Product Description

Philip Yancey reveals the real Jesus beyond the stereotypes, revolutionizing the reader's passion for Christ. 1996 Gold Medallion Christian Book of the Year. This condensed audio version of the book is read by the author.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #31929 in Books
• Published on: 2002-02-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 304 pages

From the Back Cover
Philip Yancey helps reveal what two thousand years of history covered up.

What happens when a respected Christian journalist decides to put his preconceptions aside and take a long look at the Jesus described in the Gospels? How does the Jesus of the New Testament compare to the "new, rediscovered" Jesus--or even the Jesus we think we know so well? Best-selling author Philip Yancey says, "The Jesus I got to know in writing this book is very different from the Jesus I learned about in Sunday school. In some ways he is more comforting; in some ways more terrifying."

Yancey offers a new and different perspective on the life of Christ and his work--his teachings, his miracles, his death and resurrection--and ultimately, who he was and why he came. Relating the gospel events to the world we live in today, The Jesus I Never Knew gives a moving and refreshing portrait of the central figure of history. With a willingness to tackle difficult questions, Yancey looks at the radical words of this itinerant Jewish carpenter and asks whether we are taking him seriously enough in our own day and age.

From the manger in Bethlehem to the cross in Jerusalem, Yancey presents a complex character who generates questions as well as answers; a disturbing and exhilarating Jesus who wants to radically transform your life and stretch your faith.

The Jesus I Never Knew uncovers a Jesus who is brilliant, creative, challenging, fearless, compassionate, unpredictable, and ultimately satisfying. This honest book will help you discover a different Jesus from the flannelgraph Sunday school figure, the sweetly smiling Victorian Savior, and all the cultural clichés that have tamed Jesus and kept him in comfortable religious boxes.

According to Yancey, "No one who meets Jesus ever stays the same. In the end, I found the process of writing this book to be a great act of faith-strengthening. Jesus has rocked my own preconceptions and has made me ask hard questions about why those of us who bear his name don’t do a better job of following him."

About the Author
Philip Yancey serves as editor-at-large for Christianity Today magazine. He has written twelve Gold Medallion Award-winning books, including "Where is God when it Hurts", "Disappointment with God", and "The Gift of Pain. His books "The Jesus I Never Knew" and "What’s So Amazing About Grace?" were also awarded the Christian Book of the Year. He is also the author of "The Bible Jesus Read".

Jesus I Never Knew Leader's Guide
Introduction
Foreword

Philip Yancey’s study of Jesus began with a class he taught at LaSalle Street Church in Chicago. The use of movies about the life of Jesus, the discussion from class members, and his personal study all combined to give him a new view of Jesus—hence the title of his book The Jesus I Never Knew.

Yet all along he had another goal in mind: He wanted his quest for Jesus to serve as a guide for other people. As Yancey himself wrote, "In the end, what does it matter if a reader learns about ‘The Jesus Philip Yancey Never Knew?’ What matters infinitely more is for you to get to know Jesus."

For this reason, we have produced a curriculum to help you delve into the topic with a class of your own using movies as a springboard for discussion. Finding the right video clips and obtaining permission to show them can be a long and tedious task—this curriculum takes that step away from you! Philip Yancey recommended the best clips for each topic and we obtained permission to include them in this curriculum. For each session we have provided several different film clips along with a brief teaching segment with Philip Yancey and a variety of exercises and discussion questions to help the participants of your class begin to think about the Jesus they never knew.

This course is bound to change the perceptions of those who seriously engage themselves in it. With a willingness to tackle difficult questions, Philip Yancey helps us to look at the radical words of Jesus and ask whether we are taking him seriously enough in our own day and age. For those who have been raised in the church and have known Jesus all of their lives, and for those who are meeting Jesus for the first time, Philip Yancey challenges us to think about this man as the Bible presents him—brilliant, creative, challenging, fearless, compassionate, unpredictable, and ultimately satisfying. You will find that the video clips combined with Bible study and your own discussion will help you to discover the Jesus you never knew!
This Kit Contains
• The Jesus I Never Knew—This is the award-winning book by Philip Yancey in which he offers his perspective on the life of Christ and his work—his teaching, his miracles, his death and resurrection—and ultimately, who he was and why he came. This book is based on Yancey’s own discoveries as he led a group in Chicago through a similar approach to taking a look at Jesus.
• The Jesus I Never Knew Video—A fourteen-part video series of live sessions with Philip Yancey as well as different film clips portraying the life of Jesus. These ten-minute video vignettes will serve as the basis for your discussion in each session.
• The Jesus I Never Knew Leader’s Guide—This comprehensive guide provides all the information you will need to lead your group through the different sessions of this course.
• The Jesus I Never Knew Participant’s Guide—This workbook contains questions and exercises for each session, designed to help participants process the material.
Additional kits and copies of the Participant’s Guide as well as the book are available from:

Zondervan Publishing House

5300 Patterson Avenue SE

Grand Rapids, MI 49530

Phone: 1–800–727–3480
How This Leader’s Guide Is Organized

This Leader’s Guide is divided into fourteen sessions. Each 45-minute session corresponds to a chapter in Philip Yancey’s book The Jesus I Never Knew.

For each session the leader will need:

Leader’s Guide

Bible

Philip Yancey’s Book The Jesus I Never Knew

Video Player, Monitor, Stand, Extension Cord, etc.

Videotape

For each session each participant will need:

Participant’s Guide

Bible

Pen or Pencil

Philip Yancey’s Book The Jesus I Never Knew (optional)

Each session is divided into five parts: Before You Lead, Introduction, Warm-Up, Content, and Summary.
1. Before You Lead
Synopsis

This material is provided for the leader’s information. It is a summary of the ideas contained in Philip Yancey’s book and presents the main ideas for the session.
Session Outline

An overview of the content and activities to be covered throughout the session.
Materials

The materials listed above are critical for both the leader and each participant. In this section you will find a list of additional materials needed for this specific session. Additional materials are needed in sessions 1, 2, and 11.
Recommended Reading

The leader is encouraged to read the appropriate chapter of Philip Yancey’s book The Jesus I Never Knew in preparation for each session.
2. Introduction

Includes calling the class together, an opening prayer, and a brief review.
3. Warm-Up

These exercises and/or questions are designed to help everyone begin thinking about the session topic. A corresponding page is found in the Participant’s Guide.
4. Content

The bulk of the session is focused on content that you will walk through. The session material is found on the left-hand page of the Leader’s Guide. You may want to read the material word for word, or you might just want to highlight key words and phrases. We encourage you to amplify various points with your own material illustrations. Make it personal!

On the right-hand page is a copy of the corresponding Participant’s Guide page(s). There is also space on this right-hand page for the leader to write in any additional planning notes. Having the corresponding Participant’s Guide page in front of you allows you to view the page the participants are seeing as you talk without having to hold two books at the same time. It also lets you know where the participants are in their book when someone asks you a question.

Customer Reviews

A REFRESHING PERSPECTIVE
I couldn't put this book down and found it every bit as riveting as 'What's so Amazing about Grace' - which in turn was the best Christian genre book I have ever read.

Philip Yancey doesn't try to tow the 'Christian party line' about Jesus, instead he goes back to the most informative source we have on Jesus, i.e. the gospels, and looks at them objectively. The outcome is a refreshing portrayal of the most remarkable character in history.

If you think of Jesus as being a gentle, rather harmless character with long flowing blonde locks who was a really good bloke but nothing more - this book will make you think again!

Jesus once asked 'Who do you say that I am?' of his disciples. Whoever you think He is/was, regardless of whether you are a Christian or not, I think you will come away from reading this book with a much expanded viewpoint. Highly recommended.

Ready for a shock?
I found this book honest, compelling and extraordinarily helpful. Philip Yancey takes your childhood preconceptions of a perpetually calm, rarely smiling, stained glass window Christ (who always seems to look remarkably like Robert Powell!) and replaces them with a vivid and deeply real person full of energy, strong emotions, awesome in His restraint & every bit human. It is shocking, refreshing and convincing and has completely changed the way I see Jesus. Read it and be amazed too!

Absolutely life changing
If you are like me, a modern intellectual person who believes in Jesus and the Gospel but has found your faith restrained by the "but why?" questions, this book is for you! It has absolutely changed my life by significantly changing my views and understanding of God, Jesus and the "but why?" of it all. Philip Yancey uncovers to my mind some of the most intimate characteristics and truths about God and presents the true personality of Jesus in such a way that you can not but fall in love with Him. This book took away all the doubtfull restraints of my faith in Jesus! Get it and read it!