Jesus Followers: Real-Life Lessons for Igniting Faith in the Next Generation

Anne Graham Lotz · Rachel-Ruth Lotz Wright

Oct 2021 · Sold by Multnomah

About this ebook

The daughter and granddaughter of Billy Graham share inspiring stories from their family life that offer compelling insights for leaving a legacy of faith.

“An inspiring guide for living with intentionality and instilling truth in the next generation.”—Dr. Tony Evans

Passing on our faith does not happen passively—it’s something we intentionally pursue with prayer and joy. Yet many of us struggle to know what it looks like to live out a contagious faith in today’s world. We long for spiritual wisdom on how to ignite faith in our children, grandchildren, and others we encounter. 

Jesus Followers offers practical ideas, biblical teaching, and inspiring true stories from Anne Graham Lotz and her daughter Rachel-Ruth Lotz Wright for effectively running the race of faith and passing the Baton of Truth to the next generation.
 
Drawing on the fascinating genealogy of Genesis 5, Anne explores the unique impact of our witness, worship, work, and walk. Rachel-Ruth illustrates each of these critical elements with stories from the Graham and Lotz families, offering vivid descriptions of how God’s truth was passed on by word and example.
 
Jesus Followers not only offers a glimpse into the living rooms and prayer closets of a faith-filled family, but it also equips you with the wisdom, motivation, and practical ideas for consistently and joyfully sharing your faith.

Ratings and reviews

Jesus Followers is a powerful, Spirit-led book that I think is excellent! It is everything the title and subtitle expresses and much more. It is about growing in and living out our faith in such a way that our loved ones in the next generation will know Jesus. Anne Graham Lotz and her daughter, Rachel-Ruth Lotz Wright, have written a unique book showing what a genuine Jesus Follower looks like in the areas of Witness, Worship, Walk, and Work. It is easy to understand even as it challenges us to grow. Most important, it is based on Scripture. In her conversational style, Anne Graham Lotz shares about her faith and life. She compares our lives to a relay race, and how it is our privilege to “pass the baton” to our children, grandchildren, and others. If we do not have children of our own, there are many people to whom we can pass the Baton of Truth that leads to faith in Christ. She shows how the generations from Adam and Eve through Noah’s family in the Genesis 5 genealogy passed the Baton of Truth in each of the four parts of the race. What do popcorn and chocolate milk have to do with one’s witness? Or fiddlesticks with worship? Rachel-Ruth writes several examples for each of the four parts of the race that she has seen in her family. She shares ways that she herself needs to grow or where she has been challenged. Being part of Billy Graham’s family doesn’t mean they are perfect or were born knowing how to share Jesus with others. Rachel-Ruth says, “You and I don’t have to be professionals. Just Jesus Followers who lead others to Him.” In addition, “If you didn’t have that example in your home, you can become the witness the next generation needs.” After each of her examples is a brief “Creating a Legacy of Witness (or worship, walk, or work)” and “Be a Jesus Follower” suggestion, with an appropriate scripture verse. I am convinced that what Anne Graham Lotz teaches is consistent with scripture, and that she is firm in what she believes. This is the first time I have read Rachel-Ruth Lotz Wright’s writing and am as impressed with her sincere faith as with that of her mother’s. She has her own style of writing, a great sense of humor, and a passion to leave a godly legacy for her daughters and others. Both her mother’s narrative and her examples from lives of loved ones mesh perfectly. I could see areas in which I need to grow in faith, behavior, and sharing God’s truth and love with others. Even though there are things I would rather gloss over, I know the authors tell the truth of the Bible with love, even when the truth is not popular. This book could easily be used as a devotional book or Bible study based on how each chapter and example is designed so one can work through the scripture and suggestions and incorporate them into our lives. I highly recommend this to anyone who wants to grow as a genuine Jesus Follower and learn how to share their faith with those around them, including the next generation. From a thankful heart: I received a copy of this book from the author and the publisher through NetGalley, and this is my honest review.

GUDE FOR IGNITING FAITH IN THE NEXT GENERATION Anne Graham Lotz and her daughter Rachel-Ruth Lotz Wright have teamed together to provide readers with an exceptional guide for igniting faith in the next generation. As the daughter and granddaughter of Billy Graham and his beloved wife, Ruth, they learned the importance of leaving a legacy of faith. It was from these two that the following generations learned about their faith by what they heard preached and spoken and by what they saw lived before them. Anne Graham Lotz has written: “While we need to speak up and share the truth, a witness that is lived may be even more powerful than one that is spoken. It’s not just what you and I say but who we are that catches the attention of those around us. As you read Rachel-Ruth’s stories, this truth will be fleshed out in living color.” What can be learned from this book can have a significant impact on your witness, worship, work and walk. This book will encourage you to examine your self and the life you live before your own family and friends. What do others know about my personal relationship with God? It should permeate my being and be the first thing someone recognizes in me. The next thing is, what do I believe about the Bible? Do my family and friends know what I believe about the Bible? What about everyone else I come in contact with? This is the the book that helps you understand the importance of incorporating a lifestyle so that your personal legacy of faith will make a substantial difference to all the generations that follow Jesus. My husband and I both come from families that made it a priority to teach us about faith and that lived their faith before us - even when it was not an easy thing to do. We have done our best to do the same with our children and spur them onto pass the torch to the generations following. This book will continue to give me wisdom and motivation. I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by WaterBrook & Multnomah & NetGalley. The opinions expressed here are completely my own and without influence.

5 stars, Everyday teachings JESUS FOLLOWERS by Ann Graham Lotz and Rachel-Ruth Lotz Wright The author and her daughter are the daughter and granddaughter of the famous Reverend Billy Graham. They give practical tips for how to reach out to your friends, family, and even complete strangers to share God's message that will save their lives. One chapter is called CHOCOLATE MILK and POPCORN, which sounds kind of cute and a little funny, but the lesson these two women are teaching is that there doesn't have to be a special time to talk about important, spiritual things, it can be anytime, anywhere. Highly recommend. This book will give you guidance in your personal walk with the Lord and helpful tools that can enable you to engage in an easygoing, honest way with everyone around you. With gratitude, I accepted a complimentary copy of #JesusFollowers by @MultnomahBooks #ChristianNonFiction #BestBooksof2021 #MustRead I was under no obligation to post a review.

About the author

Anne Graham Lotz—called “the best preacher in the family” by her father, Billy Graham—is an international speaker and the bestselling, award-winning author of numerous books, including Jesus in Me, Just Give Me Jesus, and The Light of His Presence. Anne is the president of AnGeL Ministries in Raleigh, North Carolina, and the former chairperson for the National Day of Prayer.
 
Rachel-Ruth Lotz Wright serves on the board of directors for AnGeL Ministries and chairs the weekly prayer team that undergirds her mother’s ministry. A graduate of Baylor University, she teaches an online weekly Bible study that draws thousands of people globally. Rachel-Ruth and her husband, Steven, live in Raleigh, North Carolina, with their three daughters.