The Radical Experiment

My name is Brad Finley and I am a student minister in western KY. Jim Houston is my wife's uncle. Through listening to numerous podcast preached by David, God has impressed upon my heart to start the radical experiment this week. I am excited to see what God will do because I am convinced that the "normal" way of doing church is not biblical...it is not radical! In Christ, Brad

Posted on Apr 20th, 2010 at 9:16 AM by unknown

My church as a whole is not participating in the Radical Experiment, but one of the pastors asked me to lead a small group discussion through the book. Eight or so people ages 23-30. I personally have been feeling not just a tug, but a giant yank toward something more in my relationship with Christ.... I am anxious to see where this will lead me as an individual and our ittle group as a whole. Pray for us!

Posted on Aug 14th, 2010 at 9:53 AM by unknown

The"Radical" book was a great inspiration and challenge to me and my wife. Also, coupled along with that book was Francis Chan's book "Crazy Love" for without "love" i.e., God's love in our hearts through Christ nothing done will be of any eternal value, I mean nothing, gifts used or exercised, money given, food given, sermons preached, lessons taught, etc,etc., so let us LOVE God and each other and our enemies for the sake of the Gospel to the nations! Praise His Name!

Posted on Dec 20th, 2010 at 4:23 PM by unknown

Actually, the questions raised by unknown on oct 16th should be answered in an attempt by David to be transparent and reveal the honest reflection of where his heart is.....if he is asking people to move out of their comfort then at least he needs to explain his actions of staying where he is. Nothing right or wrong just explaination.

Posted on Dec 26th, 2010 at 9:37 AM by unknown

College Park Church in Indianapolis (a Brook Hills-sized church) went through the book for our "Reach|'10" October focus on missions and a large number from the congregation purchased and read the book and are still be challenged to follow the Radical lifestyle from the pulpit. A Sunday morning Adult Bible Study class is teaching through this book and a church-wide blog (http://www.yourchurch.com/reach10-blog/) has been established to discuss this book and create a forum for the exchange of ideas and testimonies from reading the book. This book has really been impactful at College Park Church and in my life! To God be the glory! -Chris Dean

Posted on Dec 6th, 2010 at 5:54 PM by unknown

I am a member of the Church at Brook Hills. I can comment on what I have heard our pastor say regarding his personal "Radical" journey but I would like to offer a caution. Pastor David has said, many times, that this journey will look very different in each of our lives. We must refrain from contrasting and comparing to one another as this leads to legalism. Everyone's response to the Word needs to be spirit led; not out of guilt, obligation, or fear. Each person should seek the Father for guidance and obey as the Spirit leads them. Pastor David has commented publicly that he and his wife are in constant evaluation of their lifestyle and finances. He has mentioned that they sold their home and downsized to a smaller one and that they would adopt more children. (Currently they are trying to adopt two more children.) About the book... On the back of the title page of his book it states "The author's royalties from this book will go toward promoting the glory of God in all nations." Even though I am a member of Pastor David's church I think he has been very transparent in this process but he has been careful to warn us to stay away from becoming legalistic.

Posted on Jan 3rd, 2011 at 3:35 PM by unknown

I read the Radical Question. I am a pastor. Here is part of the story of our radical following of Jesus for the past 35 years: When was the last time? A mentally woman who was being abused by her “Christian” husband lived with you for 6 months? A young woman who was sexually abused by her family lived with you for a year? A teenager who was kicked out of her house by her single-parent mother lived with you for a year? A young woman who was abandoned by her mother at birth and then abused by her alcoholic step-mother lived with you for over a year? A young man who was kicked out his home by his “Christian” parents lived with you for three months? You lived in a house next to a very large public housing project and your child attended the public school with the children from the project? You quit your job to run a shelter for homeless men and were paid about $600 a month. (This was in the early 90’s) You sat up all night with a refugee as he was dying of AIDS 6 months after he brought his wife and 2 small children from a refugee camp in Africa where he had lived for 8 years. You sat up all night with a family as they watched their 4 year old granddaughter die of AIDS a year after they had stood at the grave of the child’s mother who died of AIDS. You invited refugees from Africa and Afghanistan (Christian and Muslim) to your home on Thanksgiving Day for dinner. You threw a Birthday party for a 35 year old homeless man who was raised by an alcoholic father and mentally ill mother after you learn he has never had a birthday party in his life. You left your condo in the suburbs to buy a house in the inner city so you could live among the poor, disenfranchised, marginalized? Is Jesus worth this much to you? He is to my wife and I. Ron Friesen Oasis for The Nations Phoenix, AZ

Posted on Jun 13th, 2010 at 9:23 AM by unknown

I am a pastor of a small church located only a couple of miles from the mega-Brook Hills. We have been working under the assumption that "church" needs to look differently than it does in America today. My job as pastor is to get people to not question THE faith, but rather their version of it, and then teach they truth through the only representation of it - Christ himself. After I announced that our church's goal is to reach the point that 80% of our income would be going out to local and global missions someone suggested I read David Platt's book. I can only say that he is a genius (because his views mesh completely with mine - that's a joke since blogs don't register grins). Even down to the chapter "Plan B" since I have continually taught that God shows up when we have no "Plan B" to fall back to. All this to say that I believe what Brook Hills is doing is admirable and true to the teachings of Christ. So many churches are trying to move to this "real" model, but it is very hard to do here in America. At any rate, as Silvio said, don't question the messenger (he is practicing what he preaches by the way), rather try to act out the message because it is God's plan. God dares you. Greg Stein Church at the Well Birmingham, AL

Posted on Nov 8th, 2010 at 10:53 AM by unknown

Our church small groups are studying Radical at this time and are very challenged. I lead a small group and a very honest, passionate, straightforward man asked me the other night if David Platt is being radical. I asked hi to explain ad he replied that he saw hypocrisy in the fact that Davis still lives in his large home; still makes a fine living at a huge church; and now has profits from a bestseller. I was unable to alleviate my friends concerns completely. Can you answer the following for me? Has David sold his large house? Did David take a salry reduction as a part of the Radical Experiment? Where do the proceeds from David's book go? Thank you so much. We need to clear the air of this matter and get back to what the Radical Experiment is all about!

Posted on Oct 16th, 2010 at 11:53 AM by unknown

''@unknown who posted on Oct 16th at 11:53 am.'' This is Silvio in Orlando writing in response to the questions your friend posted about David Platt. I don't know anything about David's personal life, but does it really matter that much? If we are radical for Jesus, it's all about Jesus! Let's focus on the message, not the messenger. People in general will always fail. God never will.

Posted on Oct 31st, 2010 at 10:20 PM by unknown