Learning to Speak God from Scratch

Why Sacred Words Are Vanishing - and How We Can Revive Them

By: Jonathan Merritt

Narrated by: Jonathan Merritt

Length: 6 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's summary

Discover a faith worth talking about.

As America rapidly becomes a pluralistic, postmodern society, many of us struggle to talk about faith. We can no longer assume our friends understand words such as grace or gospel. Others, like lost and sin, have become so negative they are nearly conversation-enders.

Jonathan Merritt knows this frustration well. After Jonathan moved from the Bible Belt to New York City, he discovered that whenever conversations turned to spirituality, the words he'd used for decades didn't connect with listeners anymore. In a search for answers and understanding, Jonathan uncovered a spiritual crisis affecting tens of millions.

In this groundbreaking book, one of America's premier religion writers revives ancient expressions through cultural commentary, vulnerable personal narratives, and surprising biblical insights. Both provocative and liberating, Learning to Speak God from Scratch will breathe new life into your spiritual conversations and lure you into the embrace of the God who inhabits them.

©2018 Mission Audio (P)2018 Mission Audio

Great understanding on where we were where we are and where we are headed

Seriously I listened to this book in one weekend!! The understanding of word is so in depth and I could not have asked for a better understanding of what you wrote thank you. Living in a post modern Christian we there is some very heavy hitting topics you hit and as a college pastor I thank you for this book as a resource that will teach them to fish if you catch my biblical reference!! Keep up the great writing. - Brian from journey community church in San Diego CA

Essential reading for anyone wanting to evangelize without using religious words

Mr. Merritt has really helped me see how I can explore the message of Jesus Christ good news to the world when the language of “proclamation can sometimes be the very barrier to the worlds hearing the message. He has also helped me see, that there really is no such thing as the world. The world is the people I live with every day at home and at work. Please read this book.

New in sight into stale old language

I found this book interesting for the first 10 or 11 chapters, but only academically. It was in chapter 12 that it really kicked into gear making good use of the foundation Jonathan laid with the previous chapters, so pay attention in those earlier chapters! This book absolutely changed the way I look at sacred language and the carelessness with which I use (abuse?) sacred words. Good read, definitely recommend. Looking forward to his next project.

our words have so much power!

as a speaker this book inspires me to understand the Divinity of each word that I speak. words bring life, or words can bring death.

I’m a fan.

Just finished reading this book today. I really enjoyed the author, he writes about very intriguing topics that expand your mind and he writes about them very well.
I wouldn’t called his book an easy read as his words and ideas rubbed against my comfort zone and what I believe in, but I also wouldn’t say he’s wrong. If you are a fan of opening and expanding your mind I highly suggest this book. :-)

Really spoke to me

I wasn't sure what to think about the book since I didn't know the author at all. I had followed him on Instagram for awhile, and finally I listened to the book. It really spoke to me where I am in life. Living through Evangelism then Deconstruction and now something different, I found his approach refreshing. It may be still a little too evangelical for those in post-evangelical world, but I think his experience is important to consider. I am glad the author read it himself. Makes me want to read more of his stuff! Thanks Jonathan for being vunerable, especially with your pain condition. I injured my shoulder at the same time I was reading the book, it spoke to me and i was empathetic to your message because I related (for that brief moment) to his pain.

A different kind of good

it was good a little slow at the beginning but made some really important points throughout. traditional Christians should read and apply to our daily lives

Loved it!

Great insight and really made me think. Loved the construction, de-construction, re-construction explanation.

Transformational Listen!

Jonathan has such a way with words and he introduces new concepts and thoughts to speak God in fresh ways in this book. This is my third time listening to it and it gets better every time!

this was thought provoking

Jonathan brought up some interesting perspectives that enabled me to ponder with him and showed me a view from another window. Thought it was great!