Tom’s Book
HEART NOT HYPE
Deciding to follow Jesus and make Him Lord of your life is the greatest decision you will ever make. But what comes next? How does this new faith shape your everyday life? And how do you begin growing your relationship with Christ?
HEART NOT HYPE is a 7-day discipleship journey designed to help you understand the foundations of your new faith and take confident first steps in walking with Jesus. Clear, practical, and rooted in Scripture, this book will help you build a faith that is genuine and lasting—one that starts in the heart and overflows into your life.
Because following Jesus isn’t about the hype—it’s about the heart.
RESPONSES TO HEART NOT HYPE
Many follow-up tools have been designed for the new Christian, but too often they fall short either by being overly complex or being inadequately shallow. Heart Not Hype strikes a good balance between simplicity and depth. Tom maintains this balance primarily by his style of communication and strategy of design. In Heart Not Hype the Christian community has been given an excellent tool to help new believers with the basics of their relationship with Jesus.
Heart Not Hype is the type of book we want every student to have their hands on as they return home from camps, retreats, events, and outreach trips throughout the year. It is clear, concise, and provides tangible steps for every reader to take to strengthen their walk with the Lord throughout their middle and high school years.
As a business owner, coach, and trainer, I’m always looking for resources that don’t just fire individuals up for a moment but equip them long term—Heart Not Hype does exactly that for someone’s faith. Tom has provided readers with a clear 7-day game plan for what to do following the mountain-top experience of committing or recommitting their lives to Jesus. Heart Not Hype is a practical and helpful tool I can hand to an athlete or parent and say, “If you’ve just made a decision for Christ or you’re ready to grow in your faith, start here.
This book is rock-solid and should be read by every person coming to faith! It is substance that anyone desiring to be a disciple should read. It’s the basics and yet deep meat at the same time. A great mix of the Word of God, stories, and of course, application!
The first several weeks following my decision to pursue a life with Christ were filled with reading all kinds of guides and devotionals to help me understand my new faith—I wish this had been one of them! Heart Not Hype is an incredible resource for your first days and months of your new walk with Jesus. Apply its content liberally. Write your thoughts all over its pages. Return to it often. Welcome to your new life in Christ!
Tom is creative, engaging, and relevant in his public speaking, and he demonstrates the same qualities in his writing. Heart Not Hype is an excellent resource to help new believers, both students and adults alike, take the next step on their lifelong journey of faith in Christ.
In this straightforward, easy-to-read book, Tom covers all the basics of beginning a relationship with Jesus. It’s an incredible resource for anyone who has just started their walk with Christ…and it’s a great refresher for those who’ve been on their journey for a while.
Heart Not Hype is the kind of resource I want in people’s hands the moment they say “yes” to Jesus. It’s honest, practical, and deeply biblical, but never heavy-handed or religious. Tom gently walks new believers off the rush of that first decision and into the everyday, helping them build a faith that’s rooted in God’s Word, strengthened by the Spirit, and lived out in real life—not just in hype-filled rooms. If you’re looking for a simple 7-day journey to help someone start strong with Jesus and stay connected to a local church, this is a gift.
Heart Not Hype is a well-crafted guide to help both new and recommitted believers build their relationship with Jesus. The book provides answers to questions many are hesitant to ask, actionable steps to strengthen their relationship with Jesus, and consistent encouragement to stay in God’s Word, regardless of the challenges they face. Tom’s passion for following Jesus is prevalent throughout the book. His energy and unwavering love for Him encourage exploration that deepens the reader’s faith and their commitment to pursuing God’s plans for them. I loved going through Heart Not Hype as a new believer—and I know you will too!
Tom’s heart to see the gospel go both “deep and wide” comes through clearly through Heart Not Hype as he answers the question, “Now what?” for those who have recently trusted Christ for their salvation. This book is a written workshop that will grab the hand of new believers and walk them through the essentials of having a personal relationship with Jesus. It can be used for one-on-one mentoring, small-group discussion, or as a curriculum for a new believers’ class. We’ve used it in our church with great success, and I strongly recommend this resource to lay a solid Biblical foundation for those new to faith in your ministry.