PREPARE: Living Your Faith in an Increasing Hostile Culture

Each year, CLA selects one book that captures the spirit of the theme for The Outcomes Conference. For CLA Dallas 2015, the featured book of the year is Prepare: Living Your Faith in an Increasingly Hostile Culture (Moody Publishers 2015) by Dr. J. Paul Nyquist.

Much like a person who has awakened from a decades-long coma to be introduced to a radically different world, evangelicals are just awakening to the reality that they have lost the culture war in this country.

We are seeing the rapid deterioration and dismantling of Judeo-Christian culture in America and believers are finding themselves in unfamiliar positions. Values once held sacred are being discarded. Freedoms once offered are being withheld. Biblical absolutes once embraced are being replaced by relativism. Trend lines, unless altered, point to accelerated cultural change and even greater drift from the historic roots of this country. As a result, there is a growing intolerance towards believers, and their message. Increasing, followers of Jesus are being viewed as narrow, bigoted, and hateful. Yet all of this was predicted by Christ before His departure.

Prepare; Living Your Faith in an Hostile Culture sets forth a biblical, theological, and practical approach to navigating the challenging days ahead. It presents hope and optimism in the power of the Gospel and  the possibility of social transformation.

What people are saying about the book

This is a terrifying, edifying, hopeful, and practical book for all followers of Christ. Just read the introduction and you’ll know why.

PatrickLencioni
NewYorkTimesbestselling author

This book is realistic, clear, biblical, and challenging. I earnestly believe that this is the book for us in this generation as we face an increasingly hostile culture that seeks to silence the Christian voice. Dr. Nyquist helps us face our foreboding future with optimism, reminding us that biblically and historically the church has always been the object of persecution by the world. I heartily recommend this book to all within the body of Christ who feel a sense of despair over the fate of our nation and the increasing attacks on religious liberty. We urgently need to Prepare for the days ahead. This book shows us the way.

Dr. Erwin W. Lutzer
The Moody Church, Chicago

Luther once remarked that we should not be startled by persecution but strengthened by it. We must always remember that the Christian church was birthed in the context of persecution and that the Scriptures themselves teach that believers in Christ will be persecuted. In fact, the theme of suffering is interwoven in every book and text. A theology of persecution is enormously important for believers in the Lord Jesus if they are to walk faithfully in obedience to Him. I am thankful Paul Nyquist is addressing this topic-a topic that demands careful biblical and theological reflection.

Dr. Albert Mohler
President, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

In just a few short years, our culture’s view on Christian principles and biblical morality has shifted from indifference and skepticism to outright opposition and hostility. Paul Nyquist offers a practical, hope-filled primer to help believers persevere and shine the light of Christ in the darkness.

Jim Daly
President, Focus on the Family

The question of persecution of Christians in America is not if but when-and most believers in this country are not ready. Dr. Nyquist offers a biblical wakeup call on how to respond with both truth and compassion. His urgent message is clear: the time to prepare for the howling winds of persecution is now.

Janet Parshall
Radio Host, In the Market with Janet Parshall

 As Christian persecution grows in the United States, Christ’s people must be prepared to shine His light into the darkness of hatred and spiritual warfare. Dr. J. Paul Nyquist gives urgent, biblical insight for Christians living in a hostile culture. Prepare is a must-read for Christian leaders and thinkers.

John S. Dickerson
Author of The Great Evangelical Recession

There are parts of the Bible skipped over by many of us who regularly read the Word of God-including the topics of suffering and persecution. Dr. Paul Nyquist leads us to those hard parts and helps us hear what God has to say.

Dr. Leith Anderson
President, National Association of Evangelicals

Paul Nyquist is truly a “Son of Issachar” for the church today-a man raised up by God who understands the times, and through his outstanding book Preparehas given us knowledge as to what we are to do! Prepareis a must-read! A book for now-profound, practical, and truly preparatory for the difficult days ahead. I am recommending it everywhere I speak. Every believer ought to study this book!

KayArthur
Co-founder of Precept Ministries Int’l., Author and Speaker

As the powerful winds of cultural change blow across our country, God’s people need to be anchored firmly to God’s Word. Prepare provides the biblical principles and encouragement we need to live righteous lives in unrighteous times.

Josh D. McDowell
Author and Speaker

The great church father Tertullian once said, “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.” The same is no less true today. Whether persecution costs believers their livelihoods or their very lives, Dr. Nyquist has provided something very important for God’s people in his warning, encouragement, and sage advice.

Dr. Glenn T. Stanton
Director of Family Formation Studies at Focus on the Family Author of The Family Project and Loving My (LGBT) Neighbor

Dr. Paul Nyquist gives a clarion call reminding us that more persecution is coming and exhorts Christians to respond with compassion, not anger. Nyquist’s message is important for anyone who desires to make an impact for the gospel in this twenty-first century.

Dr. Christopher Yuan
Author and Speaker

About the Author

Dr. J. Paul Nyquist is the ninth president of Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. Prior to coming to Moody, Dr. Nyquist served as president and CEO of Avant Ministries from 2001-2009. He has also served as a senior pastor of two different churches and as an adjunct professor at Grace University in Omaha, NE and Phoenix Seminary in Scottsdale, AZ.

Dr. Nyqisst studied at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and later received a Th.M. and Ph.D. in systemic theology from Dallas Theological Seminary.He is also the author of The Post-Church Christian: Dealing with the Generational Baggage of Our Faith (Moody Publishers 2013.) He and his wife, Cheryl, have been married for 31 years and are the parents of four grown children, three of whom attend Moody Bible College.

Dr. Nyquist will be joining us at The Outcomes Conference: CLA Dallas 2015. He is a presenter for the CEO Forum and signing books at the conference bookstore.

If you are not able to join us this year at the conference, then be sure to watch the General Sessions via the Live Stream. You can also join in the conversation on social media by following and using the hashtag #Outcomes15.

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