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Reborn: How Encountering Jesus Changes Everything
In our self-help, DIY culture, we love the idea of improvement. We make-over wardrobes and restore houses and commit ourselves to better habits. But we're still left feeling empty and not-quite-enough. That's because what we need is not an upgrade but a complete upending of our lives. We need to be reborn. And it's not something we can do by ourselves.
With deep compassion, Clayton King shares the compelling stories of 12 broken people who came face-to-face with Jesus in the New Testament and got a second chance at life. A respected religious leader, an ostracized woman, a despised embezzler, a condemned thief--all of them flawed, sinful, full of regret--encountered Jesus and were never the same. Along with their stories, King shares contemporary stories of people struggling with addiction, lust, greed, and depression, showing that Jesus still meets people right where they are and changes them from the inside out.
If you're tired of going through the religious motions by your own power and long to experience the radical life and heart change that Jesus promised, it's time for an encounter with Jesus. It's time to be reborn.
With deep compassion, Clayton King shares the compelling stories of 12 broken people who came face-to-face with Jesus in the New Testament and got a second chance at life. A respected religious leader, an ostracized woman, a despised embezzler, a condemned thief--all of them flawed, sinful, full of regret--encountered Jesus and were never the same. Along with their stories, King shares contemporary stories of people struggling with addiction, lust, greed, and depression, showing that Jesus still meets people right where they are and changes them from the inside out.
If you're tired of going through the religious motions by your own power and long to experience the radical life and heart change that Jesus promised, it's time for an encounter with Jesus. It's time to be reborn.
- GenresChristian
224 pages, Paperback
Published May 5, 2020
14 people are currently reading
1165 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
March 9, 2024
This book brought me to tears. Jesus is TOO GOOD YOU GUYS!
May 18, 2021
A wonderful book! We all work to remake ourselves better. We read all sorts of self help books. They only tell us how to change external things. The Bible tells us how to go deeper and change things that are eternal.Then we meet Jesus, and discover with Him, we can be reborn! This book makes you long to have that meeting and to better understand exactly what Jesus went through to provide forgiveness for us. Then you long to follow Him on His journeys along with His deciples. We learn about His great love He has for us. We learn He cares about our souls, but He also cares about our little day to day concerns. Like a very close friend, He walks with us through the day. He also watches over us through the night. Clayton King did an excellent job with this book. There's no preaching, no judgement, just a very loving book to draw us closer to God.
July 3, 2024
Fantastic! Start to finish, it’s compelling and beautifully written. Clayton King does a wonderful job intertwining stories from the New Testament and those he has encountered. What a great book about how knowing Jesus changes everything!
June 20, 2020
When I heard that Clayton King had written a book, I knew that I wanted to check it out. He has a way of relating the gospel story with a person through everyday events that always impressed me. It seems to be that Reborn is exactly about that.
In this new book that was recently released to the public, King shares thirteen chapters about how the gospel relates to different situations. King uses different illustrations to show how the gospel is at work in our world today. Many of the illustrations were from his own personal life, while others were the stories of other people that King knew.
It seems that in the world that we find ourselves living in, the validity of the gospel is questioned many times. There is a temptation to hear the truths from the Bible and think, “sounds too good to be true.” It is for this reason that works like Reborn by Clayton King are needed. It is such a good thing to be able to point someone to a real-life, in-our-lifetime event that illustrates what the Bible shows us to be true.
Recommendation
If you are interested in the Christian faith, I would definitely recommend that you check out Reborn by Clayton King. It will help you to see that the Bible is not a collection of fairy tales or fantasies. It is the very word of God.
I believe that a person who is fairly new in his or her faith in Christ would also benefit from reading through Reborn. It would make a good devotional, and if I’m not mistaken there is a devotional that goes along with this that you might want to check out by clicking here.
If you are a seasoned Christ-follower, I think that reading through Reborn would also have some benefit for you. It may not “blow your mind” with some new insight, but it might just be a great reminder of how the gospel of Jesus Christ does change every aspect of one’s life.
In this new book that was recently released to the public, King shares thirteen chapters about how the gospel relates to different situations. King uses different illustrations to show how the gospel is at work in our world today. Many of the illustrations were from his own personal life, while others were the stories of other people that King knew.
It seems that in the world that we find ourselves living in, the validity of the gospel is questioned many times. There is a temptation to hear the truths from the Bible and think, “sounds too good to be true.” It is for this reason that works like Reborn by Clayton King are needed. It is such a good thing to be able to point someone to a real-life, in-our-lifetime event that illustrates what the Bible shows us to be true.
Recommendation
If you are interested in the Christian faith, I would definitely recommend that you check out Reborn by Clayton King. It will help you to see that the Bible is not a collection of fairy tales or fantasies. It is the very word of God.
I believe that a person who is fairly new in his or her faith in Christ would also benefit from reading through Reborn. It would make a good devotional, and if I’m not mistaken there is a devotional that goes along with this that you might want to check out by clicking here.
If you are a seasoned Christ-follower, I think that reading through Reborn would also have some benefit for you. It may not “blow your mind” with some new insight, but it might just be a great reminder of how the gospel of Jesus Christ does change every aspect of one’s life.
June 22, 2020
King shows us how we can know and love Jesus in a deeper way
In his new book, “Reborn: How Encountering Jesus Changes Everything,” Clayton King explores what it truly means to be born again – and how it should radically change our lives.
Published by Baker Books, King’s 224-page book is a call to fall in love with the person of Jesus Christ all over again and know Him in a deeper way. King illustrates from the lives of 12 people in the Word of God how the Lord changed them through their individual encounters with Him.
For example, the account of Lazarus shows how Jesus displays His power even in the midst of unbelief.
“For a miracle to take place, it must first be preceded by a situation that demands a miracle,” King writes (page 143). “We want the surprise of a resurrection and the celebration of answered prayer, but we’d rather dodge the situation that requires desperation… We don’t see the miracle until things get so bad that only a miracle can change the outcome.”
Overall, this would be a great book for new believers to help them fully grasp the life-changing power of knowing Jesus, according to the Word of God. It is also a great reminder to us long-time believers how Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever – and keeps changing us from glory to glory when we are fully yielded to Him.
As one of my favorite authors and preachers of the Word of God, King’s latest book shows us from the Word of God what being born from above truly means. I highly recommend it.
I gave it a 4 out of 5 stars.
Full disclosure: In accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, I received an advanced copy of this book free through the Baker Books Bloggers Program. My opinions are my own and I wasn’t required to write a positive review.
© 2020 by Doug S., M.A.
In his new book, “Reborn: How Encountering Jesus Changes Everything,” Clayton King explores what it truly means to be born again – and how it should radically change our lives.
Published by Baker Books, King’s 224-page book is a call to fall in love with the person of Jesus Christ all over again and know Him in a deeper way. King illustrates from the lives of 12 people in the Word of God how the Lord changed them through their individual encounters with Him.
For example, the account of Lazarus shows how Jesus displays His power even in the midst of unbelief.
“For a miracle to take place, it must first be preceded by a situation that demands a miracle,” King writes (page 143). “We want the surprise of a resurrection and the celebration of answered prayer, but we’d rather dodge the situation that requires desperation… We don’t see the miracle until things get so bad that only a miracle can change the outcome.”
Overall, this would be a great book for new believers to help them fully grasp the life-changing power of knowing Jesus, according to the Word of God. It is also a great reminder to us long-time believers how Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever – and keeps changing us from glory to glory when we are fully yielded to Him.
As one of my favorite authors and preachers of the Word of God, King’s latest book shows us from the Word of God what being born from above truly means. I highly recommend it.
I gave it a 4 out of 5 stars.
Full disclosure: In accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, I received an advanced copy of this book free through the Baker Books Bloggers Program. My opinions are my own and I wasn’t required to write a positive review.
© 2020 by Doug S., M.A.
July 19, 2020
All too often I wish that there was a formula for introducing someone to Jesus. I usually don’t have much of an imagination, so it’s hard for me to make the jump from one place to the gospel. But I have to admit that reading Clayton King’s book Reborn: How Encountering Jesus Changes Everything (Baker Books, 2020) has given me some ideas.
Kings recounts some real life experiences and juxtaposes them with passages of scripture. He points out how the people in the bible were reborn, how their lives changed after an encounter with Jesus, and he does so in a way that makes it fairly obvious that a hurting and broken person today and a hurting and broken person from 2000 years ago have so much in common.
It was also pretty comforting to see how some people needed more time than others to get to the point where they were willing and ready to change. Not everyone jumps at the first opportunity, sometimes it takes years of someone saying no before it finally clicks. Jesus didn’t give up, and neither should we!
Afraid of sharing the Gospel? This book may just give you the confidence that you need.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher as a member of their blogger program. I was asked to provide an honest review
5/5
Kings recounts some real life experiences and juxtaposes them with passages of scripture. He points out how the people in the bible were reborn, how their lives changed after an encounter with Jesus, and he does so in a way that makes it fairly obvious that a hurting and broken person today and a hurting and broken person from 2000 years ago have so much in common.
It was also pretty comforting to see how some people needed more time than others to get to the point where they were willing and ready to change. Not everyone jumps at the first opportunity, sometimes it takes years of someone saying no before it finally clicks. Jesus didn’t give up, and neither should we!
Afraid of sharing the Gospel? This book may just give you the confidence that you need.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher as a member of their blogger program. I was asked to provide an honest review
5/5
July 11, 2021
So I got this book in the mail, couldn't remember where from, a book offered by a charity I support.
Re Born, okay another primer on how to be a Christian, I'd thumb through it and be done with it in short order. Boy was I wrong. I don't know who Clayton King is, well I know an awful lot about him now, but- never heard of him. . . I've read and studied and gone to school for - well I know a lot of Bible and theology-stuff. This guy. His stories are Bible stories. Real ones, real people, real places. They match up. He's been some extraordinary places in the world, and Bible-like things are happening there. I've never read or heard a more passionate rendering of real life experiences that just flat out mirror what's in the Bible I've been reading for 42 years-hard! Rich, lush, but simple descriptions of people who made an impact, people who blazed their trails, people that started out persecuting and killing -people like them, that handed their lives over to a God, some who had never heard of- because they saw. What a gift this was. For the human, and divine portrait of a Savior who was actually those two very things -alone. In awe.
Re Born, okay another primer on how to be a Christian, I'd thumb through it and be done with it in short order. Boy was I wrong. I don't know who Clayton King is, well I know an awful lot about him now, but- never heard of him. . . I've read and studied and gone to school for - well I know a lot of Bible and theology-stuff. This guy. His stories are Bible stories. Real ones, real people, real places. They match up. He's been some extraordinary places in the world, and Bible-like things are happening there. I've never read or heard a more passionate rendering of real life experiences that just flat out mirror what's in the Bible I've been reading for 42 years-hard! Rich, lush, but simple descriptions of people who made an impact, people who blazed their trails, people that started out persecuting and killing -people like them, that handed their lives over to a God, some who had never heard of- because they saw. What a gift this was. For the human, and divine portrait of a Savior who was actually those two very things -alone. In awe.
May 25, 2020
If you watch much evening television, you will inevitably stumble across a remodeling show. Several of the programs have become well-known and prosperous. The general premise of most shows is to take an old dwelling, and through renovation, make it something attractive.
God is in the remodeling business also, and wants to take that which is in desperate need of improvement, and turn it into something not only attractive, but winsome as well. King uses stories from the life of Christ and contemporary times to illustrate this conversion. As I read the stories from the 1st century and saw how Christ met the needs for change in a person’s life, I enjoyed how lessons from King’s life or experience added punch to his message.
King writes in an engaging style, peppering his chapters with illustrations both from long ago and more contemporary times. His understanding of the culture and world in which Jesus lived, help add color and depth to his assertion—we all need renovation, a rebirth.
Baker was kind enough to provide me a copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review.
God is in the remodeling business also, and wants to take that which is in desperate need of improvement, and turn it into something not only attractive, but winsome as well. King uses stories from the life of Christ and contemporary times to illustrate this conversion. As I read the stories from the 1st century and saw how Christ met the needs for change in a person’s life, I enjoyed how lessons from King’s life or experience added punch to his message.
King writes in an engaging style, peppering his chapters with illustrations both from long ago and more contemporary times. His understanding of the culture and world in which Jesus lived, help add color and depth to his assertion—we all need renovation, a rebirth.
Baker was kind enough to provide me a copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review.
June 5, 2020
This book had beautiful writing, challenging and inspiring to read with that also had an encouraging to faith and hope of all of us that are expect and looking for a better life, seeking for a new chance that will come with your mild must to be open to something new and welcome all into your heart and trust with Jesus will be with you through all your changes with your new life again. I highly recommend to everyone must read this book. “ I received complimentary a copy of this book from Baker Books Bloggers for this review”.
June 29, 2020
Reborn is a timely book in the season we currently find ourselves in as Clayton King takes us through story after story in Scripture and in modern day, revealing God's transformational power. Clayton King's insight, humor, and penmanship cultivate an easy, yet intriguing read, where I could not bring myself to put his book down. Chapter after chapter builds up to the irrefutable premise that people were and are reborn to this day because of the power of God, the love of Jesus, and the innerworkings of the Holy Spirit.
October 11, 2024
Very straightforward and perfect for the new Christian or one seeking to find their relationship with God's one and only Son Jesus. Each chapter brings us a current testimony or illustration along with a compatible story from the Bible to illustrate his points. Very clear gospel presentation by the author. He leaves no doubt that Jesus can change your life, not your circumstances necessarily, but the direction of your life and your purpose.
August 28, 2020
Reborn
One of the best books I’ve read in quite some time. I love how Clayton tied NT stories together with incredible testimonies of ordinary people like you and me. I have been serving the Lord for 40 years and Reborn was a shot in the arm. I’m telling all my friends to read it!
One of the best books I’ve read in quite some time. I love how Clayton tied NT stories together with incredible testimonies of ordinary people like you and me. I have been serving the Lord for 40 years and Reborn was a shot in the arm. I’m telling all my friends to read it!
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March 16, 2025This is a great book, it talks about 12 peoples different encounters with God in the Bible and the author also uses real life stories of his past that usually correlate with the certain story. This is great for newer christians and if you just want to read. But, encountering Jesus changes everything.
July 2, 2020
Fantastic!
This is one of the best books I’ve read about the way that Jesus transforms lives. If you’re already a follower of Jesus this will be inspiring! If you’ve not considered Jesus yet, this book will open your eyes to who He is.
This is one of the best books I’ve read about the way that Jesus transforms lives. If you’re already a follower of Jesus this will be inspiring! If you’ve not considered Jesus yet, this book will open your eyes to who He is.
May 16, 2020
Contemporary stories about encountering Jesus along with Biblical parallels.
June 22, 2020
Some of the best advice I’ve ever read in regards to time management and producing quality work that truly matters.
February 24, 2021
Such great truth. Makes us remember how essential our relationship with God is. Chilling stories of evangelism in other countries.
April 21, 2021
Super easy read and inspiring message! I highly recommend to any believer looking to get some encouragement and motivation in your spiritual journey with Jesus.
September 20, 2022
This book wrecked me in every good way imaginable. To see and hear of God’s goodness and faithfulness in times past and present is so powerful.
February 5, 2025
So many tears! God is good!
May 31, 2025
Better than I expected. He had a way of bringing new light to familiar Bible stories which drew me in. He also had some terrific modern day stories which further drove home his thoughts.
December 24, 2025
This is an amazing book laying out how Jesus has amazingly changed people's lives, from the Bible, to modern day. Clayton King has done an amazing job with "Reborn."
September 30, 2020
I have read a lot of books by Clayton and this may be my favorite of his. Through every page there is an emphasis on how meeting Jesus changes everything. We are given examples from his own life of his personal stories and stories of people he has met through his years in ministry, but through it all is the encouragement to make much of Jesus each and every day we have alive here in earth.
Whether it is in a foreign country or in South Carolina, Clayton has been privy to seeing God move in fantastic ways. If we were to look back on our own life, each of us could number the ways that Jesus has been seen in our own life; however, there should be an emphasis on not standing still and continually going back wanting Jesus to move in our life and the lives of those around us.
Baker was kind enough to provide this to me so that I could read it and review it. Overall, it is an excellent work that calls us back into an encounter with Jesus.
Whether it is in a foreign country or in South Carolina, Clayton has been privy to seeing God move in fantastic ways. If we were to look back on our own life, each of us could number the ways that Jesus has been seen in our own life; however, there should be an emphasis on not standing still and continually going back wanting Jesus to move in our life and the lives of those around us.
Baker was kind enough to provide this to me so that I could read it and review it. Overall, it is an excellent work that calls us back into an encounter with Jesus.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews