The Only One: Living Fully In, By, and For God
Ebook
The Movement Starts with You
Do you doubt you can actually make a difference in the world? Do you struggle with knowing how to express your faith in the daily routines of life?
The Only One: Living Fully In, By, and For God shares simple approaches to grow as a follower of Jesus. Dive into the concepts and tools to find the connection between “being” and “doing” with God. Designed to be read, processed, shared, and used to equip others, The Only One is a tool to not only grow as a disciple, but also to make and multiply disciples. This is about living into a greater impact on the world and the purpose for which God designed you.
It’s time to experience life with Him, and others, as a joyful and exciting adventure—read this book and get started!
Checkbox 1-5 Explanation
Why I Wrote This Book
Acknowledgments
How to Read This Book
An Introduction to Theopraxy
Part I- Individual Aspects of Theopraxy
Chapter 1- An All-Encompassing Way of Life
Chapter 2- We Have Only One Life to Live
Chapter 3- Knowing God Is Our Primary Pursuit
Chapter 4- God’s Kingdom Is Our Compass
Chapter 5- Our Enemies Are Fear and Pride
Chapter 6- Suffering Is Our Pathway
Part II- Corporate Aspects of Theopraxy
Chapter 7- The New Covenant
Chapter 8- The New Commandment
Chapter 9- Listening to God Together
Chapter 10- The Trinity Is Our Model for Unity
Chapter 11- God Is Our Model for Communication
Part III- Practical Concepts and Tools to Grow in Theopraxy
Chapter 12- Christ Is Both Savior and Lord
Chapter 13- God Has Our Exclusive Allegiance
Chapter 14- 3/3: A Pattern for Faithful Living
Chapter 15- Living Accountable Lives
Chapter 16- Growing in Prayer
Additional Resources
About the Author
Appendix 1: Kingdom Orison
Appendix 2: Songs That Address Themes Related to Theopraxy
Appendix 3: Writing Poetry
When talking about missional movement leadership, I have often said that Curtis Sergeant is the best of us all. He has a genius-level intelligence, single-minded focus, authentic humility, and burning passion. The result of this combustible combination is Kingdom movements all over the world. This book may seem simple and basic, but don’t let that fool you. What he puts in this small book is actually the key to making disciples worth multiplying. This book is a window into the soul of a world changer, so pay attention.
-Neil Cole Catalyst for global organic church movements and author of many books, including Organic Church, Primal Fire, and Rising Tides
Curtis Sergeant has had more impact on world missions than anyone else I know today. Why? The Only One reveals the heart and thinking of a man totally sold out, utterly passionate and consumed with Jesus and His Kingdom. I found myself alternately inspired, convicted, and profoundly challenged. If your longing is to see the expansion of God’s Kingdom in the world, I highly recommend not just reading this book, but allowing its principles to change your life.
-Felicity Dale Author of An Army of Ordinary People and coauthor of Small Is Big!
Curtis Sergeant has done a wonderful job of assembling practical concepts and tools that will challenge you to put your faith into practice. It will revolutionize your quiet time with the Lord.
-Paul Eshleman President, Finishing the Task, and former President, Jesus Film Project
I have personally known Curtis Sergeant for many years as a man of great wisdom and deep intellect. Yet it is Curtis’s unquenchable desire for himself and others to seek and obey Christ above all else that drives the pulse of this important book. Curtis seeks to compel readers toward completeness in Christ at all costs. Curtis writes with urgency and singularity of focus, as if our lives and their impact on eternity hang in the balance of our understanding of God’s design. They do. I would challenge you to approach the content of this book accordingly.
-John Heerema Founder and President, Biglife
What a goldmine of biblical truth. It is filled with brilliant and practical insights into increasing your intimacy with God, your unity with God’s people, and your impact for God’s Kingdom.
-Dan Hitzhusen Director, Issachar Initiative, and former International Vice President, e3 Partners
The Only One somehow finds the perfect connection between “being” and “doing” for God. I suppose it’s because the book’s author lives in that intersection. The Only One doesn’t really focus on explaining how to bring about a disciple-making movement in the tactical sense. But I’m convinced that if more of us could live out the instructions in this book, movements would multiply like crazy. That’s because instead of focusing on formulas and quick-fix tactics, this book focuses on how to be a disciple. You will not find a more Bible-based approach. Nor will you ever find an author so humble, so tireless in his chase after Christ, nor so committed to snatching humankind from hell. Here’s the bottom line: If you want to be like Jesus, read the Bible—and do this book.
-Doug Lucas Founder and President, Team Expansion
Reading and applying The Only One will explode in and through your life the joy-filling adventure of knowing and sowing the love of our Father wherever and whenever you go!! Curtis and I have been weeping and reaping as God has woven our lives together in the joy-filling purpose and work of making disciples worth multiplying. As you read, listen, apply, share, journal, calendar, and pray through each chapter of The Only One, the Holy Spirit will draw you step by step into living fully in, by, and for God. So as David said to his son Solomon in 1 Chronicles 28:20, I say to you: “Be strong and courageous”— and JUST DO IT!
-Colin Millar prayer igniter at Global Alliance for Saturation Church Planting and Gospel Media Outreach
Curtis Sergeant has done it again! His take on living fully in, by, and for God will greatly encourage any Christ-follower looking to live with God’s eternal Kingdom in mind. Curtis does a great job of offering thoughtful insights that are drawn out of practical experience and personal study deeply anchored in Scripture. This book is incredibly comprehensive, but also very easy to apply to one’s life and train others as well. Curtis has been a great source of inspiration to walk closer with Jesus in my own life and the lives of countless others around the world. When you read this book, I expect the same will be true in your life as well. Get ready to listen, apply, and share with others all God is calling you to do and be.
- Jared Nelms Vice President, The Timothy Initiative
In The Only One, believers—regardless of location, upbringing, education, or culture— are empowered with encouragement and practical guidance on how to pursue Christ with their whole being. I’ve had the privilege of co-laboring in Great Commission work with Curtis Sergeant and can attest that the words penned herein are the fruits of his own love for Christ and joyful surrender to His mission. We have much to glean from this passionate brother! The lessons, prayers, and practical tools within these pages are must-reads for anyone desiring to lead a life consumed by fully surrendered devotion to our triune God, who is worthy of all glory and honor and power forever and ever. And thankfully, Curtis has made this inspired new toolbox available to the global body of Christ at no cost! This is a true work of faith and a labor of love!
-Kurt Nelson President, East West Ministries
Curtis’s humility and depth of insight from a long and close walk with the Lord Jesus are captured here in The Only One. Read slowly with your Bible in one hand, as the density of the content is more than you may think at first. You have here a guide to living fully for Jesus. Not a wasted word.
-Steve Parlato movement catalyst in Southeast Asia
Curtis expresses a pastor’s heart for the individual disciple, a strategist’s mind for the need to see biblically healthy churches form and multiply around the world, and a theologian’s intelligence to “rightly divide the Word.” In combination, this most recent effort provides a pathway for the ardent Christ-follower to discover what our Savior desires for us all: a deeper relationship, which, when sought in fellowship with others, has the potential to truly transform a neighborhood, city, country, or region. Don’t just read it. Experience it, walk through it, and see if it will not lead you to honor God as He desires. God not only wants you to know Him, He also wants you to live Him before the world. -
-David Pope former Director of the Issachar Initiative and the Global Church Planting Network
Discipleship is not disciplined Bible study, deeper prayer life, faithful worship and witness; these are tools in the process, but discipleship is learning to walk in obedience to Godawareness and understanding that becoming Christlike comes only through self-denial and submission. This book takes readers on a personal pilgrimage of discovering these truths and learning to apply them to lifestyle practices. It is also a great guide for group discipleship of several people who have committed to growing with mutual accountability, or as a resource for someone mentoring others.
-Jerry Rankin former President, International Mission Board, Southern Baptist Convention
We’re living in changing and tumultuous times. Curtis’s book is a prophetic word and anchor for the church during these times. It is deeply spiritual and devotional yet enormously practical, written by a practitioner with a global perspective and international experience. A must-read and destined to be a classic.
Frank Schattner Jonathan Project International Coordinator, author of The Wheel Model
Curtis Sergeant has been a sincere and fruitful follower of the Lord Jesus Christ for decades. He is, without a doubt, one the most successful disciple makers on the planet, having personally catalyzed, or having been partially responsible for, scores of disciplemaking movements that span the globe and have resulted in millions of genuine disciples. In this book, his first, he reveals the core secrets of his spiritual fruitfulness. They all revolve around devotion, obedience, and abiding in Christ. All his principles can be imitated by any believer, anywhere, anytime. I can’t recommend this book enough. Read it thoughtfully, be challenged, and enjoy greater fruitfulness for the glory of God.
-David Servant Founder, Heaven’s Family
Curtis lives out the message of this book. His passion for God and for the lost overflows and influences those around him. His training and mentoring help disciples become more faithful and fruitful. God blesses the simple, effective ministry methods that he creates to bring about disciple-making movements in a wide variety of contexts. This book covers both individual and corporate aspects of Theopraxy and also includes proven tools to grow in it. I pray that many will joyfully heed its important message.
-Andy Smith International Coordinator for Evangelization, OMF International
Experienced leaders know they can’t lead on empty. They also know that being ambassadors for God’s shalom requires one to be poured out daily, thereby requiring a constant need to be refreshed. Curtis Sergeant’s The Only One addresses this by helping one set the metronome of one’s heart and life to be in healthy rhythm and reliance on God to serve. More than just a one-time read, this book is a new tool on the dashboard of my life.
-Nate Vander Stelt Executive Vice President, Global Alliance for Church Multiplication
Curtis Sergeant lives as authentically for The Only One as anyone I know today. The direction of my life has been radically altered—not by his theory, but by his life. This book is a powerful resource to help us see and experience what it means to live fully in, by, and for our awesome God and King. If you want to know what that looks like, read and apply this book.
-Tom Victor President, The Great Commission Coalition
In today’s me-centered and ego-driven culture, we desperately need this message. Written by my close friend Curtis Sergeant, The Only One brilliantly explains the purpose and power of God-centered thinking and the path to living a God-centered life. Read this book slowly and prayerfully, writing your responses in a journal. Then get a second copy for a friend and reread it, discussing it together. This book is transformational.
-Rick Warren author of The Purpose-Driven Life and Founding Pastor of Saddleback Church
This is a book for dreamers and doers. It is scripturally sound, but not only a book to gain knowledge. It also shares how to be doers in very practical ways, not just hearers of the Word. This book is a fantastic tool that passes on to others the patterns and principles of multiplicative influence from a posture of intimacy and oneness with God and one another. Curtis is not a theoretician, but rather a practitioner of what he has written. Everyone reading and applying what he shares will be blessed and equipped to be both faithful and fruitful for the glory of God.
-Lee Wood Founder and President, One Body Global
- Title: The Only One: Living Fully In, By, and For God
- Author: Curtis Sergeant
- Publisher: William Carey Publishing
- Print Publication Date: 2019
- Logos Release Date: 2023
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Ebook
- ISBNs: 9781645082361, 9781645082927, 164508292X, 9781645082330, 1645082334, 1645082369
- Resource ID: LLS:9781645082361
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2024-05-01T00:52:26Z
Curtis Sergeant worked with International Mission Board (IMB) as a pioneer church-planting missionary among an unreached people group in China and later served as their vice president for global strategy. Next, Curtis was the director of church planting at Saddleback Church. While at Saddleback, he helped develop an online training system for missions and led large-scale church-planting projects, especially in India. Curtis then served as international vice president of e3 Partners. Curtis currently operates MetaCamp, a disciple making and missions training center located in Dadeville, Alabama. He also works in leadership with Zúme Project and 24:14 Coalition. Curtis and his wife, Debie, have two grown and married children, Nathan and Megan.