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Back to Basics: Eight Foundations for Kingdom Living
This book is part storytelling narrative, part honest teaching, and part untempered, spontaneous conversation between three friends on the basics of living in the kingdom of God. In May of 2009 Doug Roberts, Ben Pasley , and Tim F. Thornton took an old beat up RV into the mountains near Woodland Park, Colorado and for three days did little more than fish, eat, and record conversations on foundational truths. These beautiful pictures of kingdom life become even more potent when we witness them shared between three generations of spiritual lineage–from fathers to sons.
Chapter Overview:
1. God’s Love
If you are not grounded in knowing that the Father loves you no matter what, then the devil will always question you about the Father’s love for you. How you receive God’s love effects not only your ability to love the Father but also your ability to love yourself and others.
2. Walking in Forgiveness.
Lay aside falsehood and speak truth to each other. Don’t give the devil an opportunity. Let bitterness, wrath, anger and slander be put away from you, along with malice, and forgive each other as God in Christ also forgave you.
3. Exercising Faith.
Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
4. Knowing the Holy Spirit.
“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and in you and will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” John 14:16-17
5. Being in Christ.
Once you have believed in Christ for salvation, then you need to learn how to be in Christ so you can do the works that the Father has prepared beforehand for you to do.
6. Practicing Righteousness.
“Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.” 1 John 3:7
7. Rejoicing in Suffering.
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
8. Ruling Your Soul.
“I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.” 3 John 1:2
Chapter Overview:
1. God’s Love
If you are not grounded in knowing that the Father loves you no matter what, then the devil will always question you about the Father’s love for you. How you receive God’s love effects not only your ability to love the Father but also your ability to love yourself and others.
2. Walking in Forgiveness.
Lay aside falsehood and speak truth to each other. Don’t give the devil an opportunity. Let bitterness, wrath, anger and slander be put away from you, along with malice, and forgive each other as God in Christ also forgave you.
3. Exercising Faith.
Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
4. Knowing the Holy Spirit.
“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and in you and will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” John 14:16-17
5. Being in Christ.
Once you have believed in Christ for salvation, then you need to learn how to be in Christ so you can do the works that the Father has prepared beforehand for you to do.
6. Practicing Righteousness.
“Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.” 1 John 3:7
7. Rejoicing in Suffering.
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
8. Ruling Your Soul.
“I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.” 3 John 1:2
254 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2009
11 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 14, 2021
It was the first book that i've read in English.
June 23, 2017
I'll give this one a 3.5 - if you can't tell by the blurb, this is sort of a narrative theology book...in the sense that it's these 3 friends sitting and talking about Jesus and what it means to follow him.
The good: The first chapter is fantastic, and the second, on practicing forgiveness, is even better. I was surprised that forgiveness was SO foundational to these men that they would put it second, but that was simply thought-provoking. The narrative is easy to read, the men are funny and engaging, and it is edited enough to not feel like you're just reading a bunch of guys blabbing. Most of the doctrine is pretty basic Christian belief...most being the operative word. That leads me to:
The not-so-good: I'm relatively charismatic. I believe that all the gifts of the Spirit are in operation today, I've spoken in tongues before (though I don't believe I have the gift of tongues), I'm certainly not a cessationist. But even I felt like the chapter on the Holy Spirit was too much...or really, simply focused on ONE aspect of the Spirit's work. In particular, Doug seemed to have the idea of the "baptism of the Holy Spirit" (a concept I am familiar with from growing up) and tongues as so central to his faith that he didn't talk about anything else. Even when Ben tried to give him outs - statements like "But Doug, you're not saying that tongues is REQUIRED, right?" - Doug still seemed to be stuck on this one particular manifestation of the Spirit.
I love the Holy Spirit. I love Him. And it is sad to me that this chapter simply was obsessed with tongues when the guidance of the Spirit, the conviction of the Spirit, the revelation the Spirit brings are more central to the NT narrative and certainly more important in most people's lives. Not all will speak in tongues, a fact that seems to have been forgotten.
It's a shame, because this would be a great book to give to a new believer, but I just wouldn't want them to think that tongues = Christian maturity. If you can sift through that, it's an enjoyable read.
The good: The first chapter is fantastic, and the second, on practicing forgiveness, is even better. I was surprised that forgiveness was SO foundational to these men that they would put it second, but that was simply thought-provoking. The narrative is easy to read, the men are funny and engaging, and it is edited enough to not feel like you're just reading a bunch of guys blabbing. Most of the doctrine is pretty basic Christian belief...most being the operative word. That leads me to:
The not-so-good: I'm relatively charismatic. I believe that all the gifts of the Spirit are in operation today, I've spoken in tongues before (though I don't believe I have the gift of tongues), I'm certainly not a cessationist. But even I felt like the chapter on the Holy Spirit was too much...or really, simply focused on ONE aspect of the Spirit's work. In particular, Doug seemed to have the idea of the "baptism of the Holy Spirit" (a concept I am familiar with from growing up) and tongues as so central to his faith that he didn't talk about anything else. Even when Ben tried to give him outs - statements like "But Doug, you're not saying that tongues is REQUIRED, right?" - Doug still seemed to be stuck on this one particular manifestation of the Spirit.
I love the Holy Spirit. I love Him. And it is sad to me that this chapter simply was obsessed with tongues when the guidance of the Spirit, the conviction of the Spirit, the revelation the Spirit brings are more central to the NT narrative and certainly more important in most people's lives. Not all will speak in tongues, a fact that seems to have been forgotten.
It's a shame, because this would be a great book to give to a new believer, but I just wouldn't want them to think that tongues = Christian maturity. If you can sift through that, it's an enjoyable read.
May 4, 2010
The body of Christ must understand biblical foundations. Otherwise, the structure which man is building is doomed. Doug Roberts shows a great understanding of these important foundations. He shares truths that are crucial to understanding how God is building his kingdom on the earth. The dialogue among the three men is a refreshing approach to these concepts. Ben Pasley and Tim Thornton draw out the great wealth of understanding in Doug Roberts and add their own insights to these important concepts. The revelation unfolded in the book, such as love is greater than knowledge, will touch the hearts of readers.
January 3, 2015
Well, I helped write this book and I am one of the authors so, yes, I am prejudiced. What I can say here without fear of being totally self oriented is that this book is really the outworking of the life and teaching work of my pastor, Doug Roberts. Doug, a good friend Tim Thornton, and myself took a three day camping retreat and recorded 8 conversations on the basics of kingdom living. These conversations were transcribed and become the materials used to build the book. It is conversational, practical, and not particularly teachy. See www.timwithdoug.com for more information.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews