Emotionally Healthy Discipleship

I thought this book was significantly better than Scazzero's [b:Emotionally Healthy Spirituality: Unleash a Revolution in Your Life In Christ 249014 Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Unleash a Revolution in Your Life In Christ Peter Scazzero https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1380855746l/249014.SX50.jpg 241288]. Similarly to EHS, this book was used as part of a church-wide series, but unlike the former, Emotionally Healthy Discipleship felt like new ground in that it focused primarily on the individual as a disciple of Jesus (rather than transforming the way one would disciple others). Not only that, but moving from the I've-got-all-my-ish-together Christianity to more complete vulnerability within the church community, especially in leadership, but applicable for laypeople as well.EHD felt more practical/applicable, which was one of my big complaints about EHS; this one was also more rooted in biblical scripture.Chapters:Be before you doFollow the crucified, not the Americanized, JesusEmbrace God's gift of limitsDiscover the treasures buried in grief and lossMake love the measure of maturityBreak the power of the pastLead out of weakness and vulnerabilityI underlined a ton of stuff in this book, and took copious sermon notes, neither of which are things I normally do, if that tells you anything. Really good, useful stuff.

Despite sounding a bit sales pitchy and over the top at times, this book was a welcome challenge to our perfectionist, always on the go culture. Several times throughout the book, I'd find myself sharing a quote that I felt was applicable to some struggle we were going through.

Scazzero affirms the place of grief and lament, challenges us to embrace our limits and vulnerability, encourages us to slow down and "be before you do." He reminds us that Jesus' kingdom really is upside down compared to all that our culture has taught us. But, all too often we absorb the values of our past and our culture without even realizing it. Especially if you feel the pressures of success, busyness, perfectionism, maintaining an image, etc.--I'd recommend this book as encouragement to slow down and start to embrace the ways of Jesus' upside down kingdom.