Customer Reviews

The Forgotten Way of Jesus: What if we got him wrong, but he had it right?

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I have often thought that the view we have of Jesus today is like a long lost painting found in an attic. It is encrusted with dust and mold and its true colors don't come through. It provides a dim view of the original. Over the centuries the picture of Jesus has become less clear but Fran Leeman does a great job of peeling away some of the layers in this book. It is good for someone taking a first look as well as those of us who have been studying the painting for a while.

Having been brought up in a church where heaven is the reason to follow Jesus, I found myself years ago wondering what following Jesus had to offer for me now. As I've grown older and studied the gospels more closely, I've come to realize that following Jesus is about finding joy now, and about making the world a better place to live for all. This book rightly proclaims that Jesus is more concerned with transformation and not conversion. Most evangelical churches focus on people being converted to the Christian religion, while ignoring an emphasis on people actually living the way of Jesus. In "The Forgotten Way of Jesus" Francis Leeman examines this idea in depth. He makes the case that Jesus didn't come to start a new religion, but to invite people into a way of life that leads to love, joy, and peace for his followers. Leeman's passion for this way of life comes through in these pages.

Anytime a book like this is written, there are those in the Church who scoff at such notions that God is more concerned with who we are here and now than he is about people finding their way to heaven when they die. This book will inevitably upset some people, but if you are the type of person that has found Jesus captivating, but are skeptical about the Jesus of traditional evangelicalism, then this book is a must read for you. I highly recommend it.

Love the book and love the author!
I really like his insight.
I plan to order more copies as give aways!!!

If you are looking for some guidance with the "big questions" of life this book gives you a lot to ponder. It frames biblical history in a new way while relating it to modern living, so it is relevant and practical. Fran has such a way of capturing the message and delivering it in a way that can be received. Also, he infuses quotes from other sources in a masterful way.

Fran's approach in this book to sharing the gospel is unique, well researched and well thought out. He conveys the message of the cross in a very human way without sounding overly religious. He gets to the "heart" of what being a Christian truly is. THe appendixes were challenging and thought provoking but yet personal. THe personal stories others shared of their own journeys of folowing Jesus made the book very meaningful. Having been brought up in religious environment, Fran's book has helped me view Jesus in a more intimate way. Fran's message in the book has given me revived hope in my understanding that the message of the cross is a message of freedom not only for life in heaven one day but here and now. Fran has helped me put words to my own journey and helped me understand it a little better.

I think Francis Leeman The Forgotten Way of Jesus: What if we got him wrong, but he had it right? gives us a real glimpse into what the real Jesus was like and what he came here to teach us. Fran shows us a Jesus who was both human and divine and someone we would want to follow. I would recommend this book to anyone who is just starting the journey to follow Jesus but also to the Christian who is tired of the lukewarm "religion" of most American churches. For me, knowing the difference has changed everything in my life.