The Gospel Waltz: Book Launch
The Christian life involves dance, not drudgery.
When the Scriptural attributes of the Christian life are vibrant, soul-satisfying traits like joy and peace, it’s troublesome to hear so few believers describe their spiritual experience in the same terms. Our realities often leave us discouraged, bored, or disillusioned with Christianity, and we can’t figure out how to align our God-given desires for intimacy with Jesus with the most honest question of our hearts: Is this all there is to the Christian life?
If this rings true for you, we’d like to propose a dance. Would you consider learning the steps of The Gospel Waltz?
The Gospel Waltz is an unapologetic treatise on grace, not shying away from theological truth but processing it through the lens of a simple and highly memorable tool for a life lived abiding in Christ. Through the accessible paradigm of repent, believe, and fight, the Waltz offers a framework to take hold of the gospel in everyday life and appreciate the transformational and refreshing power of unrelenting grace.
Endorsements
“My heart sings as I read Bob’s words. In this book he takes us beyond facile or formulaic articulations of the Christian life in which our performance always seems to slip in as the key ingredient to calm and joy. Instead Bob plunges our hearts into the deep and wondrous truths of the biblical gospel where Jesus and his grace for ongoing sinners is so real that our cynicism and hardness and discouragement don’t stand a chance! Thank you for helping me to repent, believe, and fight, Bob!”
Dane Ortlund, author of Gentle and Lowly and Pastor of Naperville Presbyterian Church
“As the herald of God’s grace in Christ (1 Tim 2:7; 2 Tim 1:11), the apostle Paul would warmly endorse, I believe, this enticing invitation to participate in what Dr. Flayhart creatively calls the Gospel Waltz.”
Murray J. Harris, Professor Emeritus of New Testament Exegesis and Theology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois, and one of the original NIV translators
“I hope that Bob Flayhart’s pastoral thoughts on gospel transformation receive a wide reading in the church.”
Bryan Chapell, Pastor Emeritus of Grace Presbyterian Church in Peoria, Illinois and President Emeritus of Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri
“The Gospel Waltz is a thoughtful and insightful book inviting us all to join the Father in the ancient dance of life and faith and love. Thank you, Bob, for encouraging us to listen intently to the rhythm of His grace and join in His great round dance of love.”
Jim Branch, Director of Core Leadership in Knoxville, Tennessee and author of The Blue Book: A Devotional Guide for Every Season of Your Life
“I am so moved and stirred by your words of encouragement. Your words strengthen my hope in Jesus and help fuel my faith in Jesus moving forward. I truly hope this book will be a huge help to others and take some teaching load off of counselors and those who are being used by God to point people to our hope in the gospel. Weekly in the counseling office I hear a new client say, ‘I’ve never heard the gospel explained that way, and I’ve been in an evangelical church for thirty years. How can this be? Am I even a believer?’ Our ministry will purchase a case load of your books to distribute to our clients. The Gospel Waltz takes a lot of the teaching work off of us!”
Julie Sparkman, professional counselor
“During forty years in ministry, I’ve met countless church-goers who profess faith in Jesus and articulate sound doctrine but who have not been transformed by it. They have never experienced the power of the gospel; they don’t know the kiss of the Father. Bob Flayhart’s The Gospel Waltz aims to remedy this. Bob is a master instructor in the footsteps of God’s grace, and this wise book will soon have you dancing with gospel joy.”
Ray Cortese, church planter and pastor for 40 years at Seven Rivers Church, Lecanto, Florida
Contents
Introduction 1
1 To the Christian Longing for Change 5
2 What’s the Big Deal About Grace? 23
3 What If Grace Is Not Unconditional? 37
4 Every Christian Has a Dance (What’s Yours?) 51
5 Repent: All Change Starts Here 69
6 Believe: The Least Practiced Step 95
7 Fight: Now Do It! 129
8 Practice Makes Progress (Not Perfect!) 161
9 Waltzing on Different Dance Floors 175
Postface 215
Appendix A: The Gospel Waltz Overview 219
Appendix B: Journaling the Waltz 221
Acknowledgements 225
Other Resources 229
About the Authors
Bob Flayhart (DMin, Covenant Theological Seminary) has served as lead pastor of Oak Mountain Presbyterian Church in Birmingham, Alabama, for more than thirty-five years, and serves on the board of Covenant Theological Seminary. Bob and his wife, Laurie, have three children and five grandchildren.
Holly Mackle is the author of Bright Star, The Story of Esther, the family Advent devotionals Little Hearts, Prepare Him Room and Connected Christmas, and curator of the mom humor collaboration Same Here, Sisterfriend. Holly and her husband, David, wrangle two young girls in Birmingham, Alabama, where she is a lower school librarian.