I’m tired of apathetic Christianity.
I see it in the world around me. I see it in the church.
But mostly, I see it in me.
A reluctance to give Christ everything. A subtle complacency. Compromise filtering in.
I see people claiming the name of Jesus on Sunday and living like the rest of the world Monday through Saturday.
And then I look at my own heart on countless Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays . . . you name it, struggling with sin, battling distractions when I should be seeking Jesus, wrestling my human inclination to seek comfort—even if it means finding comfort in complacency.
I long for this generation to arise with passion for Jesus. For young people to live all in for Christ, changing the world as they change the way they live. I ache to sweat and labor and work alongside them, building the kingdom of God.
But even as I long to for this dream to become reality, I realize something.
It has to start with me.
If I’m sick of apathy in the church, why do I tolerate it in myself?
If I notice compromise in others, why do I make excuses for myself?
If I’m grieved by sin in the world, why do I harbor it in my own heart?
Dear teen, if we want revival in the world, we need to start with revival in our own hearts.
That’s the battle-cry of Love Riot. Like I say in the introduction, “Real, radical devotion is about more than temporary enthusiasm. God doesn’t want our flash-in-the-pan enthusiasm. Our ‘here one day, gone the next’ kind of love. That’s not what Christianity is about. That’s not what this book is about. It’s about die-hard commitment. It’s about tenacious faith. It’s about radical obedience. It’s about falling in love with Jesus.”
Dear teen, if we want revival in this world, we need to start with revival in our own hearts. Click To TweetThat’s why I’m thrilled to be launching a book study of Love Riot this month. Because this journey, this love riot, doesn’t begin in the world. It doesn’t even begin in churches.
It begins with me. With you. With an individual, day by day choice to put Jesus first.
I’m excited to welcome you on this journey.
It’s time to move beyond superficial religion. It’s time to give up comfortable Christianity. As Luke 9:23 says, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”
But what does that look like practically? How can we break out of complacency? How can we live all-in for Christ?
Come join us as we dig into these questions and seek to know what following Christ—even in an anti-Christian culture—really looks like.
I’d love to hear from you! What do you think living sold-out for Jesus looks like? Are you reading Love Riot this summer?
The Love Riot book study officially starts today! Pick up a copy of Love Riot to follow along.
Join me on Facebook Live tonight at 7:30 EDT on the Rebelution’s Facebook page as I talk more about living sold out for Jesus and answer your questions.
Book Study Schedule:
Follow along or read at your own pace!
Week 1: It’s Time for a Challenge: Moving from Superficial Religion to Wholehearted Relationship (read introduction and chapters 1-3)
Week 2: Digging Deep: Letting God Change Us From the Inside Out (read chapters 4-6)
Week 3: From Devotions to Devoted: Growing in Consistency, Love, and Knowledge of God and His Word (read chapters 7-8)
Week 4: The Nitty-Gritty: Giving God Control of the Day to Day (read chapters 10-12)
Week 5: Radical Conviction 101: Living for Christ and the Gospel in an Anti-Christian World (read chapters 13 and 14 and conclusion)
Come back next Thursday to discuss Digging Deep: Letting God Change Us From the Inside Out.
