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Think, Act, Be Like Jesus: Becoming a New Person in Christ
The Bible teaches that the goal of the Christian life is to become like Jesus--for our own personal growth and for the sake of others. Every believer needs to ask three big What do I believe? What should I do? And who am I becoming?
In Think, Act, Be Like Jesus, bestselling author and pastor Randy Frazee helps readers grasp the vision of the Christian life and get started on the journey of discipleship. After unfolding the revolutionary dream of Jesus and showing how our lives fit into the big picture of what God is doing in the world, Frazee walks readers through thirty short chapters exploring the ten core beliefs, ten core practices, and ten core virtues that help disciples to think, act, and be more like Jesus Christ.
This compelling new book can be used in conjunction with the 30-week all-church Believe campaign or read separately as an individual study. Either way, readers will deepen their understanding of what it means to not just know the Story of God, but to live it.
In Think, Act, Be Like Jesus, bestselling author and pastor Randy Frazee helps readers grasp the vision of the Christian life and get started on the journey of discipleship. After unfolding the revolutionary dream of Jesus and showing how our lives fit into the big picture of what God is doing in the world, Frazee walks readers through thirty short chapters exploring the ten core beliefs, ten core practices, and ten core virtues that help disciples to think, act, and be more like Jesus Christ.
This compelling new book can be used in conjunction with the 30-week all-church Believe campaign or read separately as an individual study. Either way, readers will deepen their understanding of what it means to not just know the Story of God, but to live it.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 23, 2014
138 people are currently reading
240 people want to read
About the author
Randy Frazee
112 books79 followersRandy Frazee is the lead teaching pastor at Westside Family Church in Kansas City. He is a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary, and a leader and innovator in Bible engagement, spiritual formation and biblical community. Randy is the architect of The Story and BELIEVE church engagement campaigns as well as the author of His Mighty Strength; Think, Act, Be Like Jesus; What Happens After You Die; The Connecting Church; Making Room for Life; and the coauthor of Real Simplicity with his wife of 40 years, Rozanne.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
February 4, 2016
Title: Think, Act, Be(lieve) Like Jesus
Author: Randy Frazee
Publisher: Zondervan
Year: 2014
Pages: 263
Additional links: Believe the Story
[Disclaimer: I was provided a free copy of this book by Zondervan Publishers in exchange for my fair and unbiased review.]
The problem with this book is that there is nothing necessarily wrong with it. I think. I mean, you can read through it and not be offended, or unsettled, or argumentative. There's nothing in it that's going to make the person write the author and rip him a new one. There's nothing in it that will start a theological dialogue spanning the next year or two or start a publishing war. It's a fairly standard, straightforward, new Christian handbook.
Then again, there is everything wrong with it. This is the kind of book a person reads if they are interested in being comfortable in their faith, self-centered in their faith, and really understanding very little about what it means to 'think, act, and be' like the Jesus of the Bible. It's like he's saying that all Jesus was about was making people who think, act, and do certain things, in certain ways so that they fit into the club.
Yes. That's what I'm going for with this review: there is nothing about this book that actually inspires me to think, act, and be like Jesus. Instead a person comes away thinking, acting, and being like your every day, standard, run of the mill join the club, go to church, and be good kind of Christian. There's nothing exciting about this book. There's nothing revolutionary about this book. There is nothing revelationary about this book. In a word, it's boring.
To get through this book, the reader has to wade through countless tired illustrations and stories that have been regurgitated in other books (like, say, the story of Steve Saint p. 178-179; great story, but I'm sick of hearing it), wrestle with some troubling statements (like, say, 'If we want to have a relationship with God and have eternal life, then, Jesus says, we need to do good works' (his emphasis); even in context this statement makes little sense, p 41), listen as verse after verse of out of context Scripture is 'applied' to a systematic theology of 'life after baptism' (for example, the out of context thought that Jesus talked about money all the time, p 146), and plod through a nearly 300 page book of randomly generated, arbitrary 'practices' and 'beliefs' that are supposed to make us wholly Christian (for example, in his list of worship 'convictions' on page 97-87, there is a conviction about God, a personal God, salvation, The Bible, Identity in Christ, Church, humanity, compassion, stewardship, and eternity but nothing, specifically, about Jesus, Kingdom, hope, grace, the Holy Spirit, etc.)
There were times, yes, when I thought the author handled Scripture fairly well and was able to draw out significant and meaningful applications and thoughts. For example, on pages 100-102, he does a little exegesis of the story of David dancing before the ark of the Lord. He does a great job of contrasting David's actions with those of Michal, Saul's daughter. In this place, I thought he was dead-on and did a good job. Then there were times when I thought he was off target. For example, when he talks about Matthew 25 and the king who separates the sheep from the goats. He could have given us more context and showed us that Jesus wasn't talking about the poor and imprisoned in general but those who are 'the least of these, his brothers and sisters' (See pages 166-167).
I also thought he did a good job in the beginning (pages 18-20) talking about eternity and what it will be like. Here, he and I are in nearly full agreement. His discussion of what eternity is like, what 'heaven' is all about, and what will happen in the consummation of the ages is, in my opinion, probably the best part of the book. '
But there is so much more he could have talked about and written about in the book. He had nearly 300 pages and I feel like I didn't really read anything. For a seasoned Christian, this is a one sitting book because there will be a lot of skimming and skipping.
It should be noted that there is not really, necessarily, anything wrong with the book. He gives us ten things we probably should believe even if I would formulate those things differently, eliminate some of them, add others, and develop their theology from a more contextual format as opposed to his style of plucking Scripture from its context. He gives us ten things we ought to 'do' and who among us will argue that any of those ten things are 'bad' or 'wrong'? Of course we should worship, pray, study the Bible, and more. Sure; I have no argument there. And finally, I'm not saying there's anything wrong with 'being' like Jesus when it comes to love, peace, self-control and more. The church might be a happier place if more of us practiced such things. So, yes, Amen to all of those things. (Except that in the introduction to Part 3: Be Like Jesus, he didn't bother to tell us that the ten things he will write about are actually the fruit of the Spirit. I get about being connected to the Vine, but that's not the context of Galatians 5 where his chapter headings come from.)
I just think these things have been said by others and better. These things are on the shallow end of what is meant to be a deep faith and all of these things need to be spoken of in the greater context of who Jesus is and what Jesus did. The title of the book carries the name of Jesus and I simply didn't find enough Jesus in the book. Maybe he should have taken ten stories about Jesus and simply expounded upon them--that would be compelling reading. Here's the thing, the church simply does not need another program for spiritual development (whatever that means). They are all over the market place and the church is over-saturated with these sort of books. I realize it's too late since the book is already published, but I wonder if there is no end to these sort of books? There is so much more to the Jesus story than mere spiritual disciplines and can the fundamentals of Christian faith really be narrowed down to a mere ten different (arbitrary) beliefs?
At the end of the book, this is the spiritual formation of one man for his church, but I'm not of the opinion that this is the best program of formation of life in Jesus for a larger body of Christ. I get that it is for a new believer (I think it is anyhow) and that depth isn't necessarily the point (although it should be!) Nevertheless, some depth would be nice. I don't understand why the only place to get depth from authors is to go to the academic side of publishing houses. I hate to be that way, but self-centered spiritual disciplines and belief in tiny fragments of things Scripture says in a larger meta-narrative are simply not going to produce the sort of Jesus people that will stand up when life really starts to suck for us who are comfortable here in American churches.
We need our preachers who write books to do more, to say more, to help end the drought. We need our publishing houses to give us more depth--less books, more depth. I hate to say it, but this book is simply not all that helpful.
2/5 Stars
Author: Randy Frazee
Publisher: Zondervan
Year: 2014
Pages: 263
Additional links: Believe the Story
[Disclaimer: I was provided a free copy of this book by Zondervan Publishers in exchange for my fair and unbiased review.]
The problem with this book is that there is nothing necessarily wrong with it. I think. I mean, you can read through it and not be offended, or unsettled, or argumentative. There's nothing in it that's going to make the person write the author and rip him a new one. There's nothing in it that will start a theological dialogue spanning the next year or two or start a publishing war. It's a fairly standard, straightforward, new Christian handbook.
Then again, there is everything wrong with it. This is the kind of book a person reads if they are interested in being comfortable in their faith, self-centered in their faith, and really understanding very little about what it means to 'think, act, and be' like the Jesus of the Bible. It's like he's saying that all Jesus was about was making people who think, act, and do certain things, in certain ways so that they fit into the club.
Yes. That's what I'm going for with this review: there is nothing about this book that actually inspires me to think, act, and be like Jesus. Instead a person comes away thinking, acting, and being like your every day, standard, run of the mill join the club, go to church, and be good kind of Christian. There's nothing exciting about this book. There's nothing revolutionary about this book. There is nothing revelationary about this book. In a word, it's boring.
To get through this book, the reader has to wade through countless tired illustrations and stories that have been regurgitated in other books (like, say, the story of Steve Saint p. 178-179; great story, but I'm sick of hearing it), wrestle with some troubling statements (like, say, 'If we want to have a relationship with God and have eternal life, then, Jesus says, we need to do good works' (his emphasis); even in context this statement makes little sense, p 41), listen as verse after verse of out of context Scripture is 'applied' to a systematic theology of 'life after baptism' (for example, the out of context thought that Jesus talked about money all the time, p 146), and plod through a nearly 300 page book of randomly generated, arbitrary 'practices' and 'beliefs' that are supposed to make us wholly Christian (for example, in his list of worship 'convictions' on page 97-87, there is a conviction about God, a personal God, salvation, The Bible, Identity in Christ, Church, humanity, compassion, stewardship, and eternity but nothing, specifically, about Jesus, Kingdom, hope, grace, the Holy Spirit, etc.)
There were times, yes, when I thought the author handled Scripture fairly well and was able to draw out significant and meaningful applications and thoughts. For example, on pages 100-102, he does a little exegesis of the story of David dancing before the ark of the Lord. He does a great job of contrasting David's actions with those of Michal, Saul's daughter. In this place, I thought he was dead-on and did a good job. Then there were times when I thought he was off target. For example, when he talks about Matthew 25 and the king who separates the sheep from the goats. He could have given us more context and showed us that Jesus wasn't talking about the poor and imprisoned in general but those who are 'the least of these, his brothers and sisters' (See pages 166-167).
I also thought he did a good job in the beginning (pages 18-20) talking about eternity and what it will be like. Here, he and I are in nearly full agreement. His discussion of what eternity is like, what 'heaven' is all about, and what will happen in the consummation of the ages is, in my opinion, probably the best part of the book. '
But there is so much more he could have talked about and written about in the book. He had nearly 300 pages and I feel like I didn't really read anything. For a seasoned Christian, this is a one sitting book because there will be a lot of skimming and skipping.
It should be noted that there is not really, necessarily, anything wrong with the book. He gives us ten things we probably should believe even if I would formulate those things differently, eliminate some of them, add others, and develop their theology from a more contextual format as opposed to his style of plucking Scripture from its context. He gives us ten things we ought to 'do' and who among us will argue that any of those ten things are 'bad' or 'wrong'? Of course we should worship, pray, study the Bible, and more. Sure; I have no argument there. And finally, I'm not saying there's anything wrong with 'being' like Jesus when it comes to love, peace, self-control and more. The church might be a happier place if more of us practiced such things. So, yes, Amen to all of those things. (Except that in the introduction to Part 3: Be Like Jesus, he didn't bother to tell us that the ten things he will write about are actually the fruit of the Spirit. I get about being connected to the Vine, but that's not the context of Galatians 5 where his chapter headings come from.)
I just think these things have been said by others and better. These things are on the shallow end of what is meant to be a deep faith and all of these things need to be spoken of in the greater context of who Jesus is and what Jesus did. The title of the book carries the name of Jesus and I simply didn't find enough Jesus in the book. Maybe he should have taken ten stories about Jesus and simply expounded upon them--that would be compelling reading. Here's the thing, the church simply does not need another program for spiritual development (whatever that means). They are all over the market place and the church is over-saturated with these sort of books. I realize it's too late since the book is already published, but I wonder if there is no end to these sort of books? There is so much more to the Jesus story than mere spiritual disciplines and can the fundamentals of Christian faith really be narrowed down to a mere ten different (arbitrary) beliefs?
At the end of the book, this is the spiritual formation of one man for his church, but I'm not of the opinion that this is the best program of formation of life in Jesus for a larger body of Christ. I get that it is for a new believer (I think it is anyhow) and that depth isn't necessarily the point (although it should be!) Nevertheless, some depth would be nice. I don't understand why the only place to get depth from authors is to go to the academic side of publishing houses. I hate to be that way, but self-centered spiritual disciplines and belief in tiny fragments of things Scripture says in a larger meta-narrative are simply not going to produce the sort of Jesus people that will stand up when life really starts to suck for us who are comfortable here in American churches.
We need our preachers who write books to do more, to say more, to help end the drought. We need our publishing houses to give us more depth--less books, more depth. I hate to say it, but this book is simply not all that helpful.
2/5 Stars
January 20, 2015
Think, Act, Be Like Jesus: Becoming a New Person in Christ, a companion book to Believe, NIV, continues the discipleship of the reader. The author gives the reader 10 core beliefs, 10 core practices, and 10 core virtues that help believers to think, act, and be more like Jesus. This is a great follow up to Believe or can be read in conjunction with it.
March 16, 2016
Better than most books of this type. I did feel that it focuses too much on concepts and not enough on practical application.
November 17, 2019
Fairly basic Christian principles but written very well and was good for me, a follower of Jesus for over 50 years.
I especially liked parts 1 and 3.
Part 1 Summary
What I Believe
1. I believe the God of the Bible is the only true God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
2. I believe God is involved and cares about my daily life.
3. I believe a person comes into a right relationship with God by God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
4. I believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God that guides my beliefs and action.
5. I believe I am significant because of my position as a child of God.
6. I believe the church is God's primary way to accomplish His purposes on earth.
7. I believe all people are loved by God and need Jesus Christ as their Savior.
8. I believe God calls all people to show compassion to people in need.
9. I believe everything I am and everything I own belong to God.
10. I believe there is a heaven and a hell and that Jesus will return to judge all people and to establish His eternal kingdom.
Always good to be reminded of the basic Christian beliefs.
Even better to act and live like you believe them. Help me Lord.
Part 3 Summary
What it means to be like Jesus
Love - I am committed to loving God and loving others.
We love because He first loved us. I John 4:19
Joy - Despite my circumstances I feel inner contentment and understand my purpose in life.
I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. John 15:11
Peace - I am free from anxiety because I have found peace with God, peace with others, and peace with myself.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. John 14:27
Self-Control - I have the power through Christ to control myself.
For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “no” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and Godly lives in this present age. Titus 2:11,12
*All that Jesus did and said was exactly what His Father wanted Him to do and say. “For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me commandment, what to say, and what to speak.” John 12:49
Hope - I can cope with the hardships of life because of the hope I have in Jesus Chtist.
Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross… Hebrews 12:1,2
Patience - I am slow to anger and endure patiently under the unavoidable pressures of life.
The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9
Kindness/Goodness - I choose to be kind and good in my relationships with others.
Speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of Him who is the head, that is, Christ. Ephesians 4:15
*But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. Titus 3:4
Faithfulness - I have established a good name with God and others based on my loyalty to those relationships.
Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. Luke 2:52
Gentleness - I am thoughtful, considerate, and calm in my dealings with others.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:29
Humility - I choose to esteem others above myself.
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage; rather, He made Himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Philippians 2:5-8
*Passages that I added that make the point more clearly that Jesus had this trait.
I especially liked parts 1 and 3.
Part 1 Summary
What I Believe
1. I believe the God of the Bible is the only true God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
2. I believe God is involved and cares about my daily life.
3. I believe a person comes into a right relationship with God by God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
4. I believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God that guides my beliefs and action.
5. I believe I am significant because of my position as a child of God.
6. I believe the church is God's primary way to accomplish His purposes on earth.
7. I believe all people are loved by God and need Jesus Christ as their Savior.
8. I believe God calls all people to show compassion to people in need.
9. I believe everything I am and everything I own belong to God.
10. I believe there is a heaven and a hell and that Jesus will return to judge all people and to establish His eternal kingdom.
Always good to be reminded of the basic Christian beliefs.
Even better to act and live like you believe them. Help me Lord.
Part 3 Summary
What it means to be like Jesus
Love - I am committed to loving God and loving others.
We love because He first loved us. I John 4:19
Joy - Despite my circumstances I feel inner contentment and understand my purpose in life.
I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. John 15:11
Peace - I am free from anxiety because I have found peace with God, peace with others, and peace with myself.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. John 14:27
Self-Control - I have the power through Christ to control myself.
For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “no” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and Godly lives in this present age. Titus 2:11,12
*All that Jesus did and said was exactly what His Father wanted Him to do and say. “For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me commandment, what to say, and what to speak.” John 12:49
Hope - I can cope with the hardships of life because of the hope I have in Jesus Chtist.
Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross… Hebrews 12:1,2
Patience - I am slow to anger and endure patiently under the unavoidable pressures of life.
The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9
Kindness/Goodness - I choose to be kind and good in my relationships with others.
Speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of Him who is the head, that is, Christ. Ephesians 4:15
*But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. Titus 3:4
Faithfulness - I have established a good name with God and others based on my loyalty to those relationships.
Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. Luke 2:52
Gentleness - I am thoughtful, considerate, and calm in my dealings with others.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:29
Humility - I choose to esteem others above myself.
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage; rather, He made Himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Philippians 2:5-8
*Passages that I added that make the point more clearly that Jesus had this trait.
November 10, 2018
A book chock full of illustrations and fresh insights on how to grow like Jesus. Randy's book has too much behavioral science for my taste. I love how the author ties the concept of Think, Act and be as the foundation of Change. Page 45 Key Idea: "I believe a person comes into a right relationship with God by God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ." Amen and Amen! Can not agree more, then he follows up with a sinners prayer, you will find nowhere in the New Testament! To be like Jesus we must approach salvation as he offered it. Scripture details responsive faith as those who repent, who believe, and baptized and each response does not buy what God has freely offered.
February 6, 2017
This was a pretty good read. Frazee expands upon ways in which Jesus thought, acted, and believed and how we, in turn, should do likewise. I would have liked to see more techniques for application as opposed to theory, but nonetheless, the author does a great job of demonstrating how Jesus lead others and how we, as Christian leaders, should as well.
July 26, 2020
Excelente lectura; en muchas ocasiones no tenemos una instrucción clara y completa de lo que debemos hacer y ser en nuestra vida cristiana; el escritor logró plasmarlo todo de una manera concreta y fácil de entender; lo recomiendo para personas que recientemente dieron el paso de FE (Un regalo excelente).
August 5, 2020
Okay for a Beginner Christian
I think this book would be okay for someone who is new to the Christian faith. It lacked any real depth towards spirituality. Lack of mention of social justice, reaching the poor or homeless. Good basic principals for someone just learning about Christianity and bringing it into their daily life.
I think this book would be okay for someone who is new to the Christian faith. It lacked any real depth towards spirituality. Lack of mention of social justice, reaching the poor or homeless. Good basic principals for someone just learning about Christianity and bringing it into their daily life.
June 1, 2020
I think this book accomplished what the author intended. No, it’s not deep, but it met its objectives, and it is still more than any of us can perfect. These are great reminders for each of us. Once you invest in the Word, the Lord will meet you there. He met me in this book several times. ❤️
June 13, 2018
Great source of support as I facilitated the Believe class.
February 26, 2020
A path to learn how to become more like Jesus. Excellent thesis.
April 29, 2023
Absolutely loved this book on how to be like Jesus! Thank you for the inspiration!
June 13, 2023
Did not like the writing style.
September 7, 2015
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through BookLook Bloggers [Harpercollins Publishers] book review bloggers 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.”
Think, Act, Be Like Jesus: Becoming a New Person in Christ
by Randy Frazee
_140_245_Book.1525.coverA companion to Believe, this fresh resource by pastor and author Randy Frazee will help readers develop a personal vision for spiritual growth and a simple plan for getting started on the journey to think, act, and be more like Jesus Christ.
The Bible teaches that the goal of the Christian life is to become like Jesus—for our own personal growth and for the sake of others. Every believer needs to ask three big questions: What do I believe? What should I do? And who am I becoming?
In Think, Act, Be Like Jesus, bestselling author and pastor Randy Frazee helps readers grasp the vision of the Christian life and get started on the journey of discipleship. After unfolding the revolutionary dream of Jesus and showing how our lives fit into the big picture of what God is doing in the world, Frazee walks readers through thirty short chapters exploring the ten core beliefs, ten core practices, and ten core virtues that help disciples to think, act, and be more like Jesus Christ.
This compelling new book can be used in conjunction with the 30-week all-church Believe campaign or read separately as an individual study. Either way, readers will deepen their understanding of what it means to not just know the Story of God, but to live it.
About the Author
Randy Frazee is the senior minister of Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas, where he teaches and leads in partnership with pastor and author Max Lucado. Prior to Oak Hills, Randy served as teaching pastor at Willow Creek and as senior pastor at Pantego Bible Church in Fort Worth, Texas, for fifteen years. He is also the author of Making Room for Life and The Christian Life Profile Assessment Tool. Frazee and his wife, Rozanne, have four children and one granddaughter.
Think, Act, Be Like Jesus is split up into 4 sections. The first section is thinking like Jesus, which involves 10 key beliefs. The second section is acting like Jesus, which involves 10 steps the reader can practice. The third sections is being like Jesus, which involves 10 key virtues the reader is to have within themselves. The fourth section is transformation, which brings the three previous sections together. Each section has its own introduction. Scripture verses can be found consistently throughout the text. There are key questions, key ideas, and key applications; which the reader can apply their own lives.
Think, Act, Be Like Jesus is a way for the reader to discover a deeper understanding of what to believe, how to act, and what needs to be within them to be more like Jesus. The text covers a wide range of topics which can be helpful to those just starting their walk with Jesus or to those who are thirsting for something deeper. The text is very simple to understand and follow, with plenty of life examples discussed which broaden the meaning of each topic.
I recommend Think, Act, Be Like Jesus to all new followers of Christ and those having common questions about following Jesus which have yet to be answered…until now. However, I did not feel Think, Act, Be Like Jesus to be something that reached out and grabbed me, holding my attention until the very last page. I am not sure why this book did not take a hold of me, but that does not mean it cannot be found beneficial to other readers who pick it up and examine its content.
Think, Act, Be Like Jesus: Becoming a New Person in Christ
by Randy Frazee
_140_245_Book.1525.coverA companion to Believe, this fresh resource by pastor and author Randy Frazee will help readers develop a personal vision for spiritual growth and a simple plan for getting started on the journey to think, act, and be more like Jesus Christ.
The Bible teaches that the goal of the Christian life is to become like Jesus—for our own personal growth and for the sake of others. Every believer needs to ask three big questions: What do I believe? What should I do? And who am I becoming?
In Think, Act, Be Like Jesus, bestselling author and pastor Randy Frazee helps readers grasp the vision of the Christian life and get started on the journey of discipleship. After unfolding the revolutionary dream of Jesus and showing how our lives fit into the big picture of what God is doing in the world, Frazee walks readers through thirty short chapters exploring the ten core beliefs, ten core practices, and ten core virtues that help disciples to think, act, and be more like Jesus Christ.
This compelling new book can be used in conjunction with the 30-week all-church Believe campaign or read separately as an individual study. Either way, readers will deepen their understanding of what it means to not just know the Story of God, but to live it.
About the Author
Randy Frazee is the senior minister of Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas, where he teaches and leads in partnership with pastor and author Max Lucado. Prior to Oak Hills, Randy served as teaching pastor at Willow Creek and as senior pastor at Pantego Bible Church in Fort Worth, Texas, for fifteen years. He is also the author of Making Room for Life and The Christian Life Profile Assessment Tool. Frazee and his wife, Rozanne, have four children and one granddaughter.
Think, Act, Be Like Jesus is split up into 4 sections. The first section is thinking like Jesus, which involves 10 key beliefs. The second section is acting like Jesus, which involves 10 steps the reader can practice. The third sections is being like Jesus, which involves 10 key virtues the reader is to have within themselves. The fourth section is transformation, which brings the three previous sections together. Each section has its own introduction. Scripture verses can be found consistently throughout the text. There are key questions, key ideas, and key applications; which the reader can apply their own lives.
Think, Act, Be Like Jesus is a way for the reader to discover a deeper understanding of what to believe, how to act, and what needs to be within them to be more like Jesus. The text covers a wide range of topics which can be helpful to those just starting their walk with Jesus or to those who are thirsting for something deeper. The text is very simple to understand and follow, with plenty of life examples discussed which broaden the meaning of each topic.
I recommend Think, Act, Be Like Jesus to all new followers of Christ and those having common questions about following Jesus which have yet to be answered…until now. However, I did not feel Think, Act, Be Like Jesus to be something that reached out and grabbed me, holding my attention until the very last page. I am not sure why this book did not take a hold of me, but that does not mean it cannot be found beneficial to other readers who pick it up and examine its content.
November 18, 2025
I really enjoyed this book!! I think whether you are a new Christian or you’ve been in your faith journey for years, there’s something in this book for you. The set up and breakdown of this book is very easy to follow and understand. It’s digestible and applicable. This book goes through beliefs, practices and virtues and ties them to thinking, acting, and being like Jesus—our ultimate goal! I believe this book has a lot of wisdom to offer and I would recommend the read. Also would be interested in more from this author.
April 11, 2015
Do you struggle to know how to be like Jesus? Do you wonder if you're living for Him? Do you have questions about beliefs of the Christian faith? Do you long to be more like Jesus, but feel powerless to become like Him?
If the answer to any of those is yes, then you need to read Randy Frazee's book, Think, Act, Be Like Jesus. This is a companion book to his book, Believe.
Think, Act Be Like Jesus is a perfect blending of challenging, encouraging, and smacks on the forehead. I've learned new things, thought new thoughts, but I also have had my eyes opened to things I knew, but wasn't doing. I've said "duh" more than a few times, and even more often while reading I found myself saying, "huh. I never thought of that before. But it's truth!"
The Bible teaches us that we are all called to be, to live like Jesus. This is for our own growth, and the growth of His church, and the edification of believers so we can reach a hurting world for Him and His glory. To this end, each believer must ask themselves three questions,
What do I believe,
What should I do? and
Who/what am I becoming?
This book can help us answer those questions. Divided into three main sections, Belief, Practice and Virtue. It addresses 10 core beliefs of the believer. Beliefs that are foundational to new life in Christ. Next it addresses 10 core Practices that should characterize the believer, and finally 10 core Virtues that show the world the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
Randy Frazee is the senior minister at Oak HIlls Church in San Antonio, Texas. Oak HIlls is one of the largest churches in America, where Randy teaches and leads inpartnership with pastor and author, Max Lucado. A leader and innovator in spiritual formation and biblical community. Randy is the architect of The Story church engagement campaign. He is the author of The Heart of the Story, The connecting Church 2.0, and The Christian Life Profile Assessment Workbook. He also coauthored Real Simplicity with his wife, Rozanne.
(I received a free copy of this book from BookLook Bloggers for the purpose of reviews. All opinions are my own.)
If the answer to any of those is yes, then you need to read Randy Frazee's book, Think, Act, Be Like Jesus. This is a companion book to his book, Believe.
Think, Act Be Like Jesus is a perfect blending of challenging, encouraging, and smacks on the forehead. I've learned new things, thought new thoughts, but I also have had my eyes opened to things I knew, but wasn't doing. I've said "duh" more than a few times, and even more often while reading I found myself saying, "huh. I never thought of that before. But it's truth!"
The Bible teaches us that we are all called to be, to live like Jesus. This is for our own growth, and the growth of His church, and the edification of believers so we can reach a hurting world for Him and His glory. To this end, each believer must ask themselves three questions,
What do I believe,
What should I do? and
Who/what am I becoming?
This book can help us answer those questions. Divided into three main sections, Belief, Practice and Virtue. It addresses 10 core beliefs of the believer. Beliefs that are foundational to new life in Christ. Next it addresses 10 core Practices that should characterize the believer, and finally 10 core Virtues that show the world the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
Randy Frazee is the senior minister at Oak HIlls Church in San Antonio, Texas. Oak HIlls is one of the largest churches in America, where Randy teaches and leads inpartnership with pastor and author, Max Lucado. A leader and innovator in spiritual formation and biblical community. Randy is the architect of The Story church engagement campaign. He is the author of The Heart of the Story, The connecting Church 2.0, and The Christian Life Profile Assessment Workbook. He also coauthored Real Simplicity with his wife, Rozanne.
(I received a free copy of this book from BookLook Bloggers for the purpose of reviews. All opinions are my own.)
February 7, 2015
I recently reviewed the NIV Bible Believe and Think, Act, Be Like Jesus is a companion to that Bible. This book was such a refreshing read and not at all what I expected, which I always appreciate!
It was so honest and raw in the introduction with the "confession of disbelief" that I knew this was one of those potentially life changing books.
As children we believe what we are taught and take it at face value. As we grow into teenagers and adults, the doubt begins to creep in. I admit to having questions of my own about heaven and hell. It's such a hard thing to wrap your brain around.
Frazee openly shares his doubts that led him to write this book. I really liked the way that it was broken down in three sections with ten chapters each: the ten core beliefs, ten core practices and ten core virtues. It goes in an order that makes sense. Within the first, you can't do the last.
Frazee's writing grabbed my attention from page one. I felt particularly connected to it as a Pastors daughter, reading a book written by a Pastor. You don't usually see such a personally written book from a Pastor which is what makes it real and authentic.
Think, Act, Believe Like Jesus is a great read if you have ever experienced any doubt in your faith, which basically includes all Christians.
It was so honest and raw in the introduction with the "confession of disbelief" that I knew this was one of those potentially life changing books.
As children we believe what we are taught and take it at face value. As we grow into teenagers and adults, the doubt begins to creep in. I admit to having questions of my own about heaven and hell. It's such a hard thing to wrap your brain around.
Frazee openly shares his doubts that led him to write this book. I really liked the way that it was broken down in three sections with ten chapters each: the ten core beliefs, ten core practices and ten core virtues. It goes in an order that makes sense. Within the first, you can't do the last.
Frazee's writing grabbed my attention from page one. I felt particularly connected to it as a Pastors daughter, reading a book written by a Pastor. You don't usually see such a personally written book from a Pastor which is what makes it real and authentic.
Think, Act, Believe Like Jesus is a great read if you have ever experienced any doubt in your faith, which basically includes all Christians.
May 22, 2017
I normally read a book from cover to cover. When I don't finish a book I don't write reviews. However, I'm making an exception with this one. I started this more than 30 weeks ago and have read a chapter a week until I came to the final 25 pages today. I just have no motivation to finish. I tried, but I'm just not into it.
This is a companion volume for the book, Believe. We read Believe as a congregation and as the pastor, I was leading the way. Everyone was encouraged to read a chapter a week. On Sunday all Bible classes discussed the chapter, the sermon was tied into the theme of the chapter and our small groups talked about how to live out the message of the week in our daily lives. I was hoping this little book would give me insight into how to best present the message of the week. However, I did not find it very helpful. The information was not bad, in itself, it just seemed to be a rehash of comments made in the book or in the Sunday School dvd. I did find an occasional nugget that was helpful, but in the final analysis, if I were to go back in time and start the series over, I don't think I'd spend time reading this book.
This is a companion volume for the book, Believe. We read Believe as a congregation and as the pastor, I was leading the way. Everyone was encouraged to read a chapter a week. On Sunday all Bible classes discussed the chapter, the sermon was tied into the theme of the chapter and our small groups talked about how to live out the message of the week in our daily lives. I was hoping this little book would give me insight into how to best present the message of the week. However, I did not find it very helpful. The information was not bad, in itself, it just seemed to be a rehash of comments made in the book or in the Sunday School dvd. I did find an occasional nugget that was helpful, but in the final analysis, if I were to go back in time and start the series over, I don't think I'd spend time reading this book.
February 26, 2015
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Book Look Bloggers in exchange for my honest review.
What does it mean to be Christ follower? How does one act like, think like, and live like Jesus?
In his book Think, Act, Be Like Jesus, Randy Frazee gives some very basic and foundational truths about these questions.
The book is a very simple discipleship course that discuss three sets of 10: 10 key beliefs, 10 key practices, and 10 key virtues.
Each of the 30 chapters has some Scripture followed by questions on what it looks like to use the previously discussed truth. For example, what is salvation? Frazee uses Scripture to show what salvation is and how does one obtain it.
By doing this the book becomes a guide for deeper growth and maturation with the goal of being able to think, act, and be like Jesus.
I found this book to be very basic, with no deep theological teachings. This is ideal for someone new to Christianity and would like a nice primer on the fundamental truths of Christianity. Those looking for a more devotional or meatier christian living book should look elsewhere.
What does it mean to be Christ follower? How does one act like, think like, and live like Jesus?
In his book Think, Act, Be Like Jesus, Randy Frazee gives some very basic and foundational truths about these questions.
The book is a very simple discipleship course that discuss three sets of 10: 10 key beliefs, 10 key practices, and 10 key virtues.
Each of the 30 chapters has some Scripture followed by questions on what it looks like to use the previously discussed truth. For example, what is salvation? Frazee uses Scripture to show what salvation is and how does one obtain it.
By doing this the book becomes a guide for deeper growth and maturation with the goal of being able to think, act, and be like Jesus.
I found this book to be very basic, with no deep theological teachings. This is ideal for someone new to Christianity and would like a nice primer on the fundamental truths of Christianity. Those looking for a more devotional or meatier christian living book should look elsewhere.
March 20, 2015
My overall opinion on this book was I loved it this is a great book for christians, learning who Jesus and learning how to think and be like Jesus. A lot of times we fall in to this world and get angry and upset and allow others to still our joy. I love what the book teaches this book is a wonderful read and a book to bring around with you every where you go just in case you feel down or have a bad day you can use this book to reverence how jesus would think or how he would be. I love how the book is broken down its such an easy read.
"I received this book from Booklook Bloggers for this review."
February 17, 2015
I feel that were some excellent points made. However when it came to some of the spiritual fruits it was taken to extreme. I believe that Christ desires justice as well as mercy.
December 25, 2015
What a blessing to have read this book. A truly must read if you want to emulate Christ and improve on the fruit of the Spirit that need nourishment.
November 17, 2016
It's not what I have expected but I recommend this book. It's like going back to the basics of our faith that we usually forget.
January 14, 2017
Good addition to the Believe series
November 24, 2015
I read this in conjunction with Believe and plan to use it in our church. Good thoughts!
July 2, 2018
excellent foundational teaching
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