Chris Hodges

Senior Pastor

Church of the Highlands

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One of the privileges of getting older has been watching my children, and the children of family and friends, grow up and become adults. I’m always fascinated to see the through-line of the person God created them to emerge in infancy and grow into maturity. And I’m especially intrigued by the ways parents and caregivers try to pass on their faith in God to the next generation. Because no matter how devoted to Christ someone may be and how diligently they raise their children in the faith, their child’s spiritual development is not entirely in their hands.

As a pastor and a father myself, I know there’s a limit to how much I can ultimately influence the faith of my kids. They have to experience God firsthand for themselves and discover His love beyond what human love and conceptual understanding can reveal. When they struggle through life’s challenges and wrestle with what it means to follow Jesus, it can be especially heartbreaking to watch them make painful choices. On the other hand, when they push through tough times and discover God’s faithfulness for themselves, when they grow and mature into a faith that’s uniquely theirs, it’s incredibly inspiring.

Even more inspiring is when they become pastors and leaders who God uses to bless countless others as they share His love and use their gifts in His service. Such is the case with Jonathan Stockstill, whom I’ve known for most all of his life. Jonathan is the son of my pastor, Larry Stockstill, and I’ve loved seeing Jonathan grow from the little towheaded boy running through the pews after church into a passionate pastor, dynamic leader, and exuberant praise-and-worship music artist.

While some people might assume Jonathan’s passion for ministry was inherited, I know that he continues to build on his dad’s legacy and make it uniquely his own. This starts with the foundation of his faith, his relationship with Jesus Christ. Jonathan discovered that sometimes when you’re raised in a devout Christian home, the pressure to conform to the expectations of others, especially those in the church, can be tremendous. It can be difficult to discern when you’re trying to please your parents and others by accepting the customs of their faith versus when you’re motivated by knowing and loving God at a deeper, more intimate level.

Jonathan quickly learned that you can’t settle for an inherited set of beliefs if you want to make a difference in this world. You have to answer the fundamental questions at the heart of this book: Who is Jesus to me? What do I really believe about who He is? And what difference does it make in my life—right now and for eternity?

Jonathan knows these are the honest, gut-level questions every believer must answer for themselves in order to have an authentic, loving relationship with God and to live with passionate purpose in His service. Which is why Jon has written this book, to help you and me and everyone comes to terms with the real Jesus. To cut through what others say and what we see and hear in our daily lives and on social media.

As Jonathan points out, even during Christ’s time on earth, many people offered different opinions about this carpenter’s son from Nazareth claiming to be the Messiah, God’s own Son. At one point Jesus even asked His disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” In reply, they listed some of the rumors floating around: “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets” (Matthew 16:13-14, NIV).

Now what’s striking here, as Jonathan explores, is the number of assumptions people made about who Jesus was. Rather than listen to what He said and experience His teaching and healing for themselves, many people just identified Jesus by association, by hearsay, by speculation. “Yeah, I think he’s that crazy guy John who runs around in the wilderness eating locusts and honey,” some apparently said. “Or what about those prophets from hundreds of years ago, like Elijah or Jeremiah, the ones who did all those big dramatic supernatural spectacles,” others must have chimed in.

With these assumptions on the lips of the public, Jesus then asked his disciples, “But what about you? Who do you say I am?” To which Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:15-16, NIV). Jesus then blessed Peter for his faith because “this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but my Father in heaven” (Matthew 16:17, NIV). In other words, Peter didn’t rely on earthly evidence—and he certainly witnessed plenty of miracles while accompanying his Master’s ministry—but on supernatural revelation.

Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can also encounter God’s presence and the truth of who Jesus is for ourselves. We don’t have to rely on hearsay, popular culture, or the church we went to as a child. We can get to know the Living God in a way that’s personal, direct, and intimate. Jonathan knows the difference and provides a map to help you experience the power of relationship over religion, of a higher purpose over personal glory, of joyful
contentment over elusive happiness.

Whether you inherited a solid biblical foundation for your faith or you’re still searching for the truth about God, The Real Jesus will open the door to a more intimate encounter with the Savior. With humor and honesty about his own struggles to overcome childhood “Biblianity,” fresh insight on what God’s Word actually reveals about Christ, and practical encouragement for deepening your relationship with the Lord, Jonathan challenges you to experience Jesus in
ways that require you to risk more of your heart.

If you’re tired of settling for the images, ideas, and ideology of what others say about Jesus Christ, then it’s time to decide for yourself. Ask Him to show you who He is, and you won’t be disappointed. And don’t be surprised if He uses this book to show you new glimpses of His character, power, and unconditional love for you. If you truly want to encounter the real Jesus, then turn the page!

John Bevere

Author and Minister

Messenger International

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One of Paul’s greatest concerns regarding the early church was that their pure and undivided devotion to Christ would somehow become corrupted by the preaching of a different Jesus. Paul’s specific words to them were, “You happily put up with whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach a different Jesus than the one we preach” (2 Corinthians 11:3—4 NLT). In many ways, I have that same concern for the church of today.

To preach another Jesus is to preach an incorrect version of Him; a different Jesus than the One depicted in the Bible. You may wonder how on earth this could happen. No Christian in their right mind would blatantly accept a false Jesus, right? If someone came along teaching that Jesus is not the Christ, He never died on the cross, He didn’t overcome the grave, this would be obvious heresy. However, the deception is subtle.

So how have we preached a different Jesus? By what we’ve failed to communicate. In present times, we create a “Jesus” who will give us whatever our passions desire—much like Aaron did for Israel when he fashioned the golden calf and called it ‘Jehovah.’ The children of Israel still acknowledged the name of God and the fact that He saved them from Egypt, but changed him into a different Jehovah. In the same way, anytime Jesus is depicted as just Savior (and not Lord), we are presenting a Jesus that offers salvation on our terms. This means we believe we can have the benefits of His salvation, without relinquishing our life to Him. The Jesus of the Bible clearly commands that we must deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him. When we make Jesus Lord, He becomes our Savior as well.

Jesus as Savior emphasizes forgiveness of sins and redemption; Jesus as Lord translates to a complete reorientation of one’s life. When we only preach Jesus as Savior, we’re preaching a different Jesus. That’s why so many unbelievers come to Jesus just for what He can do for them. Jesus becomes just another means to an end, rather than the end of all means.

That’s why I’m so happy my friend, Jonathan Stockstill, has written, The Real Jesus. More than ever, we need a fresh revelation of Jesus—one that will set our hearts ablaze and reignite a holy fear within us. Only then will we truly know Him! The truths contained throughout this book will empower you to give Jesus the place in your heart He deserves.

Jentzen Franklin

Senior Pastor

Free Chapel

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If ever there were a time for the church to stand strong and make an unprecedented impact worldwide, it’s today. God is calling YOU to take a deeper look, not at your battlefield or even your purpose or your next assignment, but a deeper look at who Jesus is and what He is asking you to do. If you are truly going to make a difference in this world for the Lord, then knowing Jesus Christ and obeying His teachings are the first step in your process.

It’s safe to say that 2020 was a year like no other. With the onset of a worldwide epidemic in the early spring, what we thought was a temporary setback became months of evaluating and re-evaluating priorities and a complete overhaul of everything from the way industry does business to the way we interact socially across all spectrums.

Everyone has experienced the devastating effects of Covid19 in one way or another, either personally, a family member, or a close personal friend. Millions of Americans found themselves out of work and our financial markets quivered and shook worldwide.

In 2020 you either adjusted and evolved or you ceased to matter. The same was true for churches. That’s why when many churches were closing their doors for good, others grew in ways they never could have imagined and took giant leaps forward for things it would have taken years to accomplish. As you launch deep into all that is “next” there is no time like the present to re-evaluate YOUR priorities. God is calling you to take bold steps of action and has chosen THESE days to be YOUR days. He is inviting you to see Him like you have never seen Him before so that you can do things you never would have been able to do. In other words, you were born for this and God is calling you to play a part in all He is about to do in the earth.

Every great journey, every unforgettable adventure starts with the first step. It’s time to take inventory of the instructions God has for you for the next leg of your journey.

Lesson one- Know Jesus. To know Jesus, really know Him means you can distinguish Jesus’ voice from everyone else. To fully know Jesus instills in you an uncommon faith and an unusual peace in every trial and in every attack. To truly know Jesus is to know every battle has already been won by the ONE who died to make that possible.

There are too many well-meaning believers who hear from God and sense a call on their life, only to respond, “I’ll take it from here Lord.” It’s not long until they find themselves on roads they don’t recognize filled with obstacles they have no idea how to deal with. Even our greatest soldiers spend months in training before they are ever
deployed for the missions they were designed to carry out. The Real Jesus is that basic training you need to help you adjust and evolve so you do matter in every situation and every life you encounter.

God is looking for people who will get off the sidelines of observation and analysis and get in the game and be counted as part of something bigger than you could imagine---God sized even, because “bigger than you could imagine” is exactly where we find ourselves today in a world trying to navigate uncharted waters. Take the time to spend in each chapter ahead. See each page as a roadmap taking you one step closer to the heart and mind of Christ. See every moment spent as God filling you with His Holy Spirit and filling your mind with the faith and confidence you will need for any mountain or Goliath you might find along the way. The Real Jesus is waiting for you and your greatest testimonies are yet to be experienced. It is time to know more about Him!

Larry Stockstill

Author and Minister

Pastors University

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I have always been fascinated with discipleship. Having been a lead pastor for 28 years and preaching for 52 years, I’ve watched many “come and go.” Many lacked the roots, the relationships, and the character conversion to make the Christian journey to the end.

I love this book. It is a signal that the new generation “gets it.” I have watched my son Jonathan as he really entered discipleship as a teenager. He led our worship team at 17. In his 20’s, he found a wonderful life partner in Angie. He travelled the world doing worship and started his family of five children.

At 30, he entered a whole new phase of leadership as he and Angie became the lead pastors of Bethany Church. Now, almost 10 years later, he is ready to share the new generation values he has curated in his first 40 years of life. What we read in this book is “real stuff.” The new generation is all about reality: reality shows, social media posts, and “show me the difference it makes.”

Here is “Discipleship 2020.” It is our new generation recording their love for Jesus in a fresh, new way. It is knowing God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit intimately. It is channeling Christ’s love, forgiveness, and servant attitude practically. It is taking up the torch of Christ to let it be seen in the darkest corners of the world brightly. This book tells me that the Gospel is in good hands in the new generation. They are leading powerful churches with high creativity and compassion. They are writing intimate music that comes out of their deep passion for prayer. They are on fire to bring this Gospel to the final unreached tribes and hastening the coming of the Lord.” Use this book for yourself. Use it to discipline your new generation (and old generation!) church members in a way that is real and challenging. With a world as crazy and desperate as we are living in, whatever you do, USE IT! Train disciples who become leaders who multiply disciples. My heart is filled with joy at what the next 40 years will look like in Christianity. I want a front row seat.

Carlito Paes

Author and Minister

City Church Network

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THE REAL JESUS is a profound and, at the same time, practical and contemporary book. Why? Because this is exactly what Jesus is!

Thus, by presenting such important facets of Jesus in the light of the Word, this book also brings us
principles that should guide the life of every Christian.

You will be led to a journey of knowledge, reflections and very practical applications for your life. You will be called to decisions about deliveries to be made, understandings and values, your heart, and also your actions and influence on others. You will find that you will no longer be able to know Jesus without being transformed by Him. This book will take you to reflect on your past and your future, about your relationships, on compassion, service, forgiveness, and so many other topics. But they all point in the same direction: are you willing to, by faith, place Jesus at the center of your life?

Elias Dantas

Founder and International Facilitator

Global Kingdom Partnerships Network

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The Real Jesus is a must read book about the one who has been the center of conversations, agreements, disagreements, misunderstandings, much love and, occasionally deep hatred feelings in some people's minds and hearts. You simply cannot allow yourself not to immerse in its content to discover, understand, relate with and fall in love with Him. The Real Jesus will lead you in an exciting journey of following Jesus as His disciple.

Jacob Aranza

Lead Pastor

Our Saviors Church

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Discipleship is not "said" It's "Seen", ...Jonathan Stockstill is the living proof of three Generation's of Discipleship, "Seen" and embodied from a Grandfather & Father that have discipled many of the key leaders in the body of Christ Today"

Jude Fouquier

Lead Pastor

City Church California

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One of the greatest phrases that Jesus ever said was, Follow me!’ Pastor Jonathan Stockstill is a leader that our nation and generation can follow. God never intended us to only follow principles but to follow a life. Jonathan‘s life can be followed because he follows Christ.