Bethke - Its Not What You Think: Why Christianity Is about So Much More Than Going to Heaven When You Die

Praise for Its Not What You Think

Jeff has written another terrific book that rattled more of my assumptions about Jesus. This is a good book, by a trusted friend about an awesome God who doesnt play by the rules we keep trying to give Him.

Bob Goff, New York Times bestselling author of Love Does

In this new book, Jefferson Bethke gives us a brisk, readable overview of the story of Gods reconciling project with the universe. You will benefit from thinking with him about such grand topics in an enjoyable conversational format.

Russell Moore, president, Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission

With a deep discernment of the times were living in, Jefferson spotlights many misinterpreted truths in the Bible and puts a voice to the true heart of Gods Word. His desire to bring us into a more intimate encounter with God jumps off of each page. Christians need this booknow more than ever!

Lysa TerKeurst, New York Times bestselling author of The Best Yes and president of Proverbs 31 Ministries

Its easy to get stuck in life. To let our faith grow stagnant, our walk grow weary, and our hope grow silent. Jefferson isnt okay with that and has created a book that turns what we think we know upside down. Creative, honest, refreshing. Im a huge fan of the heart that explodes from this book.

Jon Acuff, New York Times bestselling author of Do Over: Rescue Monday, Reinvent Your Work & Never Get Stuck

This book is a challenge to me in my walk. It has pushed me to dig deeper then the surface level. I have realized that you cant just take bits and pieces of the Bible, but you have to take the whole thing in order to continue to grow. The lessons that we grow up learning in church are lessons we need to continue to focus on and grow in. Thank you, Jefferson, for opening my eyes to think deeper, and grow stronger.

Sadie Robertson, New York Times bestselling author of Live Original and member of hit show Duck Dynasty

My generation knows the basics of Christianity, but Jefferson sheds new light on these important truths. He challenges us to dig deeper, reminds us its not (always) what you think.

Chip Gaines, host of HGTVs hit show Fixer Upper

Jefferson Bethke has done it again. His passion for sharing the power of Jesus shines through in Its Not What You Think. For so long Christians have been looking at the life of Jesus as an expensive vase theyre scared to touch. Bethke shatters that perspective and reintroduces us to the Jesus who truly turned the world upside-down.

Christine Caine, founder of the A21 Campaign and Propel Women

Another thought provoking book by Jefferson. He brought up a lot of questions that still kept me wondering. I wasnt satisfied, in a good way. It made me want to dig deeper, not to just discover answers, but discover my relationship with Jesus.

Candace Cameron Bure, actress, producer, and New York Times bestselling author of Reshaping It All

The striking thing about Jesus was that he entered a religious world and presented a simple, relational message of how to connect with God and what it meant to follow Him. Jefferson reminds me of Jesus in this way. He brings us back to what is simple and pure and lovely and strips away the excess that we have often created in our modern religious system. Prepare to enjoy God again and know Him in different ways.

Jennie Allen, author of Anything, founder and visionary of IF:Gathering

What a rare gift Jefferson has: to soak the believer in a new way of thinking while simultaneously welcoming those who know nothing of his faith. Ive been impacted so deeply by his words, his convictions, his heart for the Lord, and his passion for the bride of Christ. Open the pages and find Jesusthe true Jesushere.

Angie Smith, author of Seamless

2015 by Jefferson Bethke

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 Yates & Yates, www.yates2.com.

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Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are taken from THE ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION. 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.

Scripture marked NIV is 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

ISBN 9781400205424 (eBook)

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Bethke, Jefferson.

Its not what you think: why Christianity is about so much more than going to heaven when you die / Jefferson Bethke.

pages cm

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN 9781400205417

1. ChristianityEssence, genius, nature. 2. Theology, DoctrinalPopular works. 3. Christian life. I. Title.

BT60.B4795 2015

230dc23

2015010663

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

For Kinsley:

I pray you come to know this beautiful and life-giving Jesus as the pursuit of your entire life.

Daddy and Mommy love you so much.

CONTENTS

by Ann Voskamp

1. Your Storys Not What You Think:
Love Defined You Before Anything Else Did

2. The Temples Not What You Think:
Its God Pitching His Tent in Your Backyard

3. People Are Not Who You Think:
Theyre Neighbors to Love, Not Commodities to Use

4. You Arent Who You Think:
Youre a Person from the Future

5. The Sabbaths Not What You Think:
You Rest As You Play

6. Worships Not What You Think:
You Become What You Behold

7. The Kingdoms Not Where You Think:
Its Not in the Sky; Its Here Now

8. Brokenness Is Not What You Think:
You Must Embrace Your Scars

9. The Tables Not What You Think:
Its Not Just a Meal; Its a Sacred Space

STRAIGHT UPTHE GUY JUST LIKED THE FRAME.

Four bucks.

Thats all this guy had to dig out of wallet at that flea market in Adamstown, Pennsylvania, that morning in 1989 to buy one old, odd picture frame.

He handed over the four dollars and frankly didnt care one wit about the painting, a dismal little country scene dabbed across a grimy, torn canvas with a signature he couldnt even make out. It was the gilded and ornate frame that caught his eye.

The flea market seller took his four buckswith absolutely no idea. With not the faintest idea that the frame and paintingwere not at all what youd think.

When the guy got home? The crudely made frame pathetically fell apart in his hands. Unsalvageable.

Greatfour bucks wasted on a bunch of garbage.

But when the unsalvageable frame fell apart in his hands, fell away from the torn canvas?

Therebetween the slashed canvas and the wood backing of the crumbled framewas this crisp, foldedup piece of paper, the size of a business envelope.

He unfolded it slowly. Ran his finger across the inked calligraphy.

It couldnt be what it read