Discipleship

 

 

I picked up a copy of Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Discipleship (Reader’s Edition) at my local Barnes & Noble recently.  Discipleship is a topic I’m focusing on in 2016 so I thought this would be a good investment in my reading this year.

 

Lutheranism vs Catholicism

My feeling while reading the first two chapters was that Bonhoeffer dealt more with the interplay from Luther’s religious interaction with Catholicism than he dealt with Biblical discipleship.  Given that Bonhoeffer’s context was as a Lutheran pastor and theologian in Nazi Germany this seemed reasonable but it didn’t seem to address much that he and I might share in our faith experiences at that point.  Read more... (773 words, 1 image, estimated 3:06 mins reading time)

Here’s one of those cool things we learn about God because He tells us about Himself.

 

Anyone can thank God regardless of how they understand Him.  There are certainly greater steps to be taken in knowing Him personally but anyone can and should thank Him.

 

In this letter Paul spells out things about God for mature believers (Romans 15:14 – “I am satisfied … that you are… filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another.“).

Paul states that God has revealed Himself to all people.  He says that God has shown His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, clearly to all people through nature.  Read more... (269 words, 1 image, estimated 1:05 mins reading time)

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Following Jesus’ direction to “seek first the kingdom of God” is challenging.  Our flesh cries out that THIS world is the most important.  We want security, we want significance, we want to be loved no matter how we behave.

It’s surprising to some people to find that all these are things God gives us and yet we reject Him and rebel against Him because to enjoy these things that He gives us we must also humble ourselves (Proverbs 3:34, James 4:6).  We don’t like that we must humble ourselves before God.  Read more... (848 words, 1 image, estimated 3:24 mins reading time)

 

If you want to be wise, think before you speak!

 

Some people make cutting remarks,
but the words of the wise bring healing.
Proverbs 12:18, NLT

 

Our words are gifted with the power to praise the living God who created the universe or to curse people who are made in His image.

… no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!
James 3:8 – 10, NLT  Read more... (397 words, 1 image, estimated 1:35 mins reading time)