Lynn Anderson, The Jesus Touch: Learning the Art of Relationship from the Master. Howard Books, 2004.
Referenced in:
- Plural-Elder Congregational Leadership
- Pastoral Care and Counseling
- Situatonal Leadership
- Approaches to Evangelism – Conversational/Relational
LifeandLeadership.com Summary
This is an excellent text for anyone who wants to relate to others like Jesus did. Anderson writes out of decades of experience as a sought-after minister, mentor, and coach. It is not a book on evangelism per se, but it will help any evangelist be more authentic (it compares to Jerram Barrs Learning Evangelism from Jesus). It is not a book on counseling or pastoral skills per se, but it will help any counselor or pastor be more attuned to others’ life conditions. It is not a book on leadership per se, but it will help any leader be more sensitive to those who follow them. It is not a book on coaching or mentoring per se, but it will help any coach/mentor equip others more skillfully. It is not a book on spiritual direction per se, but it will help any spiritual director listen to God on behalf of another.
For those who know Lynn, his spirit bleeds through this book as he reflects upon Jesus who was, in Lynn’s words – available, sensitive, helpful and creative. In the first two chapters, Lynn discusses how Jesus embodied each of these four characteristics. Next he takes a special look at selected encounters from the Gospel of John.
- Anxious people like the mother of Jesus at the wedding feast in Cana
- Religious people like Nicodemus
- Religious insiders like the Jews in Acts 2 (through Peter, one who was trained by Jesus) and religious insiders like the Greek philosophers in Acts 17 (through Paul, another who learned from Jesus)
- Self-righteous people like some Pharisees
- Abandoned people like the woman at the well
- Frightened people like the woman caught in adultery
- Practical people like Andrew at the feeding of the 5,000
- Despairing people like Mary and Martha at the tomb of Lazarus
- Lonely people like the handicapped man at the pool
- Mistreated people like the blind beggar on the road
Lynn uses his informed intuition and gifted imagination to tell the “back-story” of each of these persons, allowing us to live in their shoes before, during and after their experience with Jesus. He also helps readers identify by using some of his own stories.
This book is a well-written reflection of how Jesus touched people. Its purpose is not scholarly, though it is exegetically responsible. Neither is it a skills-building exercise. It is a description of how Jesus’encounters were uniquely crafted to each person, set forth by one who is especially gifted himself at reaching people of all walks of life.
From the Publisher
Max Lucado says of this book: “Lynn Anderson has some words for your heart. He will do more than help you deal with people — he will help you love people. His model? The source of love Himself: Jesus of Nazareth.”
For Jesus, people are number one. For authentic followers of Jesus, people become top priority as well. Based on Jesus’“creative encounters” with the people he met throughout the Gospel of John, this powerful book will teach you how to treat each individual you meet with the creativity and love exhibited by the Master.
Walk through the days of Jesus’life and witness heaven reaching down to humanity, Immanuel among the earthlings, the Christ amidst the commoners; Jesus touching people.
About the Author
Lynn Anderson has been in the ministry for over forty years and currently serves as president of Hope Network, a ministry dedicated to coaching, mentoring, and equipping spiritual leaders for the twenty-first century. He received his doctorate from Abilene Christian University in 1990. Anderson’s lifelong career of ministry has involved speaking nationwide to thousands of audiences and authoring many books — including The Shepherd’s Song; Navigating the Winds of Change; Heaven Came Down; They Smell like Sheep, Volumes 1 and 2; and If I Really Believe, Why Do I Have These Doubts? He and his wife, Carolyn, live in San Antonio. They are the parents of four grown children and the grandparents of eight wonderful grandchildren.
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