Naked Spirituality: A Life with God in 12 Simple Words

In Brian's 2011 release, you'll get an overview of the spiritual life in a framework of four stages: simplicity, complexity, perplexity, and harmony. Then, in each stage, you'll be introduced to three practices, moves, or soul-postures that will help you deepen your life with God. Brian lodges each practice in a simple word and then offers guidance for working with each word.

In the US, you can order Naked Spirituality from most online booksellers, including
Barnes and Noble
Amazon
Christian Book Distributors

And in the UK you can order it from most online booksellers including
amazon.co.uk.

Here's what Publisher's Weekly says:
Naked Spirituality: A Life with God in 12 Simple Words
Brian D. McLaren. HarperOne, $25.99 (272p) ISBN 978-0-0618-5401-9

Christian evangelical author, teacher, and pastor McLaren (A New Kind of Christianity) started his writing career helping nondenominational evangelical churches adapt to the emergent, post-modern, post-Christendom era. His most recent books, however, are directed to those outside the church who identify as “spiritual, not religious” or those who find church lifeless. Using personal narrative, simple language devoid of church-speak, and self-deprecating humor, McLaren’s intimate voice envelops the reader with a sense of safety to match the vulnerability his title suggests. Beginning with a story of St. Francis of Assisi stripping naked before his father to reject his inheritance, and concluding with an invitation to skinny dip in the “river of sacredness,” McLaren presents four spiritual “seasons”—simplicity, complexity, perplexity, and harmony—accompanied by 12 prayer practices. Each practice, described as “simple, doable, and durable,” is rooted in a single word (e.g. here, thanks, sorry, help, why, yes, behold). Conventional Christians may not welcome McLaren’s extravagant invitation to those on the religious margins, but anyone wanting to conserve the spiritual spark in themselves or someone else will find this book a gentle and generous tract. (Mar.)

And here are some of the first endorsements to come in:

“Wise, easy to read, and practical.” (Fr. Richard Rohr, author of The Naked Now )
*****
“Brian McLaren is a bridge builder. In these simple yet profound spiritual practices he perfectly marries his evangelical heart and contemplative soul, and we are all richer for the union.” (Cynthia Bourgeault, author of Centering Prayer and The Wisdom Jesus )
*****
“A rich, brilliant and important book: wonderfully readable and personal, filled with insight and wisdom, it invites us into practices that can transform our lives.” (Marcus J. Borg, author of Speaking Christian )
*****
"I first discovered Brian McLaren’s writing over a decade ago in the midst of a personal
crisis of faith. The Christianity I’d espoused since childhood no long answered the deep
questions of my mind and my soul. It was a frightening, lonely time—until I found
my spiritual journey reflected in the pages of Brian’s books. Ah, I’m not crazy! Yes, I
can move through this crisis into a deeper, truer faith! Since then Brian has become
a trusted friend whose path I’ve crossed time and again as we advocate for healing
in the Congo, peace in the Middle East, fair trade practices, or respectful interfaith
relationships. As an author and as a friend, Brian continues to challenge me to follow
Jesus more faithfully—more radically.

Reading Brian’s latest book, Naked Spirituality: A Life with God in 12 Simple Words was
like going on a spiritual retreat. After several years of extensive international ministry
travel—a very outward life—I needed a spiritual retreat! I needed to be drawn inward,
down into the groundedness of quiet, prayerful attention to God. Brian’s twelve simple
words offer a response to God that moves through various seasons of spiritual life:
simplicity, complexity, perplexity and harmony. Though simple, each word captures
a vast and profound meaning. I’ve written the words on note cards which I use every
morning, and the words often come to me in sleepless moments during the night,
guiding me gently into prayer.

Amazingly, my list of people who absolutely need to read this beautifully written book
includes long-time followers of Jesus as well as spiritual-but-not-yet followers of Jesus.

Surely that is an indication of the wisdom and authentic depth of Naked Spirituality." (Lynne Hybels, author of Nice Girls Don't Change the World)
*****

“Medicine for the soul. ‘Naked Spirituality’ is filled with uncommon honesty. It is a tonic for all those who yearn for practical help with the development of rhythms of life – free from the stifling tyranny of legalism – that will foster a depth of Christ-centred spirituality.” (Steve Chalke MBE Founder, Oasis Global, Faithworks & Stop The Traffik, UN Special Advisor on Community Action Against Human Trafficking)

Readers can share resources in response to the book here.

A New Kind of Christianity

In the US, you can currently order it from ...
amazon here
christian book distributors here
barnes and noble here

In the UK, you can order it from ...
ecclesia here.

Discussion Questions: Click to download the Discussion Guide eBook for free. (Thanks to Doug Stuart for making this available!)

Bonus Chapters: You can download a free pdf of two bonus chapters:
A New Kind of Bible Reading
Making Eschatology Personal
Discussion Questions: Here are discussion questions for personal reflection and group study.

Videos: Brian has teamed up with theooze.com to create some free downloadable videos introducing the book and the ten questions it covers.

The Justice Project

The Justice Project may be purchased* online at: amazon.com, barnes and noble, and christianbook.com.

When the editors of Baker Books (joined by Doug Pagit and Tony Jones) asked me to consider editing a collection of chapters on justice, one of the reasons I said yes was the chance to expose more people to some of the wonderful justice-workers I've met in my travels around the world. First, I thought of who my co-editors should be, and immediately I thought of Elisa Shannon Padilla, a tireless justice advocate who works with Kairos based in Argentina, and Ashley Bunting Seeber - not only a brilliant graduate student (in post-colonial studies in the UK), but also a tremendous organizer and project manager.

Then I started thinking of who else should be invited to write ... so that more and more readers in the US and abroad could hear from Native American voices who are so often forgotten, Latino advocates and activists who pursue "mission integral," African Americans with their rich tradition of a justice-integrated gospel, people working among the poorest of the poor in urban slums and rural villages, people working to save ecosystems and the beautiful creatures who live in them. I wanted to be sure people got to know some of the amazing people in my circle of friends - thoughtful scholars and grass-roots practitioners, older and younger, homemakers and agitators, conservative and liberal and otherwise. So ... as you can imagine, this project has been a real joy for me.

Here's how Baker describes the book:
"Justice and the call for change are in the air. Whether it's extreme poverty, human rights, racism, or the Middle East, news outlets bombard us with stories about the need for justice in the world. But how are Christians to respond to these stories and the conditions to which they refer? Here's help. Editors Brian McLaren, Elisa Padilla, and Ashley Bunting Seeber have amassed a collection of over 30 brief chapters by some of the most penetrating thinkers in the justice conversation, including René Padilla, Peggy Campolo, Will and Lisa Samson, Sylvia Keesmaat, Bart Campolo, Lynne Hybels, Tony Jones, and Richard Twiss. Divided into sections, "God of Justice," "Book of Justice," "Justice in the USA," "Just World," and "Just Church," The Justice Project invites readers to deepen their understanding of the pressures our world faces and to take up the challenge of alleviating them. Never has the world been in greater need of Christians who "do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God." This resource will help them do just that."

I'm especially hoping that this book will become the basis for lots of small group and classroom dialogue, in person and online, because you don't often get to hear from an assortment of spiritual leaders like these, all gathered together in one place, all sharing the passion of seeking God's kingdom and God's justice "on earth as it is in heaven."

*My share of advance and royalties for this book will go to la red del camino, an important young network for integral mission across Latin America, and emergent village, which resources a growing generative friendship among missional Christian leaders in the U.S.

Finding Our Way Again

Publishers Weekly offers this first review of my newest book, Finding Our Way Again. Relevant Magazine also has this review.

This book was a pleasure to write, and I hope it will be of help to a wide range of readers.

The foreword by Phyllis Tickle was inadvertently left out of the first printing. Here is a pdf you can download:

Download file

Click here for more information on Finding Our Way Again.

Everything Must Change: Jesus, Global Crisis, and a Revolution of Hope

This book in many ways is a sequel to The Secret Message of Jesus, although people can begin with either book. It asks two essential questions: What are the world's top crises, and what do the life and message of Jesus say to those global crises? I spent a few years researching the global crisis literature and tried to synthesize the best thinking on the subject. I developed a metaphor to help people understand global crises - a machine with four moving parts, corresponding to the four critical crises that create so much human suffering. Meanwhile, I was studying the gospels in a concentrated way, seeking to understand how Jesus' original hearers would have heard and understood his message of the kingdom of God. The two pursuits enriched each other in ways that I will probably never fully be able to communicate. This book is by far my most ambitious project yet, and I can't imagine ever writing anything that is more important and urgent.

Everything Must Change hardcover released on October 2nd, 2007 may be purchased at: barnes and noble and christianbook.com. You can read the release note about the book, which also includes a reader's guide and a list of suggested readings.

The new softcover edition is available for purchase at: amazon.com, barnes and noble, and christianbooks.com. This edition will be more affordable for small groups and classes, and I've heard from so many groups now that have told me this book really works at stimulating both energetic dialogue and action. For about $40 (sometimes less), you can get a beautifully-produced DVD guide to the book. In the DVD I give a short introduction to each of the eight sections of the book that your group can watch leading into each discussion. You can purchase the DVD at: amazon.com and christianbooks.com.

There will be a website that will allow people to contribute ideas on putting the message of Everything Must Change into action. You can download preview of the starter content – to which we hope you will contribute when the interactive site is up.

You can also download an unpublished appendix to the book, called President Bush's Ungiven Speech.

Click here for more information on Everything Must Change: Jesus, Global Crisis, and a Revolution of Hope.

The Voice of Luke

Remember when I sent you out with no money, no pack, not even sandals? Did you lack anything? (Luke 22:35)

Click here to purchase The Voice of Luke.

Click here for more information on The Voice of Luke.

The Voice of Acts: The Dust Off Their Feet

In the entire Book of Acts of The Voice Scripture project, the Jerusalem church is forced to expand against its will. This book applies their story to the emerging church of today. It features a retelling of Acts by Brian McLaren and commentary by Chris Seay.

Click here to purchase The Voice of Acts: The Dust Off Their Feet.

Click here for more information on The Voice of Acts: The Dust Off Their Feet.

The Secret Message of Jesus

In many ways, all of my previous books are a preparation for this one. It is aimed at a broad audience - including "spiritual but not religious" seekers, members of nonChristian religions, and Christian leaders and thoughtful Christians. It is an exploration of the real "passion of Christ," which is the message of the kingdom of God.

The Secret Message of Jesus hardcover version may be purchased online at: amazon.com, barnes and noble, and christianbook.com. The new softcover version is also available at: amazon.com, barnes and noble, and christianbook.com - it includes a new chapter plus group dialogue questions.

Click here for more information on The Secret Message of Jesus.

A Generous Orthodoxy

This book, released in late August 04, has elicited a lot of response already. The book turned out to be a confession - as in a confession of faith, not of sin (although some might think ...). The title is elucidated in a wonderful foreword by Dr. John Franke of Biblical Theological Seminary (thanks, John), and the overly long subtitle gives the table of contents of the book: Why I am a missional, evangelical, post/protestant, liberal/conservative, mystical/poetic, biblical, charismatic/contemplative, fundamentalist/calvinist, anabaptist/anglican, methodist, catholic, green, incarnational, depressed-yet-hopeful, emergent, unfinished Christian. It's my only book to contain a "Chapter 0."

Click here to purchase A Generous Orthodoxy.

Click here for more information on A Generous Orthodoxy.

The Last Word and the Word After That.

This book completes the trilogy and extends the story of Dan Poole and Neo into some new "hot" territory. Dan struggles with the idea of hell, and does some research to learn about the origins of the idea. He also connects with a faith community that Neo is part of and gains a deeper understanding of the gospel, justice, and Jesus' message of the kingdom of God.

Click here to purchase The Last Word and the Word After That.

Click here for more information on The Last Word and the Word After That..

The Story We Find Ourselves In

This is the sequel to A New Kind of Christian, second in the trilogy. It is the most important book I've written so far, I think. It's an attempt to tell the Biblical story. One of the most surprising responses I have received about the book is from men who tell me the book brought them to tears. I hope someday to come back to the "seven episodes" explored in this book: if I ever write a "theology," I think it would emerge from this telling of the Biblical story.

Click here to purchase The Story We Find Ourselves In.

Click here for more information on The Story We Find Ourselves In.

A New Kind of Christian

I started this book as a totally nonfiction treatise on Christianity and postmodernity, but after I got about 100 pages into it, I realized the book was on the road to becoming 500 pages of abstraction - and no one would read it. So, I started over, taking the advice of a perceptive reviewer of "The Church on the Other Side." If McLaren is serious about what he's saying, the reviewer said, he should be writing fiction. So, I began rewriting using a fictional dialogue as framework for the book. The book has made a few people angry, as you can discover by doing a search at Christianity Today (or reading comments at Amazon). But the negative comments have, so far at least, been negligible compared to the affirming ones. I set the book up so that it could be the first of a trilogy.

Click here to purchase A New Kind of Christian

Click here for more information on A New Kind of Christian.

Church in Emerging Culture; Five Perspectives

I had the idea for this book - on the relationship of church to culture, and especially emerging postmodern culture - and proposed it to Emergent/YS. I think it will be an important book - helping turn potentially divisive issues into shared concerns.

Click here to purchase Church in the Emerging Culture; Five Perspectives.

Click here for more information on Church in Emerging Culture; Five Perspectives.

Adventures in Missing the Point

This was a book I had been thinking about writing for a couple of years. When I brought it to EmergentYS, they suggested Tony Campolo as a coauthor. We divvied up the chapters, and then each of us wrote a response to the other's chapters. Tony disagrees with me on several points, which is part of what makes the book interesting and fun, I think. We've gotten really positive response on this book, especially from people in "the Christian subculture" who feel it kicks some doors down and opens some windows for needed fresh air.

Click here to purchase Adventures in Missing the Point.

Click here for more information on Adventures in Missing the Point.

A is For Abductive

This book, coauthored with Len Sweet and Jerry Haselmayer, is set up like a dictionary: A is for ... B is for ... It's not heavy reading, but attempts to deliver some important content in short chunks of intense (and sometimes light-hearted) prose. Several entries (like "Deconstruction") tackle difficult terms and seek to show their relevance for life and ministry in the emerging culture. It was a blast to work with Len on the content, with Jerry focusing on "epictivities" for groups.

Click here to purchase A is for Abductive.

Click here for more information on A is For Abductive.

More Ready Than You Realize

This is a book about sharing your faith. It's based on a series of emails exchanged between a bright and sincere young seeker and me, and its goal is to help people learn how/to be "spiritual friends" to others who are searching for a faith that is real.

Click here to purchase More Ready Than You Realize.

Click here for more information on More Ready Than You Realize.

Finding Faith: A Search For What Makes Sense

This book updates and re-presents the first half of my book Finding Faith. It focuses on the intellectual side of the search for God. It addresses questions like these: Does it really matter what I believe? What is the relationship between faith and knowledge? Can I believe in atheism? Is "I don't know" enough to know? If there is one God, why are there so many religions? Do you seriously expect me to believe in God as an Old Man with a Long White Beard? Don't all paths lead to the same God?

Click here to purchase A Search for What Makes Sense: Finding Faith.

Click here for more information on Finding Faith: A Search For What Makes Sense.

A Search for What is Real: Finding Faith

This book updates and re-presents the second half of my book Finding Faith. It focuses on ways that sincere spiritual seekers can experience God. It addresses questions like these: How might I experience God? Can I experience God through doubt? How do church and the Bible fit into my spiritual search? What if I lose interest? How can nature and Jesus help me in my spiritual search?

Click here to purchase A Search for What is Real.

Click here for more information on A Search for What is Real: Finding Faith.

Finding Faith

I wrote this book for my friends who are searching for God, but find traditional Christian "apologetics" more an obstacle than a bridge. Many Christians, including quite a few pastors, have told me it has helped them too. I think it's some of my best writing, and may still be the book that I care most about.

Click here to buy Finding Faith.

Note: This book has been re-released in two books: A Search for What is Real and A Search for What Makes Sense.

Click here for more information on Finding Faith.

The Church on the Other Side

This was my first book (originally entitled - against my recommendation - "Reinventing Your Church"). This book introduces all the topics I explore in my other books, and many churches have used it for group study, finding it a helpful (and gentle) introduction to the conversation about Christian faith-life-mission and the emerging postmodern culture.

Click here to purchase The Church on the Other Side.

Click here for more information on The Church on the Other Side.