Customer Reviews

The Way In is the Way On

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This is a wonderful collection of the late John Wimber's teachings on a variety of subject of great importance to the church today. Also included are thoughts and memories from those who knew him best. Much thanks is due to Christy Wimber and everyone else involved in making this long awaited book a reality. For those of us who never knew John personally, this book communicates his heart, his beliefs, and his wisdom. What a gift this is to a new generation of young people seeking to experience the reality of the kingdom of God present today.

I've been part of a Vineyard Church since just before I turned 12 years old, which would be about 17 years now. I've seen alot of ups and downs and gone through some good and not so good moments with the church. Throughout that time, though, I've always greatly admired John Wimber, and not just because he preached in hawaiian shirts. The man was just who he was, but he also knew the authority and wisdom God had given him. He never came across to me as someone who valued his own opinion too highly though. With him, it was always about Jesus, and that's what this book is about. If you want to know more about Jesus and how to live for him on a daily basis, I highly recommend not only reading this book, but living out the principles.

This collection of writings by John Wimber explains the theology behind the Vineyard Movement. Yes, it's theology, but it's so plainly put and interesting that I gobbled it up faster than a trash novel. I've never been to a Vineyard church, but am part of a group starting a new church in our community that will be based on a lot of Wimber's ideas and teachings.

One of his goals with the Vineyard Movement was to combine Pentecostal fire (the use of healing and other gifts of the Holy Spirit) with evangelistic community outreach. This is huge, because these things are very real and happening every day in churches. But the purpose of the gifts, Wimber argues, is not to continually fill people who are already believers....we are to take the joy and fire to those who are seeking God. In other words, get it out of the churches and into the world.

I thank God for this collection to use as a road map as our little band of believers grows.

I have been part of the Vineyard movement for more than 25 years. I don't remember another single resource that gives John's teaching on all of the kingdom values in one volume like this book does. There have been so many critics who have said that John had a low regard for scripture. This book proves that John had a scriptural basis for everything that he taught. I found it very refreshing to read this book. It reminded me why I believe what I believe.

I loved the book which is a compilation of some of John's teachings.. It reminded me why I love the Vineyard and even how far we have drifted away from much of John's vision.. I have one quote from the book that keeps me looking to the church with hope. John said, " One of the basic goals I had in mind when this whole thing started, early on in the Vineyard movement, was this: " What would God do if we gave Him the chance? What if fear or self-interest didn't restrict us? What if the need for control didn't overwhelm us? What would God do? If our own ministries were not the important issue, what would it be like? If "church" wasn't about us, our place, and our ways, but instead was about Jesus and what he wanted to do here on earth, what would He reveal of His heart? What if it did not matter to us what was said about us- good or bad- and the only opinion that mattered was Jesus'? What would it be like?
What if we loved what Jesus loved? What if we let God be God and we just be His people? What if self-protection wasn't the issue and we didn't care about looking foolish? What would God do?
Don't you want to know? Don't you want to find out?" I know I am still in love with this concept and ideal.. The simplicity and child like faith part of it grabs me.

I liked it but then I loved John..

Bill

A book needs to be read by all hungery and on fire christians. It will strenthen you with greater insights into the How's of the Miraculous and other spiritual truth not found on Christian TV....Ever. This book is about insights of God from a General of Kingdom. Moving in the miraculous and yet, more normal and natural and humble than all the other 'signs and wonders' ministers you see on TV....EVER. Making the supernatural natural is one of this man's values. The supernatural make real without the hype and the pretentiousness, and the Las Vegas Hype. The supernatural can be effective without the weirdness and the change in voice pitch and the trance-like facial expression.

If you are or want to be a disciple of Jesus, this book will help you go deeper. It is a very easy read but it is also very challenging. This is a wonderful book that articulates the heart of John Wimber and the heart of the Vineyard movement.

This is not a review of the content but rather a statement about its readability. I haven't even completed the first chapter and yet I've come across a half dozen instances where a paragraph is cut-off. Most times, it seems that that paragraph is restarted and finished but at least once, it was not. Additionally, it makes me wonder if some of the paragraphs or sentences are missing.

My conclusion so far is that the method used to compile this Kindle book was flawed. It's not so bad that I plan to seek a refund but I thought I would advise you about it.