Prototype: What Happens When You Discover You're More Like Jesus Than You Think?

This book has taken me apart, and its message is now putting me back together in strange ways.Jonathan Martin is a Pentecostal (Church of God) pastor, and founder of an interesting church in North Carolina called Renovatus, which advertises itself as a church for "liars, dreamers and misfits" under renovation by Jesus. If you are pentecostal/charismatic adverse, be forewarned that some of that practice and atmosphere is found in this book, particularly in Martin's reminiscences of childhood experiences at pentecostal camp meetings. However, if you can get past that, there is a lot in this book that any evangelical Christian can benefit from.The thesis of the book is that Jesus was uniquely conscious of His status as the beloved Son of God, but that we also have similar derivative status by our redemption and adoption as sons & daughters of the Father. Jesus herd the voice of the Father at His baptism calling Him "My Beloved Son," and never forgot that voice, even in the immediate crises of His desert temptations, all the way through Gethsemane and the cross. Secure in the knowledge of His identity and "belovedness," Jesus was free to love others unconditionally. Jesus heard the voice, knew His identity ....and never forgot.Martin goes on to say that many Christians have also heard that voice of love and acceptance in Christ Our problem, however, is that we soon forget! He says that if we can learn to know and believe our identity as beloved and accepted in Christ, we too can be freed from the need to present phony fronts to the world around us, and be free to love and accept others as Jesus did. Following Jesus is not just WWJD (What would Jesus Do) but who did Jesus know He was, and do I also now know my identity as a beloved child of God. Then, even as Jesus' wounds on the cross became symbols of victory and glory, our personal spiritual and psychological wounds can become, not things of shame to hide, but things to glory in as symbols of His victory in us, and tools of Christ's work through us to free others. That is what makes Jesus the "prototype," or to use a more Scriptural term, the author and finisher of our faith.I'm not going true justice to the book in this brief summary. Get and read the book. I do not think you will be disappointed.

[...]Think about this…Posted on April 18, 2013 by myfullemptynest I stumbled upon and now regularly stalk @renovatuspastor on Twitter. He is such an out of the box thinker and an all around great person of God. I listen to his sermons. We tweet. I was so obnoxious when I learned he was writing a book that he sent me an advanced copy. It’s awesome. I just received my Amazon copy the other day. The cover is really cool and feels amazing (yes, it feels amazing.) Oh yeah, one more thing. When we traveled through Charlotte, N.C. last month I made us attend his church that Sunday morning. And I was not disappointed. He podcasts his sermons and every one I’ve listened to has been stupendous. He is the kind of Christ follower that is attractive. Well, he is attractive, but his countenance is really attractive. He also blogs some (the blog). You can see a photo of him there. Well, enough of me sounding like a crazy person. I am simply blessed by this ministry as it has really confirmed and reconfirmed so much of what God has taught me the past few years. :)Check out [...] where you can get chapter 1, the foreword by @stevenfurtick, & the discussion guide for free right now!~Ciao

If one has ever had the privilege of hearing Jonathan preach, few would argue that God's hand is upon his life and ministry. However, it is not this fact alone that makes him and his writing so attractive. It is the fact, that inspite of the fear and insecurity that most of us allow to hold us back, Jonathan uses these hindrances as fuel. Fuel that moves him forward and motivates those in his hearing.When I read Prototype, I found a kindred spirit. I cried many times as I was touched by the familiar as well as the should-be-familiar. This is not the type of book that seeks to make you feel some sort of emotion-driven conviction, it is instead, an invitation. Speaking in a whisper, the boy on the bike beckons us to come alongside. To dream, to do and to love all people in the process. His is a genuinely touching and yet powerful presentation of Jesus, our prototype.Jonathan, thank you for reminding me of who I really am and who the Father has called me to be. If ever we meet, you'll know me right off, I'll be the girl in the Wonderwoman bathing suit. Now I must go, my invisible plane awaits. ;)

"Prototype" by Jonathan Martin explores the concept of Jesus being the first, and therefore our example, to define a new way of being human. Throughout the book, Martin attempts to explain how Jesus, through His life, death, and resurrection, showed us how to live in such a way that other people will begin to grasp what our future in heaven will be like right now. On the first page of his epilogue, Martin tells us that he has not attempted to say anything novel. He is simply trying to explain the New Testament term for Jesus, "firstborn from the dead" (Colossians 1:18), in modern day terms. He defines the church as a "community of new humans entrusted with the task of making the future present."Martin has some beautiful ideas. The first three chapters of the book are brilliant. After that Martin's style becomes a little more rambling as he presents his ideas more subtly through stories of his and other people's experiences, sometimes through the experiences of Bible characters. The final chapter is a conclusion which ties the beginning to the end, clarifying the whole. He closes with a powerful letter to the church, encouraging her to identify and focus on her role on earth right now while resisting the strong temptation to be something less.I chose to review this book as part of Tyndale's Summer Reading Program, but obtained it myself. Readers will find Martin's presentation unique and will be challenged to think about their role in Christ's church.

This book really inspired me to re look at who I am in Christ and what my purpose is within His world and His Church.It has stirred me to passionately live a life connected to God and to seek His perspective on me and the world I live in, rather than the worlds perspective which so often over whelks our minds.

Bought & delivered with speed & efficiency. It was exactly as I presumed from Amazon's web site's description & I would always recommend Amazon!

The delivery is on time as said!! That was a very good business with the company bookstore!! Something you can trust.!!