Welcome to the Revolution: A Field Guide For New Believers [Paperback]

Brian Tome (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 9, 2008

Felt the pull of God? Answered it? Freaked out about what to do next?

As Brian Tome was talking to a new Christ-follower in his office, he realized that he had nothing on his bookshelf that would give her the "straight talk" on the radical new life she was about to begin. So he penned Welcome to the Revolution a bold, honest, humorous guide to joining the ever-advancing Kingdom of God. "The Revolution," as Tome calls the Christian life, is already underway, and while it is both exhilarating and fulfilling, it's challenging and confusing at times. This book will guide the reader from the basics (navigating through Christian kitsch at the bookstore) to the practical (Bible reading and building community) to the profound (concepts of forgiveness and using imagination in prayer). To those people who have previously dismissed the "Christian" life, or those who want to learn more about God in an accessible way, this book will be the breath that clears the air and shows them how to follow a Revolutionary God.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Tome pastors a megachurch in Cincinnati that draws a large number of attendees unfamiliar with the Christian faith. As he was counseling new believers, he wanted to give them a guide to explain the Christian life, and decided to write this book when he couldn't find anything appropriate. Tome doesn't get bogged down in difficult questions (e.g., What happens to people who have never heard about Jesus?), instead encouraging readers to take the next step in their faith and address those questions over time. Chapters on basics like Bible reading and prayer will probably be most beneficial. As one would expect for this audience, Tome's advice is appealingly honest (i.e., some of the Bible will be boring and you won't like everything you read). Other chapters get a bit off focus, like the one on community, which recommends rating friends and spending more time with those who encourage you (sage advice, perhaps, but not necessarily the heart of Christian community). Letters from church attendees and new believers are a precious addition. (Sept. 9) ""
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved."

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (September 9, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0849920051
• ISBN-13: 978-0849920059
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #454,734 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Brian Tome leads Crossroads Church, a movement of over 12,000 people connecting their seeking friends to a community of growing Christ-followers who are changing the world through combating poverty in Cincinnati, building an HIV/AIDS clinic in South Africa, and battling child sex slavery in India.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Boldness to Discuss Those Christian Un-Discussables, May 21, 2009

By 

Tricia Huff (Cincinnati, OH) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Welcome to the Revolution: A Field Guide For New Believers (Paperback)

I do attend the church that Brian Tome pastors and I nearly refused to review this book on the grounds that readers might question my objectivity. But this is one very large church and I do not personally know the pastor. I do not go to barbecues at his house nor could he pick me out of a line up. My reasons for granting Tome a good review are not to spare his feelings but to honestly recommend this book as a worthy read for not only the new church attender, but also the longstanding Christian.

The book was passed on to me through the church and not being a great reader of theology I thought, "Aargh!" and initially put it aside. My husband who relishes those meaty masterpieces written by St. Augustine and the early church fathers swept up the small volume and delved in. It was after his encouragement that I picked up the book and was surprised to enjoy something that is normally not my cup of tea.

The language is forthright and you will not find those "churchy" words that are so confusing to the newcomer. Tome lays out the logic and Biblical backup that went into the structure of his current church and approaches some topics that many churches avoid or present in a manner confusing or offputting to those unfamiliar with Christianity.

The boldness to discuss the usually not-discussed makes this an interesting read for both Christian newbies and those who grew up in a church, left in late adolescence and have returned or are thinking about returning now as adults. For those readers the definitions in the front will not be as compelling as the topics discussed towards the end, such as community and mission-seeking.

For example, many Christians exhort each other to give and give to the point of exhaustion because that sounds like the most loving action to take. This and other unrealistic expectations have driven many of my generation away from the church as we are leery of following the traditional Christian path if it means taking on a lifetime of tiring obligations.

Then Tome pulls out "If the house is worthy let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town." Matthew 10: 13-14 NRSV

Traditionally in my church growing up this was interpreted as don't get your feelings hurt while out canvasing, going door to door and asking people to attend your church, probably one of the most off-putting activities that inspired fear in both persons behind the door and on the porchstep.

This is what Tome takes from that passage. "If you try to build into people and offer them your peace and joy and they do nothing with it, move on... Your run is done." (page 129, @2008 Thomas Nelson)

Is that in the Bible?! Was such support for me always there and I just never heard, seen or understood it before? Do I actually understand what Christ really said and meant like I thought I did?

I continued to stop and reconsider as Tome confronts handling draining people, keeping up your old friendships with nonbelievers, and seeking your personal mission in Christ's Kingdom. Chapters move quickly, points are made succintly and Tome's back his ideas up with Biblical reference so you know he isn't whistlin' Dixie. A refreshing read for both the longstanding Christian and those seeking and searching in their faith.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Never boring!, September 8, 2008

By 

knwd (Cincinnati, OH) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Welcome to the Revolution: A Field Guide For New Believers (Paperback)

OK, so first of all, let me admit that I might be a tiny bit biased, given the fact that I've been attending Brian's church for almost 10 years now. So obviously, I have a lot of respect for Brian Tome and what he has to say.

Most of the ideas compiled in this book are messages (aka sermons) that have been given from the main stage at our church, but that only enhances the value of this book.

Brian once said something that made a big impression on me:

"God is not boring. In fact, I believe that it is a SIN to make God boring."

Brian Tome can be irreverent, shocking, and even juvenile sometimes, but you can believe me when I say that he is NEVER boring!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Accessible, Relevant and Uncompromising, June 19, 2009

By 

Fred Liggin - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Welcome to the Revolution: A Field Guide For New Believers (Paperback)

It is obvious that this book is informed by a high view of Scripture while speaking in a concise yet comprehensive language accessible to the reader who has never heard a sermon or is unfamiliar with "church language" and bible-terms. It is effective and honest while maintaining a deep respect for GOD, His mission and His church. Even if you are a long time Christ-follower, this book can revitalize your faith by broadening your christian vocabulary in such a way that it enables your communication of the christian faith to be heard in a modern context while not compromising biblical truth. Brian is a very talented writer who keeps the reader interested and engages he/she in a conversational way. For years I have searched a book to give a new believer in Christ that made very little presuppositions about the religious experience and biblical familiarity of the new believer. Now I have found it. Accessible, relevant and uncompromising.

PS - I do not attend the church where Brian pastors...I live too many states away.