Sent: Living a Life That Invites Others to Jesus

by Heather Holleman, Ashley Holleman

What if your ordinary interactions with family, neighbors, and coworkers are actually invitations to adventure with God? Living a Life that Invites Others to Jesus invites you to grow joyfully with Jesus as you live out your true identity as sent to share Jesus with others. Heather and Ashley Holleman have fully embraced their identities as sent through nearly two decades of full-time ministry. With joy, they proclaim the name of Jesus knowing that God is always at work around us, that He is seeking and saving the lost, and that He is excited for us to do this work with Him. In Sent , they provide insights and stories gleaned from their experiences so you too can live into your identity as sent. You’ll learn practical strategies for gathering those in your community through discussion questions and activities that teach everything from asking good questions to sharing your own stories of gospel transformation. Use this resource individually or in groups to grow in intimacy with Christ as you engage the world around you with the hope and love of Christ. When we believe in God’s desire to reach the lost, how we live our own lives changes, and we begin to partake in the joys—not obligations—of evangelism.

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction, Christian Living, Faith, Spirituality, Christianity, Evangelism

208 pages, Paperback

Published August 4, 2020

About the author

HEATHER HOLLEMAN, PhD, is a popular speaker, writer, and college instructor. She serves with Faculty Commons with Cru alongside her husband, Ashley, who is the Executive Director of Graduate Student Ministry. She is also a faculty member of Penn State's English Department and teaches both Rhetoric and Composition and Advanced Writing in the Humanities. She is the author of Seated With Christ: Living Freely in a Culture of Comparison, her first in a series of books on life-changing verbs in Scripture. Heather lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and their two teen daughters. She blogs daily at www.HeatherHolleman.com.

Reviews

[Cole Pate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic! If you want to have a heart for people who don’t know Jesus, then read this book! It’s super practical too! “Sent people expect God to lead them to people who need Jesus. Sent people expect God to use them in the lives of others. Sent people expect supernatural things to happen.”

[Carla Cramsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started this book years ago, and finally got it back off the shelf to finish. I’m so glad I did! It is full of ideas for living a life on mission for Christ that are both practical and challenging. I’m excited for Nick and I to use our first apartment as a gospel outpost and see how the Lord will move among us.

[Samantha Hanni · Rating 5 out of 5]

So grateful for this book. It’s full of practical ways to shift into living a sent life. I loved the thoughtful questions and conversation starters to engage those around us. While there is nothing more important than evangelism, it needn’t be complicated. The Hollemans made it as simple as can be in “Sent.”

[Cassie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read for development with my staff team, and would definitely read again. This book almost requires being read with a group - you will benefit so much from the discussion and accountability.

I found this book to be a great mix of vision (head), emotional care (heart), and practical next steps (hands). It was not intimidating or overwhelming - on the contrary, it was very digestible, with steps that challenge you to stretch, but don't feel unattainable.

Working for the same ministry (Cru) and having had much of the same training, I still didn't find this book to be tedious repetition - instead it was fresh and encouraging.

I would highly recommend this for a small group or Sunday school class - especially if the group will commit to taking action, following up with each other, and encouraging each other. Meeting weekly or every 2 weeks to read/discuss 1 chapter would be a great "pace" to keep this before you and keep growing. (Our staff team fit it in about once a month, doing 2 chapters at a time, so it was perhaps not as effective as it could have been.)

[Emma Sunderman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a practical book on living out of who God tells us we are- “sent”. The authors (husband and wife) are uber inspiring in their rhythms of life and relationships, many, many examples of engaging others with the gospel from introvert and extrovert perspectives. But at the same time giving so many tips for simply changing your speech to lend to more spiritual convos and how to have a prayerful foundation. Solid scripture and theology, would recommend.

[Savannah Huffaker · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.5 stars). Started reading this last year as part of my training with Cru. This year, those going through training decided to read all of it together. Overall, I think the book is helpful for understanding our “sent identities” as Christians, but it felt like it was missing something. It had practicals, but I think what I maybe wanted more of was some follow-up suggestions to the practicals. Idk, maybe that’s just me. I think it would be great to read with some of our seniors as they prepare to head into the workforce, vocational ministry, etc.

[Dawn Dishman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderfully engaging book about living a life of meaning and purpose. It’s about seeing others the way Jesus sees them. It’s about embracing the opportunity to be used by God in the lives of others. It is a book that is both challenging and motivating.

[Bill Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well-written, winsome, real, practical and challenging book for all those who name themselves Christian.

[Anthony Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

I appreciate this book's enthusiasm and advice on the why's and how's of living a sent life

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every day is a new opportunity to introduce someone to Christ. You don't have to do anything that doesn't feel natural. Just being yourself and being a part of the world around you will offer opportunities to share God's love in ways that come naturally.

Heather Holleman and her husband, Ashley, became intentional about living a "sent" life. A "sent" life is one that lives each day intentional about sharing the Gospel with at least one person.

Evangelism doesn't have to be door-to-door; it can, and should, be living your life in such a way that it draws others to Christ. In their book, "Sent", the Hollemans give practical guidelines for sharing your faith with others and use personal experience from their life to demonstrate how simple it is.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Side Door Communications, as part of Moody Publishers Book Review Program. I was not required to write a review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[Becky Willey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I met Heather at women's conference 3 years ago and she made a huge impact on my life. She taught me how to teach and then I watched her as she modeled everything she had taught in her own presentation. I immediately bought all 3 of her "verb" books - Seated, Guarded, and Chosen. I devoured them and shared them with everyone I knew. The thing I liked most about these books were her stories about reaching her neighbors for Christ. She shared about soup nights and book clubs and neighborhood walking groups...I wanted to hear more. Tell me how you did this. Tell me how I can be like you when I grow up :) This book is the answer to all my questions. It has transformed my view of evangelism and given me practical, Biblical and applicable tools to reach my friends and neighbors who don't know Jesus. It is an easy read and is motivating and inspiring. I just finished and I am so fired up. Walk, don't run to your Amazon cart and order this book. Prepare to laugh, cry, and be inspired to live a SENT life. You won't be disappointed.

[Deborah McNamer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, by Heather and Ashley Holleman, is a new view on the great commission that Jesus talked about to his disciples. Insightful and thought-provoking. I’ve kept my high-lighter next to me while reading. I have written copious notes in the margins and couldn’t wait to finish and start over. First perusal was to glean new insights, and, now, I’m going to read again to dig down to the heart of the book. Heather and Ashley hit this one out of the park! It’s an easy read, and by using their personal experiences with living a sent life, they show us how we, too, can be sent. Anyone can follow and their lead and converse with people about a close relationship with God. Thanks for writing this book for the everyday person who doesn’t quite know how to begin or when to talk with others about God.

[Lindsay Tucker Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW - simple, practical, and insightful read on everyday evangelism. I cannot recommend enough!

Heather and Ashley share their principles for living a “sent life” and how the goodness of the gospel and lostness of people can motivate us to share our faith. Tons of practical tips on praying for those who don’t know Jesus, initiating spiritual conversations, inviting people to respond, relying on the Spirit, creating “low risk and high grace” spaces, developing curiosity and care for others, sharing our personal stories of transformation, and more. I personally loved the section where they describe several of the titles in Scripture that we receive as followers of Jesus called to share His Word — fishermen, farmers, ambassadors, and royal priests.

In short, this book was AWESOME and I will be referring to it often!

[Sophia DeBacco · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book truly makes you want to call every person you know and tell them about Jesus! The Hollemans share encouraging stories and biblical motivation to tell others about Jesus. Whether you are eager or timid to share your faith, there is a story and example somewhere in this book that reminds you that sharing the Gospel is not something we HAVE to do, but something we GET to do! There are lots of practical questions and steps of faith that make this book an active read and one that will affect your everyday life. I haven't been able to stop thinking about my "sent" identity ever since I put it down!

[Cami Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sent has been a challenging and exciting book for me to read! I know Ashley and Heather Holleman and know that these stories and challenges reflect the way they live their lives.

I find the faith steps and reflection questions to be practical and possible. I've been challenged in my relationship with the Lord and my pursuit of living life empowered by the Holy Spirit to reach others for Christ.

If you are looking to grow in sharing Christ with those around you, this book is for you! Start here!

[Kelly Worley · Rating 5 out of 5]

While reading, the book, Sent, I realized the isolation of post-pandemic society had subconsciously caused me to focus more on personal spiritual growth than outreach. But within the first few pages, I felt a sense of excitement beginning to build as I thought about helping others come to know Jesus!

I highly recommend this book because it better equips us to lead others to Jesus and creates a newfound sense of adventure and privilege in doing it!

[Morgan Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re anywhere near me for the next several months (or longer), be prepared for me to recommend this book to you.

For those of you I won’t see in person, consider this book recommended. Centered on biblical truth, the text takes you through both personal and practical applications of living a “sent” life.

Personally, it deepened my understanding of God’s great invitation to join Him in reconciling others to His redemptive hope. Highly, highly recommend this to any follower of Jesus.

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a different sort of evangelism book. It is less focused on a formula or program and more focused on a way of life.

Every interaction is a divine moment...how are we going to respond? Will we point the person to Jesus with our language and response, or point them away from Him?

Living as a “sent” person is how Christians are meant to live!