The Cross Before Me: Reimagining the Way to the Good Life

Winner of The Gospel Coalition 2019 Book Award for Popular Theology InThe Cross Before Me, award-winning author Rankin Wilbourne and co-author Brian Gregor offer a provocative perspective on why the cross is God?s wisdom about the way to a good and beautiful life. Drawing on biblical truths, historical writings, and modern examples they ask, ?What does the cross have to tell us about the art of living a fully human life? What if the things we?re most afraid of are the pathway to freedom? What if the way of humility and suffering gives us peace in a way our successes never could??  The Cross Before Me is for anyone who wonders what the shape of Jesus? life has to teach us about finding the life Jesus promises. This unique book helps readers reimagine the good life as they learn to delight in releasing power and embracing the cross as the only path to human flourishing.   Review ?An often-overlooked facet of Jesus? ministry is that he taught the way of the cross long before he died on one. The Cross Before Me is a lucid, learned, life-changing guide along the upside-down journey to human flourishing. It will inspire and enlighten anyone who dwells in the words.? -- John Ortberg, senior pastor, Menlo Church; author of Eternity Is Now in Session?This is an urgent and challenging yet ultimately hopeful book. I know it?s going to help others the way it encouraged me to find life in the way of the cross. Wilbourne and Gregor know that Jesus? way isn?t popular today. But I?m so thankful they?ve shown us the truth about abundant life.? -- Collin Hansen, editorial director of The Gospel Coalition?Rankin and Brian have an uncanny ability to explain deep, complicated truths in a way that almost anyone can understand. The rare combination of intellect and accessibility that they possess shines in this wonderful book. They expand our vision for how the cross not only secures our pardon, but also establishes for us a pattern of life that will lead to freedom and flourishing.? -- Scott Sauls, pastor of Christ Presbyterian Church, Nashville?In this extraordinarily perceptive and powerful book, pastor and philosopher show us how the way of the cross is, surprisingly, the way of life, happiness, and communion with God. I firmly believe that the faithfulness of everyday Christians, the renewal of the church, and the flourishing of humanity depend on taking the sorts of insights and examples found in this book with the utmost seriousness-by embracing them as a way of life.? -- Michael J. Gorman, professor of biblical studies and theology?There is a door that each person longs to walk through: the door to happiness. But that door has a lock. The key to that lock has a stunningly simple shape: the shape of the cross. This key was forged in the fires of Jesus? suffering and death, and polished by the glory of his resurrection. This book explains how to take hold of that -- Ken Sande, author of The Peacemaker; founder of Peacemaker Ministries?In a culture of self-expression and radical individualism, Wilbourne and Gregor offer a counterintuitive yet deeply meaningful message: God?s way of human flourishing is through a cross-shaped life. Christ?s death on the cross is not only the key moment of our conversion, but it has the power to reform all of life. This book is profound, practical, and provides a much-needed paradigm shift for followers of Jesus. I highly recommend it.? -- Jeremy Treat, PhD, author; pastor; adjunct professor of theology?You won?t find slogans like ?Happiness is following Jesus? way of the cross? in contemporary culture. The idea that to save our lives we first must lose them is as counterintuitive and countercultural in our time as it was in Jesus?. Wilbourne and Gregor rightly remind us that the cross is not simply the event at the end of Jesus? story but the mark that characterizes his whole life, revealing God as self-giving, cruciform love. I?m deligh