Jesus Is My Hero

One of the most frightening trends in our culture today is the exodus of churchgoers. Churchgoers who before felt inspired to worship and fellowship in their local church community are now leaving at a record pace. It is happening in every denomination, effecting every church. The crazy thing is, people are leaving and it is not because they no longer believe in God. They still believe in God and believe that Jesus is their savior. But, could it be that somewhere down the line, Jesus quit being their hero? Sure, He is our savior, but somehow we forgot that He is also our Lord. Jesus Is My Hero reminds us again how important it is to see Jesus for who He really is, a hero that we would want to emulate. A hero who not only has the power and the ability to make this world a better place, but also a hero who will make us better people. A hero who will bring out the best in us as we dare to do the impossible against supernaturally impossible odds. A hero who will inspire us again as he shows us how life is meant to be lived.

Hero. Someone we admire, someone we want to be like. But does your idea of a hero include someone poor in spirit? Meek? Merciful? In this fresh look at the Beatitudes, Iain M. Duguid shows how Jesus turns our concept of a hero upside-down. The Beatitudes hold out to us a higher form of heroism--the character and attitudes found in the Hero of heroes.

Comic superheroes embody the hopes of a world that is desperate for a savior. But those comic creations cannot save us from our greatest foes—sin and death. Throughout the history of the Church there have been bad ideas, misconceptions, and heretical presentations of Jesus. Each one of these heresies fails to present Jesus as the Bible reveals him. In Superheroes Can’t Save You, Todd Miles demonstrates how these ancient heresies are embodied in contemporary comic superheroes. Miles compares something everybody already knows (who the superheroes are) with what they need to know (who Jesus is), in a book that makes vitally important Christian truths understandable and applicable to a wide audience.

The world needs heroes... champions of truth and justice who fight for what's right and save the day. And nobody does heroes better than comic-books. Clad in colorful capes and costumes, superheroes regularly thwart would-be world conquerors and fend off alien invasions. The only drawback is... they aren't real. They only exist in imaginary stories created by talented authors and artists. So we look for real heroes... athletes, doctors, firefighters, police, etc. But real heroes fail us often enough to remind us that they aren't very super after all. Fortunately, these heroes point beyond themselves to someone both real and super... Someone who came to earth with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men, and gave his life to save the world! His name is Jesus Christ!In Jesus Christ: The World's Great Hero! author and artist Scott Bayles condenses the greatest story ever told into a fast-paced, action-packed, twenty-four page graphic novel. Highlighting Christ's heroic nature, Jesus Christ: The World's Greatest Hero! is perfect for children as well as adult comic-book collectors!

When cultures such as ours toss Jesus out one door, He comes in – albeit disguised – through another. That’s why author Jim Papandrea turned to Star Wars, Star Trek, The Matrix, Terminator, Spider-Man, Batman, Dr. Who, and half-a-dozen other modern shows, discovering in each one powerful images of Christ and salvation. Nor is that surprising. In stories of alternative universes, people always need rescuing; somebody needs to save the day; and sometimes the whole world cries out for a savior . . . which is just what a hero is. About the heroes of some of the most popular sci-fi stories of all time, author Papandrea here answers questions that concern Christians who are also Trekkies, Whovians, Matrix Dwellers, or aficionados of popular science fiction: What kind of “Christ-figure” is the hero of this story, and what does that say about the show’s vision of Christ, humanity and salvation? In the interest of being scientific, Papandrea even gives each hero a Numerical Orthodoxy Score based on the description of Christ in the Nicene Creed, Christianity’s common definition of orthodoxy. Included herein are astute Christian analyses of: Batman * Captain * America * Doctor Who * The Fifth Element * I, Robot * Iron Man * LOST * The Matrix * Planet of the Apes * Pleasantville * Spider-Man * Star Trek * Star Wars * Superman * The Terminator * The Time Machine * Tron * Wonder Woman Here you’ll read about: The pervasive Christian imagery in Doctor WhoStar Trek’s predicted “death of God”Free-will: the stumbling block in the first MatrixThe crucifixion of Spider-ManWhy Wonder Woman is an image of a gnostic saviorThe meaning of salvation in Star Wars (It masquerades as Christian)How Superman’s life begins as a parallel of Moses.I, Robot: the religious reason why the robot is called “Sonny”Whether, in any Christian sense, Neo is The One?Captain American and Iron-Man: one defends the innocent, the other brings justice to the guiltyThe tomb scene in the Fifth Element: it’s not the resurrection we needMatter vs. Spirit in Tron: gnostic to the coreThe anti-Christian bias of Planet of the ApesWhy the Force in Star Wars is no analogy to Grace or the Holy SpiritThe Star Wars Christ figure: Obi-Wan? Luke? Or even, ultimately, Darth VaderWhat Heaven is understood to be in the LOST universeTime travel as incarnation in The Terminator: a compelling analogyRegeneration as resurrection in Doctor Who: Is it Christ-like?How Pleasantville reverses the dynamism of the FallThe baptismal significance of the plane crash in LOSTPleasantville: a twisted version of EdenThe incarnation of the Christ-figure in Planet of the ApesTron’s parallels between Christianity and the Roman Empire . . . and much more about other science fiction and superhero shows! Christians who enjoy popular culture will greet this fun book with interest and acclaim.

Skelton leads the reader through fast-paced discussions of such striking phenomena as the influence of Christ's life on superheroes, and the similarities between the devil and comic book protagonists.

Everyone has a hero. Discover what makes Jesus the greatest hero-from his ultimate sacrifice to his endless miracles. Through poems and Bible verses, you will uncover the greatness of his teachings and unconditional love.

The kingdom of heaven is like this. A man happens to find a treasure hidden in a field. He covers it up again, and is so happy that he goes and sells everything he has, and then goes back and buys that field. --Matthew 13:44 (GNT) My Jesus, My Hero is the true story of a nurse, wife, mother, and cancer survivor, who was living an ordinary life until she personally encountered Jesus in 2011. After having this personal encounter, her life course changed significantly, and she grew deeper in her Catholic faith and ardent love for Jesus! She writes, "Jesus's love is unique, and he knows you personally and is knocking at your door!" Then in 2015, quite unexpectedly, she was diagnosed with cancer. How did she react to the tragic diagnosis? Did she lose her faith? How did her life change? Did her intimate relationship with Jesus continue? What was the inspiration for writing this book? How did she get this catching title for this memoir? Find out the answers to these questions and many more in this memoir!

Where else but America do people ask: What Would Jesus Do? What Would Jesus Drive? What Would Jesus Eat? "This book is for believers and non-believers alike. It is not a book about whether one should believe in Jesus, but about how Americans have believed in and portrayed him."—from the Introduction Jesus in America is a comprehensive exploration of the vital role that the figure of Jesus has played throughout American history. Written by one of our most distinguished historians, Richard Wightman Fox, this book provides a brilliant cultural history of Jesus in America from its origins to today, demonstrating how Jesus is the most influential symbolic figure in our history. Benjamin Franklin understood Jesus as a wise man worthy of imitation. Thomas Jefferson regarded him as a moral teacher. The assassination of Abraham Lincoln, which occurred on Good Friday, was popularly interpreted as paralleling the crucifixion of Jesus . . . as one preacher put it, "Jesus Christ died for the world, Abraham Lincoln died for his country." Elizabeth Cady Stanton appropriated Jesus' message to champion women's rights. George W. Bush named Jesus as his favorite political philosopher—and several other GOP candidates followed suit—during the last presidential race. As we have seen in recent presidential elections, the name of Jesus is often thrust into the center of political debates, and many Americans regularly enlist Jesus, their ultimate arbiter of value, as the standard-bearer for their views and causes. Fox shows how Jesus influenced such major turning points in American history as: Columbus's voyage of discovery The arrival of the English puritans and Spanish missionaries The American Revolution The abolition of slavery and the Civil War Labor movements Social and cultural revolutions of the sixties and beyond The swelling tide of Christian voices in the politics and entertainment of today Fox gives an expert, lively account of all the ways that Jesus is portrayed and understood in American culture. Extensively illustrated with images representing the multitude of American views of Jesus, Jesus in America reveals how fully and deeply Jesus is ingrained in the American experience.

A famed historian once noted that, regardless of what you think of him personally, Jesus Christ stands as the central figure in the history of Western civilization. A man violently rejected by some and passionately worshipped by others, Jesus remains as polarizing as ever. But most people still know very little about who he really was, why he was really here, or what he really claimed. Intended as a succinct introduction to Jesus’s life, words, and enduring significance, Who Is Jesus? offers non-Christians and new Christians alike a compelling portrait of Jesus Christ. Ultimately, this book encourages readers to carefully consider the history-shaping life and extraordinary teachings of the greatest man who ever lived. Download the free study guide at crossway.org/WhoIsJesus.