Suburbianity: What Have We Done to the Gospel? Can We Find Our Way Back to Biblical Christianity? - Softcover

"Every person, every Christian, is to some degree a product of his environment. Byron Yawn's concern is that Christians have been unwittingly and unduly influenced by the values and ideals of suburbia. Powerful gospel-centered Christianity has been replaced by impotent gospel-free suburbianity. Byron writes not as a sociologist but as a pastor, calling Christians to be shaped far more by the timeless Word of God and far less by the changing preferences of the suburbs. May every Christian heed this call!" -Tim Challies, Christian blogger, pastor, and author "Suburbianity is one of the most refreshing and disturbing books I have read in quite a while. Refreshing because my friend Byron Yawn has managed to make the gospel even more attractive and alluring to me. Disturbing because he makes such a strong case for all the ways we tend to miss and 'dis' the gospel by settling for much of what is accepted as conservative, Bible-believing Christianity. Byron doesn't write as a cynic, but as a man who longs to see his own heart, his congregation, and our culture come more fully alive to the grace and truth of the real gospel. This is a book for believers and nonbelievers alike because everybody needs the gospel Byron highlights." -Scotty Smith, Pastor of Christ Community Church, author of Everyday Prayers and Restoring Broken Things "Suburbianity is about the life-giving recovery of the most important reality in the world-the glorious gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Found herein is delightful refreshment to the weary soul bombarded by tireless pop-evangelical trendiness. Pastor Byron Yawn delivers a welcome mix of pointed sobriety, self-criticizing humility, and yes, even some gut-busting humor. I hope Suburbianity will produce a multitude of wonderfully dissatisfied Christians who will insist that pastors unashamedly and explicitly preach Christ rather than moralism masquerading as the eternal gospel. Everyone should read this profoundly Christian book. For the glory of Christ in the churches!" -Patrick Abendroth, Pastor, Omaha Bible Church "This is not a how-to or 12-step self-help book. Nor is it a book of character sketches from which to draw and apply life lessons in morality and ethics. If you have ever tried to bootstrap yourself into favor with God, read Suburbianity, and you'll approach Scripture differently. Instead of seeing the Bible as a series of stories, you'll discover the one story of Christ's finished work of redemption. And it will transform you." -Perry Stahlman, Chairman of the elders, Community Bible Church

Rick Warren famously wrote, "It's not about you". But much of the Western church seems to disagree, having settled for a self-centered message of personal fulfillment. With incisiveness and a passionate love for the church, pastor and author Byron Forrest Yawn offers a compelling call away from narcissism and back to the powerful and transforming gospel of Jesus. He shows the difference between ...Sunday-morning life coaches selling self-help seminars, and preachers proclaiming God's redemptive work through Christ; promises of prosperity and comfort, and a realistic and helpful perspective on suffering; and, escape from unbelievers and their godless world, and redemptive engagement with people. As Byron exposes the false gospel of "suburbianity," he offers readers a better alternative: to look beyond themselves and embrace God's call to be His image-bearers and ambassadors, partnering with Him as He restores people and all creation to His original design.