 out of 5]

“No apprentice is fundamentally an artist, or mother, or plumber. The identity of the apprentice is always and unchanging: beloved of God. This identity weathers all storms and suffering, vested deep within us before we knew our vocation or could carry it out, and continues to identify us long after whatever career contribution we have or haven't made is a thing of the past.”

This is one of the few books I’ll be coming back around to again and again. The narrative form is unique, beautiful, poetic, and left me in tears a few different times - feeling the overwhelm of God’s love for me and his kids.

[Jake Owen · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books I’ve ever read. It has all the elements of Porters writing that one comes to expect and yet it is new and fresh and exciting. The whole book is basically on the narrative of dying throughout the scripture, history, and our own life, mixed with some practical help. Every Christian should read this to get lost in the story they committed to once again.

[Nick Lawrence · Rating 4 out of 5]

Less black nail polish than you’d think.
4.5 stars.

[Peter Hornberger · Rating 5 out of 5]

The highest praise I can offer any book is to say it brought me to tears. This is the mark of a great book, whether fiction or not. How to Die did this, not once, but twice.

Perhaps most shockingly, it made me cry over stories I've heard hundreds (if not thousands) of times in my life. Josh has a unique ability to interrupt the familiarity of biblical stories by drawing out the humanity in them. What would it feel like to be Peter reeling from the death of his friend and wrestling in the guilt of his denials? Or to be an Israelite woman grieving the death of her children under Egyptian oppression and watch God give Pharaoh chance after chance?

This book has much to say about what it means to follow Jesus, to live, to suffer, to die. All of it is great, but the true gift of this book is it's invitation to feel - to empathize with other not like me, to remember my own journey, my series of little deaths, and to see Jesus in the middle of it all. This book rules, read it.

[Jess Rashmawy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to the audio version of this book while at work, so it’s definitely one I will revisit in print. I loved the retelling of some well known biblical stories, the one sticking with me the most being Peter’s. I also love the reminder of what it is to take up your cross and follow Jesus. Porter gives many examples of what it can look like to “die to yourself”. I found this helpful in examining my own life and a good reminder of things I personally need to work on and be more aware of.

[Tylar Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some minor theological quibbles but very small. I had hard time connecting with this book solely because I believe it was written for those newer in the path towards and with Christ. I would defiantly recommend for anyone newer to the faith and hope Josh keeps writing. He is a storyteller and I greatly enjoyed his previous work “Death to Deconstruction”.

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the way Porter thinks and writes, and this was no exception. Beautifully written primer on Christian discipleship. I’d say that his retelling of the Prodigal Son moved me to tears, but the reality is that the Holy Spirit used Porter’s retelling to comfort me, remind me that I’m known and loved, and brought tears to my eyes.

[D.J. Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is hard to imagine a retelling of the most potent and visceral words of Jesus that would hit harder and with such grace than the words of this book. Thank you, Joshua, for your willingness to put yourself and more than yourself into these pages and share them with those in need of an awakening of spirit and a rekindling of desire to serve the Master.

[Danny Burr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book, beautiful in its presentation and encouraging in its challenge. Can't recommend enough, this book and the author.

[Abby Hyde · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded to 4.

Modern parables throughout the Old and New Testament. The story of God’s people and how we die with our Savior as we follow Him.

A bit odd in the best way.

[Kristen Farmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely excellent - stunning read to a Jesus follower, but also written for those who are navigating faith and questions. Beautiful presentation of truth and the Gospel.