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Beyond Sundays
In the last few decades sixty-five million Americans who once regular attended a local congregation, no longer do. About thirty-five million of those no longer self-identify as Christian, but over thirty-one million still do. This last group has been tagged “The Dones”, those who still seek to follow Jesus and find real community but have given up hope that the local congregation is still relevant to their journey. What do we make of this phenomenon? As one who has spent twenty years helping people explore the life of Jesus beyond our conformity-based systems, here are some of my thoughts about helping people explore relationship with God and his people beyond our conformity based systems and how we might participate in this conversation in a way that champions the unity of all of God’s family. This book is adapted from blog postings I wrote form 2015-2017 that grew out of conversations I had in my many travels with people around the world who are dealing with these same realities. One thing is people are abandoning organized religion in droves. Does that threaten the future of God’s work in our world, or does it open new opportunities for the God’s live to grow beyond our expectations? Whether or you attend a local church or whether you don’t, responding to this phenomenon will have repercussions for generations to come. We can respond as we have for centuries in a way that further fractures our Father’s family, or we can embrace our Father in all the ways he works to bring people to himself and transforms them in his love.
160 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 28, 2018
33 people are currently reading
48 people want to read
About the author
Wayne Jacobsen
29 books103 followersWayne Jacobsen was a pastor for 20 years and a Contributing Editor to Leadership Journal and has authored numerous books and articles on spiritual formation, relational community and engagement of culture. Wayne also cohosts a weekly podcast at TheGodJourney.com, out of which came his collaboration on the writing of The Shack and helped create Windblown Media, the publishing company behind the phenomenon.
As the director of Lifestream Ministries, Jacobsen travels globally teaching on themes of intimacy with God, the Love of God, and relational church life.
As President of BridgeBuilders, he is also a nationally-recognized specialist and mediator in resolving cultural and religious conflicts. Jacobsen has become known for his expertise in the pros and cons of organized religion.
As the director of Lifestream Ministries, Jacobsen travels globally teaching on themes of intimacy with God, the Love of God, and relational church life.
As President of BridgeBuilders, he is also a nationally-recognized specialist and mediator in resolving cultural and religious conflicts. Jacobsen has become known for his expertise in the pros and cons of organized religion.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
February 24, 2018
Enjoyable
Enjoyed reading how God works in and through our lives. Whether in the traditional church or outside the walls of religion, He wants us to be one and to show his love to all people.
Enjoyed reading how God works in and through our lives. Whether in the traditional church or outside the walls of religion, He wants us to be one and to show his love to all people.
January 31, 2018
Wayne Jacobsen’s book He Loves Me was a game-changer in confirming what I thought God was really like versus organized religion’s version. Beyond Sundays can be a similar book for many who sense something isn’t quite right about organized or institutional religion when to comes to God. Wayne’s book confirms that you are not alone but in the company of millions.
This book is for you if you are or have been a churchgoer but discouraged about the ways and message, but you have no desire to leave the faith. This book can also be for those you have never attended church but have a desire or sense a need to have more of a connection with their Creator. You may be right that organized religion has gotten some things wrong.
The style of the Book is a definite plus. Each chapter is brief though packed full of food for thought to consider and run with. No extra fluff here! Chapter titles like Why Are People Leaving, Your Attendance Is Not Required, Help When You’re Done, Have We Overplayed The Sermon Card, etc. are packed full of affirmations and insights. Chapter 7 guides if you are leaving a church and not sure of next steps.
Wayne provides many biblical insights that you may not always hear in church. Have you been guilted by Hebrews 10:24-25 that you are being judged by God for not attending church regularly. Wayne explains it not about attending church necessarily but finding bests environments to encourage and be encouraged by others in your faith journey.
Wayne can speak from experience having been a pastor and one whose journey with God over at least the past 20 years has not involved being an active participate in an institutional church. He has traveled the world and has relationships with those who have left traditional congregations but not God.
One also appreciates that the author avoids being judgmental. He doesn’t condemn those who are best encouraged by attending church; he only advocates respecting one’s freedom to discern environments God guides them to grow in their faith. I believe those who have left the church may find their story in Beyond Sundays and be greatly encouraged. You may relate to the many reasons Wayne provides as to why millions have left the church but not God.
Imagine if millions of God seekers or followers respected and celebrated different ways to pursue a relationship with God. As Wayne asks and says: Who is right? Neither. Not a bad marriage tip as well. Wayne challenges us to stop with the language as if there are “innies and outies.”
Wayne Jacobsen’s Beyond Sundays is a voice of reason. What would a caring person or God tell us if organized religion or institutional church didn’t fit their need in their journey with God. I have a hunch Wayne would tell you to relax. Trust and have faith that God is capable and will guide you. None of us need a go-between with God. You are free to follow God as God guides. The challenge after reading this book is if others can handle your new guilt-free freedom but cut them some slack. We all have been judgmental at some time in our life.
Mike Edwards blogs at: http://mikeedwards123.wordpress.com/ - What God May Really Be Like
This book is for you if you are or have been a churchgoer but discouraged about the ways and message, but you have no desire to leave the faith. This book can also be for those you have never attended church but have a desire or sense a need to have more of a connection with their Creator. You may be right that organized religion has gotten some things wrong.
The style of the Book is a definite plus. Each chapter is brief though packed full of food for thought to consider and run with. No extra fluff here! Chapter titles like Why Are People Leaving, Your Attendance Is Not Required, Help When You’re Done, Have We Overplayed The Sermon Card, etc. are packed full of affirmations and insights. Chapter 7 guides if you are leaving a church and not sure of next steps.
Wayne provides many biblical insights that you may not always hear in church. Have you been guilted by Hebrews 10:24-25 that you are being judged by God for not attending church regularly. Wayne explains it not about attending church necessarily but finding bests environments to encourage and be encouraged by others in your faith journey.
Wayne can speak from experience having been a pastor and one whose journey with God over at least the past 20 years has not involved being an active participate in an institutional church. He has traveled the world and has relationships with those who have left traditional congregations but not God.
One also appreciates that the author avoids being judgmental. He doesn’t condemn those who are best encouraged by attending church; he only advocates respecting one’s freedom to discern environments God guides them to grow in their faith. I believe those who have left the church may find their story in Beyond Sundays and be greatly encouraged. You may relate to the many reasons Wayne provides as to why millions have left the church but not God.
Imagine if millions of God seekers or followers respected and celebrated different ways to pursue a relationship with God. As Wayne asks and says: Who is right? Neither. Not a bad marriage tip as well. Wayne challenges us to stop with the language as if there are “innies and outies.”
Wayne Jacobsen’s Beyond Sundays is a voice of reason. What would a caring person or God tell us if organized religion or institutional church didn’t fit their need in their journey with God. I have a hunch Wayne would tell you to relax. Trust and have faith that God is capable and will guide you. None of us need a go-between with God. You are free to follow God as God guides. The challenge after reading this book is if others can handle your new guilt-free freedom but cut them some slack. We all have been judgmental at some time in our life.
Mike Edwards blogs at: http://mikeedwards123.wordpress.com/ - What God May Really Be Like
August 19, 2021
A New Amendment to Freedom of Religion
If you are struggling with organized religion, and it’s institution of doctrines and lack of freedom, ‘Beyond Sunday,’ is the book for you. We were in the mist of leaving a church, and all the guilt of leaving and saying good-bye to our friends was overwhelming to us. How do we leave? What’s out next step beyond Sunday? Do we have to find another church to be in good standing with God. How do we leave in love? These were questions we needed to ask ourselves. After my wife and I read ‘Beyond Sunday,’ so many of those questions were answered. We had a great councilor with scriptural base to guide us.
We applied the wisdom and guidance that was suggested by the author. It worked so well. We left quietly and with kindness. We wrote messages to all of our friends and departed in love. We didn’t have to leave angry and we never put our friends in the place of choosing sides. We did not retaliate when conversations were a bit heated. It was almost a seamless transition, though leaving family can hurt on both sides. This is the book to read if you thinking about leaving your church; or if you want to Beyond Sunday.
If you are struggling with organized religion, and it’s institution of doctrines and lack of freedom, ‘Beyond Sunday,’ is the book for you. We were in the mist of leaving a church, and all the guilt of leaving and saying good-bye to our friends was overwhelming to us. How do we leave? What’s out next step beyond Sunday? Do we have to find another church to be in good standing with God. How do we leave in love? These were questions we needed to ask ourselves. After my wife and I read ‘Beyond Sunday,’ so many of those questions were answered. We had a great councilor with scriptural base to guide us.
We applied the wisdom and guidance that was suggested by the author. It worked so well. We left quietly and with kindness. We wrote messages to all of our friends and departed in love. We didn’t have to leave angry and we never put our friends in the place of choosing sides. We did not retaliate when conversations were a bit heated. It was almost a seamless transition, though leaving family can hurt on both sides. This is the book to read if you thinking about leaving your church; or if you want to Beyond Sunday.
April 3, 2021
This book is special to me because I have an endorsement in it. I just wish I had the courage to show my mother. But Sundays are still pretty important to her, so to show her a book called "Beyond Sundays" might not be the thing to do for her. At least that is what I thought when the book came out. Wayne Jacobsen books will always have a place on my bookshelf and they helped me during a painful transition in my life. It is subtitled "Why those who are done with religious institutions can be a blessing for the Church". It is a hopeful title, but being one who is done with religious institutions for the most part, I haven't found myself feeling like much of a blessing. All in all, it is a good read for those who want to still follow Jesus outside of the sheep pen and into the pasture of life. I believe it offers a better journey... but for those who are still comfortable in their sheep pen, maybe this isn't the read for you. Thank you Wayne for allowing me to have a few lines in your book. I still feel special.
January 17, 2025
Wayne Jacobsen has written other books about why people might feel the need to leave a local church congregation, and the benefits of following Jesus without being tied to Sunday morning services. In this book he asks the question, 'what next?', and explains how what he calls the 'Dones' can still be a blessing to the worldwide Church.
There are some interesting statistics at the front of the book, and plenty to encourage anyone feeling pressured or guilty about their decisions. The author does not suggest that they are better than anyone else, but makes the point that we all have a part to play, whether or not we like and are part of a local congregation.
Recommended, on the whole, if you're considering this, or are concerned about others who have followed this path.
Longer review: https://suesbookreviews.blogspot.com/...
There are some interesting statistics at the front of the book, and plenty to encourage anyone feeling pressured or guilty about their decisions. The author does not suggest that they are better than anyone else, but makes the point that we all have a part to play, whether or not we like and are part of a local congregation.
Recommended, on the whole, if you're considering this, or are concerned about others who have followed this path.
Longer review: https://suesbookreviews.blogspot.com/...
March 14, 2018
Hungry
For years I have contemplated on this new journey. Even leaving a position in a prominent institution . Yet to my dismay as I sought to find others like myself I became once again caught in the web of institutionalism. It would have been s relief to have had such a book as this to help navigate my yearnings. And now that I have read Beyond Sunday I have many questions, but at least there is a guide from someone who has walked this path and has given freely of his wisdom and his pain that sheds hope for fellow travelers. Thanks Wayne.
For years I have contemplated on this new journey. Even leaving a position in a prominent institution . Yet to my dismay as I sought to find others like myself I became once again caught in the web of institutionalism. It would have been s relief to have had such a book as this to help navigate my yearnings. And now that I have read Beyond Sunday I have many questions, but at least there is a guide from someone who has walked this path and has given freely of his wisdom and his pain that sheds hope for fellow travelers. Thanks Wayne.
October 11, 2019
Enjoyable
Enjoyed reading how God works in and through our lives. Whether in the traditional church or outside the walls of religion, He wants us to be one and to show his love to all people.
Enjoyed reading how God works in and through our lives. Whether in the traditional church or outside the walls of religion, He wants us to be one and to show his love to all people.
January 6, 2022
Wayne speaks of a spiritual path that I have been seeking. For years I was haunted by "why, or to what purpose, grace?" I found glimmers here and there, and The Shack rocked my world. That showed me what might be possible. This book and Finding Church are showing how to access this reality.
September 15, 2019
Just awesomely thought probolimg
Really enjoyed reading this book it did open my eyes and heart as to Jesus's church!
Looking forward to more reads from Wayne
Really enjoyed reading this book it did open my eyes and heart as to Jesus's church!
Looking forward to more reads from Wayne
May 22, 2022
life changing
Helped me to draw closer to loving and serving others in my community and deeper into the love Father has for me!
Helped me to draw closer to loving and serving others in my community and deeper into the love Father has for me!
August 7, 2018
Jacobsen addresses the topic of the Nones, those who have left church but not Christianity. He writes specifically about those who have become burned out or disillusioned by church machinery or church tradition that seems to stop short of the radical living out of one's faith in the world. For many years now, Jacobsen has been an a supportive voice for those who choose to leave the institutional church to find a more authentic way of living faith that doesn't rely on church attendance as its primary expression. While I still attend church, his point of view has made me reconsider how I live my faith, and I'm thankful for his witness. His voice has also made me strongly reconsider what kind of church I'm willing to join. If church attendance is a legalistic pressure/requirement, that church is not for me.
March 10, 2019
Worth reading for those who have misgivings about religious structure, but aren't sure Christians can exist without church.
Useful and gracious exploration of how you can do this successfully, but less solid as an argument against church -- he doesn't spend much time evaluating the strongest arguments of the other side.
For interest, I'd've liked a more structured argument against modern church structure, but maybe that's a different book.
Useful and gracious exploration of how you can do this successfully, but less solid as an argument against church -- he doesn't spend much time evaluating the strongest arguments of the other side.
For interest, I'd've liked a more structured argument against modern church structure, but maybe that's a different book.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews