The Jesus Experience: Journey Deeper into the Heart of God

by Bill Myers

Not long ago, author Bill Myers had a clear and unmistakable encounter with the Lord. No audible voice, no burning bush, just a still, small impression that asked, “ If I put you in a coma and you could not tell anyone about Me; if you could do nothing for Me . . . would I be enough?” Bill realized that too many believers—himself included—have became more focused on serving the Lord we love, rather than loving the Lord we serve. Through the pages of The Jesus Experience , Myers will take you on your own personal journey of rediscovering God’s love for you and, in turn, loving others more deeply.

Genres: Christian, Christian Living

256 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2015

About the author

Bill Myers was born into a Christian home, and although as a child he became bored with Christianity, he decided at the University of Washington quote, to "make God my boss." Ironically, at the University his worst subject was writing. He claims to have prayed, and said that he would be able to do anything for God, except write. Even so, he has become a prominent Christian writer, and has a large amount of successful books and films to his credit.

Reviews

[Rachel Dodson · Rating 5 out of 5]

By following Bill through his own spiritual journey, we learn to love Christ deeply, serve because of love and relationship, and walk in true humility and worship.


I almost don't know where to begin with this book. I loved, loved, loved reading this book. I couldn't put it down. In fact I read it in one day, in about three hours. I have been a Christian for a very long time, but this book brought so many things to light that I had never thought of before.

For example, the reason for doing service for God was to spend time with him not just because it was something I was supposed to do or that my growing relationship with Christ would help to fuel my faith. Also, something that may surprise many Christian people, Jesus wants a relationship not just a bunch of rule followers.

I can not describe how amazing this book is. Each chapter was easy to read and understand. The book is not an extremely long read, but I have a feeling no matter how long it was I would love it! I enjoyed the writer's style of writing. He was witty and smart and insightful all in one. Each point is well thought out and explained. I know that others will enjoy this book as much as I did!

I have already thought of many people to share this book with!

I received this book from Barbour Publishing in exchange for my review.

[Joanne Reese · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a brilliant depiction of God's love for the taking. I saw my Father's reflection on every page.

[Litany Lineberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my second time reading a book by Bill Myers. I truly enjoyed reading The Jesus Experience.

As a former missionary in my local church I really connected with what the author was trying to convey. Going the Journey that God is leading us on rather than trying to do everything, for example, making sure the pastor anniversary or church anniversary program is complete and worrying about do we have a Preacher and choir to sing. I loved how it made keeping our relationship with God so simplified.God has a plan for all of us we just need to sit back, relax, and enjoy the journey on which he is guiding us on.. Bill Myers has a way of telling a story which keeps you wanting to learn more. It is a book that has to be shared..

I received this book from Barbour Publishing in exchange for my honest review.

[Carmen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a powerful book of Christ's love for us and how we can have and savor a relationship with God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I highly recommend.

[Candy Shepard · Rating 5 out of 5]

An easy to read, soul-to-soul, God-adoring story of experiencing Jesus. ❤️

[Jeanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you read only one book about the Lord this year, make this the one! When I read the description, there was no way I couldn’t not read it. ‘The Jesus Experience Journey Deeper into the Heart of God’, is in appearance a unimposing book. Written by Bill Myers, the man who wrote the McGee and Me book and video series and many others, would almost lead one to think that this guy must really have The Pipeline to the Lord. He must have the most fantastic relationship with God to ask, much less answer, those intriguing questions on the back cover.
God is so full of surprises! Bill Myers is a human just like you and me, a child of God who has had the same struggles and doubts that I have. He is also one who learned to say ‘Yes’ to God in many ventures that have brought countless people to believe in Jesus. One might correctly assume that he is an overachiever. Yes, he is an overachiever in the sense that, like me, he believed he had to do something to make himself worthy of Christ’s love and sacrifice.
The author has been working for the Lord for many years and has travelled around the world to bring God’s love to life for people of all ages. His life for Christ has been busy, and he is always doing, doing, doing. He shares that one day it was as if the Lord asked, “Son, if I were to put you in a coma and you could not talk to others about Me, could not serve me in any way, would I be enough for you?” (p. 37) I cringed at the question, having many things I thought important taken away in recent years. Even the relationship I had with my Savior wasn’t as solid as I tried to make it. I questioned the few things I could still do – was I doing them out of love for God, because His love had changed and moved me, or was I doing them from fear. Fear that they weren’t enough for God to love me. And God saw fit to put this book in my hands.
Whether one is new in faith or a long-term believer, this book can be a blessing. Using scripture verses that may be familiar to you, the author shows how God loves us. He shows the three scriptures that are, for him, the cornerstones of his walk with God. Check them out. Chew on them for a day, a week or more. Maybe they will speak to you as they have me, or add one that is part of your walk with the Lord.
There is one great truth to take away from this book about God’s love for you that can change your relationship with Him, your love for others, and your service for Him. I won’t spoil it – but I will share three questions from the back of the book:
WHAT IF CHRISTIANITY WAS A JOYOUS DANCE WITH GOD?
WHAT IF WE GAVE UP RELIGION AND SIMPLY LET HIM HOLD AND ADORE US?
WHAT IF WE FELL SO DEEPLY IN LOVE WITH HIM THAT SERVING AND OBEYING WAS OUR GREATEST PRIVILEGE?
If you learned a lot of ‘religion’ over the years, a part of you might by jumping up and down, waving a sign that says NO – that dancing with God is almost blasphemy – that being in love with God is for children. Say ‘yes’ to being still long enough to let God love you through His Word as the author has been blessed to do so, a man who learned to say ‘Yes’ to God. To ‘journey deeper into the heart of God’, part of this book’s title, is part of my heart’s desire. I hope it is – or becomes – yours, also.
‘The Jesus Experience Journey Deeper into the Heart of God’ is a must for every Christian’s library. Study your Bible with it, share it, gift others with copies – for God’s love is in His Word, in Christ Jesus and His Holy Spirit and others in this broken, hurting world are in desperate need of it.
With a heart more grateful than they can imagine, I received a copy of this book from Barbour Publishing, Inc. in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own, and no monetary compensation was received for this review.

[Bruce Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really liked reading this book. Seemed almost like Bill was talking to us (me). Easy reading, poignant, to the point, yet a depth concerning walking with God thru Jesus.

[Deb Haggerty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deb’s Dozen: The Jesus Experience is to know joy and peace and unsurpassing love.

Bill Myers wrote The Jesus Experience to encourage us to “journey deeper into the heart of God.” He relates an occasion when he felt God saying to him, “Son, if I were to put you in a coma and you could not talk to others about Me, could not serve Me in any way, would I be enough for you?” The question startled Bill and startled me too.

I realized that I get so caught up in being good and in service and in sharing God with others through my writing that I forget to spend time with the One who created and saved me. As Bill puts it, “… my purpose in life had become success for God instead of intimacy with Him.”

In my attempts to serve him, I’d forgotten the experience I, Deb, had when He drew me to Himself. The pastor had asked me if I knew Jesus Christ. I answered, somewhat flippantly, that of course I knew Him—everybody did. You know, Christmas, Easter, and all that stuff. He stopped me and asked. “No, I didn’t ask you if you knew about Jesus Christ, I asked you if you knew Jesus Christ. Is He real to you? Is He someone you can talk to, walk with, cry with? Is He your friend? I admitted that I did not know Him in that way, but before the morning was over, I did.

Bill takes us back to that time when we first knew Him—when the joy of the Lord was our strength (Nehemiah 8:10, paraphrase mine). He walks us through the steps of drawing closer to Jesus once again:

• Seduced By Service
• Falling Back in Love
• Three Cornerstones
• The Power of Adoration
• Real Freedom
• Truth and Grace
• Fruit of the Spirit
• A New Way of Thinking

The Jesus Experience is written in a simple, easy to understand manner that clearly delineates what we must do to walk deeper with Him. If, like me, you’ve somewhat lost your first love, you’ll want to read this book to be reminded why we’re His. As the Shorter Westminster Catechism says, “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.” Or, as Jesus himself said, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind” (Matthew 22:37).

Only when we center ourselves on Jesus and set out to praise and enjoy Him forever, will we be able to “journey deeper into the heart of God.”

Bill Myers is a writer/producer whose books and videos have sold over eight million copies and have won seventy national and international awards including the C.S. Lewis Honor Award. To learn more about Bill, check out his website, www.BillMyers.com.

Barbour Publishers gave me a copy of The Jesus Experience in exchange for my candid review. I am exceedingly grateful!

[Jeanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Jesus Experience is a walk on how we can experience Jesus in our attitudes, what we say, what we do, and how we live. Bill Myers has a big personality and his personality comes through in each chapter as you journey with him in getting to the heart of a relationship with Jesus. It is a journey of coming to the realization that Jesus is enough. Bill Myers being a well-traveled man, shares much of his own journey of coming to that very realization.

I enjoyed going on this journey and gleamed from the biblical wisdom that Bill Myers has experienced. I was somewhat distracted by Myers personality and is desire to make Jesus more amiable. It is not a meat and potatoes type of study that I enjoy but more of a desert and wine.

Here are some of the quotes that I found most helpful…


If I could love God more than ministry, love His process more than His product, situations would no longer frustrate or discourage me, please would no longer frustrate or discourage me.

God never plays defense. No matter what the enemy throws at me, if I trust God and let Him have free rein, He will take very attack and use it to His glory and my blessing

We all know emotions and intellect can be faulty. My emotions can be manipulated by too many cups of coffee, too many computer crashes, too many minutes dealing with automated operators. My intellect can just as easily be fooled by misinformation, misinterpretation, or my own intellectual pride.

The problem with earning God’s love is it a lose-lose mentality. Not only does Jesus lose, but so do I. The harder I work at doing, the more I wear myself out. My own accomplishments become my source of joy and fulfillment, while my own failures become a source of depression. When I win, I ‘m filled with pride- the same pride that subtly looks down its nose at others who aren’t as impressive to God as I think I am. The same pride that judges others and, when I fail, myself. The same pride of the Pharisees which put Jesus on the cross.

I don’t act in righteousness to earn God’s love. I act in righteousness because of His love. It’s the difference between night and day.

No matter where you are on your walk with the Lord or if you have interest in knowing Jesus more, I think this book will give you taste and you will find that the Lord is good indeed and more than enough!

A Special Thank You to Barbour Publishing and Netgalley for ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

[Jac (For Love and Books) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Jesus Experience was my first adventure with Bill Myers writing, and I wasn't really sure what to expect. But I was hooked when I read the line: “If I put you in a coma and you could not tell anyone about Me; if you could do nothing for Me . . . would I be enough?”

That question really grips me, because I always battle with the "Am I doing enough?" in my faith. So I dove into the pages of this one, anxious to see what his take on this question is.

While I enjoyed the writing style, it was quick and witty enough to keep my attention; I have to admit that I struggled a bit to relate to Bill. He is obviously 'on fire' for his faith, which is great. But this book really felt like he didn't have the struggles us 'normal people' have. He is so on fire that he doesn't really seem to have normal doubts and pitfalls that so many of us experience in our lives.

I really wanted to love this book, I wanted to walk away with some profound thoughts and a deepened faith. I wanted to know how to really experience Jesus. And there were some great tips, anecdotes and general good reading. But there were just moments I felt total disconnect with this book.

I think for many people - especially those who enjoy Christian Non-Fiction - this book will be a huge hit! But unfortunately, it's not one I feel like I can recommend to many of my peers.

Thanks to Netgalley for a chance to read and review this book.

[Pamela Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I received The Jesus Experience, I wondered if Bill Myers’s nonfiction book would be as engaging as his novels. I was not disappointed. I loved this book from the first page. Reading it is like having a conversation with a friend. With humility and humor sprinkled throughout, Meyers tells the story of his transformation from an overworked “Martha” to someone like Mary who enjoys a close fellowship with the Creator. The author’s autobiographical journey includes a time when he was “seduced by service.” Like many of us, he thought the more he answered the call to serve, the more pleased God would be. When God asked for volunteers, Myers imagined himself saying, “Ooo-ooo! Pick me! Pick me!” Eventually, the author became overwhelmed and exhausted from all of that volunteering. His busyness ate into his family life, and his relationship with Jesus suffered. Does this sound familiar? If so, I highly recommend this book. The author’s inspiring story includes tips supported by scripture about how to regain an intimate relationship with God and a deeper love for Jesus. I’m sure I’ll return to The Jesus Experience when I need to be reminded why I was created.

I received this book from Barbour Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

Reviewed by Pamela Harrison

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bill Myers shares his journey of his relationship with Jesus beginning with his decision as a young adult to say 'yes' to whatever Jesus asked him to do. Through both his obedience and his stumbles Bill came to realise that God's greatest desire is for us to fall madly and deeply in love with Him.

This is really a practical memoir where Bill provides his insights into how he has grown into his relationship with Jesus where his "goal is my relationship with Jesus Christ - to go deeper, to fall more in love, to become so intimate" that obedience falls into place as one of the fruits of the relationship. Bill shares how he reads the Bible, the 3 cornerstones of his faith, and how he combats the enemy when he strikes.

In his self-deprecating, humorous style this is an easy to read relatively short book that is full of power and practical wisdom that you can begin to put into place for yourself immediately.

Being of a similar age as Bill I appreciated comparing notes with his thoughts on adoration, "lectio divina" Bible reading method and abiding in Jesus. Highly recommended for anyone seeking to draw closer to the Lord.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Jesus Experience" is a very good book. Bill Myers included his personal experiences and brings up very good thoughts on various subjects. He points out that doing God's work to spend time with God while doing it, it more important that getting it done. He reminds us that good comes from all things, and that we should praise and thank God for all things including trials. Praising God during the hard times is just important as praising him for the good times. I especially was moved by Myers comments about asking God to help us love him more and that once we are saved, and that God does not get mad at us. He waits with out streched arms waiting for us to return to Him.

This book made me really step back and think about each chapter for a while before moving on. It has discussion questions for each chapter at the end of the book. I liked this book and think every Christian would benefit from reading it.

I was given this book from Barbour Publishing for an honest review.

[Connie Saunders]

In the second paragraph of Bill Myers 's introduction to The Jesus Experience he tells me exactly what I have been feeling recently! Trying to introduce different programs thst will lure new people to worship and then, keeping those programs afloat, I find myself feeling drained and missing the deep relationship with Jesus that I crave.

Bill Myers uses many of his own experiences to illustrate how too much busy work detracts from the joy we should be feeling and he often uses humor, sometimes at his own expense, to "hammer the point" home.

I especially appreciated the questions at the end of the book that cover each chapter. I was able to use them to reinforce some of the major points he was offering.

I will definitely recommend this book to others who also have been caught in a Mary/Martha syndrome. It is a wonderful tool to help us all regain our joy in Jesus!

[Diane Estrella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whether you are a new Christian or an old-timer, this book with have nuggets of wisdom to impart with you. I have read many of the author's fictional novels but this is his first non-fiction book that I have read. I truly enjoy his voice that comes through in his stories and I love that he shares parts of his personal testimony from his Christian walk. This book provided a challenge for me to go deeper and expect more from God. There are times I have not expanded my faith and not believed God to be who He really is.

The author shows the truth of an all-powerful God and the radical love that He gives us and we can share with others. I have been challenged to say yes to God and see where He will take me and what we will do for His glory!

[Deborha Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just what I needed.



Why have I never read anything by Bill Myers before? That will change, believe me, you! The Jesus Experience opened up my eyes to my relationship with God...it helped me to draw closer to Him, to deepen my faith and love for our Lord Jesus Christ. I am thankful, to God, for allowing Barbour Publishing to send me this book. I honestly never would have thought to read it if I had not been offered a copy. I highly recommend this book to all who want to deepen their love for God, to do His will, in His time and in His way.


I was given a copy of this book by Barbour Publishing in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to give a positive review.

[Rhonda Ryser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy to Read, great message for today’s Christian
The Jesus Experiment is a relatable biography of Bill Myers life. I found similarities in my early life that were so similar to his. It is good to have a role model that is easy to relate to and follow. I have wanted to say "yes" to Jesus when I felt his call, but fall short and now see that I have missed many blessings and possibly adventures. I felt encouraged that it is not too late to serve the Lord, and know Him better. I would recommend this book to all Christians from new believers to those who need a gentle reminder of Jesus and His love and interest in our lives.

[Luke Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bill Myers bares his heart and welcomes all of us into a journey of the soul in this easy-to-read but memorable look at the life of the believer. Cutting through the usual religious jargon and denominational distractions, Myers The Jesus Experience is a great read for new or mature believers.

[Brad Kittle · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very simple book about a man's relationship with God. Bill Myers talks about how our faith in Christ is built on relationship, not works. Relationship leads to obedience and obedience brings fruit; but, we never focus on the fruit, rather we focus on the relationship.

[Diane Eannarino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

Bill Myers has a storyteller's heart. His skill with making you think with affect is purely genius. I always appreciate.