It was the title of Yawn’s book, “Suburbianity,” that caught my eye as I was glancing through the book titles on the bargain book shelves in a Christian bookstore. ― Perry Stahlman, Chairman of the elders, Community Bible Church Instead of seeing the Bible as a series of stories, you’ll discover the one story of Christ’s finished work of redemption. If you have ever tried to bootstrap yourself into favor with God, read Suburbianity, and you’ll approach Scripture differently. Nor is it a book of character sketches from which to draw and apply life lessons in morality and ethics. “This is not a how-to or 12-step self-help book. ― Patrick Abendroth, Pastor, Omaha Bible Church For the glory of Christ in the churches!” Everyone should read this profoundly Christian book. 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. Pastor Byron Yawn delivers a welcome mix of pointed sobriety, self-criticizing humility, and yes, even some gut-busting humor. Found herein is delightful refreshment to the weary soul bombarded by tireless pop-evangelical trendiness. “ Suburbianity is about the life-giving recovery of the most important reality in the world―the glorious gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. ― Scotty Smith, Pastor of Christ Community Church, author of Everyday Prayers and Restoring Broken Things This is a book for believers and nonbelievers alike because everybody needs the gospel Byron highlights.” 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. 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. Refreshing because my friend Byron Yawn has managed to make the gospel even more attractive and alluring to me. “ Suburbianity is one of the most refreshing and disturbing books I have read in quite a while. ― Tim Challies, Christian blogger, pastor, and author 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. Powerful gospel-centered Christianity has been replaced by impotent gospel-free suburbianity. Byron Yawn’s concern is that Christians have been unwittingly and unduly influenced by the values and ideals of suburbia. “Every person, every Christian, is to some degree a product of his environment.
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