Ordinary

Sustainable Faith in a Radical, Restless World

De: Michael Horton

Narrado por: Michael Horton

Radical. Crazy. Transformative and restless. Every word we read these days seems to suggest there's a "next-best-thing", if only we would change our comfortable, compromising lives. In fact, the greatest fear most Christians have is boredom - the sense that they are missing out on the radical life Jesus promised. One thing is certain. No one wants to be "ordinary".

Yet pastor and author Michael Horton believes that our attempts to measure our spiritual growth by our experiences, constantly seeking after the next big breakthrough, have left many Christians disillusioned and disappointed. There's nothing wrong with an energetic faith; the danger is that we can burn ourselves out on restless anxieties and unrealistic expectations. What's needed is not another program or a fresh approach to spiritual growth; it's a renewed appreciation for the commonplace.

Far from a call to low expectations and passivity, Horton invites listeners to recover their sense of joy in the ordinary. He provides a guide to a sustainable discipleship that happens over the long haul - not a quick fix that leaves listeners empty with unfulfilled promises.

Convicting and ultimately empowering, Ordinary is not a call to do less; it's an invitation to experience the elusive joy of the ordinary Christian life.

©2014 Zondervan (P)2014 Zondervan

A Good Overview

Ordinary focused on the individual in all aspects of life. Horton did not advocate for the individual to live his or her life to do something extraordinary for Christ but instead live in the moment looking how to best serve those in front of our faces. Horton did not condemn those who are called to seemingly higher forms of service, but rather gave a picture of how it takes many individuals serving in different capacities to make up a church. I believe the book could have been condensed in some places and still had the same message.

The Fish is Made Aware of the Water

There's a saying (I don't know the origin) about how fish don't know they are in water even though they eat, sleep, breathe and spend every moment of their lives in the water...
This book has made me aware of the water. It's difficult to express just how much this book opened my eyes. I so completely bought into our culture's obsession with "radical" living that when I first read the title and synopsis, I thought it was a joke...some sort of satirical riff. But I'm so thankful that for whatever reason, I dove in anyway. Down the road, I imagine that I will look back and discover that this book has marked me.

Necessary in our radical culture

The church needs clear visibility in its purpose and this book is a great help in that.

We need this message!

With the culture we live in having such an influence on our personal lives, families, and the church, we need to stand firm in the "Ordinary" and stay true to the faith and God's biblical leadership in our lives and church. The message in this book is so liberating!

Awesome book on the church and our purpose

Wonderful insights into our purpose in life and that of the church. You are a awesome narrator. You should narrate all your books!

Biblical life primer

An excellent exploration of a Christ-centered life for all believers. This book frees the Christian from feeling they need to solve all the problems of the world in order to live a life that honors God.

A thoughtful, scripture-infused exhortation regard the benefit, beauty and excellence of the ordinary.

The author painted an excellent picture of why being ordinary is not only not wrong but right. He countered many trends in evangelical Christianity that are harmful to young believers and lead us to a belief in the necessity of doing something great which can be frustrating or demoralizing. Every parent and youth pastor should read this and consider the message he / she is sending to children and young adults. Furthermore, adults of all ages will be encouraged when they look at their lives and see, not quiet desperation, but ordinary, god-pleasing faithfulness.

Excellent!

This book was so good! Excellent compliment to a book like "don't waste your life" by Piper.

FREEDOM! ...and rest.

Yet again, Michael Horton does a superb job of unlocking the shackles of modern western “radical” Christian idealism, and combats the notion of the “next-best-latest-greatest” with the wisdom of our original call as those who are “in Christ.” I found much encouragement and the liberation my heart needed in this book. There is rest in the ordinary ways in which God has called us to live, and the ordinary means by which he has determined to serve, care for, and nurture his church, the bride of Christ.

Serving God in the ordinary

Ordinary illustrates how Hod works through our daily tasks to accomplish His Will. I love it.