Customer Reviews

Theirs Is the Kingdom: Celebrating the Gospel in Urban America

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4 star:		(2)
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The strength of this book lies in its total honesty and realistic look at life in the inner-city living life and doing ministry among the urban poor. Lupton doesn't shy away from the hard questions, but answers them boldly with the words of Jesus. He exhorts us to be radical in our servanthood of our neighbors, and to sacrifice ourselves for others. In other words, he just calls us to what Jesus calls us to. This book is very easy and quick to read, but the lessons learned in this book can be pondered and worked out in a real-life context over and over again. This is certainly one of the best books I have ever read that encourages you to take the Gospel seriously in the inner-city. It's worth far more than the time it will take you to read.

Lupton's continual struggle to apply the words of Christ in the real world -- the inner city, nonetheless -- are powerful and poignant. He preaches a joyfully dirty Christianity, where the true servants of Christ are not afraid to get their hands dirty, to give with no thought for tomorrow, to be broken and needy and open and loving. This is not your grandmother's religion. He rejoices, he fumes, he laughs and he cries. The chapters are staccato short, and you'll probably read half the book in one night. Each section is anecdotal, ground in examples from his own experience. Out of these experiences, he raises much needed questions about our relationship to the poor, the ways we give, our relationship to Christ, and the difference between Americanism and Christianity. Like his Lord, Lupton has learned how to say "You have heard it said...but I tell you instead..." these pieces are powerful, gentle, disturbing and encouraging. I have just returned from leading an urban missions project, where we read this book alongside working in the inner city. Not only does it paint a wonderfully accurate picture -- so much more complex than the standard view of the inner city -- but it puts into words things that need to be said. I feel indebted to Mr. Lupton, not only for teaching me much but for speaking for me. A great book.

Having worked in urban ministries, I can realte much more to Lupton's book than I can to any stories from the mainstream media. He draws the reader right in to the realities of urban life, and in his delightful vignettes makes his neighbors your neighbors. He takes what the media might call "street people" and helps us see each one as a PERSON with a face, personality, and most importantly, a soul.

This book is fantastic. Bob Lupton gets to the heart of what the Kingdom is really like - something easily forgotten by affluent Christians in America like myself. Although I am currently a seminary student and regularly reading big, old books on theology, this little book absolutely stands out as one that has changed my thinking, and given me a more Christ-centered view of the world and the way Christians should see the world. Thank you Bob.

This book is a collection of vignettes from someone who has been doing urban ministry for a long time. The author's down-to-earth honesty coupled with his keen writing makes the issues of urban work come alive and challenges the reader to think through his/her values and world-view. Best followed up by a good dose of the inner-city so that the reader can appreciate the dilemmas and difficulties that the author poses rather than fooling him/herself with a bunch of theory. A must read for anyone who lives, works, or ministers in the city.

Not that short books are inherently bad or good, but this tiny volume is able to pack it in without wasting words. I am amazed at how Lupton is able to express such profound and challenging concepts with such clarity and directness without coming across as anything less than loving and wanting us to love God more, and live accordingly.

Although this book is over 10 years old, the stories and lessons are still very applicable, and I can imagine the same situation occuring in inner cities everywhere. The issues are still around, and people are still yearning for the solution of Jesus Christ.

We American suburbanite Christians need to challenge our mindset, our assumptions that we have been so content with for so long. This book is a great place to start.

This is one of my favorite books and I've read it several times. I love the honest way Lupton shares how he has struggled to understand and live out the Gospel in the urban setting in which he ministers. The stories are short but profound. Some will challenge the way you view the world, some will break your heart. There are no deep theological discussions, just simple narratives conveying important truths that lead the reader to a deeper understanding of the Gospel.

Robert Lupton's poignant vignettes point to the power of Jesus to change not only economically, socially, and spiritually the inner-cities of America, but the power of Jesus to change our lives in that context. This is required reading for the short-term urban ministry program that my husband and I direct, and a must-read for anyone thinking about, praying for, or in ministry to our inner-cities. Be prepared--this book will change your heart.

"Take no thought for tomorrow...don't worry about what you will eat or wear...don't lay up treasures here...give your coat...share your bread." It is not very sound financial advice and it definitely runs counter to Western values, but sadly it even runs counter to many Christian church's values. Robert Lupton has many years of experience running a ministry in urban Atlanta and this experience has given him valuable insight not only in how to minister to the urban poor, but also on much of Jesus' teachings. Though much of the book focuses on the American inner city, I found much of what Lupton wrote applicable to cross-cultural ministry here in the Philippines. Lupton often struggled in his ministry because of his economic status and the ever important perceptions that the people he ministered to had toward him and his family. Is it hypocritical to be in a higher economic class? While Robert Lupton and his family didn't worry about food and health, many others in the area he was working in did worry about such basic necessities. How does a Christian handle this sort of thing? Give it all away? I don't believe the Bible provides any clear cut answers, but the quotes at the top of this review show that maybe our values as Christians today are different than the values of Christ, the head of the Church. If nothing else, this book shows the importance of the poor and the special place in God's heart for the poor.

The book is written in an interesting style, there are nine parts with several short sections in each part. Often these sections were only 2 pages in length, which made for easy reading. But I found it hard to pull everything together, to make sense of what the author was trying to say. Non-fiction books should make its thesis and supporting points clear and understandable, but this book does not. Overall the book was worth the read if you can get past the unusual, scattered writing style.

I would highly recommend this for anyone who is considering the commission of Jesus to journey together in life. Lupton, by simply retelling his own urban experiences, relays profound insights about living the Christian life, and especially practicing ministry. It is helpful when thinking about urban ministry, but would apply to any setting.