Leonard Sweet - I Am a Follower: The Way, Truth, and Life of Following Jesus

PRAISE FOR I AM A FOLLOWER

Len is no semiotician in this book but a prophet to the Western Church. At times I felt like I was reading Jeremiah, challenging the shepherds of Israel. This is a much needed and long overdue book that deals with leadership in the Western Church and what it has come to. It doesnt stop there thoughit drives home the core thought, if not thesis of the book, that its all about following Jesus first and most. Until we get this right, the church isnt going anywhere in the West.

BOB ROBERTS, SENIOR PASTOR, NORTHWOOD CHURCH; AUTHOR, THE MULTIPLYING CHURCH AND REALTIME CONNECTIONS; GLOBAL STRATEGIST; AND ENGAGER

This endorsement for Len Sweets I Am a Follower might sound like an oxymoron from someone whos called a leadership architect. But its not. Im in full agreement that followership precedes and everything else follows, that leadershipas understood in our timeshas overlooked the very building block: followership. Its not either/or, rather both/and. Len Sweet unpacks this much needed subject as only he can. You not only will read this book but also want others to read it too. The Church is stronger because of Len Sweet, and Im a follower.

SAMUEL R. CHAND, AUTHOR, CRACKING YOUR CHURCHS CULTURE CODE

If there was ever a leader who could convince me that its really never been about leading, that would have to be Len Sweet. May we all, like Len, become followers.

MARK BATTERSON, LEAD PASTOR, NATIONAL COMMUNITY CHURCH

Leonard Sweet is a theological poet. And this is a book that makes you want to dance. Its not about having all the right techniques; its about having the right ears to hear the music. Let yourself go.

SHANE CLAIBORNE, AUTHOR, ACTIVIST, AND RECOVERING SINNER

Building on a set of metaphors and images, Leonard Sweet stirs the imaginationshowing us what it means to be a follower of Christ. I Am a Follower explains the vital cog that followership and being a first follower play in helping others enter the kingdom of God.

PETE WILSON, PASTOR AND AUTHOR, PLAN B

Im a follower can now be a proud proclamation instead of a shameful admission. In a day when all the focus is on leadership, this is a bold and refreshing call to follow and reflect our Savior. This will be more than another good book for your bookshelf; it will change you and cause a shift in what you run after.

MICHAEL BUCKINGHAM, HOLY COW CREATIVE AND EXPERIENCE PASTOR, VICTORY WORLD CHURCH

This volume offers us a much-needed correction to the celebrity-culture masquerade for spiritual leadership. Apparently Jesus didnt have the right body guards and failed to cultivate respect by not insisting that people stand when he entered the room. Instead, Jesus offered protection to his followers by offering up his own life and stooped to wash the filth off their feet. What part of last of all and servant of all have we missed? Len Sweet helps us remember what we never should have forgotten.

REGGIE MCNEAL, AUTHOR, A WORK OF HEART AND MISSIONAL COMMUNITIES

Len Sweet provides a timely and convicting reminder that our true calling is not as leaders and influencers but as followers and servants. Jesusthe Way, the Truth, the Lifecalls us to explore the truly radical influence made possible only by following Him. I Am a Follower is a message that is as revolutionary today as it was when extended nearly two thousand years ago: Follow me. And its an identity that redefines influence from the divisiveness of management and manipulation to the unity of fellowship in a common cause. I am a follower.

JAN LYNN, THEVIEWFROMHER.COM

Our shelves are lined with books, our conferences are congested, and our organizations exclaim leadership! Our zeitgeist has bought into an ideology of leadershiphook, line, and sinker. At its core, I Am a Follower attempts to refocus our eyes on what it truly means to be a Christ-follower and that we cannot lead until we are first, foremost, and always a follower. This book will change you if you let it. It changed me.

MATT KNISELY, AUTHOR, STORYTELLER, AND FOLLOWER

All of my life I have focused on becoming a better leader for the kingdom. Lens book opened my eyes to one thing I have missed on the journey: it is better to follow than to lead. Some of the greatest words ever spoken by Jesus were, Come, follow me. The richest, most rewarding Christian life comes not from pursuing better leadership skills but from passionately following our Savior. The words in this book came into my life just when I needed to hear them.

TOM DAVIS, CEO, CHILDRENS HOPECHEST; AND AUTHOR, RED LETTERS AND PRICELESS

I have been reading Len Sweets wonderful books for almost twenty years, and they never fail to encourage, nourish, and strengthen my heart and mind for God and for those I lead. Join the journey with fellow wayfarers as Len plants in us an intriguing view of followership for this new season of ministry.

DAVE TRAVIS, CEO/CHIEF ENCOURAGEMENT OFFICER, LEADERSHIP NETWORK

What an incredible and sweet relief to read what it means to follow as lead is brought back to its Jesus-roots. Leadership is critical, but how easy and subtle it is to slip away from what Jesus taught and modeled and slip into the latest pragmatic techniques that may even contradict some of Jesus example and teaching. We may have great and pure motives in how we lead, but woe to us if we drift away from Jesus-like followership.

DAN KIMBALL, AUTHOR, THEY LIKE JESUS BUT NOT THE CHURCH; AND PROFESSOR, GEORGE FOX UNIVERSITY

In an age of Christian leaders clamoring for the trendiest leadership gimmick tossed out by corporate Caesars, Leonard Sweets I Am a Follower grabs us by the collar, looks us in the eye, and firmly reminds us that Christian leaders are first and foremost followers of the Risen One clothed in humility, rather than a Trumpled suit.

GEORGE CLADIS, AUTHOR, LEADING THE TEAM-BASED CHURCH

I remember the first time I saw Michael Jackson dance... the energy inspired me. I wanted to join his chorus of moves and bring that energy to every part of my life. I Am a Follower is that kind of muse to the dancer in all of us. Sweet doesnt provide dance lessons nor provide a list of judging criteria. Instead, he invites us to a rhythm and choreography of leading from following.

Sweet rightly assesses that past leadership paradigms have lead to bankruptcy. The call to become first followers plays musical overtones of the Christ. And dances our way back to sustainable health.

Read I Am a Follower and do the twist!

JOSEPH MYERS, COO, PROMARK FINANCIAL; AND AUTHOR, THE SEARCH TO BELONG AND ORGANIC COMMUNITY

I AM A
FOLLOWER
THE WAY, TRUTH, AND LIFE OF
FOLLOWING JESUS

LEONARD SWEET

2012 Leonard Sweet

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