The title immediately caught my eye. I began to imagine what the content of the book was going to be. I knew I wanted to see this author’s take on the subject. I have read other materials by Carl Medearis. I like his style and his approach. I knew I was in for a treat. He did not disappoint. 

The book is a quick read. A mere 150 pages.  

From the title I knew we were going to focus on the practices of our Master, Jesus himself, and not the clever schemes marketing people draw up to attract people to our teachings. It’s not really our teachings anyway, nor should it be. It is Jesus who came to show us about God and the desire of His heart. His desire that we participate in His Kingdom. 

Introducing Jesus

If our purpose is to introduce people to Jesus, why not begin with the man himself showing us how he wants to be seen. Logical, No? 

I found the book at once, practical and challenging. The principles are so simple. And yet, we sometimes struggle to follow the Master’s lead. We want something more sophisticated, more complex. 

What Can You Do in 42 Seconds?

The title comes from Medearis’ analysis that many times Jesus’ encounters with people in the Bible were very short. Yet he had lasting and profound impact on their lives. Many times 42 seconds is all we get. 42 seconds! What can we accomplish of great importance in such a short time? For introverts it may sound like a godsend. You don’t have to engage in long discourses to be able to make a contribution to the Kingdom. 

Medearas shows a number of simple practices Jesus used to show God’s love and lead them to transformed lives. Once the disciple-maker learns these practices he will become very effective in touching the lives of others for the Kingdom. These activities a simple and practical. 

To summarize the essence of the book teaches how to be more like Jesus. When we do, we connect people with the Kingdom of God. The author not only shows you from scripture how this works but includes contemporary stories of ordinary people following the practices of Jesus and the amazing results that follow. 

Intentionally Being Like Jesus

Medearis sums it all up,

“… in this main course, we’ve considered what it looks like to be intentional about being transformed into Jesus’ likeness so that we can be his powerful and loving presence in this world that needs him. We’ve been challenged to take an honest look at how we relate to Jesus. Do we believe what he believed and live with integrity? Do we spend the time to really know him, not just about him? Do we really believe that his power to heal resides in us? (He did say we would do greater works than he did.) And finally, do we live each day acting and interacting with the awareness that Jesus—and his will—matters more than absolutely anything?” 

42 Seconds, page. 142  

By Phill Sandahl 

42 Seconds: The Jesus Model for Everyday Interactions, by Carl Medearis