Description
Book Synopsis
Fifty-two readings to spark weekly group discussion on putting Jesus’ most central teachings into practice.
Jesus’ most famous teaching, the Sermon on the Mount, possesses an irresistible quality. Who hasn’t felt stirred and unsettled after reading these words, which get to the root of the human condition?
This follow-up to the acclaimed collection Called to Community: The Life Jesus Wants for His People taps an even broader array of sources, bringing together prophetic voices from every era and a range of traditions to consider the repercussions of these essential words.
More than a commentary or devotional, this book is designed to be read together with others, to inspire communities of faith to discuss what it might look like to put Jesus’ teachings into practice today.
Trade ReviewFrom Teresa of Avila to Mother Teresa, from Martin Luther to Martin Luther King, from Francis of Assisi to Francis Chan, from Dorothy Day to Dorothy Sayers, these excerpts can deeply enrich personal study and devotion. But they are also meant to be read and discussed in community and then acted on. Prepare yourself for a healthy feast, but then prepare yourself for obedience and service in the church of our Lord Jesus Christ! —
Craig L. Blomberg, Denver SeminaryA magnificent collection of reflections on Jesus's most familiar, and most radical, teaching. —
James Martin, SJ, author of Jesus: A PilgrimageMoore has brought together compelling selections from more than a hundred writers to call for the formation of a fellowship of disciples who will simply live as Jesus taught us to live. I strongly recommend this book for study, reflection, and prayerful living. —
Richard J. Foster, author of Celebration of DisciplineAs I read this collection, I tried to imagine the authors of the various reflections in conversation. What would Leo Tolstoy say to Karl Barth, or Francis of Assisi to Wendell Berry? The more I read, though, the more I started to imagine all of them in one place—listening to Jesus give the Sermon on the Mount. And, before long, I found myself blending into the crowd with them, hearing these strange, arresting, upending words of life. This book will prompt you to surprise, to delight, to melancholy, to argument, and, at every turn, will lead you back to Jesus.
—Russell Moore, Christianity TodayBeautiful and challenging? Yes, indeed. Ecumenical and faithful? Certainly so. This book... is the most delightfully curated, fully inter-denominational book we’ve seen in a long time. —
Hearts & Minds BookstoreA treasure chest of wisdom drawn from some of the greatest thinkers and saints the church has known.
—
Greg Boyd, Senior Pastor, Woodland Hills ChurchThere are no words more important than the Sermon on the Mount. And I can think of no better cloud of witnesses to reflect on those words than the people in this book. It is a gift to the world.—
Shane Claiborne, author, activist, and co-founder of The Simple Way and Red Letter ChristiansCharles E. Moore, in Following the Call, brings us a rich opportunity, individually and collectively, to enter into the “good trouble” of Jesus and his soul-shaking Sermon on the Mount. —Friends Journal
Table of ContentsIntroduction Part I: Kingdom Character (Matthew 5:1–16) Master Teacher: E. Stanley Jones, Henri Nouwen, Good News: Christoph Friedrich Blumhardt Foolish Wisdom: Virginia Stem Owens, Frederick Buechner, John Dear Blessedness: James C. Howell, Kathy Escobar Poverty of Spirit: Philip Yancey, Eberhard Arnold, Dorothy Day Mourning: Nicholas Wolterstorff, Rabindranath Tagore, Frederica Mathewes-Green The Meek: Elisabeth Elliot, Richard Rohr, Teresa of Avila Hungry and Thirsty: William Barclay The Merciful: Charles E. Moore, Leo Tolstoy Purity of Heart: Søren Kierkegaard, Thomas Merton, Brennan Manning Peacemaking: John Dear, Thomas Merton, Peter Kreeft Persecution: St. Jerome, Gene L. Davenport, Oscar Romero, Jeanne de Celles Salt and Light: Tom Skinner, Jane Tyson Clement, John R. W. Stott Part II: Kingdom Commands (Matthew 5:17–48) The Law: Barbara Brown Taylor, Jen Wilkin, Addison Hodges Hart, Jürgen Moltmann The Greater Righteousness: Leo Tolstoy, Oswald Chambers, Scot McKnight Anger: Dallas Willard, Francis de Sales, William Blake Right Worship: F. B. Meyer, Henri Nouwen, George MacDonald. Adultery: J. Heinrich Arnold, Francis Chan Faithfulness: Gerhard Lohfink, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, William W. Klein Truthfulness: Glen H. Stassen, Scot McKnight, Steve Wilmshurst, Francis de Sales, Eberhard Arnold, Thomas Merton Nonresistance: Giovanni Papini, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Harry Emerson Fosdick, Howard Thurman Overcoming Evil: E. Stanley Jones, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Martin Luther King Jr., Anthony the Great Love of Enemy: Helmut Thielicke, Nikolai Velimirovic Perfect Love: Addison Hodges Hart, Jürgen Moltmann, Chiara Lubich Part III: Kingdom Devotion (Matthew 6:1–18) From the Heart: Sinclair Ferguson, Abraham Joshua Heschel, John Flavel When You Give: Leo Tolstoy, Mother Teresa When You Pray: Karl Barth, Daniel M. Doriani, Abraham Joshua Heschel, Madeleine L’Engle, Amy Carmichael, Mother Teresa The Father Knows: Martin Luther, Helmut Thielicke, Christoph Friedrich Blumhardt Lord Teach Us: Andrew Murray, Elton Trueblood, Pope Benedict XVI Our Father: St. Cyprian, N. T. Wright, Hannah Whitall Smith, Teresa of Avila, Dom Helder Camara God’s Name: William H. Willimon & Stanley Hauerwas, Alfred Delp, Leonardo Boff God’s Kingdom: Eberhard Arnold, Christoph Friedrich Blumhardt God’s Will: Meister Eckhart, Robert McAfee Brown, François Fénelon, Chiara Lubich Our Daily Bread: Gregory of Nyssa, Leonardo Boff, F. B. Meyer Forgive Us: M. Scott Peck, Philip Graham Ryken, Frederica Mathewes-Green As We Forgive: Horace Bushnell, Dorothy L. Sayers, C. S. Lewis Temptation: Charles H. Spurgeon, Thomas à Kempis, Madeleine L’Engle Deliver Us: Earl Palmer, Pope Benedict XVI, Romano Guardini Part IV: Kingdom Priorities (Matthew 6:19–7:28) Lasting Treasures: John Wesley, Basil the Great, Clement of Alexandria, A.W. Tozer The Good Eye: Timothy Keller God or Mammon: Eberhard Arnold, Jacques Ellul, David Bentley Hart Beyond Worry: Madame Guyon, Christoph Friedrich Blumhardt, Clarence Jordan, Christina Rossetti, Howard Thurman God’s Kingdom First: Leonard Ragaz, Christoph.Friedrich Blumhardt Judging Others: Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Anthony de Mello, Christena Cleveland, Roy Hession Casting Pearls: Dallas Willard, Jacques Ellul Asking, Seeking, Knocking: Andrew Murray The Golden Rule: Roger Shinn, John Wesley, Leo Tolstoy Two Ways: The Didache, C. S. Lewis, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Michael Sattler, Hermas False Prophets: Scot McKnight, John R. W. Stott, Gene L. Davenport, Basilea Schlink Lord, Lord: George MacDonald, Wendell Berry Building on Rock: Jerrett Banks, Oswald Chambers Our Final Authority: Søren Kierkegaard, Dietrich Bonhoeffer Discussion Guide Sources and Acknowledgements Index of Authors
