Starting with God: an invitation to encounter the living presence 

Many people today look for quick and simple answers. Yet beneath the surface of our busy lives lies a quieter reality: questions that have not gone away, disappointments that remain unresolved, and a longing for something deeper than what we have so far experienced.

Baptist minister Chris Johnson introduces his new book 

A companion, not a quick fix

Starting with God: An Invitation to Encounter God emerged from more than 20 years of pastoral ministry. It is not a book written to resolve every question, but one shaped as a companion for those who carry them. Whether someone feels spiritually curious, quietly weary, or finds themselves re-examining faith after disappointment, my hope has been to create something that meets people where they are—rather than where they feel they ought to be.

In a recent review in the Baptist Ministers’ Journal, Simon Goddard observed: 'This isn’t an abstract theology book; it feels like something written to sit alongside people at the beginning of their journey of faith.'

That sense of accompaniment lies at the heart of the book’s purpose.

It is not a quick-fix collection of answers, but an invitation to begin from a different place—and to ask deeper, more honest questions. I write as a Baptist minister by calling and a scientist by disposition; while this is not a work of apologetics on science and faith, I hope that combination makes the book accessible, particularly to those with an analytical mindset.


Beginning with the cornerstone

The overarching theme emerges from Psalm 118:

“The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.” (Psalm 118:22, NIV UK)

I explore this through the metaphor of a jigsaw puzzle—specifically, the frustration of the final piece that will not quite fit. Too often, we try to assemble our lives first and then look for a place to add Jesus. While the sense that “something is missing” can be a healthy beginning, Jesus does not fit as an optional extra. He must be the starting point.

In that sense, the book is an unashamedly evangelical call to begin with God—to give priority to His self-revelation in Scripture over our cultural assumptions and personal frameworks. It is an invitation not only to start with God as the foundation of understanding, but also to walk with Him as our companion on the journey.


A journey through real life

Across seven chapters, I trace a path that many of us recognise, even if we have never fully named it. It is a journey shaped by longing, moments of loss or disorientation, and a desire—sometimes faint, sometimes urgent—to find our way back to something real. These are not abstract themes; they belong to lived experience. It is often in these very places that the possibility of encountering God begins to open.


Slowing down to encounter God

At its heart, the book is an invitation to slow down. Much of modern life pushes us to keep moving, striving, and distracting ourselves. Yet encounter rarely happens at that pace. We begin to notice God, I believe, when we allow ourselves to pause, to pay attention, and to acknowledge what is truly happening within us.

For that reason, the book does not present faith as a set of neat conclusions. Instead, it offers space—space to wrestle, to wonder, and to rediscover a faith strong enough to hold both belief and uncertainty. I have become increasingly convinced that faith is not weakened by honest questioning; more often, it is deepened by it, if we ask the right questions.


A journey of transformation

The chapters follow a gentle but intentional movement. They begin with encountering God—not as an idea, but as a living presence. From there, the journey moves through redemption and reorientation, exploring what it means to pass through the cross and to allow grace to reshape our understanding of ourselves.

This leads into questions of identity and revelation—who we are in light of who God is—and then into the reality of God’s presence and purpose in daily life. The later chapters explore what it means to begin again, to discover belonging, and to move into renewal and response. Together, these themes form not a rigid framework, but a series of signposts for a journey that will unfold differently for each person.


Honest faith in a fragmented world

Throughout, I have tried to maintain a tone of honesty. Many people today experience a sense of spiritual fragmentation. Some feel disconnected from church; others are unsure what they believe; some carry wounds that make returning difficult. It felt important to acknowledge this reality, rather than writing as though faith is always straightforward.

At the same time, I wanted to point clearly towards hope—not a superficial optimism, but a hope grounded in Jesus Christ, as revealed in the scriptures. Again and again, the Christian story draws us back to him as the cornerstone—not simply someone to admire from a distance, but the one in whom a renewed life can be built.


A shared journey

I have been encouraged by how the book has been used. Some readers approach it as a daily devotional, taking time to reflect on each short section. Others have used it in small groups, particularly as a next step after courses such as Christianity Explored or Alpha. That communal dimension matters deeply: faith was never intended to be a solitary pursuit.

Print-on-demand publishing means the book continues to be shaped by the insights and responses of its readers. So please help me to improve it further.

Beyond the printed page, the themes are echoed through podcasts, video reflections, and a devotional plan on the YouVersion Bible App. In each case, the aim is the same—to offer companionship for those navigating the tension between longing and belief.


From pieces to presence

If there is a single thread running through it all, it is this movement from pieces to presence. Many of us experience our lives—and our faith—as fragmented: disconnected thoughts, unfinished questions, unresolved stories. The invitation is not to assemble everything perfectly before coming to God, but to begin with him in the midst of the pieces.

To start with God is both simple and profound. It does not require certainty or complete understanding. It begins with willingness—with the quiet decision to turn towards him, even if only tentatively.


An open invitation

I have written Starting with God with an awareness that people approach faith from many different starting points. Some are taking their first steps. Others are returning after time away. Still others are wrestling with a faith that no longer feels as it once did. My hope is that, wherever someone finds themselves, they will discover that beginning again is not only possible, but welcomed.

As Simon Goddard concludes his review, 'Overall, this is a warm, accessible and pastorally grounded introduction to the Christian faith.'

And so the invitation remains open: if you are longing for meaning, wrestling with belief, or simply searching for a place to begin—start here. Not with certainty, but with God.

From there, the journey unfolds.
 

Chris Johnson is both a scientist and a Baptist minister, with over 20 years’ experience in pastoral ministry. He now serves as minister of Burwell Baptist Church. Prior to training for ministry at Regent’s Park College, Oxford, he completed an MSc in Analytical Chemistry and spent 13 years working in pharmaceutical research.

Starting with God – An Invitation to Encounter God (2026) by Chris Johnson MSc Kindle Direct Publishing. It is available as a paperback, hardback and e-book.  

Videos of sermons based on the book can be accessed free via our church website 

Daily Devotions
There are free daily devotions on the YouVersion Bible App 

Podcast
You can listen to the Starting with God Podcast (just ask your smart device to "play podcast Starting with God") 

Social Network
You can join the discussion by following the Starting with God Facebook Page