Better Together

Rusty George

Description

Community Is the Surprising Solution to Your Self-Help NeedsExercise. Eat right. Share your faith. Produce fruit for God. Oh, and try to relax. Ever feel like trying to succeed is all about you? Or that trying to "die to yourself" only makes you more self-focused? The Bible certainly has a lot to say about "me," but it has much more to say about "we." In fact, there are over 100 passages in the Bible where the two words "let us" are used. Let us not give up meeting together . . . let us encourage one another . . . let us serve one another. Could it be that the only way to fix "me" is found in "we"?In Better Together, pastor Rusty George teaches how to satisfy your deepest needs through the power of "us." Together we connect with God better. Together we heal better. Together we overcome fears, raise families, fight temptations, and bless the world around us better. Learn how to live in true community to find the fulfillment you've been looking for.

Sujets

• Philosophie et théologie

Informations

• Publié par: Baker Publishing Group
• Date de parution: 06 février 2018
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781493413706
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

Cover
Title Page
Copyright Page
© 2018 by Rusty George
Published by Bethany House Publishers
11400 Hampshire Avenue South
Bloomington, Minnesota 55438
www.bethanyhouse.com
Bethany House Publishers is a division of
Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan
www.bakerpublishinggroup.com
Ebook edition created 2018
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Control Number: 2017037364
ISBN 978-1-4934-1370-6
Unless otherwise credited, Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible , New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked N K J V are from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked N I V are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com
Scripture quotations marked E S V are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2011
Scripture quotations marked K J V are from the King James Version of the Bible.
Where there is no attribution for Scripture, the words are the author’s paraphrase.
Cover design by D arren Welch Design
The author is represented by Don Gates from The Gates Group.
Endorsements
“Rusty speaks on one of the most important topics in the world with grace, humor, and insight. Read it deeply, ready it twice—but don’t read it alone!”
—John Ortberg, Senior Pastor of Menlo Church; author of I’ d Like You More If You Were More Like Me
“Christianity was never meant to be a solo-endeavor. In Better Together , Rusty George exposes the self-destructive folly of attempting to turn our personal relationship with the Lord into a private and isolated spiritual quest. It won’t work. It never has.”
—Larry Osborne, Pastor and author, North Coast Church
“If you are tired of languishing in loneliness, why not take steps toward connecting in community. Rusty’s writing is honest and practical. His life and leadership model the message of Better Together .”
—Dave Stone, Pastor, Southeast Christian Church
“As a professional athlete, I can tell you the value of community, teamwork, and playing together! Rusty’s book captures what that can look like in everyday life!”
—Darryl Strawberry, Former Major League Baseball player, Founder and Pastor of Strawberry Ministries
“What if your relationships were life-giving instead of draining? My friend Rusty George will get you there! His book Better Together overflows with practical wisdom.”
—Lee Strobel, Bestselling author of The Case for Christ and The Case for Faith
“The best leaders are ones who know how to work and collaborate with others. And Better Together can serve as a great resource for making sure you avoid isolation, and instead pursue building relationships that are life-giving and life-lasting.”
—Brad Lomenick, Founder, BLINC, author of H3 Leadership and The Catalyst Leader
“Rusty George writes with such conviction, humility, and laugh-out-loud humor, I’ll read anything he writes. But this book hit a little too close to home. In a selfie world, we need this challenge that life truly is Better Together .”
—Vince Antonucci, Pastor of Verve Church and author of God for the Rest of Us
“Churches are famous for talking about community and infamous for not practicing it very well. Rusty offers a refreshing path to life-giving rather than draining relationships. It’s his best book yet!”
—Gene Appel, Senior Pastor, Eastside Christian Church, Anaheim, CA
“Rusty helps us realize if you keep drifting toward isolation, one day you’ll realize loneliness was not what you were seeking. Better Together helps right the course!”
—Dave Dummitt, Lead Pastor, 2142 Community Church, Brighton, MI
“When Amazon can deliver in an hour, we are becoming increasingly more isolated as a people—if we so choose. Yet we were created for more. Rusty writes a much-needed, very timely book for our culture and church. This is a must-read for these days.”
—Ron Edmondson, Pastor and author of The Mythical Leader
“ Better Together gets at a problem we all face: How to have friends when we don’t have time, or worse, don’t have any interest!”
—Randy Frazee, Pastor and author of The Connecting Church 2.0 and Real Simplicity: Making Room for Life
“ Better Together gets at a problem we have always had, but it’s so much harder now. I have less time and more things to do. Sometimes I just don’t care enough, and I’m an extrovert! My friend Rusty (who I do care about) will help you find a way to find balance and hopefully convince you that it’s not too late to have, or be, a friend.”
—Dr. Tim Harlow, Senior Pastor, Parkview Christian Church
“Few embrace and live out the idea of community like my friend Rusty George. In Better Together , Rusty guides us to see value in people and the strength that comes from doing life together.”
—Caleb Kaltenbach, Author of Messy Grace and God of Tomorrow
“Some books I read silently to myself. Better Together I just had to read aloud to my wife. It is that good. It has to be shared!”
—Glen Keane, Disney Producer, Animator
“If you’ve been hurt by people (and who hasn’t?) you probably resist people at some level. Rusty gets that. Better Together is a refreshingly honest look at community. Better yet, Rusty shows us how what initially hurt us can ultimately heal us.”
—Carey Nieuwhof, Founding Pastor, Connexus Church
“In creation, God called a lot of things good. What’s the first thing He said wasn’t good? For man to be alone. Rusty George taps into that powerful truth in Better Together and communicates it deeply. It’s worth your time and will help you find a life that keeps getting better.”
—William Vanderbloemen, Founder and CEO, Vanderbloemen Search Group
“As an introvert, I’ve justified isolation my entire life. In the pages you’re about to read, Rusty confronted my greatest fears and best excuses, nudging me to toward deeper friendship with others and with God.”
—Jon Weece, Author of Me Too
“In his usual creative, insightful, and fun way, Rusty opens our eyes even further to our need for community. I’ve had the privilege of being in community with Rusty. He definitely practices what he preaches!”
—Mark Weigt, Lead Pastor, The Ridge Community Church
“Rusty not only reminds us that life is better connected, but shows us how we can make those connections more meaningful and catalytic.”
—Bill Willits, Executive Director of Ministry Environments, North Point Ministries
“ Better Together gives practical guidance that addresses the resistance and fears people face in creating authentic, life-giving community. Every church with small groups needs this book.”
—John Burke, Pastor and author of No Perfect People Allowed and Imagine Heaven
“If you really want to go further faster, go together! Rusty’s book Better Together will help you get there.”
—Andy Stanley, Author, Communicator, and Founder of North Point Ministries
Dedication
For my dad, Bob George.
The first extrovert I ever knew. While excruciating at times, your enjoyment of people was my first lesson that we truly are better together.
Contents
Cover 1
Title Page 3
Copyright Page 4
Endorsements 5
Dedication 9
Foreword by Jud Wilhite 13
Acknowledgments 17
Introduction: Taking a Selfie 19
Section 1 : Help! Everyone Drives Me Crazy 25
1. I don’t need anyone 27
2. No one “gets” me 39
3. Everyone else is an idiot 51
Section 2 : Better Together . . . to Connect with God 65
4. Intimacy with God is deeper together 67
5. Joy is found quicker together 81
6. Anxiety is calmed together 95
Section 3: Better Together . . . to Overcome Our Weaknesses 109
7. Healing happens together 111
8. Temptations are conquered together 125
9. Perfectionists find peace together 139
Section 4: Better Together . . . to Leave a Legacy 153
10. Families are built to last together 155
11. Impossible goals are achieved together 169
12. Home is discovered together 185
Notes 199
About the Author 230
Back Cover 205
Foreword
The church saved my life. Well, to be accurate, God saved my life. But he used the people of a church to do it.
I grew up around church, but it wasn’t until I was seventeen that I walked through the doors of a church on my own terms. I was wrestling with a four-year addiction and had a looming sense I was going to either go crazy, die, go to jail, or get some help.
Thankfully, I found my way to a small eclectic group of people in the church who met to encourage one another, learn and grow. They accepted me for who I was. They challenged and coached me. They prayed for me. They showed me what it looked like to face life’s challenges with faith. Nobody in this group was super popular, cool, hip, or trendy. Nobody was perfect. And none of that mattered, because they loved me for me.
The church building, style of music, band, and teaching all played a part, but it was God using everyday people that made the difference. It is always God and people who make the greatest impact.
Since that experience, I’ve dedicated my life to helping others find hope and healing in God through the community of people called the church. I’ve seen my story repeated thousands of times as people experience life change in the context of relationships with others. I’ve witnessed marriages restored, destructive habits overcome, the freei