The Narrow Path

How the Subversive Way of Jesus Satisfies Our Souls

By: Rich Villodas

Narrated by: Rich Villodas

A compelling call to embrace the countercultural values of Jesus, which lead to a life of love, peace, and fulfillment, from the bestselling author of The Deeply Formed Life, winner of the Christianity Today Book Award.

“In The Narrow Path, Rich unpacks what living our best life truly looks like. This book is a much-needed heart checkup for every Jesus follower.”—Christine Caine, founder of A21 and Propel Women

We live in a culture that wants it all. More is seen as better—whether it’s more money, social media fame, choices, or power. For those chasing this way of life, “narrow” seems negative. Who wants to narrow their options . . . or be seen as narrow-minded?

Which is why the most well-known talk in the history of the world—the Sermon on the Mount—is also the most paradoxical one. In it, Jesus holds up the narrow path as the most spacious . . . and the broader path as the more confining one.

Rich Villodas, bestselling author of The Deeply Formed Life, explores what today’s broad and narrow paths look like so you can discern which one you’re on. The answer may surprise you—and will help you pursue the way of Jesus more deeply when it comes to loving God and others, prayer, sexual desire, conflict, money, anxiety, and more.

The Narrow Path reintroduces the counterintuitive wonder of Jesus’s timeless wisdom for this age, one fraught with anxiety, depression, polarizing politics, and online vitriol. The path of Jesus is most certainly narrow, but it is the only one filled with the ever-expanding life of God . . . and it is available now for all who want it!

©2024 Rich Villodas (P)2024 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“In The Narrow Path, Rich unpacks what living our best life truly looks like. By challenging some of our most basic assumptions about what it is to walk with Jesus and by inviting us to discover whether we are on the broad or narrow path . . . This book is a much-needed heart checkup for every Jesus follower.”—Christine Caine, founder of A21 and Propel Women

“A book written for all those ‘who are weary of anchoring their lives in the unfulfilling promises of the surrounding culture,’ those who find the broad way, essentially, ‘do whatever you want and follow the crowd,’ to be revealing itself as exactly what Jesus warned—a path toward death, not life—and those who are interested, intrigued, and deeply drawn to the possibility of Jesus and his narrow way.”—John Mark Comer, author and founder of Practicing the Way

“If you’re tired of the choice between a half-Christian, conscience-quieting religion and an exhausting, guilt-inducing moralism, this book is for you. With a map through Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount, Rich Villodas leads us to the narrow path and shows us how to find joy on that road. You won’t regret the trip!”—Russell Moore, editor-in-chief of Christianity Today

Practical Insights for All: For the Christian and Curious

What a delightfully practical and profound understanding of Jesus’ teachings; it’s written in such an accessible way that both Christians and non-Christians can listen with open ears. Dare I say… it reads like a modern “Mere Christianity”. Unlike many faith-based books that can feel watered down, it’s deeply researched and genuinely challenging. The pastoral wisdom shines through, especially in unpacking the Beatitudes with such radical honesty, showing how Jesus’ wisdom applies to our daily lives. It’s a must-read for anyone wanting to grasp the heart of Jesus’ ministry in a way that’s relatable, honest, and life-changing.

Awesome read

This book is full of wisdom and is both spiritual and practical. I love the fact that the author's tone is relatable and authentic. Powerful messages are broken down with truth and simplicity.

Convicting and encouraging. Worth the listen!

Excellent book. I so appreciated the author's honesty, humility and truth telling. It hit the mark. Convicting and encouraging. Will listen to it again

Recentering to what’s important

Rich does a really great job to break down the sermon on the mount into practical steps we can live by to be obedient to Jesus in our daily lives. Highly recommended

Another great book

The author Rich Villodas has written another amazing book captivating one’s attention on the biblical truth about the Narrow Way.

The way of Jesus is uniquely different from cultural. How do you know if you’re on the narrow or broad path? The author captures this question within the pages of the Narrow Way. Another fantastic book by Rich. Recommended.

Great guidance through the Sermon on the Mount.

Great guidance through the Sermon on the Mount for those who want to walk the path of Jesus.

candid

Villodas is authentic in sharing his struggle with sins as the Sermon on the Mount highlights them. by focussing on Christ he shares how to turn your heart and behavior over to God. You'll love how scripturally dense it is. You'll hate (for a moment) how naked you feel in your sins. But then you'll delight in being free from those sins. I like this book because it helps the reader focus on loving God and loving neighbor, which is all the law and the prophets.

Enlightened

Love the reminding of what and how we are called to be. His writing is easy to read/listen!

The narrow path leads to freedom.

As a 50 something Christian, raised in a Christian home in American. The “narrow path” was simply the one that didn’t lead to “destruction”. Discipline was a duty, not a practice that led to something other than an eternal destination. This book explains how discipline leads to a great expanse filled with freedom now, in the same way that The Kingdom of God is alive and present this very day.

Good Stuff

I like Rich’s approach to the subject. He has great practical examples that help in understanding how to apply Christian principles in daily practice.