By some measures, there are 2.4 billion Christians in the world today. Many of them haven't given much thought to what being a Christian means for their lives. Some of them can't stand one another.

In the first century, followers of Jesus were labeled by nonbelievers with the term Christian. But the words they used to talk to and about one another-saint, disciple, brother, sister, beloved-proclaimed the gospel they believed in plain language: At the Cross, Jesus had redeemed not just their souls but also their relationships. They proclaimed this good news for generations without ever adopting the word Christian, and they left a model for Christians today to follow. In More than Christians, Norman Hubbard offers insights from the New Testament and its cultural background that are practical and urgent for today as we experience the pain of division all around us. He demonstrates that both then and now, becoming a follower of Christ is more than heart changing. It is community transforming-and each believer plays a part.