HOW TO READ THIS BOOK

This book is about putting the Christian life into daily action. It is intended to change the daily patterns of your life. Therefore, if you read it and think about it, but do not make specific plans to change your life patterns, you will not gain the intended benefit.

After you read each chapter, I suggest that you stop and reflect on it to plan specific action steps. Your reflection time should consist of the following aspects:

1. Read the questions that follow each chapter and record your responses in a journal (either physical or electronic).

2. Spend time in prayer, asking the Lord what He wants you to learn, apply, and share from the chapter. Then listen quietly.

a. What specific action does He want you to take? This could be as simple as memorizing a relevant Bible verse or as large as moving to Afghanistan. Avoid generalities. Ask God to show you your next specific, measurable step forward. Ask God to show you when He wants you to take that step. The goal is to move from a wish (e.g., “I should love God more”) to a plan (e.g., “Tonight I will set my alarm thirty minutes earlier, so I have time to pray in the morning”).

b. Ask God for the name of at least one person with whom He wants you to share an idea from that chapter, what idea that is, and when you should share it.

c. Note these actions and dates in your journal and on your calendar.

d. Ask the Lord to enable you to follow through on these commitments and to prepare the hearts of those with whom you intend to share insights.

e. (Optional) If you are going through the book with others, share with them what you have heard from the Lord and the commitments you have made. Take a few moments to pray together regarding those commitments. Decide when you and your colleagues will check on each other’s progress (this may often be when you meet to discuss the next chapter).

3. Before starting a new chapter, open your journal and review the commitments from the previous chapters. If you have missed any of the original target dates, schedule new dates.

At the beginning and end of each chapter, you will be reminded to take these steps.

Note that the Contents and Implementation Chart on the Table of Contents page should be used to track your progress in processing, applying, teaching, and multiplying each chapter. This book is intended to change your life and the lives of those you relate to.

I hope you will not find this book difficult to read. It is not complicated. The challenge will be to put it into practice. The implications of giving one’s whole life to Christ can be unsettling. I hope you will embrace the challenge. There is nothing better or more important that you can do with your life than to accept the challenge of Theopraxy—to give all you have, every day, to living fully for God.