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Blood-Bought World
If the Church is to rise up full of people who don't give a damn about the fleeting pleasures of this life and who care only for the glory of Jesus and His Kingdom, we must once again grasp what made Jesus so immanently killable. If Jesus had been born in our day, the council that condemned Him would have included a couple of well-known evangelical pastors, a few outspoken pro-life leaders, a conservative-libertarian-leaning politician, and at least one Bible-thumping fundamentalist. Jesus was murdered by church people, for churchy reasons.
In Blood-Bought World, Toby Sumpter pinpoints the raw spots where modern-day Christians have allowed respectability, comfort, fear, love, fitness, authenticity, or other idols to become “fig leaves” to shield us from the Persons of the Trinity. We have relegated God to Sunday school presentations instead of following Jesus on the path to real authority and power: the cross.
God's undiluted sovereignty demolishes every false human claim of autonomy. Men and women who know Jesus have no patience for a polite social club with religious jargon. The real Christian faith, delivered to the saints and driven by the Holy Spirit, is a wild, rambunctious, healing force set on the redemption of the world. That is what "being Christian" means: Hello, World! Jesus bought this place with His blood. Deal with it.
In Blood-Bought World, Toby Sumpter pinpoints the raw spots where modern-day Christians have allowed respectability, comfort, fear, love, fitness, authenticity, or other idols to become “fig leaves” to shield us from the Persons of the Trinity. We have relegated God to Sunday school presentations instead of following Jesus on the path to real authority and power: the cross.
God's undiluted sovereignty demolishes every false human claim of autonomy. Men and women who know Jesus have no patience for a polite social club with religious jargon. The real Christian faith, delivered to the saints and driven by the Holy Spirit, is a wild, rambunctious, healing force set on the redemption of the world. That is what "being Christian" means: Hello, World! Jesus bought this place with His blood. Deal with it.
220 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2016
31 people are currently reading
234 people want to read
About the author
Toby J. Sumpter
16 books91 followersToby J. Sumpter serves as pastor King's Cross Church in Moscow, Idaho. He holds a B.A. in Liberal Arts and Culture from New St. Andrews College (2002) and an M.A. in Theological Studies with an emphasis in Church History from Erskine Theological Seminary (2008). He is the author of Blood Bought World and Job Through New Eyes: A Son for Glory. He and his wife, Jenny, have four children, and his favorite hobby is eating peanut butter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
March 19, 2019
Very good book. The last chapter is pure gold.
August 21, 2018
I listened to this on Audible, and it was great to hear it read in Toby's distinctively powerful voice, lending it a sense of joyful urgency.
Lots of this book was just outstanding and a desperately needed corrective to the subtle (and not-so-subtle) idolatries that draw God's people away from the Savior who bought them with His blood. Toby is fearless when it comes to proclaiming the passages of Scripture that send so many of us into hiding, attempting all kinds of exegetical gymnastics in order to avoid what God is clearly telling us. (Side note: Ever notice that the only parts of the Bible that need to be explained away through "careful consideration of the first century context" and "subtle nuances in the original Greek terms" are the ones that aren't cool with 21st century secularists? Isn't it great how none of the stuff we *like* to hear ever needs to be read with a microscope and a scalpel? But I digress.) One of the things that I've always appreciated about Toby is that he has the courage to say the unpopular truth, come what may. And this book is full of that kind of courage.
A few sections, however, left me wanting more of the dots connected between biblical truth and the particular application. One example being the biblical truth that the prophets were called by God to say and do outrageous things to wake people up from their sin and complacency. No question. Prophets did that—and other crazy things like stripping naked, building models, eating bugs, and cooking over a dung fire, to name a few. But then the application seems to be that we must be those kinds of people, too. What it left me wondering, however, was whether that needs to be my role as a stay-at-home mom. If so, to what extent? Should *I* be out there blogging my own Jeremiads? Or is that exclusively the role of a pastor? Or is the calling of prophet actually different from the calling of pastor? In Ephesians 4, those roles seems to be distinct from one another. And if they are distinct roles, then aren't there some ways in which a pastor is *not* called to act like a prophet? Anyway, I have some questions. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but I occasionally felt like I'd missed a connection or two.
My only other quibble—and it really is a quibble, but one that did affect my experience of the book—is the constant use of anaphora. I imagine that this was not so noticeably in the printed book and simply stood out more because I was listening to the book in pretty large chunks (finished it in less than 3 days). It's a powerful rhetorical device, repeating the beginning of a phrase multiple times and then ending with a punch, but hearing it so many times, it left me feeling a bit beat up. Here's just one example:
"We must, we must, we have not; If we, if we, if we...; we will be, we will be, we will be, but we..." Everything there is good, but it's lots of anaphora for just one paragraph. And there are a great many paragraphs like this throughout the book. No biggie. But there it is.
On the whole, for any Christian who might be slowly drifting toward the question, "Hath God really said...?" and for any Christian who needs to be ready to answer that question with boldness, this is an excellent read. It's a book that will drive you back to Jesus, who bought this world with His blood. And there's nothing more worthwhile than that.
Lots of this book was just outstanding and a desperately needed corrective to the subtle (and not-so-subtle) idolatries that draw God's people away from the Savior who bought them with His blood. Toby is fearless when it comes to proclaiming the passages of Scripture that send so many of us into hiding, attempting all kinds of exegetical gymnastics in order to avoid what God is clearly telling us. (Side note: Ever notice that the only parts of the Bible that need to be explained away through "careful consideration of the first century context" and "subtle nuances in the original Greek terms" are the ones that aren't cool with 21st century secularists? Isn't it great how none of the stuff we *like* to hear ever needs to be read with a microscope and a scalpel? But I digress.) One of the things that I've always appreciated about Toby is that he has the courage to say the unpopular truth, come what may. And this book is full of that kind of courage.
A few sections, however, left me wanting more of the dots connected between biblical truth and the particular application. One example being the biblical truth that the prophets were called by God to say and do outrageous things to wake people up from their sin and complacency. No question. Prophets did that—and other crazy things like stripping naked, building models, eating bugs, and cooking over a dung fire, to name a few. But then the application seems to be that we must be those kinds of people, too. What it left me wondering, however, was whether that needs to be my role as a stay-at-home mom. If so, to what extent? Should *I* be out there blogging my own Jeremiads? Or is that exclusively the role of a pastor? Or is the calling of prophet actually different from the calling of pastor? In Ephesians 4, those roles seems to be distinct from one another. And if they are distinct roles, then aren't there some ways in which a pastor is *not* called to act like a prophet? Anyway, I have some questions. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but I occasionally felt like I'd missed a connection or two.
My only other quibble—and it really is a quibble, but one that did affect my experience of the book—is the constant use of anaphora. I imagine that this was not so noticeably in the printed book and simply stood out more because I was listening to the book in pretty large chunks (finished it in less than 3 days). It's a powerful rhetorical device, repeating the beginning of a phrase multiple times and then ending with a punch, but hearing it so many times, it left me feeling a bit beat up. Here's just one example:
“We must be careful. We must beware. We have not been sent out to destroy men’s lives, but that they might have life. But let there be no mistake: If we open our mouths and speak with the authority of the King of Kings, if we actually apply the Word of God to all of life, if we dare speak on behalf of God, we will be questioned. We will be misinterpreted. We will be misunderstood. But we have been sent not to be served, but to serve and to give our lives gladly for the healing and salvation of many.”
"We must, we must, we have not; If we, if we, if we...; we will be, we will be, we will be, but we..." Everything there is good, but it's lots of anaphora for just one paragraph. And there are a great many paragraphs like this throughout the book. No biggie. But there it is.
On the whole, for any Christian who might be slowly drifting toward the question, "Hath God really said...?" and for any Christian who needs to be ready to answer that question with boldness, this is an excellent read. It's a book that will drive you back to Jesus, who bought this world with His blood. And there's nothing more worthwhile than that.
March 23, 2017
I'm prejudiced against modern Christian authors. What passes for Christian witness today is typically so tepid and risk-averse as to put me instantly to sleep. Thankfully this book is different. It's bold. It's punchy. It's iconoclastic. And all in the name of Jesus, regeneration, and Christian militancy. I was encouraged and helped by it.
Hope Rev. Sumpter keeps writing!
Hope Rev. Sumpter keeps writing!
January 27, 2022
Favorite quote -
When people know Jesus, they know they have nothing to lose, nothing to fear, and the world is before them. And Jesus sends them out with His blessing to discover, invent, create, rule, bless, heal, explore, and die with smiles on their faces, because they know the Man who is truly Alive, and now they can't stay dead anymore.
When people know Jesus, they know they have nothing to lose, nothing to fear, and the world is before them. And Jesus sends them out with His blessing to discover, invent, create, rule, bless, heal, explore, and die with smiles on their faces, because they know the Man who is truly Alive, and now they can't stay dead anymore.
November 23, 2022
Not to be too dramatic but this is a MUST read.
Toby lays axe to root problems in Evangelical Christianity in the west. If you think he won’t swing at your camp, he will. He swings at any idol that stands in front of the only truly firm foundation Christians should have, the man Jesus.
I say this often but this was the most convicting book I’ve read in awhile. Yet at every place I was convicted, I was also deeply comforted because I was reminded that I was clinging to something far less secure than Christ. No theology, doctrine, tradition or practice will prove to stand storms like the Rock. Build on the Rock.
Toby lays axe to root problems in Evangelical Christianity in the west. If you think he won’t swing at your camp, he will. He swings at any idol that stands in front of the only truly firm foundation Christians should have, the man Jesus.
I say this often but this was the most convicting book I’ve read in awhile. Yet at every place I was convicted, I was also deeply comforted because I was reminded that I was clinging to something far less secure than Christ. No theology, doctrine, tradition or practice will prove to stand storms like the Rock. Build on the Rock.
March 13, 2023
Very good book. I would recommend to any Christian seeking to grow in their faith.
March 7, 2017
I enjoyed it enough to start immediately reading it again. It's full of good and timely reminders for all Christians, reminders of what we are and who Jesus is.
"If 'Christianity' can remain generic, warmed-over thoughts about a deity in the sky, it can be crammed into various philosophies and cultural expressions, like the little girl who dresses up the family bull dog in an Elizabethan bonnet. And inevitably, a neutered 'Jesus' gives us piles of little neutered Christians.
But what God has in mind is the complete renovation of the world. Jesus didn't send His apostles out to start a social club, a special interest group, or a new 'religion' that could be filed in the yellow pages, right there between Cats and Creeps. Jesus didn't send His apostles out to make deals, to compromise, and offer alternative lifestyles. Jesus claimed all authority in heaven and on earth. He claimed all of it, and sent His apostles to announce that claim in the words of the gospel and to enact it with water, bread, and wine, with His full authority. That's what evangelism is: Hello, World: Jesus bought this place with His blood. Deal with it."
"If 'Christianity' can remain generic, warmed-over thoughts about a deity in the sky, it can be crammed into various philosophies and cultural expressions, like the little girl who dresses up the family bull dog in an Elizabethan bonnet. And inevitably, a neutered 'Jesus' gives us piles of little neutered Christians.
But what God has in mind is the complete renovation of the world. Jesus didn't send His apostles out to start a social club, a special interest group, or a new 'religion' that could be filed in the yellow pages, right there between Cats and Creeps. Jesus didn't send His apostles out to make deals, to compromise, and offer alternative lifestyles. Jesus claimed all authority in heaven and on earth. He claimed all of it, and sent His apostles to announce that claim in the words of the gospel and to enact it with water, bread, and wine, with His full authority. That's what evangelism is: Hello, World: Jesus bought this place with His blood. Deal with it."
February 4, 2020
This book is one of those books that is just so packed with truth and ideas that you know you didn't get everything out of it that you could have.
It's definitely a reread. Sumpter addresses many of the issues that we can see in the church today by identifying one central problem: The lies we believe about God and the lies we believe about ourselves.
He addresses lies that we believe about God's grace, lies we've created about who Jesus is, and what Jesus' sacrifice truly means for us.
He does not beat around the bush.
And he communicates in a engaging and intelligible way, which makes for not just a profitable read, but also an enjoyable read.
It's definitely a reread. Sumpter addresses many of the issues that we can see in the church today by identifying one central problem: The lies we believe about God and the lies we believe about ourselves.
He addresses lies that we believe about God's grace, lies we've created about who Jesus is, and what Jesus' sacrifice truly means for us.
He does not beat around the bush.
And he communicates in a engaging and intelligible way, which makes for not just a profitable read, but also an enjoyable read.
July 5, 2016
A pretty good book, that focuses on our hearts and how we mute the gospel in our lives. It is a bit overstated at places, but that may be due to it being in preaching voice instead of book voice. His focus on our sins, "our" sins, not the sins of others is helpful. And then of course, he brings us back to Jesus, which is always a delight.
March 20, 2021
Phenomenal. The exact kick in the pants we need in this moment of time.
“Let the egalitarians, feminists, homosexuals and all their ideological dufflepuds shriek in horror at what sounds, as C.S. Lewis would say, ‘positively medieval’ (as though that were so obviously a bad thing). Let the progressive nannies rush in to protect the human race. We will follow Jesus.”
“Let the egalitarians, feminists, homosexuals and all their ideological dufflepuds shriek in horror at what sounds, as C.S. Lewis would say, ‘positively medieval’ (as though that were so obviously a bad thing). Let the progressive nannies rush in to protect the human race. We will follow Jesus.”
September 30, 2018
Excellent. Gloriously painful and gut-wrenching. Easily in my top five favorite books ever.
July 30, 2025
This is a serrated edged defense or an all of Christ for all of life worldview. Very good in some parts, a bit scattered in others. But Christ is preached and held high throughout, He bought this world and we need to live like it!
July 18, 2024
Solid book. I really liked the last full chapter. But the book as a whole is a good collection of thoughts about what it means that God owns this world. What an idea!
July 14, 2025
Somewhere in between 3 and 4 stars. If this world has been bought by God, and it has, and if it is covered by his blood, and it is, then there are responsibilities for those of us who live on it. Sumpter discusses these facts in a Wilsonian manner and brings to memory all the things Christ did on our behalf - whether we like it or not. As Sumpter said “He is king, sovereign, Lord, and God over all. No exceptions.” We’ve been bought with a price, so live like it.
February 24, 2023
Fantastic! You can almost feel his speaking cadence in his writing here.
November 20, 2018
This book is for the little Pharisee you have hidden in your heart. Good news though-Jesus died for that part of you too.
Toby J. Sumpter is not easy to read. I mean his writing is fantastic and this book is a page turner but Toby has so much Biblical knowledge and wisdom that I found myself repenting over and over throughout this book. Repenting hurts. That is why Toby is hard to read. But what do we do when we repent? We turn. Turn where? To Jesus. Toby does not leave the reader feeling hopeless. He is constantly pointing to the One who shed his blood for the world. We all need Jesus. We must have Jesus.
This is one of those books that I would put on the level of "Holiness" by J.C. Ryle. I will be reading it along with my Bible until I meet Jesus. It is that good.
Read also in 2018
Toby J. Sumpter is not easy to read. I mean his writing is fantastic and this book is a page turner but Toby has so much Biblical knowledge and wisdom that I found myself repenting over and over throughout this book. Repenting hurts. That is why Toby is hard to read. But what do we do when we repent? We turn. Turn where? To Jesus. Toby does not leave the reader feeling hopeless. He is constantly pointing to the One who shed his blood for the world. We all need Jesus. We must have Jesus.
This is one of those books that I would put on the level of "Holiness" by J.C. Ryle. I will be reading it along with my Bible until I meet Jesus. It is that good.
Read also in 2018
November 28, 2016
I was encouraged and inspired by this book. I recommend reading one chapter a week. The exhortations are jam-packed and, if read too quickly, this book could overwhelm.
So thankful for the blood of Jesus.
So thankful for the blood of Jesus.
December 16, 2015
Entertaining little ditty. It's best quality is its pastoral voice. It'll shake your confidence in self, make you laugh, piss you off, and weaken your knees before the King.
October 22, 2020
LOOOVE it!! Excellent book! I had read this one a couple of times before, but now listened to the audio book and, of course, it was fantastic.
March 28, 2023
His general argument to not be ashamed of being a Christian was good albeit a little scattered. Live out your baptism in what you do and how you live.
He really pushed a rude, loud and in your face version of “living out” Christianity. Be what made people want to kill Jesus etc. There’s a time to be resolute and courageous in the face of controversy and to refuse to stand down from the opposition of the wicked, but we shouldn’t be hounding people down and rubbing in their faces all our more “controversial” opinions. Honestly, that kind of perspective takes its cue from our victim culture. “Hey everyone! Look at me and my edgy offensive opinions. What do you think of that?” [insert angry reaction] “Cry all you want! I’m willing to suffer for Christ” [much awe and sympathy from admirers for his brave martyrdom]
This would explain his really odd reassertions of old FV arguments that he has scattered throughout the book. Attacking systematic theology and the traditional reformed church in ways that sound very similar to the old FV debaters, especially Doug. I read this right after I read Reformed is Not Enough and was really surprised to hear so many similarities. It was almost as if he were making it clear who’s “side” he was on here, even though the FV debate has been dead for about a decade when he wrote this and, ironically enough, he renounces FV 3 years later.
He really pushed a rude, loud and in your face version of “living out” Christianity. Be what made people want to kill Jesus etc. There’s a time to be resolute and courageous in the face of controversy and to refuse to stand down from the opposition of the wicked, but we shouldn’t be hounding people down and rubbing in their faces all our more “controversial” opinions. Honestly, that kind of perspective takes its cue from our victim culture. “Hey everyone! Look at me and my edgy offensive opinions. What do you think of that?” [insert angry reaction] “Cry all you want! I’m willing to suffer for Christ” [much awe and sympathy from admirers for his brave martyrdom]
This would explain his really odd reassertions of old FV arguments that he has scattered throughout the book. Attacking systematic theology and the traditional reformed church in ways that sound very similar to the old FV debaters, especially Doug. I read this right after I read Reformed is Not Enough and was really surprised to hear so many similarities. It was almost as if he were making it clear who’s “side” he was on here, even though the FV debate has been dead for about a decade when he wrote this and, ironically enough, he renounces FV 3 years later.
December 2, 2022
Blood Bought World by Reverend Toby J. Sumpter is a must read for all Christians. What a great kick in the pants! This shorter book packs such a heavy punch, and may I warn you that he takes shots at every Christian camp possible, including his own theological preferences. The main thing is repentance of idols and a true faith in the Lord Jesus Christ will lead to an extravagant adventurous life filled with bold expectations to seeing His Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. The worldy destruction of idols must first begin in our own hearts. Much of the book also took flavors from Doug Wilson’s book on The Serrated Edge. The true Jesus said that blessed are the peace-makers for they are considered sons of God, and in the same breadth, Jesus teaches that this peace he’s taking about many times leads to conflict, riots, disagreement and reviling, but we must not fret because Jesus bought this world with his own blood, and the world has to deal with this present reality! I commend this work very much.
January 20, 2024
What are the implications of Christ’s death and resurrection? What does it mean that Christ has all authority in heaven and on earth? What is the significance of Jesus’s mission of reconciling and restoring the entire cosmos to himself?
This book answers those questions with a simple call: We must boldly preach all of Christ for all of life and set about the work of tearing down all idols, both in the world and in our own hearts. Especially the idols in our own hearts. It really got my blood pumping for personal holiness and evangelism!
This book answers those questions with a simple call: We must boldly preach all of Christ for all of life and set about the work of tearing down all idols, both in the world and in our own hearts. Especially the idols in our own hearts. It really got my blood pumping for personal holiness and evangelism!
February 19, 2021
Poetic Preaching on Hard Reality
A long, strong meditation on the surprising potency of the cross, and the power inherent in trusting that Jesus really did what He said He came to do. Sumpter is lyrical in the way the best preaching is - not as mere ornament, but to drive the point home and make it stick with us long after we set down the book. Highly recommended!!!
A long, strong meditation on the surprising potency of the cross, and the power inherent in trusting that Jesus really did what He said He came to do. Sumpter is lyrical in the way the best preaching is - not as mere ornament, but to drive the point home and make it stick with us long after we set down the book. Highly recommended!!!
May 14, 2021
I’ve been a Christian for 16+ years as of this writing, and honestly have grown weary of evangelicalism. However, I’m not an advocate of deconstruction, unless that is the deconstruction of falsehood and simplistic applications and corporate slogans of modern churches. If you find yourself in the slow beta go-nowhere slog of trying to get people to church and build your organization while you wonder where your passion for Christ has gone, vision is needed. As the Beaver told Lucy on her visit to Narnia, “Aslan is not safe, but he is good,” Blood Bought World is a manifesto of good news that will fill your spine with fire, your feet with lightness, your shoulders with strength, and your voice with laughter. Let them kill us. Their plunder is at the doorstep.
December 15, 2020
Phenomenal. Would recommend the audiobook as well.
September 4, 2018
Really great.
September 12, 2018
An absolute triumph.
I'm guilty of some rating-inflation over time, so can we call this a 6-star book?
This is the first book I've read that has the real potential of dethroning Notes from the Tilt-a-Whirl as my favourite book and the one that I'm desperate for everyone to read.
You could call it an extended sermon on idolatry. You could call it a manifesto for spicy, courageous Christian living. You could call it "positively medieval". Who cares?
It's well-written, strikes at the core, wherever you might be on a theological/cultural/political spectrum. But its message is needed by me, and it's needed by just about anyone I know. Possibly, most of all, by UK church leaders.
It's an unflinching exposition of aspects of the gospel with enough specific, painful details to make just about everyone uncomfortable. And then to give both the big answer - what Jesus has done and is doing - and the small answer - what we now do.
Did I mention that it's powerfully, memorably written? Kinda. But it really is.
I virtually only read books that I'm already convinced are really worth reading, so my star ratings tend to be high. But this is another level to a bunch of other excellent books I've read/listened to this year.
Buy copies for your friends and for your enemies.
I'm guilty of some rating-inflation over time, so can we call this a 6-star book?
This is the first book I've read that has the real potential of dethroning Notes from the Tilt-a-Whirl as my favourite book and the one that I'm desperate for everyone to read.
You could call it an extended sermon on idolatry. You could call it a manifesto for spicy, courageous Christian living. You could call it "positively medieval". Who cares?
It's well-written, strikes at the core, wherever you might be on a theological/cultural/political spectrum. But its message is needed by me, and it's needed by just about anyone I know. Possibly, most of all, by UK church leaders.
It's an unflinching exposition of aspects of the gospel with enough specific, painful details to make just about everyone uncomfortable. And then to give both the big answer - what Jesus has done and is doing - and the small answer - what we now do.
Did I mention that it's powerfully, memorably written? Kinda. But it really is.
I virtually only read books that I'm already convinced are really worth reading, so my star ratings tend to be high. But this is another level to a bunch of other excellent books I've read/listened to this year.
Buy copies for your friends and for your enemies.
December 21, 2018
Get ready to die to self. This book is a love letter to Jesus about death to self and the glory of God. Toby takes the reader on a journey to destroy all of the pretty little boxes airtight definitions and descriptions we love to wrap the Lord of glory in.
Every chapter is dedicated to the mortification of idolatry in our lives each chapter dealing with a specific or unique way that ugly demonic mole rears its head. Be prepared to be offended, be prepared to repent, be prepared to glorify God with fresh eyes. Thoroughly enjoyed every chapter, even the painful parts that brought me to my knees.
Every chapter is dedicated to the mortification of idolatry in our lives each chapter dealing with a specific or unique way that ugly demonic mole rears its head. Be prepared to be offended, be prepared to repent, be prepared to glorify God with fresh eyes. Thoroughly enjoyed every chapter, even the painful parts that brought me to my knees.
November 9, 2020
I was encouraged from this book and reminded of the boldness we should have as the people of God. I also particularly like that the author is an equal opportunity offender in his examples.
I give three stars because there were many moments where the author seemed to be edgy without a purpose. These moments were relatively few and scattered throughout the book, but distract from the message.
Overall, it is worth the read, and brings reminders that the church needs if we are to be faithful to God as we live in this world.
I give three stars because there were many moments where the author seemed to be edgy without a purpose. These moments were relatively few and scattered throughout the book, but distract from the message.
Overall, it is worth the read, and brings reminders that the church needs if we are to be faithful to God as we live in this world.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews