I've heard many times the story that Wooden, perhaps the greatest coach of any sport at any time, began each new season teaching his freshmen the fundamentals. He didn't start with dribbling or layups or passes. The first thing he taught these young men was how to properly tie their shoes.

This short book is the "shoe tying" of Christian fundamentals. In just over 100 pages covering seven chapters, Rainer gets to the fundamentals of what it means to be a Christian. His chapters are entitled:
I am a Believer
I am a Church Member
I am a Disciple
I am a Servant
I am a Witness
I am a Prayer Warrior
I am a Christian (conclusion)

What you see is exactly what you get. There is nothing new, shocking, or unique here. There is nothing that will "knock your socks off." But that is OK. Sometimes what we need the most is a "shoe-tying" review. It is a good and healthy habit for us to regularly get back to the basics with books like this.

This is not a lengthy book, but it is filled with solid teaching. In fact, I believe this book should be paired with Rainer’s previous book “I Am A Church Member.” The author reminds us that the local church is God’s primary plan for reaching the world with His love. Within the context of the local church, believers are able to truly understand their identity in Christ and role in His kingdom.

What does it mean to be a Christian?

It may seem like a no-brainer of a question, but I have learned through the years not to assume anything. A recent study from the Pew Research Forum indicates that up to 70% of Americans will claim no religion at all by 2070. We are in a time when American churches are declining and fewer Americans identify as Christian. In this context, perhaps the question is not a no-brainer. Plenty has been written about how to address this decline and hopefully reverse it. Yet, the question posed, “What does it mean to be a Christian?” may be the right starting point.

Thom Rainer, the church consultant and CEO of Church Answers, frames this identity problem as a priority solution. He writes in his book I Am a Christian, “Embracing our identity as Christians means we must shift our priorities.” But why? Rainer answers, “we must grasp the significance of our identity in Christ.” In the Introduction, where we find these two sentences, Rainer outlines the problem and the solution. The lack of identity as Christian links to a lack of identity in Christ. Or, as Rainer more plainly states it:

Perhaps the issue is not declining churches but the declining commitment of Christians. Perhaps the story is one of declining faith.
Perhaps the challenge is one of declining Christians.

Rainer clearly argues that the local church is vital to making disciples of Jesus Christ. The church is responsible to the Christian, just as the Christian commits to the church. To be a Christian is to believe in Jesus Christ and be a church member, both to the universal church and your local church. Rainer reminds the reader that “the New Testament does not have a plan for growing us as Christians outside of the local church.” To be a Christian is to be a member of the church, where one is actively growing in their faith, not just by attending church, but by serving too.


Rainer continues his small book by outlining how a Christian is a disciple, a servant, a witness, and a prayer warrior. His use of scripture throughout the book reinforces that these are not “pie-in-the-sky” ideals but grounded in the Word. Each chapter provides several discussion questions, making it ideal for a small group or a new member class.

While this is an excellent resource, the pastor should vet it before using it to ensure that it reflects the theology and core values of the congregation. Further, Rainer’s purpose for writing this resource should not be lost – there is a correlation between the church declining and declining Christians. As I have said before, the revitalization of the church is directly connected to the revitalization of the heart.

The implication is clear: The local church has a great responsibility to revitalize the heart of Christians so that the church can make disciples of Jesus Christ.

Thanks to Tyndale House Publishers for a digitial review copy.

The book “I Am a Christian” begins by reminding us that all who follow Jesus must “fully grasp what it means to say, ‘I am a Christian.’” We must know what it means, who we are, and what we believe. This—and orienting our priorities around this—are urgently needed in our day.

Rainer states, “‘I am a Christian’ and ‘I am a church member’ go hand in hand.” He writes further, “When Christians become committed church members, the church becomes healthy. When the church becomes healthy, communities become healthy. When communities become healthy, the world is transformed.”

The book’s seven chapter highlight different “I am” statements related to being a Christian such as:

* I am a church member.
* I am a disciple.
* I am a servant.
* I am a witness.
* I am a prayer warrior.

Though I wasn’t a fan of the writing style, “I Am a Christian” provides helpful clarity concerning what the church is and is not, and how we are to walk out our lives as Christian, especially alongside a local body of believers.

This book would be especially suitable for new believers or new church members. I could easily see it being used to disciple believers or in a new members’ class, as it covers many important beliefs that all Christians should hold.

I received a review copy of this book for free from Netgalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. All opinions are my own.

I Am a Christian
by Thom S. Rainer
Pub Date: October 4, 2022
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC.
The author, Thom S. Rainer is the founder and CEO of Church Answers. Rainer has written numerous books, including I Am a Church Member, Autopsy of a Deceased Church, and Simple Church.
I enjoyed reading this book and I will definitely be adding his other books to my TBR list. It is a short read, consisting of 7 chapters so I read one chapter a day.
Inspired by the gospel of John's seven "I AM" statements of Jesus, the author uses the same framework to provide us with seven identity statements of a Christian. They are:

1) I am a Believer
2) I am a Church Member
3) I am a Disciple
4) I am a Servant
5) I am a Witness
6) I am a Prayer Warrior
7) I am a Christian
I highly recommend this book for believers. 5 stars

This book allows you to ask yourself how you would respond if someone asks you 'What does it mean when you say you are a Christian?' Many of us identify as Christians but this book forces you to align that statement with what it means in the Bible. The book's concepts are foundational and even if you've read/heard them many times, it's such a great reminder.

What does it mean to be a Christian? What do people mean when they say they believe in Jesus? What about people claiming that they are second, third, or fourth-generation Christian? Answer: It varies. Some might claim that because they say they believe, and they attend Church regularly, they are Christians. Many would say that as long as they believe in Jesus as their Lord and Saviour, they are considered saved believers. Others raise the bar to say that if one's faith is devoid of discipleship, that casts one's faith in doubt. With various interpretations of what it means to be Christian, this book comes in to clear the fog for those still bugged by that question. Using seven key distinctiveness, popular author Thom Rainer leads us through seven declarations of faith. Each statement is a statement of intent not just as an adjective but more as a verb. Rainer asserts that anyone who claims they are Christians must know WHY they believe. Right from the start, readers get to realize the importance of this very question. We live in a world of distractions that continue to influence and confuse our sense of identity as Christian. For example, the culture we live in is largely individualistic, leading some people to think that they could be "Lone Ranger Christians." Inspired by the gospel of John's seven "I AM" statements of Jesus, the author uses the same framework to provide us with seven identity statements of a Christian. They are:

1) I am a Believer
2) I am a Church Member
3) I am a Disciple
4) I am a Servant
5) I am a Witness
6) I am a Prayer Warrior
7) I am a Christian

Each descriptive statement builds on the former statement. Eventually, the book culminates in a rejuvenated understanding of what it means to be Christian. Rainer goes through the core beliefs common across mainline denominations and non-denominational branches of Christianity. These include beliefs in the Bible, the Trinity, Salvation, Fall-Redemption, Resurrection of Jesus, and so on. Taking a leaf from his earlier book, "I Am a Church Member," he condenses that into one chapter here in this book. It is a reminder that being a Christian means we are a part of the larger body of Christ, in particular, to be members of a Church. The issue of discipleship remains a critical component of one's faith. Apart from a desire to disciple and be discipled, other expressions of what it means to be a Christian include a desire to evangelize, to serve, to pray, and to obey the calling of Jesus.

My Thoughts
==============
The premise of this book is simple. If we claim to believe something, not only must we know what we believe, but we need also to know why we believe. Following that, we help ourselves make sense of our own faith. Giving us seven statements to enable us to know the contours of our faith, Rainer has condensed Christianity to some of the most basic statements of faith. Meant for popular reading, each chapter guides readers with stories, Bible references, contrasts with cultural beliefs, and discussion questions at the end of each chapter to facilitate further study.

I like the way the author starts with a basic question and closes with an augmented understanding of what it means to be a Christian. Many people claim to be Christian but when probed, their faith is often mixed up with cultural adaptations and personal preferences. We need books like this because we all need some common framework to understand what we believe in. Many creedal statements arose out of controversies. In the early centuries, the Early Church faced lots of persecution and religious threats from false teachers. In order to address the controversies and confusion created, the Early Church came up with creeds and doctrinal statements to help people distinguish the orthodox faith.

Do not be deceived by the simplicity of the book. Sometimes, the most profound things can be expressed via simple statements. I believe everyone who claims to be Christian will at some point of their faith find this book a valuable reminder or a wake-up call.

THOM S. RAINER is the founder and CEO of Church Answers, a former pastor, and a bestselling author. With nearly forty years of ministry experience, Thom has spent a lifetime committed to the growth and health of the local church and its leaders. He is a graduate of the University of Alabama and earned an MDiv and PhD from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He and his wife live in Tennessee.

Rating: 4.25 stars of 5.

conrade
This book has been provided courtesy of Tyndale House Publishers and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

4 stars
I Am A Christian
by Thom S. Rainer
This is an excellent book. It is short, just 7 chapters,so I read it as if it was a week long devotional book.
I have not previously read this author before, however I learned quite a bit from this book, so I definitely be looking for more books by Thom Rainer.
I can easily see this book being used as a small group or personal study.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Every Christian should have this book, read this book, gift this book. Aside from The Bible of course.
Want to refresh your idea of what it means to be a Christian in a concise way? No long windedness?
Get this book! It will bless you and more importantly, the people you interact with!
Highly recommend ❤️

Another solid and easy to read book of Christian basics by Thom. As a church member of one of Thom’s friends, I can see how Thom’s character and even personality get replicated in his friends and in the churches that he mentors. How Thom describes a functioning church? That is precisely what my pastor does and IT WORKS. This is a great book for pastors and all church members to encourage us to be continually be pressing into Jesus and to be checking our egos before our Lord. Cover art is a bit underwhelming, but whatevs.