What do you think?
Rate this book
Unburdened: Stop Living for Jesus So Jesus Can Live through You
Does following Jesus feel impossible? Are you trying hard to be a good Christian while secretly feeling exhausted and overwhelmed?
Las Vegas pastor Vance Pitman spent almost a decade of his Christian journey trying hard to live the Christian life. For years he tried--and for years he failed miserably.
In Unburdened, Vance closely examines the life of Jesus in the Gospels to reveal the soul-awakening truths that have set him and many others free from the burden of religion. With raw honesty and real-life applications, he helps readers escape the exasperating cycle of trying to live for Jesus and shows them instead the power of discovering the joy of a love relationship with Jesus.
Whether you have been a Christian for days or decades, Unburdened will outline for you what following Jesus is all about: relationships.
Las Vegas pastor Vance Pitman spent almost a decade of his Christian journey trying hard to live the Christian life. For years he tried--and for years he failed miserably.
In Unburdened, Vance closely examines the life of Jesus in the Gospels to reveal the soul-awakening truths that have set him and many others free from the burden of religion. With raw honesty and real-life applications, he helps readers escape the exasperating cycle of trying to live for Jesus and shows them instead the power of discovering the joy of a love relationship with Jesus.
Whether you have been a Christian for days or decades, Unburdened will outline for you what following Jesus is all about: relationships.
211 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 21, 2020
49 people are currently reading
891 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
May 8, 2025
All Christ followers need to hear these words!
April 5, 2020
Unburdened
Stop Living for Jesus So Jesus Can Live through You
by Vance Pitman
Baker Books
Christian
Pub Date 21 Jan 2020
I am reviewing a copy of Unburdened through Baker Books and Netgalley:
Does following Jesus feel impossible to you? Does trying to hard to be a good Christian leave you overwhelmed and exhausted? In this book Vance Pitman reminds us that it is important to find how living with Jesus is not complicated, that in fact we need to let Jesus live through us.
This book reminds us too that we are aiming at the wrong target when we get so wrapped up in the busy work of Christian living that we neglect to see the simplicity of letting Jesus live for us, that in fact we make something that is so simple, far more complex than it needs to be.
In Unburdened we are reminded that we can get so lost in the busy work of Christian living that we loose the personal time we need.
We are reminded too that attending Church is not something we have to do but should in fact be something we want to do, because as a Christian the church is part of our community and going to the house of God is a privilege we have to get closer to God and to grow in that relationship, and we have the privilege of fellowshipping with our fellow believers.
We are reminded too that following Jesus is about following our fellow believers but also to go out into the world in order to share God. We need to have that kind of relationship to the world.
If you are looking for a powerful book that will encourage you to grow closer in Christ then I highly recommend Unburdened.
I give this book five out of five stars....
Happy Reading!
Stop Living for Jesus So Jesus Can Live through You
by Vance Pitman
Baker Books
Christian
Pub Date 21 Jan 2020
I am reviewing a copy of Unburdened through Baker Books and Netgalley:
Does following Jesus feel impossible to you? Does trying to hard to be a good Christian leave you overwhelmed and exhausted? In this book Vance Pitman reminds us that it is important to find how living with Jesus is not complicated, that in fact we need to let Jesus live through us.
This book reminds us too that we are aiming at the wrong target when we get so wrapped up in the busy work of Christian living that we neglect to see the simplicity of letting Jesus live for us, that in fact we make something that is so simple, far more complex than it needs to be.
In Unburdened we are reminded that we can get so lost in the busy work of Christian living that we loose the personal time we need.
We are reminded too that attending Church is not something we have to do but should in fact be something we want to do, because as a Christian the church is part of our community and going to the house of God is a privilege we have to get closer to God and to grow in that relationship, and we have the privilege of fellowshipping with our fellow believers.
We are reminded too that following Jesus is about following our fellow believers but also to go out into the world in order to share God. We need to have that kind of relationship to the world.
If you are looking for a powerful book that will encourage you to grow closer in Christ then I highly recommend Unburdened.
I give this book five out of five stars....
Happy Reading!
March 24, 2020
Stop living for Jesus and let Jesus live thru you.
We become burdened when we live the Christian life thru our own strength. It is by abiding and connecting to Jesus we can begin to share who Jesus is. The text asks you the reader many questions such as what is your responsibility as a Christian? What is the Kingdom of God? Walking in the Christian life and becoming unburdened is being compelled to love God and others. When we make it about what we do instead of who we are, our love is on a slippery slope. Love becomes hard instead restful. Love should not be about trying. It is in knowing the scriptures and praying that God reveal to us who he is can we begin to love.
The text comes in 4 parts.
The Foundation
Abide
Connect
Share
Each part builds on each other. You cannot abide unless you have a strong foundation of who God is and you cannot connect unless you abide in Christ. Little by little, you will see how you have made your Christian walk about your efforts and begin to be blessed with God's presence. Just as Mary was encouraged by Jesus as abiding and connecting in the better way. Our faith will grow and has the word says, Love will cast out all fear and I might add anxiety. Do your quiet time not as something on a list but someone to enjoy.
A Special Thank you to Baker Books and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
We become burdened when we live the Christian life thru our own strength. It is by abiding and connecting to Jesus we can begin to share who Jesus is. The text asks you the reader many questions such as what is your responsibility as a Christian? What is the Kingdom of God? Walking in the Christian life and becoming unburdened is being compelled to love God and others. When we make it about what we do instead of who we are, our love is on a slippery slope. Love becomes hard instead restful. Love should not be about trying. It is in knowing the scriptures and praying that God reveal to us who he is can we begin to love.
The text comes in 4 parts.
The Foundation
Abide
Connect
Share
Each part builds on each other. You cannot abide unless you have a strong foundation of who God is and you cannot connect unless you abide in Christ. Little by little, you will see how you have made your Christian walk about your efforts and begin to be blessed with God's presence. Just as Mary was encouraged by Jesus as abiding and connecting in the better way. Our faith will grow and has the word says, Love will cast out all fear and I might add anxiety. Do your quiet time not as something on a list but someone to enjoy.
A Special Thank you to Baker Books and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
August 28, 2023
Brilliant book! The core point is to let everything flow through your love for Jesus. You do not have to perform or gain any favor. You don't need to do more to feel closer to God. You simply need to abide in him, and community, ministry, and love in general will flow through.
I recommend this to anyone who tends to feel that pressure to perform in order to feel closer to God, or to feel they are valuable in the church. You don't. Let everything flow from your love and fellowship with God. He has redeemed you.
I recommend this to anyone who tends to feel that pressure to perform in order to feel closer to God, or to feel they are valuable in the church. You don't. Let everything flow from your love and fellowship with God. He has redeemed you.
February 12, 2020
I spent most of my life following the “checklist” of do’s and dont’s of what it meant to be a good Christian. This led to carrying a burden I was never intended to hold on my own. Vance clearly covers the Biblical principles for living as an authentic Jesus follower in a world that desperately needs authenticity. If you have been living the religious life and failing, or you’re confused about the real meaning of being a Jesus follower and what that looks like practically, this book is for you!
August 26, 2021
This book was so very timely as I stepped out of an official ministry role and learned to simply be with Jesus and then let being with Jesus overflow into being with others. I was reminded that fellowship and missions is not an obligation that needs to look a certain way or occur in a certain amount, it’s an overflow from the relationship I need most. I highly recommend this book, no matter where you are in your walk with the Lord.
June 7, 2022
It’s a book on leaving behind the rules of religion in favor of relationship, but it has an odd way of saying “if you truly love God, your life will look like [xyz]” without any room for nuance or consideration of systemic, financial, medical, and psychological barriers.
This is the rulebook it decries.
This is the rulebook it decries.
August 5, 2022
love it!
I’m a Vance Pitman fan and have been for some time. I’ve visited his church on numerous occasions, listened to his podcast, and even gone thru his church planting cohort.
This book is a great resource emphasizing the importance of a relationship with Jesus - not just ways to do more things for Jesus.
I’m a Vance Pitman fan and have been for some time. I’ve visited his church on numerous occasions, listened to his podcast, and even gone thru his church planting cohort.
This book is a great resource emphasizing the importance of a relationship with Jesus - not just ways to do more things for Jesus.
December 8, 2022
I love the push towards the freedom that exists in living a life in relationship with Christ and led by the Holy Spirit. So encouraging and needed. There are several parts that I would still consider “following a religion” but disguised in different wording but I’m trusting the Spirit will enable people to see those areas for themselves
November 3, 2025
Loved this book! My pastor preached through it on Wednesday nights. Love to hear someone describe the truth about following Jesus- freedom.
Religion is a burden. A relationship with Jesus is the opposite.
Religion is a burden. A relationship with Jesus is the opposite.
December 19, 2020
Interesting takes on Christianity by a pastor from Las Vegas. Some of it was pretty controversial, but good lessons nonetheless.
3.9/5
3.9/5
July 3, 2021
An excellent read on what it means to abide in Christ and to seek intimacy with God instead of seeking to please him through self-effort. A breath of fresh air to my self-reliant soul.
March 20, 2022
I liked it in the beginning but it lost my interest in the middle so therefore it was a DNF for me..this book might be helpful for new believers
September 19, 2022
This was a book that took me a state of thinking I was doing what I “needed” to be doing but still feeling empty and pivoting my view to why that was. Created a period of tremendous growth for me!
March 12, 2024
Vance wrote this book with the same passion and excitement that he preaches with. The principles he outlines aren't new, but he presents them clearly, making them very accessible.
September 5, 2024
This book was transformational. Also, I was sad when it ended, and I don't recall feeling that way with any other book I have read.
January 22, 2020
In the book Unburdened, pastor and author Vance Pitman writes about his journey to discover that trying harder serving Christ does not bring freedom. Pitman writes: “…today, I see two primary targets people aim at in their spiritual lives: activity and information.” Neither of these will bring satisfaction to our souls.
Pitman continues: “As a Jesus follower, your identity is not in what you do. Your identity is in who you are in Christ—a loved, accepted child of the Father enjoying a fellowship relationship with Him. Great freedom is in understanding and enjoying the difference!”
This was an ok book. It started out well but then Pitman seemed to repeat and meander along from the middle to the end. I would recommend this book for the first few chapters but there are many other books on this topic.
I received a complimentary copy of this e-book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Pitman continues: “As a Jesus follower, your identity is not in what you do. Your identity is in who you are in Christ—a loved, accepted child of the Father enjoying a fellowship relationship with Him. Great freedom is in understanding and enjoying the difference!”
This was an ok book. It started out well but then Pitman seemed to repeat and meander along from the middle to the end. I would recommend this book for the first few chapters but there are many other books on this topic.
I received a complimentary copy of this e-book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews