Crazy Christians: A Call to Follow Jesus

by Michael B. Curry, Katharine Jefferts Schori (Foreword by)

Overview

The breakout star of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding shares his views on being unabashedly Christian for the 21st century.

An expansion of his wildly popular sermon for the 77th General Convention of the Episcopal Church in 2012, Rt. Rev. Michael B. Curry gives inspiration and guidance on being bold Christians for a modern audience. Known for his positivity, fiery and magnetic speaking style, and Gospel-based knowledge, Bishop Curry is the go-to spiritual leader for today’s public life. He was the officiant for the funeral of President George H.W. Bush and Senator John McCain. The words of his sermon, which went viral, will energize followers of the Gospel or readers looking for bolder spiritual life.

“We need some Christians who are as crazy as the Lord. Crazy enough to love like Jesus, to give like Jesus, to forgive like Jesus, to do justice, love mercy, walk humbly with God— like Jesus. Crazy enough to dare to change the world from the nightmare it often is into something close to the dream that God dreams for it. And for those who would follow him, those who would be his disciples, those who would live as and be the people of the Way? It might come as a shock, but they are called to craziness.”—from Crazy Christians

“Filled with wisdom, humor, and insight, Michael Curry’s Crazy Christians is one of the finest introductions to the great breadth of Christian faith I’ve ever come across. But be warned: this isn’t the staid, predictable, strait-laced Christianity too many of us were spoon-fed in Sunday school. Rather, Curry penetrates to the radical heart of the Christian gospel and invites us―indeed, dares us―to join the long line of those throughout history who have followed the rabbi of Nazareth.”—David Lose, Luther Seminary, Center for Biblical Preaching and Festival Homiletics

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780819228857
Publisher:	Church Publishing, Incorporated
Publication date:	08/07/2013
Pages:	160
Sales rank:	362,158
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.30(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry is the Episcopal Church’s 27th Presiding Bishop. He was the Bishop of North Carolina from 2000 to 2015. Bishop Curry has a national preaching and teaching ministry and is a regular on TV and radio and a frequent speaker at conferences around the country. His books include Crazy Christians: A Call to Follow Jesus; Following the Way of Jesus: Church’s Teachings for a Changing World; and Love Is the Way: Holding on to Hope in Troubling Times.

Table of Contents

Foreword Katharine Jefferts Schori vii

Preface xi

Chapter 1 We Need Some Crazy Christians 1

Chapter 2 We Are Part of Something Greater Than Ourselves 11

Chapter 3 Following Jesus with Our Feet 17

Chapter 4 Living into God's Dream 27

Chapter 5 A Mountain Climb that Can Change the World 39

Chapter 6 Down with Walls of Division and Up with the Dream of God 49

Chapter 7 The Savior's Not-So-Serene Call to Life on a Wild, Restless Sea 65

Chapter 8 When Upside Down Is Really Right Side Up 73

Chapter 9 Keep Your Eyes on the Prize, Hold On, Hold On 81

Chapter 10 The Outstretched Arms of Jesus and the Limitless Reach of Love 89

Chapter 11 E Pluribus Unum: God's Dream, Our Hope 99

Chapter 12 The Gospel Witness of Welcome Will Rearrange the World 109

Chapter 13 Come, Let Us Go to Galilee-Probably the Last Place We Want to Be 125

Appendix of Addresses 143

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“Read these reflections by Michael Curry only if you want your vision of discipleship to be renewed; read them only if you want your picture of what life in this world can look like to be reinvigorated; read them only if you are willing to risk deepening your friendship with Jesus. Inspiring, provocative, and profound, this book will draw you in, from its first page—and then it will send you out.”
—Lauren F Winner, author of Girl Meets God and Still

“Filled with wisdom, humor, and insight, Michael Curry’s Crazy Christians is one of the finest introductions to the great breadth of Christian faith I’ve ever come across. But be warned: this isn’t the staid, predictable, straight-laced Christianity too many of us were spoon-fed in Sunday school. Rather, Curry penetrates to the radical heart of the Christian gospel and invites us—indeed, dares us—to join the long line of those throughout history who have followed the rabbi of Nazareth. If we take his dare, we may be surprised to see ourselves do amazing and, yes, even crazy things as we are caught up in the power of God’s transforming love.”
—David Lose, Luther Seminary, Center for Biblical Preaching and Festival Homiletics

“Michael Curry invites the reader to say yes to Jesus and his journey, to climb the mountain with the Lord, embrace the prophetic dream of God, and to go out into a world desperately in need of the sweet, sweet sound of love in order to turn that world upside down. Bishop Curry has caught a contagious vision and he invites God’s church to join him.”
—The Rt. Rev. C. Andrew Doyle, Diocese of Texas, author of Unabashedly Episcopalian: Proclaiming the Good News of the Episcopal Church

Editorial Reviews

Read these reflections by Michael Curry only if you want your vision of discipleship to be renewed; read them only if you want your picture of what life in this world can look like to be reinvigorated; read them only if you are willing to risk deepening your friendship with Jesus. Inspiring, provocative, and profound, this book will draw you in, from its first page—and then it will send you out.”
—Lauren F Winner, author of Girl Meets God and Still

“Filled with wisdom, humor, and insight, Michael Curry’s Crazy Christians is one of the finest introductions to the great breadth of Christian faith I’ve ever come across. But be warned: this isn’t the staid, predictable, straight-laced Christianity too many of us were spoon-fed in Sunday school. Rather, Curry penetrates to the radical heart of the Christian gospel and invites us—indeed, dares us—to join the long line of those throughout history who have followed the rabbi of Nazareth. If we take his dare, we may be surprised to see ourselves do amazing and, yes, even crazy things as we are caught up in the power of God’s transforming love.”
—David Lose, Luther Seminary, Center for Biblical Preaching and Festival Homiletics

“Michael Curry invites the reader to say yes to Jesus and his journey, to climb the mountain with the Lord, embrace the prophetic dream of God, and to go out into a world desperately in need of the sweet, sweet sound of love in order to turn that world upside down. Bishop Curry has caught a contagious vision and he invites God’s church to join him.”
—The Rt. Rev. C. Andrew Doyle, Diocese of Texas, author of Unabashedly Episcopalian: Proclaiming the Good News of the Episcopal Church

From the Publisher