Jesus Manifesto: Restoring the Supremacy and Sovereignty of Jesus Christ [Hardcover]

Leonard Sweet (Author), Frank Viola (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2010

"So that in everything He might have the supremacy."

-Colossians 1:18

Christians have made the gospel about so many things-things other than Christ. Religious concepts, ideas, doctrines, strategies, methods, techniques, formulas, "its" and "things" have all eclipsed the beauty, the glory, and the reality of the Lord Jesus Himself. On the whole, Christians today are starved for a real experience of the living Christ. We know a lot about our Lord, but we don't know Him very well. We know a lot about trying to be like Jesus, but very little about living by His indwelling life.

JESUS MANIFESTO presents a fresh unveiling of Jesus as not only Savior and Lord, but as so much more. It is a prophetic call to restore the supremacy and sovereignty of Christ in a world-and a church-that has lost sight of Him.

Every revival and restoration in the church has been a rediscovery of some aspect of Christ in the process of answering the ultimate question that Jesus put to His disciples: "Who do you say that I am?"

Read this book and see your Lord like you've never seen Him before.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The Christian church is falling apart and in desperate need of a revival. According to professor Sweet (The Church in Emerging Culture: Five Perspectives) and bestselling author Viola (From Eternity to Here), £what is lacking is a groundbreaking revelation of Christ that boggles the mind and enraptures the heart.¥ Expanding on the authorsÖ 2009 online manifesto, this insistent, impassioned essay condemns as pharisaic those preachers who forgo a Christ-centered theology in favor of a cute, singular slogan or mission. The authors urge churches to focus on the man who embodies the entire religion. To do so, readers must learn the subtle distinction between following Christ and realizing Christ already lives within them. Some may find this message controversial, even pantheistic. Yet the biblical passages show the message is rooted in Scripture. The authors provide a lot to digest, but quotations from poets and philosophers break up the text and help readers grasp abstract concepts. Though most applicable to pastors and seminarians, all Christian readers will discover a new perspective and deeper purpose.
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Review

"Jesus Manifesto" is a milestone in Christian literature - a spiritual masterpiece. It is both timeless and timely. The book contains a breathtaking unveiling of the beauty, glory, and wonder of Christ that speaks to both the head and the heart (something that few books combine today). The style of writing blends poetry with prose and is brilliantly sprinkled with metaphor. The content is illuminating, compelling, and even prophetic. Epic, true to Scripture, faithful to the testimony of the historic church, filled with seminal insights and written with exceptional prose, this little volume is a clarion call to return to the supremacy of Jesus Christ. For all of these reasons, "Jesus Manifesto" has come along "for such a time as this." -- Searching Together/Baptist Reformation Review

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (June 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0849946018
• ISBN-13: 978-0849946011
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (291 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #76,745 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

91 of 100 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Moving Forward in Exploration of Christ, May 29, 2010

By 

David D. Flowers (The Woodlands, Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jesus Manifesto: Restoring the Supremacy and Sovereignty of Jesus Christ (Hardcover)

Moving Forward in Exploration of Christ
A Book Review of "Jesus Manifesto: Restoring the Supremacy and Sovereignty of Jesus Christ" by Leonard Sweet & Frank Viola--Reviewed by David D. Flowers, free-lance writer & blogger

I can hear it now, "Do we really need another book about Jesus?" Apparently so... considering that as we entered the twenty-first century only 4 books out of the top 100 were about Jesus (Christian Book Association).

In "Jesus Manifesto," Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola combine their voices to trumpet a resounding reminder that we never "graduate beyond Christ" in the Christian faith. And Christ isn't found only in the center of things, but along the "corners and on the edges" as well.

Sweet and Viola believe we have created a "narcissistic" and a "best-seller" Christianity which is "self-centeredness wrapped up as `spirituality,' which has become the latest fashion accessory for the person who has everything" (p. 100). There is indeed much to be disheartened with in Christianity today. Yet, there is a growing number of evangelicals that are discovering that pop-culture Christianity is leaving them high and dry. "Whether they realize it or not," says Sweet and Viola, "people are looking for a fresh alternative--a third way" (p. xiii).

As I look across the present post-modern landscape of Christianity, I see several camps of believers pushing their way through the crowd to stand on the rooftop of evangelicalism with their megaphone in hand (i.e. books, magazines, blogs, etc.) proclaiming the "real" gospel. There are several current groups and "movements" that are all trying to highlight the neglected sides of historic Christianity. We have the reformed "defenders of orthodoxy," the emerging brand, the missional-minded, and the organic house church folk... just to name a few. I do believe that most of the people in these groups truly love the Lord and his church, but many of them are in danger of becoming preoccupied with some thing else other than Christ.

Sweet and Viola believe there are three features present in every spiritual awakening in the Christian church: (1) a rediscovery of the "living Word," or the Scriptures and its authority; (2) a rediscovery of the living Christ and His supremacy; and (3) a rediscovery of the living Spirit and the Spirit's gifts and power to manifest Christ in the context of that culture. (p. xvii)

We're living in some hot times economically, politically, and socially. Christians are engaging in an exchange of ideas (not without some name-calling and finger-pointing). It's evident that even those who have been the most outspoken for the "supremacy of Christ" and right "doctrine" have succumbed to rhetorically burning people at the stake in the name of Jesus. Where is Christ in word and deed? Sweet and Viola write, "Whatever you are occupied with comes out of your mouth. It's what you talk about most of the time" (p.19). And we should not just be hearers of Jesus only, but doers of Him.

Is "mission" our center? Is it community? Some say it's preaching and others... ministry. If we say that Christ is central and supreme, what does that mean concerning justice? What does His universe look like when we are first seeking Christ and His Kingdom? "When Christ is not central and supreme in our lives, everything about life shifts out of orbit and moves out of kilter. So for Christians, our first task is to know Jesus. And out of that knowing, we will come to love Him, adore Him, proclaim Him, and manifest Him" (p. 2).

That's why this book has been written. It addresses the present challenges we face as many "things" compete for the centrality and supremacy of the person Jesus Christ. We are called to be "living epistles" or "Jesus Manifestos" in our world. It's about being true to Christianity. "So what is Christianity? It is Christ. Nothing more. Nothing less. Christianity is not an ideology or a philosophy. Neither is it a new type of morality, social ethic, or worldview. Christianity is the `good news' that beauty, truth, and goodness are found in a person. And true humanity and community are founded on and experienced by connection to that person" (p. xvi).

Finally, "Jesus Manifesto" has been purposely written in an "ancient devotional tone" of writing. In the spirit of Watchman Nee, Jeanne Guyon, Andrew Murray, and T. Austin-Sparks, this book is a fresh call to the post-modern church... "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith..." (Heb. 12:2).

And let us move forward in exploration of Christ Jesus our Lord.

"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness." Paul, Colossians 2:6,7

Can we, as the Christian church, agree upon the person of Christ? "Receiving Christ also means receiving all who belong to Him" (p. 147). Will you sign the Jesus Manifesto?

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not another "Jesus book", May 31, 2010

By 

Devin Hughey - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jesus Manifesto: Restoring the Supremacy and Sovereignty of Jesus Christ (Hardcover)

Many Christians are found in want but don't know what is lacking. So, the Church organizes event after event, "how-to's" on "how-to's", groups within groups, and so on. However, people still want more. What do they want? What are they looking for? Well...what is it?? Depth. Spiritual depth. Depth in Christ!

Leonard and Frank took a fresh look at the Church today - one that many others need to take a glimpse at as well. Frank and Leonard dig deep into the "center" of believers and the body of Christ - Jesus Christ himself.

"Oh great. Another 'Jesus book'". No, no, no! Believe me when I say that what you will find within these pages is something so incisive and profound that the Jesus you know right now will look smaller in comparison to the one you will know after you have finished. The passion and fervor that these two men have for the Lord is so evident and fathomless that it is difficult to not become impassioned as well. The love and romance of God that they reveal to each and every reader is so pure that you will fall in love with Christ over and over again.

39 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A New Classic, May 30, 2010

By 

Michael Newnham (Phoenix, OR USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jesus Manifesto: Restoring the Supremacy and Sovereignty of Jesus Christ (Hardcover)

The single greatest lesson I've learned among the hundreds of lessons I've learned from J.I.Packer is that "theology must always lead to doxology".

In other words, if what you learn about God doesn't cause you to praise God then your learning was mostly in vain.

The focus of our faith is a Person, not a doctrine or any combination of doctrines.

Jesus Christ is that divine Person and He is all in all.

That's is the simple message of the Jesus Manifesto and in my opinion it is the finest volume ever penned about that one pure focus.

Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola never swerve from that focus for the entirety of the volume and every page is an examination of the Savior and His glory and perfection.

This is a singularly important book for that reason...it is the only volume in my library that is about nothing but Christ and that reminds me on every page that I am to be about nothing else as well.

Today the Body of Christ is being continually torn by disagreements over doctrine and practice and diverted by the good from the Best.

We are drowning in a sea of riches... constantly offered excellent volumes on doctrine and theology, incredible software to parse it all and the greatest teachings of the church available with the click of a mouse.

We have been at sea so long we've lost sight of the Lighthouse.

Sweet and Viola have done the church the service of pointing us radically back to Jesus and they have done so with great clarity, grace and style.

The theology is sound and the effect is what Packer would approve...doxology on every page.

From now on every new believer in my path will receive three books..The Bible, "Knowing God", and "The Jesus Manifesto".

I re read "Knowing God" every year, this will now be read along side it on the same schedule.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their Book Review Blogger program. I was not required to write a positive 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."