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Upward, Inward, Outward: Love God, Love Yourself, Love Others
This book is about discovering together how to understand and live the Greatest Commandment. We’re not after the “art of thinking about God a little differently.” We’re here to uncover the needs God created within us―needs for meaning, intimacy, honesty, humility, justice, compassion, and more―and how he designed us to find those needs fulfilled in him.
This is the art of living Jesus’ spirituality.
God gives us the key in the Greatest Commandment, but we’ve got to do this stuff in the right order. Imagine I invite you to my sweet cabin by the lake. To start hanging out in that cabin, you need to get the key from me, pack your car, follow the GPS, and so on. There’s a natural order to it. It’s the same with the Greatest Commandment.
We begin upward, with loving God. The God. God of the Old Testament, God of the New Testament. God the Trinity―Father, Son, Holy Spirit. We continue inward, with understanding our true identities in Jesus. And when we get those things right, God’s Spirit sends us outward, on mission into the world.
These three movements―upward, inward, and outward―mirror the Greatest Commandment and help us learn the art of living harmoniously together in a chaotic world.
This is the art of living Jesus’ spirituality.
God gives us the key in the Greatest Commandment, but we’ve got to do this stuff in the right order. Imagine I invite you to my sweet cabin by the lake. To start hanging out in that cabin, you need to get the key from me, pack your car, follow the GPS, and so on. There’s a natural order to it. It’s the same with the Greatest Commandment.
We begin upward, with loving God. The God. God of the Old Testament, God of the New Testament. God the Trinity―Father, Son, Holy Spirit. We continue inward, with understanding our true identities in Jesus. And when we get those things right, God’s Spirit sends us outward, on mission into the world.
These three movements―upward, inward, and outward―mirror the Greatest Commandment and help us learn the art of living harmoniously together in a chaotic world.
272 pages, Paperback
First published October 10, 2017
30 people are currently reading
264 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
October 10, 2017
Ever wish you has a class or textbook in school teaching you how to study? Well, the same goes for living the Christian life. We know what we SHOULD do or how OTHERS do it, but this book explains the WHY we need to along with various way to achieve the goals of connecting and living Christian lives fully, faithfully and truly understanding and reaching out.
Pastor Daniel breaks everything down just as the title says...UPWARD, INWARD and OUTWARD. I just finished the book and I will now be going back again and I am sure again to pick up things I didn't before, take notes and understand in plain and simple terms what I have been trying to figure out all these years.
I highly recommend this book for newly saved and those who have been involved in the church for years.
Pastor Daniel breaks everything down just as the title says...UPWARD, INWARD and OUTWARD. I just finished the book and I will now be going back again and I am sure again to pick up things I didn't before, take notes and understand in plain and simple terms what I have been trying to figure out all these years.
I highly recommend this book for newly saved and those who have been involved in the church for years.
October 10, 2017
This book is a must read for anyone that has a call to know God. How to hear his voice, walk in his love and grace. To learn to love yourself and to become all that you can be. Daniel helps us on a personal journey that is such a blessing as we morph into the spiritual human being God intended us to be. Reaching Upward to God, living Inward, and ultimately reaching Outward to all in Gods Love. You'll want to read this book over and over. Share with your family and friends. My life has just begun an incredible journey. Thanks to God and the gift of Pastor Daniel Fusco to share his loving words.
Tammy Burks
Tammy Burks
October 10, 2017
Daniel Fusco did an excellent job illustrating what it looks like to fully live a life in Christ in his book “Upward, Inward, Outward”. Overall, it is simple and to the point. I think that this is an awesome resource to use for family and small group studies. As it has helped me, I believe it will help others who are seeking to grow in the love of God! Receiving His love and spreading His love to others!!!
October 10, 2017
So far this book is amazing. It feels like you are just having a conversation with someone in a coffee shop and they happen to have great wisdom in the midst of the good conversation. This book has been challenging me, and I'm sure it will be all the way through. If you are thinking about getting this book, I highly encourage you to pick this up whether in a store on online here at goodreads.
October 11, 2017
Daniel Fusco has a down-to-earth writing style that makes complex concepts easy to grasp. Upward, Inward, Outward is about becoming the best version of you. The warm, friendly tone of the book is conversational, direct and simple without being simplistic. This is a life-changing book you'll have trouble putting down once you've picked it up.
October 25, 2017
This is a Gooreads win review. This is an awesome book about how to Love God, Love Yourself, and Love Others. It is broken up into wonderful chapters that really make a person think about God and our relationship to him.
October 11, 2017
Have you ever wondered what the greatest commandment really means? When you get down to the heart of the matter or the brass tacks, what does it really mean to love God? And how am I supposed to love Him with all of my heart, my soul, my mind, and my strength? And how about the 2nd commandment…to love others as myself? What does that look like, in 21st century America (or wherever you live)?
I’ve heard countless sermons over my 35+ years of Christianity and all the years of Christian education, but I never quite heard the explanation to these commandments in as clear and understandable language as I did when reading Daniel Fusco’s book “Upward, Inward, Outward.”
Jesus himself said that of all the commandments in the Bible, all 613 of them, these are the most important. So basically, all of God’s instruction for you and I can be boiled down to two things – Love God, and love others in the same manner as we love ourselves.
Pastor Fusco divides the book into three movements, as suggested in the title. In the first movement, he breaks down into common language and understanding, what it truly means to love God through worship, prayer, solitude, and meditation.
One of my favorite quotes in this section goes like this, “God’s joy does not depend on or ensure that everything works out perfectly. It isn’t circumstantial. God’s joy is the disposition of a heart that knows ‘it is well with my soul’ because God is God. This is the joy he shares with us when we come to Him with worship.” Wow.
Another favorite of mine in this first movement falls under the section on prayer. Fusco says, “Most of us, when we pray about something that doesn’t happen, we stop praying. And that’s exactly why God doesn’t usually answer our requests immediately.” That stopped me in my tracks. I’ve been so guilty for a very long time of bringing something to the Lord in prayer, but failing to be consistent and persistent in my prayer and eventually ‘giving up’ on it, if the answer doesn’t come about or it isn’t answered in the way I want it to be.
Fusco follows that statement up with, “We know God isn’t a cosmic vending machine, but a lot of times we act like he is. God knows our hearts and our natures, and he wants us to learn to seek after his heart.” My initial response is, “OUCH.”
There are plenty more “nuggets” in the first movement, but you need to discover them on your own. To sum up the section, I loved it when he said, “There’s simply too much at stake to not be people of prayer.”
In the second movement Pastor Fusco tackles the subject of loving ourselves.
To many people, the thought of loving yourself has a negative connotation. You might think that it’s not very Christ-like to love yourself. Only the wicked, prideful, and arrogant people love themselves. But, when Pastor Fusco explained it by saying, “We love and value ourselves based on the finished work of the cross of Jesus,” that stirred something within me that I hadn’t considered before. “At the Cross, our identity is displayed in God’s grace and love.” (Fusco’s words – not mine).
He goes on to say, “The only way to love ourselves in the way that God desires is to see ourselves through the lens of the cross of Jesus.” When we understand who we are in Christ, and we understand our identity in Christ – that our identity IS Christ – we have a better understanding that it’s impossible to “love our neighbors as ourselves” unless we have a healthy love for ourselves. And by seeing ourselves as Christ sees us, redeemed through the blood of the cross, we can accept the fact that we are lovable after all!
He talks about fasting (including the right and wrong ways to do it), intentionally prioritizing God’s kingdom, and the importance of aligning our priorities with those of Jesus. There is so much packed into the second movement I feel that I need to go back through it again, slowly, to absorb all the nuggets I probably missed the first time around!
In the third and final movement, Fusco challenges us with loving our neighbors…all of them.
You’re only a few pages into this movement when he writes about one of the most selfless, sacrificial acts of kindness (besides laying down His life for us) that Christ did – washing the feet of His disciples. Through that act, He taught the disciples – and us – that love means action.
Fusco challenges the reader to find our uniqueness in Christ, and to be who God uniquely made us to be. And, he wraps up this movement by discussing community and generosity – two topics that were important to Christ during His time here on earth.
I have to honestly admit, I don’t finish all the books I read. In fact, so many of the leadership and “religious” books lose me about two-thirds of the way through, because they become monotonous or repetitive to the point of nauseam. But not this one. One thing that Fusco has going for him, other than the fact that he is tackling an extremely important and difficult subject, is his humor and relatable stories.
Without giving away too many secrets, he includes plenty of scripture but artfully weaves in stories of Cheez-its, nasty toenails, childbirth, hairy babies, second graders, and a drummer who interrupted a saxophone solo because it was so awful. Not only that, but he has included some hilarious footnotes that really bring out his personality – including comparing himself to Ryan Gosling – but with dreadlocks!
Daniel Fusco explains, in a way that only he can, the importance of living a life of love, and living it Upward towards God, Inwards as you love yourself, and Outward as you love the world around you.
If you’ve ever heard him speak, you can certainly “hear” him through the pages of this book.
(I was provided an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review. After reading it, I can say that I would have reviewed it anyhow!)
I’ve heard countless sermons over my 35+ years of Christianity and all the years of Christian education, but I never quite heard the explanation to these commandments in as clear and understandable language as I did when reading Daniel Fusco’s book “Upward, Inward, Outward.”
Jesus himself said that of all the commandments in the Bible, all 613 of them, these are the most important. So basically, all of God’s instruction for you and I can be boiled down to two things – Love God, and love others in the same manner as we love ourselves.
Pastor Fusco divides the book into three movements, as suggested in the title. In the first movement, he breaks down into common language and understanding, what it truly means to love God through worship, prayer, solitude, and meditation.
One of my favorite quotes in this section goes like this, “God’s joy does not depend on or ensure that everything works out perfectly. It isn’t circumstantial. God’s joy is the disposition of a heart that knows ‘it is well with my soul’ because God is God. This is the joy he shares with us when we come to Him with worship.” Wow.
Another favorite of mine in this first movement falls under the section on prayer. Fusco says, “Most of us, when we pray about something that doesn’t happen, we stop praying. And that’s exactly why God doesn’t usually answer our requests immediately.” That stopped me in my tracks. I’ve been so guilty for a very long time of bringing something to the Lord in prayer, but failing to be consistent and persistent in my prayer and eventually ‘giving up’ on it, if the answer doesn’t come about or it isn’t answered in the way I want it to be.
Fusco follows that statement up with, “We know God isn’t a cosmic vending machine, but a lot of times we act like he is. God knows our hearts and our natures, and he wants us to learn to seek after his heart.” My initial response is, “OUCH.”
There are plenty more “nuggets” in the first movement, but you need to discover them on your own. To sum up the section, I loved it when he said, “There’s simply too much at stake to not be people of prayer.”
In the second movement Pastor Fusco tackles the subject of loving ourselves.
To many people, the thought of loving yourself has a negative connotation. You might think that it’s not very Christ-like to love yourself. Only the wicked, prideful, and arrogant people love themselves. But, when Pastor Fusco explained it by saying, “We love and value ourselves based on the finished work of the cross of Jesus,” that stirred something within me that I hadn’t considered before. “At the Cross, our identity is displayed in God’s grace and love.” (Fusco’s words – not mine).
He goes on to say, “The only way to love ourselves in the way that God desires is to see ourselves through the lens of the cross of Jesus.” When we understand who we are in Christ, and we understand our identity in Christ – that our identity IS Christ – we have a better understanding that it’s impossible to “love our neighbors as ourselves” unless we have a healthy love for ourselves. And by seeing ourselves as Christ sees us, redeemed through the blood of the cross, we can accept the fact that we are lovable after all!
He talks about fasting (including the right and wrong ways to do it), intentionally prioritizing God’s kingdom, and the importance of aligning our priorities with those of Jesus. There is so much packed into the second movement I feel that I need to go back through it again, slowly, to absorb all the nuggets I probably missed the first time around!
In the third and final movement, Fusco challenges us with loving our neighbors…all of them.
You’re only a few pages into this movement when he writes about one of the most selfless, sacrificial acts of kindness (besides laying down His life for us) that Christ did – washing the feet of His disciples. Through that act, He taught the disciples – and us – that love means action.
Fusco challenges the reader to find our uniqueness in Christ, and to be who God uniquely made us to be. And, he wraps up this movement by discussing community and generosity – two topics that were important to Christ during His time here on earth.
I have to honestly admit, I don’t finish all the books I read. In fact, so many of the leadership and “religious” books lose me about two-thirds of the way through, because they become monotonous or repetitive to the point of nauseam. But not this one. One thing that Fusco has going for him, other than the fact that he is tackling an extremely important and difficult subject, is his humor and relatable stories.
Without giving away too many secrets, he includes plenty of scripture but artfully weaves in stories of Cheez-its, nasty toenails, childbirth, hairy babies, second graders, and a drummer who interrupted a saxophone solo because it was so awful. Not only that, but he has included some hilarious footnotes that really bring out his personality – including comparing himself to Ryan Gosling – but with dreadlocks!
Daniel Fusco explains, in a way that only he can, the importance of living a life of love, and living it Upward towards God, Inwards as you love yourself, and Outward as you love the world around you.
If you’ve ever heard him speak, you can certainly “hear” him through the pages of this book.
(I was provided an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review. After reading it, I can say that I would have reviewed it anyhow!)
October 15, 2017
This book is an easy page turner that tells the message straight with a little of Daniel's down to earth humor purposely spliced in in all the right places. I would consider myself a lifelong Christian, but if I were honest, I have always felt like I was fumbling around on the edges of what my life could really be. I never felt truly plugged into the word. This book read like a template for me of how to life my life more abundantly. Finally I could see both the leaves AND the forest in a new and inspiring real way. Through its pages I have discovered how to experience God more intimately....how to see myself more accurately through the lens of the Cross...and how to equip myself to be His hands and feet in the world. This book is a must read for any and all. Are you questioning what this whole Jesus and God thing is about? Get this book. Are you a devoted pursuer of the Word? Add this book to your must read list. Are you a lifelong Christian who feels disconnected? Get this book and let it rekindle your relationship with the one who is the source of it all. Love and learning how to love in abundance through all things in all instances and to all mankind is His message and Daniel's book captures the amazing beauty of that 4 lettered gift to humanity perfectly! Next on my list will be to invite a few friends to experience it all in a whole other way…small group discussion style. Be sure to check out the DVD series and small group booklets when they are available. I know I am anxiously awaiting mine!
October 12, 2017
There has never been a better book to help us follow the art of living in Jesus Christ spiritually . Upward , Inward, Outward is a straight forward great read with hands on application to live in the Lord daily. Learn how Jesus invites us into God-designed ways of living our lives . Learn how to meet your needs in ways you never imagined. Learn how to respond to the invitation. You will go Upward and focus on God through a different perspective. You will focus on our human need for meaning.. to connect , for our intimacy and to reflect. You will go Inward, and focus on Jesus, with the perspective of our needs for honesty, humility and control of self. Then . you will go Outward , with the focus on relationships, our need for self expression, compassion and also for what is righteous. You will not come out of reading this book unchanged. Time and again , you will turn to it for support and clarification on the process of our calling in the Lord. This book will be a positive and uplifting experience for everyone.. in all areas of their walk with God. Life groups in churches all across the world can dive into this fantastic opportunity to come closer to Jesus, allowing great works of love and change in our lives.. You will be one step closer to "home". 100 % recommend this book !Upward, Inward, Outward: Love God, love yourself, love others
October 17, 2017
I had the good fortunate to be a part of Fusco’s launch team, which included advance reading of the book. Like one of his other books, Honestly, this book is a genuine and heartfelt message to readers of all spiritual seasons. It displays Fusco’s desire to see people grow into the persons and communities that God desires. He does so in simple language, showing biblical concepts and providing personal examples to help readers fully understand. I can’t recommend this book highly enough. You’ll discover the art of living in a way that connects you personally with God, understanding how God sees you and with a passion to help serve our neighbors with passion and compassion.
October 12, 2017
This book is like sitting down with a trusted friend for some mentoring or conversation. For those of us walking with God and seeking Him, this book is so helpful at examining how we are to live. Daniel always comes at things from a Biblical perspective, so of course, his book does as well. As a woman who can struggle at times with exactly how to pursue a most excellent way of living for God, this book is helpful to keep me remembering the 3 things that will do that. Upward, Inward, Outward is a great addition to my library of books focused on living out my faith.
October 12, 2017
Once again Pastor Daniel Fusco delivers an amazing book! I have felt so blessed while reading this book and growing closer in my relationship with Jesus. In one word this book is about LOVE. How to love God (upward), how to love yourself (inward) and how to love others (outward). Daniel fills you with fantastic spiritual guidance coupled with a large dose of comedy making this book spiritually uplifting, fun and easy to read. I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to learn a good strategy on becoming closer with God. THANK YOU PASTOR DANIEL!
October 11, 2017
Can't say enough about this book and how it speaks deep truths into the human soul. You don't have to look a certain way or fit into a preset mold, designed by our Creator in every aspect of life. In a nutshell, this author/pastor lovingly illustrates everything about how YOU are God's masterpiece and how love is the art of living.
December 20, 2017
A decent overview of discipleship basics, and I enjoyed Fusco’s unique voice. However, I was disappointed that the “outward” section left out both evangelism and the healing of systemic injustice.
January 5, 2020
Great read! I highly recommend to anyone looking to live their life as God intended..Upward, Inward, Outward!
August 5, 2022
so many lessons and convictions. praise God for this book about the great commandment! if my house is on fire, this is THE book i'd certainly pick up along with my Bible.
October 10, 2017
What I encountered while reading this has been thought provoking. It has challenged me in my walk. It has made my growth in the Lord and as an individual expand. I enjoy the stories along the way, they help keep the message "real" and allows us to see that Daniel Fusco has the same struggles and faults as the next person. But, the part that really sticks out with me from this great read? It's that when you fast, don't talk about it. Not everything in my life needs to be broadcast across social networks what I am doing to align yourself and open my life to what God wants to do in my life. I also found in those quiet moments of taking something out for a time, it is making room for something/someone else...God! This is just one snippit that got me. I intend to read this book again because I really feel like other things I take away can really be expanded on even more. It's a great read for anyone, no matter where you are at in your faith. You won't be disappointed, I wholeheartedly recommend reading this in hopes of looking upward, peeking inward and sharing outwardly the love God has for us all. A must read!
February 18, 2021
This is an incredibly uplifting and challenging book encouraging you to live a more Christ centered life and understand your identity in Christ.
October 12, 2017
This book is an easy read that will either change your perspective on life (or remind you once again) that it is by loving God first and foremost with our lives, that we will then love ourselves and love others in a healthy way like God intended. Daniel speaks in easy to understand language that helps to bring The Greatest Commandment that Jesus taught into our day to day life.
October 13, 2017
Daniel Fusco is my favorite Bible teacher to follow along with and I am so excited to have read Upward, Inward, Outward! In three “movements,” Daniel practically unpacks the spiritual disciplines that help us live upward by loving God, inward by loving ourselves and outward by loving others. This book will give you vision and purpose behind practical spiritual disciplines that build your relationship with God and others. It will help you implement them into your life. It will get you excited about spending time with God again and refresh your life of faith in Jesus. It will propel you into deeper connection with God and grow you in spiritual maturity. And it’s a fun, engaging read! I promise you this book will be life to your soul. It was to mine.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews