A Different Way: Recentering the Christian Life Around Following Jesus

by Christopher A. Hall

“A genuine treasure and superb work in spiritual formation.”—Richard J. Foster, author of Celebration of Discipline

Following in the tradition of Richard J. Foster’s A Celebration of Discipline and Dallas Willard’s Divine Conspiracy, the former president of Renovaré calls all Christians to recenter the Christian life around what has always been its following Jesus.

“Change” is at the heart of Christian life. As Christians, we are called to be disciples of Jesus, to actively follow his teachings and become more like him. But the church has lost sight of what has always been its center, Christopher A. Hall argues. In A Different Way, he reminds us that faith is not meant to be merely rigid and static and so guides us back to Christianity’s spiritual foundation, helping us reconnect with Jesus and live the life he calls to live.

Filled with personal stories that encourage introspection, thoughtful meditations on spiritual formation, and profound wisdom, A Different Way is an interactive book that encourages reflection through daily journaling and Bible passages to hear and consider. With thoughtful introspection and Bible study, we can begin our spiritual journey of actively following the way Jesus teaches us to live.

Genres: Nonfiction, Christian, Christianity, Faith, Spirituality

Audible Audio

Published April 4, 2023

About the author

Christopher A. Hall (PhD, Drew University) is chancellor of Eastern University and dean of Palmer Theological Seminary in St. Davids, Pennsylvania, and has authored a number of books. He is an editor at large for Christianity Today and associate editor of the Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture series.

Reviews

[R.M. Methven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely phenomenal book. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to delve deeper into a Christ centered life. I am not the same person I was before I read this book 10/10!

[Michelle Nezat · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is said that when you attend a live conference, you learn as much from the discussions in the hallway as you do from all of the platform presentations combined. This is how I feel about Christopher Hall's book, "A Different Way." Of course, I learned from the whole, but the chats God and I had in between Christopher's engaging stories and challenging words made an even more significant impact.

Christopher teaches us that Jesus offers us the ability to live differently. Not just so we can be different and stand out but also so that we can live the way we were meant to live with Jesus as our guide.

Am I willing to follow Jesus? I mean really trust Him to be my guide?

The different way that resonated most with me was the chapter "Slow Down, Quiet Down." The rhythm of Christ has not been my rhythm. I am often rushed and distracted rather than prayerful and discerning.

And when we are led by our Savior into a desert place we wail and complain rather than seeing it as a space in which obedience to truth is practiced. Hall challenges, "So rather than resisting, let us enter the desert together. What will we learn here that we can learn nowhere else?"

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hall shares with us the journey for following Jesus. It's a dense book with lots of great content using seasoned resources, mingled with reflections of his own journey following the Lord.

Much of the book is Hall's wisdom on various spiritual disciplines: prayer, Bible contemplation, solitude and silence (for discovering how to listen to God), living simply and confession. I especially appreciated the chapter on simplicity.

What I appreciated most about the book was Hall's voice. It's gentle and kind. Kind of what I'd expect Jesus' to be like. We can get hung up the spiritual disciples but in themselves they achieve nothing except they are a doorway to experiencing God. We have to choose to step through that door to follow Him.

Highly recommended and I expect it will become source material for future authors and courses.

[Joshua · Rating 4 out of 5]

'“What is God like?” . . . "is is the most important question a human being can ever ask.'

Hall suggests to us that there is a different way that Christ is leading in, one that leads to real and lasting transformation of us as "image bearers".

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm 74-years-old. I was raised in the protestant church and have served as an elder for decades. It stands that I have heard countless sermons and read many books but the message in Dr. Hall's book, "A Different Way"(and his YouTube feature "Foundations of Christian Spirituality," is like a breath of fresh air in a stuffy closet. The majority of sermons I have experienced (in some cases endured) over the years have devoted their entire space and time to pontificating the obvious without explaining or elaborating. They all call passionately for me to become a better Christian, to follow Christ, to love my neighbour as myself, and, of course, to love myself and experience the joy that comes with grace. All of these learned preachers urge me to change to be more like Christ-like. They hand me a bible and utter words like, "Read that son and you will be more like Christ." Really?
But Dr. Hall's book and teachings are, so far, the only set of words that I have encountered that take the time to explain and encourage what I refer to as the "practice" of Christianity. Dr. Hall speaks to the disciplines that undergird the process of changing to be more like Christ. It is not enough to just want to change. We must also learn how to change. Dr. Hall speaks of five spiritual disciplines: prayer, meditation on scripture, silence and solitude, simplicity and confession, as being the foundations of our spiritual growth and walk with Christ. Take your time reading his words and reflecting on his questions and ideas. Dr. Hall's words, like your spiritual journey, are worth the effort.

[Neil Saltmarsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spiritual formation is not yet too crowded but becoming a little congested in recent times. So compared to others works, what is Mr. Hall's point of difference? I would say that the point of difference for me was Mr. Hall's wide knowledge of the Desert Fathers and Ammas. In the first half is the more theoretical framework. One of the usual questions in spiritual formation is correcting our view of God, so nothing really too different. The one thing I did learn was in Chapter 2 about the In-Between time when the Kingdom of God has been ushered in at the resurrection and the end time of God's total sovereignty. This brought some sense to some questions about this time we live in. Overall I didn't think the framework was extensive enough. The practices in the 2nd half didn't bring anything new that I hadn't heard before but I did like the checklists in the last 2 chapters about unhealthy/healthy spiritual formation. Again not extensive although Mr. Hall didn't indicate it would be. So overall a very good read; some new things, but not a classic of the genre. I would reserve that for M. Robert Mulhulland's Invitation to a Journey and its sequel.

[Justin Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Contained some helpful ideas, like the life review exercise suggested in Chapter 5 (“Keep in Step with Jesus in Your Gift of Years”). I wanted this book to resonate more than it did in actuality.

I think the main reason it falls a bit flat is because it doesn’t have a very consistent through-line and seems a bit buckshot or scattered in the way it introduces ideas. At times it’s biblical survey, character study, and other times sharing highlights of other ideas from a variety of other authors. The more impactful sections are when the author shared stories from his life. But at times I wonder if he was just trying to cram in everything good he knew about a topic, without discretion.

Likely would have been more effective if the author had taken the time to concentrate the message and find areas to reduce length from 300 to more like 200 pages.

[Shanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is just what its title suggests: an exploration of what it looks like to live a different way, centering everything around Jesus. So much encouraged and comforted me in that, like Ann Voskamp says in Waymaker, the way is towards instead of upwards. I'm especially struck by the chapter on slowing down, where Hall points out Jesus was never hurried and He isn't now. Ugh I need that in my head! In the final chapters, on simplicity and confession, there is so much to convict. Throughout the book, he gives lots of practices you can implement, questions to probe your own heart, etc. Very good. So glad to have read it. Hoping to keep growing into this different way.

[Freddy Lam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part of the Renovare Book Club Reading list, Dr. Christopher Hall’s book challenges us with his own spiritual journey and experience, interacting with past saints, desert fathers and mothers, to live a different way. Through practices of silence and solitude, reading scripture, life of simplicity, and confession, etc, he uses spiritual exercises and reflections to help us engage actively with the triune God he deeply loves.

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chris Hall has done an excellent job in making a book that makes the Christian life look enjoyable, possible, and yet still explaining the practices and challenges. He connects stories from his own life with stories and wisdom from throughout Christian history in ways that are extremely helpful and enjoyable. This is definitely a book I will be coming back to time and time again.

[Brett Hartley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read!!

A powerful book with a very simple message. Lots of practical steps to help someone grow in relationship with Jesus. The author's openness and honesty regarding his own struggles and mistakes is to others on the same spiritual journey is very encouraging and gives his advice much credibility.

[Gini · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good start, good finish. The mid section works, but not as well. For me. He provides good exercises to help clarify or identify strengths and weaknesses. To do this book justice, I need to look more closely at those exercises.

[Ogsball · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Material

Chris Hall presented a great framework but I wish there was something more. I think this is a very good survey with some excellent reflection items. But I don't think it's intended to be a deep dive in any one practice. It is well written.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fairly solid teaching and disciplines with good supporting anecdotes but really nothing new in the end. It doesn’t have to be new, of course, but it does mean there are probably other books out there that do the job better.

[Michael B. Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Different directions, same end

Got to know the mind that grew a daughter's life. Thank you. By the way the miracle is still going. Dr. Hall, his Eastern cohorts and counselors were also key to her development. "A Different Way" works.

[Greta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read as part of the Renovaré Book Club this season. Easy to read with good examples and insights for spiritual growth.

[Denise Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I have ever read regarding spiritual formation. Liked that it reminds us we are all beginner's on the journey.

[Kristi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book to savor, my favorite book of the year.

[Eileen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Well written. Don't know enough to comment much on the contents.

[Deb Handrich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Renovare’ book club: this book is filled with nuggets of wisdom. I will be referring to it often in years to come.

[Ethan West · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short little book that is basically a preview of a longer book that Chris Hall is writing. I am not sure if I will buy/read the longer book but this little one was very encouraging about finding a different way in Christ. Or really, letting Christ show me the different way and following him into it.