Magnificent Surrender: Releasing the Riches of Living in the Lord

Description: Gods kingdom is our true home but weve picked up a habit of resisting it. And when finally we do fall in most of us find weve survived so long outside his kingdom that weve lost all instinct for thriving in it. Thats where Roger Helland meets us. Roger has thought long and studied hard on these matters. He has pondered deeply what it means to be fully alive in Christ and for Christ and hes tested his insights in classrooms in churches with denominations but mostly in his own life. In Magnificent Surrender hes distilled what hes learned into a field guide for kingdom living. But Roger draws from an even deeper source. His book derives its force and depth from Pauls letter to the Colossians. Indeed Magnificent Surrender is an extended pastoral reflection on and application of that letter. Colossians in four brief chapters presents the glory of Jesus Christ and the glory of a life wholly submitted to him. It is a manifesto of the rich life. Magnificent Surrender heralds that brilliantly. Its a wise loving and sometimes stern invitation to read Colossians again with fresh eyes and fierce resolve. Its also a challenge to take to heart its promise and its exhortation--that we can and must live in through with and for Christ who is all and in all supreme and sufficient. -Mark Buchanan from the Foreword Endorsements: Existentially the words magnificent and surrender dont fit together. Roger Helland writes a compelling book luring us to embrace the fullness of both words. Biblically based as a reflection of Colossians and thoughtfully expressed by an experienced pastor and leader Magnificent Surrender invites us into a deeper embrace of Christs reign in our everyday lives. -MaryKate Morse Professor of Leadership and Spiritual Formation George Fox Evangelical Seminary Roger calls the Church back to first purposes in this work. Structural and methodological strategies will not make revitalized churches. He writes Revitalized Christian people are what make revitalized churches. Magnificent Surrender begins with the most important question that each of us must answer: What does it mean that Jesus is Lord? Read this book to find out. -Mike Slaughter Lead Pastor Ginghamsburg Church Roger Helland brings the ancient letter to the Colossians alive for the twenty-first-century church. By inviting us to a renewed devotion to Christ he exposes many of the ways in which we have become distracted from our mission as the church in the world. With compelling stories and soul-stretching reflections from classic devotional literature Roger inspires a fresh and liberating spiritual life. I highly recommend this book. -Phil C. Zylla Academic Dean McMaster Divinity College About the Contributor(s): Roger B. Helland is district executive coach of the Baptist General Conference in Alberta Canada. He is the author of Missional Spirituality The Journey The Revived Church and Let the River Flow.