The Jesus Experiment by Bill Perkins

People look for satisfaction in many places, such as buying a new house or taking a vacation.  As Perkins reminds readers in “The Jesus Experiment”, "one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions".  (Luke 12:15).  Our pursuit should be about becoming like Christ rather than acquiring “things” or seeking status.  In his personal quest to move away from worldly pursuits and become more like Jesus, Perkins embarked on a twelve-week spiritual exercise he calls “The Jesus Experiment”.

Through these 12 weeks, he focused on four areas.  1) What Jesus did in a variety of situations,  2) What he would do today in similar real-life situations, 3) Evaluating what he would do and 4) Preparing a plan to actively follow in Jesus’ footsteps the next time he found himself in similar circumstances.

Each of the twelve chapters has a different theme with three main focus areas: what Jesus did in private, what he did in public, and what He did with people.  Perkins shares personal stories while challenging readers to reflect on their own experiences and daily pursuits.  For example, in the chapter on having a personal mission, he encourages readers to look at the talents they have and how they can help fill a purpose.  Doing this self-evaluation is an important step towards creating a mission statement and reveals what we value.  After presenting his ideas in each chapter, Perkins asks readers to reflect at the end of the week on where they are and suggests steps for continual growth.

The Jesus Experiment offers practial, helpful guidelines for Christians seeking to become more like Christ.  It is not a simple book to read.  To get the most out of it, readers will want to spend a full week on each chapter.  By thoughtfully considering the principles in each of the chapters, Christian readers will find wisdom to help them grow and become more like Jesus.

Disclaimer: I received this book for free from Tyndale as part of their blog network.