Book Review: Firing Jesus by Greg Stier

I just finished the book, Firing Jesus by Grieg Stier. Actually I just finished my second read of the book. Not because I didn’t get it the first time, but because it was so good. It’s a fiction story about a ruse to fire a youth pastor (who is in more ways than one like Jesus). The whole premise is what would actually happen if Jesus was the youth pastor in your church. It’s a short but compelling read and without giving too much of it away here are a few points I drew from it personally.

1.       What is the heart of the youth ministry I am leading?

2.       Is my focus on reaching the lost or attracting the lost?

3.       How is my relationship with the elders/pastor?

4.       Have I fallen into the rut of routine youth ministry?

5.       Is “my” way of doing ministry getting in God’s way?

Greg weaves a story that puts you in the middle of a heated meeting discussing the actions of a youth pastor who rocks the boat without actually breaking the rules, at least God’s rules. After reading it for the second time I made it required reading for my leaders.

Suggestion for Students

The book is a great tool for students too, as it has student reaction (positive/negative) to the youth pastor’s ministry philosophy. I was blessed to actually get 6 copies of the book from Greg Stier and I came up with a two part plan to get our students to read and discuss it with one another.

1.       Pass out the copies to six students and give them one week to read it.

2.       Once done they had to find a student who had not read it and give it to them with the same instructions.

It has become the talk in the ministry and I’ve overheard students share how angry they were becoming with some of the characters.  Other students have shared with me how God has given them a greater burden for reaching the lost and how they are going about it.

Overall it is a book that should be in the hands of every pastor, youth pastor and student. Do whatever you can to get a copy.