Wilson - Jesus swagger: break free from poser Christianity

WORDS OF PRAISE FOR

JESUS SWAGGER

Its encouraging to me that in a sea of loud voices, there are fresh, honest perspectives like Jarrid Wilsons breaking through the clutter!

Jon Acuff, New York Times best-selling author of Do Over, Start, and Stuff Christians Like

What Jarrid does have here is a book that lays it out there for all of us to realize that living a life for Jesus isnt something were to be ashamed of. Its something to be proud of. To live for. To die for. I love this book!

Judah Smith, New York Times best-selling author of Jesus Is _____.

Jarrid Wilson is a fresh and powerful new voice in the church today. His call to authentic faith is something we should all listen to and learn from. Im grateful for how he models the walk of faith.

Jud Wilhite, author of Pursued, senior pastor of Central Christian Church

Jesus Swagger is a punch to the gut of mediocre Christianity.

Matt Wade, pastor at Cross Point Church

Readers beware: Jarrid Wilson doesnt pull any punches. If you are a poser preacher, bogus believer, or faker follower who wants to be left alone to live an inauthentic life pretending to be someone youre not, stay as far away from this book as possible. Jesus Swagger will kick you out of your comfort zone, force you to face your fears, and catapult you into a more honest existence. Put it down right now so you can keep being the impostor God never called you to be.

Jonathan Merritt, author of Jesus Is Better than You Imagined

Im excited about this book! My friend Jarrid has written a super book. Jesus Swagger is a call to love and action. Youll be glad you bought this book.

Derwin L. Gray, lead pastor of Transformation Church, author of Limitless Life: You Are More Than Your Past When God Holds Your Future

Finallya book that acknowledges the distinction between a religious poser and someone who actually looks like Jesus. Ive been waiting a long time for a book like this, and I bet you have too.

Jeff Goins, author of The Art of Work

For many of us, there is a gap between the relationship with God we have and the relationship with God we thought wed have when we first started following Jesus. The Christian life were living isnt what wed thought it would be. We lost our swagger. Jesus Swagger closes that gap and reintroduces us to a Jesus that loves us with a transformative love. Read this book. Fall in love with Jesus all over again. Be a part of His life-changing movement.

Justin Davis, author of Beyond Ordinary: When a Good Marriage Just Isnt Good Enough, pastor at Cross Point Church

Too often, Christians get caught up speaking their own language, and have trouble communicating the gospel in the language of culture. In the wake of Jesus and the apostle Paul, Jarrid redeems cultures lingo to teach a new generation how to love Jesus well. As he does with hundreds of thousands of followers on social media, Jarrid boldly, clearly, and wittingly points to the amazing gospel in this book, and helps you see where you may or may not be faking your faith, so you can learn to love Jesus for real. The world can get things so wrong. We ourselves, without the light of Christ, can get things so wrong. Jarrid calls us to true swagger, the greatest way any man or woman can carry themselves: not just talking the talk, but walking the walk. No posers allowed.

Matt Brown, evangelist, author of Awakening (2015), and founder of Think Eternity

Knowing and talking with Jarrid Wilson has not only been a blessing in my life, but I can see and know that what he is doing is going to be a blessing to others. What he is ministering about in Jesus Swagger is what people need to hear. Its about being Christ-like and not conforming to the ways of the world. He models his walk with God the same way, letting his Light shine bright.

Chad Lail, aka Gunner from Impact wrestling

Jarrid Wilson helps readers move from being a sideline fan to becoming a passionate follower of Jesus. Wherever you are on your faith journey, Jesus Swagger offers a fresh and innovative reality check on whether youre affecting the culture or the culture is infecting you. Youre going to hear much from Jarrid Wilson in years to come, get in on the action early and check out this book.

Margaret Feinberg, author of Wonderstruck and Fight Back with Joy

Jarrid Wilson, with authenticity and a heart to lift high the name of Jesus, has written a book that will inspire you to follow King Jesus more completely! As a professional soccer player for the last eight years, it has been a constant struggle to not place my identity in the game. We are not what we do. Instead, we are who God created us to be... children of the One true God. Jarrid Wilson communicates this powerful truth in such a refreshing and authentic way. I challenge you to break free from poser Christianity and rock your Jesus Swagger like only you can! This book is a must read!

Wells Thompson, Jesus follower, professional athlete, and founder of Wells Thompson Soccer, LLC

2015 by Jarrid Wilson

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or otherexcept for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Published in Nashville, Tennessee, by Nelson Books, an imprint of Thomas Nelson. Nelson Books and Thomas Nelson are registered trademarks of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc.

Published in association with Wolgemuth & Associates, Inc.

Thomas Nelson, Inc., titles may be purchased in bulk for educational, business, fund-raising, or sales promotional use. For information, please e-mail SpecialMarkets@ThomasNelson.com.

Unless otherwise noted Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com

Scripture quotations noted The Message are from The Message: The New Testament in Contemporary English, by Eugene H. Peterson. Copyright 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. All rights reserved.

Scriptures marked ESV are from The Holy Bible, ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION. Copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.

Scripture quotations noted NASB are taken from THE NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE, Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)

ISBN 978-0-7180-2200-6 (eBook)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014951863

ISBN 978-0-7180-2199-3

15 16 17 18 19 RRD 6 5 4 3 2 1

To my beautiful wife, loving parents, and all who have supported my passion to share the relentless grace of our Lord, Jesus.

In loving memory of Thomas J. Wilson Papa

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CONTENTS

An unconventional man once said, I got the kind of swagger that you aint used to.

That man was actually Snoop Dogg (aka Snoop Lion), and catatonic nonetheless, I think he makes a valid point. Although that song goes on to describe subjects I wont mention in this book, that tiny phrase is packed with biblical depth.