The gospel. The good news. Too often we boil it down to four steps, an easily memorized list of axioms, a diagram on the back of a napkin. But in the midst of all this, we seem to lose the wonder, poetry, and transformational nature of the gospel.
In ViralHope: Good News from the Urbs to the Burbs (and everything in between), fifty authors take on the task of sharing the good news for their city, together weaving a beautiful tapestry of the gospel in all its depth and complexity. These essays reveal how the gospel lives and breathes in neighborhoods around the world.
Browse our Bookshelf Favorites store for big savings on popular fiction, nonfiction, children's books, and more. |
Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Editorial Reviews
Review
"This book so deeply encourages me because it reminds me, you, us, and the rest of the world that no one monopolizes or owns the Gospel but rather the Gospel owns... and liberates us." --Eugene Cho, Pastor and Blogger; Founder of One Day's Wages
"What a delight to read these posts from people on the ground working out the Gospel in their cities and `burbs' in ordinary, everyday life. This is the kind of down-to-earth reporting we need right now. I will definitely be using this little gem for my work." --Alan Roxburgh, Author of The Missional Leader
"ViralHope inspires me to live more of the kingdom now." --Kelly Monroe Kullberg, Author of Finding God at Harvard and Finding God Beyond Harvard
"ViralHope is a unique and enticing collection of postcards from a veritable who's who of the missional church from across the Western world. It provides us with articulate and varied perspectives on how missionaries to the West are conceiving the good news in and for their various contexts. A worthy read." --Alan Hirsch, Author of The Forgotten Ways
"There has been a lot of talk the last decade about 'the kingdom of God' and being 'missional.' Going beyond mere explanation, ViralHope shows you what these terms mean. In fifty wonderful snapshots, ViralHope demonstrates that in many places and times the decade of talk has produced mature reflection and bountiful fruit." --Todd Hunter, Author of Giving Church Another Chance
"What a delight to read these posts from people on the ground working out the Gospel in their cities and `burbs' in ordinary, everyday life. This is the kind of down-to-earth reporting we need right now. I will definitely be using this little gem for my work." --Alan Roxburgh, Author of The Missional Leader
"ViralHope inspires me to live more of the kingdom now." --Kelly Monroe Kullberg, Author of Finding God at Harvard and Finding God Beyond Harvard
"ViralHope is a unique and enticing collection of postcards from a veritable who's who of the missional church from across the Western world. It provides us with articulate and varied perspectives on how missionaries to the West are conceiving the good news in and for their various contexts. A worthy read." --Alan Hirsch, Author of The Forgotten Ways
"There has been a lot of talk the last decade about 'the kingdom of God' and being 'missional.' Going beyond mere explanation, ViralHope shows you what these terms mean. In fifty wonderful snapshots, ViralHope demonstrates that in many places and times the decade of talk has produced mature reflection and bountiful fruit." --Todd Hunter, Author of Giving Church Another Chance
About the Author
JR Woodward (editor) helps people and communities discover and live up to the sacred potential. He is the co-founder of Kairos Los Angeles, a network of churches in L.A. He is also co-founder of the Ecclesia Network and the Solis Foundation. You will find him tweeting at @dreamawakener.
The foreword was written by Scot McKnight and here are the contributors in the order they appear: Len Hjalmarson, JR Rozko, Brad Sargent, John Chandler, Sivin Kit, Brother Maynard, Danny Gutierrez, Dave Kludt, Kurt Fredrickson, Winn Collier, J.R. Briggs, Noel Heikkinen, Dustin James, Jim Pace, Erika Haub, AJ Sherrill, Andrew Perriman, Raffi Shahinian, Benjamin Sternke, Joey Tomassoni, Brian Hopper, David Fitch, Christine Sine, Jonathan Dodson, Jason Clark, Kathy Hanson, Alistair Johnson, Greg Larson, Brian Russell, Sonja Andrews, Jamie Arpin-Ricci, Nathan Colquhoun, Todd Hiestand, Doug Paul, Luis Fernando Batista, Even Hanson, John Santic, Mark Van Steenwyk, Ryan Bell, Joe Racek, Audrey Blumber, Tony Stiff, Maria Drews, Jason Coker, Matt Rogers, Andrew Bleyer, Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove, Bob Hyatt, Jon Tyson and Christ Backert.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images? |
More About the Authors
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This collection of short, but profound explorations of the Gospel in unique contexts is a real gift to the Body of Christ. Through story and context this book offers great depth while not sacrificing accessibility. The diversity of perspective and experience still speaks to the unity of truth. Well worth it.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Over the past month I've had the privilege of reading some of the most refreshing, exciting books of missional theology I've ever come across.
The first was Untamed by Alan and Deb Hirsch. This is a profound work of truly creative, constructive theology that points towards new ways of thinking about our life with God in this world. The second was Sun of Righteousness, Arise! by Jurgen Moltmann. Moltmann's 60+ years of deep, academic thinking are poured into this very profound celebration of God. Though both are very personal and inviting, they are also somewhat removed from direct application. What, then, do we do with the profound thoughts we read in such books?
This is why I'm so absolutely excited about ViralHope. Here we have a collection of fifty short theological narratives about what the Gospel means in specific contexts, as understood by men and women in these contexts, who work in and pray for these contexts every day. This is not a collection of the supposed superstars of contemporary Christianity. This is a collection of theological, practical insights by those who are very rarely in the spotlight, but who are yet still clearly called by God to join in with his wonderfully varied work throughout this world. Some are trained as pastors, others are not. All have a passion for the continuing work of God in and seek to express what it means to share this good work in very specific settings.
What is so great about this collection is how holistic their understanding of the Gospel is expressed. We are reminded of a Gospel which calls people into a deep relationship with Christ, saving us from our sins, and calls us to continued participation with each other and with all our neighbors in helping and hoping together in spiritual and practical ways.... Read more ›
The first was Untamed by Alan and Deb Hirsch. This is a profound work of truly creative, constructive theology that points towards new ways of thinking about our life with God in this world. The second was Sun of Righteousness, Arise! by Jurgen Moltmann. Moltmann's 60+ years of deep, academic thinking are poured into this very profound celebration of God. Though both are very personal and inviting, they are also somewhat removed from direct application. What, then, do we do with the profound thoughts we read in such books?
This is why I'm so absolutely excited about ViralHope. Here we have a collection of fifty short theological narratives about what the Gospel means in specific contexts, as understood by men and women in these contexts, who work in and pray for these contexts every day. This is not a collection of the supposed superstars of contemporary Christianity. This is a collection of theological, practical insights by those who are very rarely in the spotlight, but who are yet still clearly called by God to join in with his wonderfully varied work throughout this world. Some are trained as pastors, others are not. All have a passion for the continuing work of God in and seek to express what it means to share this good work in very specific settings.
What is so great about this collection is how holistic their understanding of the Gospel is expressed. We are reminded of a Gospel which calls people into a deep relationship with Christ, saving us from our sins, and calls us to continued participation with each other and with all our neighbors in helping and hoping together in spiritual and practical ways.... Read more ›
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By M. Ebberts
Format:Paperback
ViralHope powerfully weaves many unique storytellers into an inspiring collection of real-life good news. The book challenges and encourages me to view my own community in a fresh perspective--to share the only news that doesn't get old--with people around me.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By A. Nee
Format:Paperback
I enjoyed reading these 50 personal essays concerning the Good News. Within the various voices and contexts I found it interesting to see the similarities in their interpretation of the Gospel of Jesus, as well as the unique ways that integrating such beliefs into each person's understanding of reality affects their daily life. A good reminder that everyone has a story and how we interpret redemption, forgiveness, unconditional love, and service shapes our personal stories, marking us as individuals, while also connecting us in our humanity.
The experience of reading the essays caused me to both meditate on what I do know and believe on the subject as well as stirred in me a desire to uncover more truth to the mysteries surrounding the message and reality of Jesus. It is a welcoming read for those who may believe in Jesus and his teachings while at the same time find themselves agnostic concerning certain aspects of the mysteries of the Kingdom of God and his message.
The experience of reading the essays caused me to both meditate on what I do know and believe on the subject as well as stirred in me a desire to uncover more truth to the mysteries surrounding the message and reality of Jesus. It is a welcoming read for those who may believe in Jesus and his teachings while at the same time find themselves agnostic concerning certain aspects of the mysteries of the Kingdom of God and his message.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Tom Hawkes
Format:Paperback
ViralHope: Good News from the Urbs to the Burbs (and everything in between)
J.R. Woodward writes and compiles a wide picture of hope coming from the same source. The stories captured here give an inspiring glimpse into what is happening around the globe today. It is current, refreshing, and eye-opening. I particularly enjoyed the "documentary" approach, because each writer gives a unique story out of their own geographical and spiritual perspective. The hope offered here is contagious. I hope it will keep spreading one person at a time.
J.R. Woodward writes and compiles a wide picture of hope coming from the same source. The stories captured here give an inspiring glimpse into what is happening around the globe today. It is current, refreshing, and eye-opening. I particularly enjoyed the "documentary" approach, because each writer gives a unique story out of their own geographical and spiritual perspective. The hope offered here is contagious. I hope it will keep spreading one person at a time.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is the best book I ever read. But, I need to be honest here. JR Woodward is my son. Children learn from their parent, but I learn from my son. He expresses ideas and stories very well. This book has many authors which makes it very interesting. It's a good book to give as a gift around Easter.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
When I sat down and read this book I had no expectations because, I must admit, I never read a book like this before. What is the Good News? That question has never been asked of me so I had no idea what I was getting into. Needless to say I was floored. To hear how everyone has put this question into their own contexts with such a verve for discovery and insatiable appetites for answering this tough question in their own way was comforting to me. JR Woodward has created a dialogue with this book that attempts to answer a question we should be asking ourselves everyday, how can we understand the Good News in our own context so that we can attempt to live it out with each other, knowing we all come from different backgrounds and live in vastly different places. The ultimate discovery for me in reading this book was that the effort to answer this question is as important as the answer itself.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I've been reading it before bed* for 5 or 15 minutes as a little devotional that re-focuses my day and reminds me why I actually want to live.
It's perspective - the "Good News" from many authors - reminds me that this news of the Christ isn't one statement, it's not "simple" or black-and-white. Rather, like God and the universe He created, it's complex and mysterious. Each 2-page point-of-view is the good news, and each one is different.
*errr... I'd probably make a good bathroom read too, esp for men (what do you do in there?)
It's perspective - the "Good News" from many authors - reminds me that this news of the Christ isn't one statement, it's not "simple" or black-and-white. Rather, like God and the universe He created, it's complex and mysterious. Each 2-page point-of-view is the good news, and each one is different.
*errr... I'd probably make a good bathroom read too, esp for men (what do you do in there?)
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Segments of a Hope Story
Viral Hope is a collection of blogs, and soul journals by writers and leaders from all over the country. Read more
Published on July 9, 2010 by J.R Caleb
5.0 out of 5 stars
Encouraged & challenged by the faith/experience of the contributors....
Viral Hope was such an easy book to keep reading. All of the different points of view were refreshing and gave an interesting cross section of the variety that is seen in the... Read more
Published on July 7, 2010 by Paul Johnson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Got Hope?
I finished reading ViralHope on the plane ride back from a month doing missions work in Romania. Some times when you are working with the "least of these" you can lose that inner... Read more
Published on July 6, 2010 by Callom
5.0 out of 5 stars
Join the conversation
Great read. Highly recommended.
JR Woodward, who I think it would be appropriate to label a missional thinker gathered a number of blog responses to his request for a... Read more
JR Woodward, who I think it would be appropriate to label a missional thinker gathered a number of blog responses to his request for a... Read more
Published on June 16, 2010 by W. Hale
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good Conversation Starter
Many of the articles about the nature of the Gospel contained within Viral Hope are very well written, enlightening, and have proven useful as good conversation starters in small... Read more
Published on June 9, 2010 by Scott Nelson
5.0 out of 5 stars
The good news is that this book is great
I was given this book by my pastor. It wasn't high on my reading list, but I was excited to have it on my shelf because I've heard JR speak a few times. Pretty excellent. Read more
Published on June 7, 2010 by Alan Hable
5.0 out of 5 stars
Going Viral with the Gospel
[ASIN:0982623607 ViralHope: Good News from the Urbs to the Burbs (and Everything in Between)]] I highly recommend JR's book, Viral Hope: Good News From The Urbs to the Burbs. Read more
Published on May 14, 2010 by chanchanchepon "Billy Williams"
5.0 out of 5 stars
Powerful and Unique
Viralhope isn't just another book by and about Christian missionaries. It is completely unique, a kaleidoscope of light and a symphony of ministering voices from cities and... Read more
Published on April 15, 2010 by Jill Minor
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
