If God Were Real: A Journey Into a Faith That Matters

By John Avant

Book Overview

In this provocative book, pastor John avant encourages readers to uphold a consistent practice of what they believe, not just a verbalization of what they believe. If Christians truly believe in God,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1416587799
• ISBN13: 9781416587798
• Release Date: July 2009
• Publisher: Howard Books
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.4" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

A convicting State of the Church Address

Dr. Avant provides a compelling view of the current status of the American church and calls us all to action. With what Christianity has become today, we're better off severing ourselves from it and simply call ourselves "Christ followers." Because, sadly, if we were to actually do what God calls us to do, if we were to act like God were actually real, many churches in this country would want nothing to do with us. Reader beware, reading this book may grow in you a desire to live dangerously and to escape the safe bubble we've all put ourselves in. A great buy and a great read.

Walk the walk or talk the talk?

I am lucky enough to have Bro. Avant as preacher at First West. I now consider him a friend and brother in Christ. I quit going to church when I was about 16 years old. I am about to turn 39. My wife asked me numerous times if I would like to go with her and our kids to a service. Finally I did. The last words out of John's mouth that day changed my life forever. He said, " Let's go be Church!" Wished someone would have told me that when I was younger. Even though there were a couple thousand people in there as he said that, I felt like he was saying it directly to me. Well, I got this book one day after work and began reading. He says what the majority of people know to be true but refuse to say. It hurts when the very finger you have pointed at others turns around and points back at you. We all know we are guilty of this. I know I am. While sitting in the Detroit Airport between flights, I was reading If God Were Real. I started a new chapter and he mentioned someone whom I knew. As I read further he mentioned my cousin Kathy who had died of cancer after a long hard battle. Unless you have gone through struggles like she did, you could never know her strength. She wrote her own eulogy that was read at her funeral. John quoted her eulogy in that chapter. She was the perfect example of someone who lived like God was real. She had so many troubles and so much pain, but was HAPPY because she knew GOD REALLY loved her more than anything in this world. John has helped me personally to open my eyes and ears to what God has been saying all along. This book to me is a battle cry to Walk the Walk not just Talk the Talk. Let's go be Church!

WOW!!! A must read!!

Wow, what an amazing and challenging book! Everyone should read this book if you are really challenged to discover the realities of living for Christ. Even if you are just wondering if God is real, read this book.

A challenge to those who don't believe - and those who do.

Over three weeks after reading Dr. Avant's latest book I find myself still dealing with the impact made in my life. The challenge he presents to those who do not believe is really quite simple. Consider. Just consider. If his 'what if' question is found to be lacking, the only loss is a bit of time spent reading a book. But then maybe this book will open some eyes to the possibility that God does exist and that He is very real. For those of us who profess to already believe, the challenge to truly live that belief in day to day life is very straightforward. The true life examples given of those who claim to be Christians - and live like it - is balanced equally by examples of how far from the mark many of us have fallen. The book is summed up, in my opinion, exceptionally well, when Dr. Avant offers a model prayer for those of us who consider ourselves true believers. "God, change everything about me that you need to change. ...Do in me - and in your people - whatever it takes to bring you honor and glory....Even if it means I never like another song I sing or sermon I hear...if instead, we can reach people who aren't yet here...." If believers truly grasped this concept there would no longer be a need to apologize to those around us for being such poor Christ followers.

A Journey with A Challenge

WOW! What a Journey - and it's just beginning. The Challenge -- to really live like I believe God IS REAL...I can't begin to condense this must-read into a few sentences, and feel hard-pressed to choose just one of the many underlined statements/passages, so I won't! I'll choose three which is still a struggle!!! But here are a few that stepped on my toes: Most Christians are either so sheltered within the religious shell of their churches that they don't really know any non-Christians, or they are actively working to oppose them. Or both. Maybe the key to being a part of a movement of God is deciding that I really want to be a part of it! The greatest love ever demonstrated was lived out not in feelings of sweet, heart-fluttering romance but in screaming, tortured agony. The chapter on families -- If God Were Real...Our Family Life Would Shock the World -- well, here's another quote ---- "Children who live our family life on a mission with the real God will not easily trade that in for anything this world has to offer." All of this from just the first half of the book --- WELL, WELL worth the read!! Along with two other books I have read recently, this is one I wish I could just have a case full and hand them out!