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Mark Sayers
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The Vertical Self: How Biblical Faith Can Help Us Discover Who We Are in an Age of Self Obsession Kindle Edition

by Mark Sayers (Author), Leonard Sweet (Foreword) Format: Kindle Edition
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 159 ratings
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It's time for a return to Radical Holiness.

Welcome to the 21st century where you can now purchase and exchange personalities, depending on mood and circumstance; where you are told that you can be anyone you want to be, and identity is no longer based in a sense of self but rather in the imagery you choose at that moment.

The Bible contains a radically different way of understanding our identity. The path that God has chosen for us to discover who we really are is the path of holiness. The most exciting thing is that this path is not for otherworldy saints, rather it is a path of earthy, gutsy holiness. It's a path that is not about basing your life on this world or of shunning your desires. Instead, it is about bringing your hopes, your dreams, your brokenness, your desires, your humanness under the Lordship of Christ. By doing this we don’t just discover a new way of living out our faith, we discover a liberating, revolutionary, life-embracing way of being truly human.

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  1. Print length
    222 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Thomas Nelson
  5. Publication date
    March 1, 2010
  6. File size
    1968 KB
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B003GFIVCK
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Thomas Nelson (March 1, 2010)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 1, 2010
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1968 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 222 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 159 ratings

About the author

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Mark Sayers

Mark Sayers

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MARK SAYERS writes about the intersection between faith and culture. Mark is also the Senior Leader of Red Church. Mark lives in Melbourne, Australia with his wife Trudi, daughter Grace, and twin boys Hudson and Billy.

marksayers.co

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
159 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

J. J. Suisted
5.0 out of 5 stars The Vertical Self
Reviewed in the United States on March 29, 2010
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In this insightful review of identity, faith and Western culture, Sayers reveals how our primary way of knowing our selves is shallow and based horizontally - on our social relationships, possessions, and desires to be cool, sexy and glamorous. Using countless examples from the hip-streets of Tokyo to the rooms of a Catholic monastery, this book calls for a return to a vertical self, which identity is based on our understanding of being made in the image of God. Caught in the tension between the horizontal and vertical callings, the difficult solution is to live a life of radical holiness, and discover our true selves.

If Mark Sayer's first book `The Trouble with Paris' was the doctor's diagnosis, then I found `The Vertical Self' to be the prescription. This book highlights truth from the world in which I live, but also reveals the dangers of living in our hyper-connected world. In many ways, this book is prophetic in tone, as it calls for a new way of living, and paints a grim picture of our future if we continue to live shallow and seemingly meaningless lives. But I found the last few chapters particularly helpful, as they begin painting a picture of a new way of living, ideas that are true to both Scripture and our long history of faith traditions.

This book was particularly thought provoking and conversation inspiring - I've found myself already talking about ideas from `The Vertical Self' in a range of different contexts. It has a particular harmony with young adults (as they live in the heart of this horizontal world), but the ideas discussed are not restrictive to that age. I would definitely recommend this book to others who are seeking what it means to live well and follow Jesus in the 21st century, and would strongly suggest reading it in community with others.

(I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson).
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We Don't Rent Pigs
5.0 out of 5 stars I already want to re-read it
Reviewed in the United States on June 3, 2018
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So far this year I have read books by J.I. Packer, Tim Keller, Donald Whitney, and Wendell Berry and I would recommend this book by Mark Sayers ahead of all of them. They were great (and I would still recommend all of them), but this book is something special. I picked it up after hearing it recommended by a pastor/author in a podcast. I had never heard of Sayers and started with a used version of “Vertical Self”. Sayer point of view and ability to articulate his assessment of our current cultural climate are refreshing. He is able to describe in laymen’s terms the deep distresses of culture and humanity, along with the sole necessary cure. I did not know what to expect when I opened this book, but it couldn’t have come at a better time for me. This book should be at the top of your TBR pile. I will be picking up another book by Sayers ASAP.
One person found this helpful
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Madison DuPree
5.0 out of 5 stars Creating True Understanding
Reviewed in the United States on November 6, 2019
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This is the fourth Mark Sayers book I've read and I think it's just as well written as his other works. If you have enjoyed any of his other books then Vertical Self will be no exception.

If you're new to Mark Sayers then it's helpful to know that his writing is neither pure theology nor self-help bullet points. He weaves history, sociology, theology, and philosophy together and sets it beside current cultural trends to point out the gaps and lets readers decide for themselves where the gaps are. His style of writing is best for creating true understanding of a subject instead of "quick fix self-help" action items.
One person found this helpful
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Mautzuyao
4.0 out of 5 stars Thoughtful discussion on enmeshment
Reviewed in the United States on December 24, 2011
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The idea that we are victims of co-dependance and superficiality , with the only escape being a new identity ( defined by God) is an important one. Mr Sayers has a keen eye for social commentary and his descriptions of our horizontal frames of reference remind's me of Neil Postman's "Amusing ourselves to death". Any book that can cause real self examination and a desire to change or seek an answer is a step in the right direction.
Part of the task is to understand that the "message is the medium", and the degree to which this has consciously and subconsciously infiltrated our identity. The hardest (and most important) task is to know we have a world view that probably needs either recalibrating or a major overhaul. I think Mr Sayers does a good job in this, using my feels of discomfort and guilt as a gauge.
Recommended for the young adult
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William Van Camp
5.0 out of 5 stars Loved It
Reviewed in the United States on February 15, 2019
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I'm growing more and more grateful of Mark Sayers. He has a way of dissecting culture that leads to spiritual wisdom.
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gabudell
5.0 out of 5 stars Life-changing insights
Reviewed in the United States on December 1, 2014
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Mark Sayers confronts us with the false self we are living (the horizontal self) and challenges us to live authentic lives in Christ.
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Top reviews from other countries

Jackie Holmes
5.0 out of 5 stars The Vertical Self.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 27, 2020
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Really enjoyed reading this book. Excellent book for any one searching for meaning and finding the image of God in us.
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jason b
5.0 out of 5 stars Well worth a read
Reviewed in Australia on July 14, 2020
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Great book, excellent analysis on the way we think in the West and good advice on how to solve the problem.
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Dennis Arve Wilkinson
4.0 out of 5 stars this book is a worthwhile expenditure of your time
Reviewed in Canada on November 1, 2013
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Provocative, accurate, troubling , and hopeful. Mark really challenges the way we all naturally think. Full review coming out at metacommunities.ca in a few days.
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Jen T
5.0 out of 5 stars Challenging how we see ourselves and the culture we are in
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 16, 2019
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So challenging!!! Brilliant Read. Thank you
One person found this helpful
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