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What If Jesus Meant What He Said?
What if Jesus words were never intended to fit into your existing lifestyle? What if they were meant to change everything? What if Jesus never wanted merely part of your life? What if He wants everything? Instead of offering easy answers, these pages ask difficult questions, leading the reader on a journey with life-altering implications. If Jesus meant what He said, how might His words affect our relationships, investments, speech, perspectives, discipleship, spiritual disciplines, and every other aspect of life? What if the only balanced Christian life is all-out surrender to Jesus Christ?
- GenresChristianNonfiction
240 pages, Paperback
Published August 10, 2021
30 people are currently reading
116 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
March 21, 2018
What if Jesus Meant What He Said? is a great book for meditation in short segments. Nate Bramsen is a missionary to Africa. While he was still in college he heard a speaker say "Now in these verses, Jesus didn't actually mean what he said." Ever since that time Nate has been replying What if Jesus did mean what He said?
The book is arranged around the verse "If anyone would come after me he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." Following Christ is not about how prepared you are. It is an answer to an invitation or call. The call is to anyone. We must be ready to step out of our comfort zones and give all to Christ. Nate explores the quest "to know Him more intimately, love Him more passionately, and enjoy Him more fully."
The book includes some anecdotes of his time working in an Egyptian orphanage and Cairo dump and the tragedy in Niger when many churches were burned to the ground.
Some quotes I enjoyed:
"When Christ Becomes Home. We aren't called to a set of plans, to a certain location, or to the accomplishment of some great feat. We are called to Him. He becomes our dream. He becomes our plan. He becomes our location. He becomes our goal. We have a new home and that home is where He is. Better yet, He is our home."
"Could it be that the logistics of our journey are veiled so that we might not be so focused on our agenda that we miss the intimacy of knowing Christ, step by step? When we don't know the next step, we are compelled to look at the One leading. Do we ask God for the outline of our lives when we ought to be asking Him how we are to obey Him today?"
"Where are we going? Into the whitened harvest field of souls. How are we going? Intentionally. Prayerfully. Dutifully. Lovingly. ...How will you get involved in what God is doing? Recognize that your first calling is to know Him and make Him known. Whether you are a kindergarten teacher or a seamstress, a pilot of an Airbus A350 or a mechanical engineer in a firm buried in a concrete jungle--you have around you a community of souls and your responsibility remains the same.
The book is arranged around the verse "If anyone would come after me he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." Following Christ is not about how prepared you are. It is an answer to an invitation or call. The call is to anyone. We must be ready to step out of our comfort zones and give all to Christ. Nate explores the quest "to know Him more intimately, love Him more passionately, and enjoy Him more fully."
The book includes some anecdotes of his time working in an Egyptian orphanage and Cairo dump and the tragedy in Niger when many churches were burned to the ground.
Some quotes I enjoyed:
"When Christ Becomes Home. We aren't called to a set of plans, to a certain location, or to the accomplishment of some great feat. We are called to Him. He becomes our dream. He becomes our plan. He becomes our location. He becomes our goal. We have a new home and that home is where He is. Better yet, He is our home."
"Could it be that the logistics of our journey are veiled so that we might not be so focused on our agenda that we miss the intimacy of knowing Christ, step by step? When we don't know the next step, we are compelled to look at the One leading. Do we ask God for the outline of our lives when we ought to be asking Him how we are to obey Him today?"
"Where are we going? Into the whitened harvest field of souls. How are we going? Intentionally. Prayerfully. Dutifully. Lovingly. ...How will you get involved in what God is doing? Recognize that your first calling is to know Him and make Him known. Whether you are a kindergarten teacher or a seamstress, a pilot of an Airbus A350 or a mechanical engineer in a firm buried in a concrete jungle--you have around you a community of souls and your responsibility remains the same.
July 18, 2024
A thought provoking book to be digested in small bites. Well written and hits the heart with challenges and encouragement to follow Christ fully.
February 15, 2018
This book was very well done! But I warn you, this book will as Nate Bramsen says in the intro, make you uncomfortable. He is correct, but he has a great way with his words, questions, and scripture connections of instilling a plan that with the Holy Spirit leading, it can be done, but not if I stay in control of me.
One of my favorite features was at the end of the book, a bonus feature. Diving Into Scripture
Nate Bramsen shares how he studies and meditates on scripture with a LOT of higher level thinking involved. His concepts are not new to me, but how he approaches his study is, and he gives a formula to follow as you study any verse or passage. I can't wait to try it.
Here are other aspects I loved:
Written for any age person. Children would do best going through this with their family, as there is so much meat and good content in the book. If you look at the amazon reviews, two reviewers already comment on how the book was for them. One is a 70 year old man (it might be my Dad!) and another is a stay at home Mom who wondered if the book would be for those younger than her, she enjoyed it.
Reflect and Respond Chapter Endings. Every chapter has questions about the concept to help you apply the thinking to your life, and help you move ahead and grow in the challenges presented.
Easy to Read, Lifetime Applications. The books format is appealing to almost any reader. (Sorry no pictures, but a whole portion of the book is connected to the image that we frame our lives with the Word of God!). But it is complete with a lot of scripture, personal stories, balanced with life connections in hymns, poems, reading, culture, etc. It has 27 chapters, with the reflections at the end of each chapter. They are not very long, so it's an easy book to pick up when you have a few minutes. The book is divided into four themes as well, making it easier to comprehend and connect the ideas. As well as every few paragraphs have a heading or bold quote to keep the reader focused and on task.
Simple concept but complex application. The book is based on Matthew 16:24 "If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me." (Berean Study Bible). The book is about the pursuit of following Jesus completely.
Challenges for Life. Bramsen shares the uncomfortable, he warns you, he reminds you that even people who are written about in the Bible didn't always measure up, they may even have failed, but with a mindset focuses on scripture, he teaches, shares, and challenges the reader to grow in applying the concept of dying to self.
Teaching Bramsen is a gifted teacher. I've heard him speak several times. He's so easy to relate to, youthful, exuberant, yet direct, grounded in scripture, highly intelligent and well read, and committed. I really was curious to see if he could continue that charisma on the printed page, and I was not disappointed.
Questions The book is full of 'probing' questions that help the reader determine, can I really take Christ as His Word? Bramsen gives scripture as answers, and then makes compelling statements with convicting concepts to help be sure that the reader knows what it means to pursue an intimate, loving relationship with our Great God.
One of my favorite features was at the end of the book, a bonus feature. Diving Into Scripture
Nate Bramsen shares how he studies and meditates on scripture with a LOT of higher level thinking involved. His concepts are not new to me, but how he approaches his study is, and he gives a formula to follow as you study any verse or passage. I can't wait to try it.
Here are other aspects I loved:
Written for any age person. Children would do best going through this with their family, as there is so much meat and good content in the book. If you look at the amazon reviews, two reviewers already comment on how the book was for them. One is a 70 year old man (it might be my Dad!) and another is a stay at home Mom who wondered if the book would be for those younger than her, she enjoyed it.
Reflect and Respond Chapter Endings. Every chapter has questions about the concept to help you apply the thinking to your life, and help you move ahead and grow in the challenges presented.
Easy to Read, Lifetime Applications. The books format is appealing to almost any reader. (Sorry no pictures, but a whole portion of the book is connected to the image that we frame our lives with the Word of God!). But it is complete with a lot of scripture, personal stories, balanced with life connections in hymns, poems, reading, culture, etc. It has 27 chapters, with the reflections at the end of each chapter. They are not very long, so it's an easy book to pick up when you have a few minutes. The book is divided into four themes as well, making it easier to comprehend and connect the ideas. As well as every few paragraphs have a heading or bold quote to keep the reader focused and on task.
Simple concept but complex application. The book is based on Matthew 16:24 "If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me." (Berean Study Bible). The book is about the pursuit of following Jesus completely.
Challenges for Life. Bramsen shares the uncomfortable, he warns you, he reminds you that even people who are written about in the Bible didn't always measure up, they may even have failed, but with a mindset focuses on scripture, he teaches, shares, and challenges the reader to grow in applying the concept of dying to self.
Teaching Bramsen is a gifted teacher. I've heard him speak several times. He's so easy to relate to, youthful, exuberant, yet direct, grounded in scripture, highly intelligent and well read, and committed. I really was curious to see if he could continue that charisma on the printed page, and I was not disappointed.
Questions The book is full of 'probing' questions that help the reader determine, can I really take Christ as His Word? Bramsen gives scripture as answers, and then makes compelling statements with convicting concepts to help be sure that the reader knows what it means to pursue an intimate, loving relationship with our Great God.
July 26, 2021
This book is well written, applicable to all Christian walks, and a wonderfully challenging read. It is a good book to work through with others and is biblically sound while being thought provoking.
December 8, 2021
If you are looking for a book that challenges you to become more of the person Jesus wants you to be, What If Jesus Meant What He Said by Nate Bramsen is such a book. In my case, I read it as part of a small group. Each week we read through a chapter out loud and talked through the discussion questions at the end of the chapter. The book points out, through Scripture, that following Christ is never about how prepared we feel. Rather, it is about an invitation—an ultimatum--echoed in Christ’s words. “Follow Me.”
Each chapter builds on the truth of what this means. In chapter 2, Bramsen states that trusting Christ isn’t about a profession of faith but rather a life of faith in Him. It’s not about trying harder but about knowing Jesus. Chapter 3 discusses the ultimate invitation, “If anyone desires to come after Me…” and how it is an inclusive invitation that isn’t about permission to follow Him but about the path of following Him. Chapter 4 shines a light on our response to the invitation as one of complete surrender. When we answer the call to follow Him, the starting point is Christ. Not us. Either we deny self, or we deny Christ. Chapter 5 builds on this and talks about laying aside every weight that entangles our walk with Christ. This includes dreams, passions, and pursuits. With each of the 27 chapters, Bramsen uses Christ’s words and real-life examples to shine a thought-provoking light on what it means to follow Him. The handful of "reflect and respond" questions at the end of each chapter guide the reader to see the reality of their walk with Christ and how it complies with His invitation to follow Him or how it does not.
I give this book 5 stars. Its easy conversational tone and short chapters hold the interest and leave time for reflection. It centers on Christ’s words and obedience to those words. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to become more obedient in their walk with Christ. It is a book you can read individually, but it also makes a perfect choice to be read together as a small group. The chapters are short, and the few questions found at the end of each chapter offer thought-provoking insights. In our small group setting, the questions generated meaningful, honest discussion.
Each chapter builds on the truth of what this means. In chapter 2, Bramsen states that trusting Christ isn’t about a profession of faith but rather a life of faith in Him. It’s not about trying harder but about knowing Jesus. Chapter 3 discusses the ultimate invitation, “If anyone desires to come after Me…” and how it is an inclusive invitation that isn’t about permission to follow Him but about the path of following Him. Chapter 4 shines a light on our response to the invitation as one of complete surrender. When we answer the call to follow Him, the starting point is Christ. Not us. Either we deny self, or we deny Christ. Chapter 5 builds on this and talks about laying aside every weight that entangles our walk with Christ. This includes dreams, passions, and pursuits. With each of the 27 chapters, Bramsen uses Christ’s words and real-life examples to shine a thought-provoking light on what it means to follow Him. The handful of "reflect and respond" questions at the end of each chapter guide the reader to see the reality of their walk with Christ and how it complies with His invitation to follow Him or how it does not.
I give this book 5 stars. Its easy conversational tone and short chapters hold the interest and leave time for reflection. It centers on Christ’s words and obedience to those words. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to become more obedient in their walk with Christ. It is a book you can read individually, but it also makes a perfect choice to be read together as a small group. The chapters are short, and the few questions found at the end of each chapter offer thought-provoking insights. In our small group setting, the questions generated meaningful, honest discussion.
June 16, 2021
A phenomenal read! So many things stood out to me to challenge and grow my relationship with God:
“Our Father in heaven desires..time that costs us something.”
Our journeys lead us THROUGH trials and testing, but not TO them. “Life, not death, is at the end of our earthly pilgrimage.”
“What if God actually loves you more than you love yourself?”
We do ourselves a disservice “by focusing more on our occupation than our calling.”
“Do we push our youth more towards marriage or martyrdom?”
“Being unequally yoked is not limited to pursuing someone of another faith, but also in pursuing one who has a different spiritual ambition than you.”
“There is a difference between a life that makes a lot of noise and a life that makes a difference.”
“The Enemy’s subtle temptations are often to misplaced priorities rather than malicious practices.”
“Have we become so comfortable in the world that crucified our Savior that we somehow hope to ‘follow Him’ without enduring the shame and pain of the cross?”
“We ought not to fit into a world that crucified our Savior.”
“Perhaps we fear sacrifice because we focus on WHAT we are losing rather than WHO we are pursuing: Christ, the prize.”
“It’s sobering how quickly we can grow weary and disillusioned when the very things our Lord has promised [i.e suffering] come upon us.”
“How often do we address Jesus as Lord and then tell Him what to do?”
“It’s easy to miss the glory God wants to reveal through our lives simply because we are unwilling to walk the journey that leads to this demonstration of His power.”
“There are many adversaries roaming our churches today, and we can identify them by how they claim Christ but try to avoid the cross.”
Wow. So good.
“Our Father in heaven desires..time that costs us something.”
Our journeys lead us THROUGH trials and testing, but not TO them. “Life, not death, is at the end of our earthly pilgrimage.”
“What if God actually loves you more than you love yourself?”
We do ourselves a disservice “by focusing more on our occupation than our calling.”
“Do we push our youth more towards marriage or martyrdom?”
“Being unequally yoked is not limited to pursuing someone of another faith, but also in pursuing one who has a different spiritual ambition than you.”
“There is a difference between a life that makes a lot of noise and a life that makes a difference.”
“The Enemy’s subtle temptations are often to misplaced priorities rather than malicious practices.”
“Have we become so comfortable in the world that crucified our Savior that we somehow hope to ‘follow Him’ without enduring the shame and pain of the cross?”
“We ought not to fit into a world that crucified our Savior.”
“Perhaps we fear sacrifice because we focus on WHAT we are losing rather than WHO we are pursuing: Christ, the prize.”
“It’s sobering how quickly we can grow weary and disillusioned when the very things our Lord has promised [i.e suffering] come upon us.”
“How often do we address Jesus as Lord and then tell Him what to do?”
“It’s easy to miss the glory God wants to reveal through our lives simply because we are unwilling to walk the journey that leads to this demonstration of His power.”
“There are many adversaries roaming our churches today, and we can identify them by how they claim Christ but try to avoid the cross.”
Wow. So good.
May 27, 2018
I guess for two hundred centuries people have wanted to take bits and pieces from the Scripture and make a list of do’s and dont’s for everyone to follow in order to be a Christian. Sometimes these lists have been accepted as “mainstream” and a cultural morality has been built around them even for nonbelievers.
Nate takes us to several places in the Bible in this book, but especially to Jesus’ admonition in three of the Gospels, “If any would come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow me.” And if we follow Jesus’ footsteps throughout Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and Acts, we clearly see Him living to serve others. He spoke with, fed, healed, loved, chastised, prayed for, washed the feet, raised from death, prayed, gave His body to torture and death, and rose from death. Some of those actions we can not do in our human body. The one action we like to do is to chastise others. But our author keeps reminding us that we need to speak with, feed, love, pray for, give our body to whatever God calls us to, pray more, and wash the feet.
The book is good for rereading and sharing with others looking for truth. Ultimately, the book points us back to look at Scripture again and again, re-examining our “acceptable cultural morality” in light of what the Scripture really teaches.
Nate takes us to several places in the Bible in this book, but especially to Jesus’ admonition in three of the Gospels, “If any would come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow me.” And if we follow Jesus’ footsteps throughout Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and Acts, we clearly see Him living to serve others. He spoke with, fed, healed, loved, chastised, prayed for, washed the feet, raised from death, prayed, gave His body to torture and death, and rose from death. Some of those actions we can not do in our human body. The one action we like to do is to chastise others. But our author keeps reminding us that we need to speak with, feed, love, pray for, give our body to whatever God calls us to, pray more, and wash the feet.
The book is good for rereading and sharing with others looking for truth. Ultimately, the book points us back to look at Scripture again and again, re-examining our “acceptable cultural morality” in light of what the Scripture really teaches.
May 22, 2019
This book impacted my heart. I tend to read for pleasure, mostly fictional stories, or biographies. But when I received this book for Christmas, I thought I'd give it a try.
My copy is filled with underlines, stars and exclamation points. His writing is refreshing and very challenging. It shook me to the core. Everyone should read it. It's life changing.
My copy is filled with underlines, stars and exclamation points. His writing is refreshing and very challenging. It shook me to the core. Everyone should read it. It's life changing.
January 7, 2018
I have heard the truths of this book many times. I have never seen them in a concise, organized presentation intended to help us apply them to our lives and grow in our spiritual lives. The book is comprehensive and well organized. The reflection questions at the end of each section make it very practical. The author's style is a fresh, insightful and practical view of the walk of faith. I am challenged by what I read and know I will revisit the text as I hopefully progress in my spiritual walk.
August 28, 2018
Nate challenges us to go back and look literally at what Christ said then helps us to see how we freely take liberties to soften what Christ says so that it fits us better. I highly recommend this book for any youth group.
August 22, 2018
Excellent livre pour tout chrétien qui désire suivre Jésus-Christ! Je le conseille vivement!
January 31, 2019
What If Jesus Meant What He said?
Amazing book. Really makes you question your motives. Would recommend to anybody that is seeking to be closer to Jesus.
Amazing book. Really makes you question your motives. Would recommend to anybody that is seeking to be closer to Jesus.
July 7, 2019
This was an amazing book. Very inspirational
I know the author God uses him mightily
I know the author God uses him mightily
April 9, 2023
This was a wonderful book. I have an actual copy, not the Kindle Edition. One of the most convicting reads I've ever read to date. I was so blessed by everything that Nate Bramsen wrote in this great little book.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews