Jesus Manifesto by Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola

The Christian church has a problem. It has been diagnosed by authors Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola with "Jesus Deficit Disorder." It seems that the world likes Jesus but not necessarily the church. Further, it seems that the church may not even like Jesus - at least the Jesus Christ who is supreme and sovereign. Each individual, each generation and each culture must answer a question that was posed by Jesus Christ to the disciples over 2000 years ago.

"Who do you say that I am?"

Reading this book has allowed me to focus on the fact that Christ is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. He is the center of all things and occupies all things. He is the Creator of heaven and earth and the Healer of our brokenness. He is the second person of the Trinity and is the theme of both the Old and New Testament.

Unfortunately, many who call themselves Christians hold a higher regard for good works, social justice and church activities than they do for Jesus Christ himself. God calls us to be living epistles, a city on a hill and even walking, breathing "Jesus Manifestos."

I pray that I will be a "Jesus Manifesto."

Personally, I find this book to be challenging as well as encouraging. When reading it, I sometimes felt as if I were in a worship service because of the love for Jesus that jumped from each page.

Note: Thomas Nelson provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes.