Jesus Changes Everything
A New World Made Possible
by Stanley Hauerwas
Book 7 of Plough Spiritual Guides series
Pub DateMar 11 2025
Plough Publishing |Plough Publishing House
Christian| Nonfiction \(Adult\)| Religion & Spirituality


What can we do to make the gospel central to our lives?



Hauerwas has been provoking Christians with his insistence that following their Master will impact all areas of life, both personal and societal.


According to the lanky Texan dubbed “America’s theologian” for his insightful insights into current ethical issues, Christians should embrace their status as outsiders instead of complaining about the loss of cultural and political power. Jesus has always had a radical alternative in mind for them.


I give Jesus Changes Everything five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

Jesus Changes Everything is not for the faint-hearted. It calls Christians to take their faith seriously, urging them to abandon complacency for a life shaped by the gospel. While some may find his arguments challenging, they are a timely reminder of the church's potential to be a transformative presence in the world. For anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of what it means to follow Jesus in today's complex world, this book is a compelling and essential read.

A wonderful collection of updated essays on a variety of topics. It’s like a mini Hauerwas Reader for anyone interested in tracking Hauerwas’ thinking. As such, this book fills a significant gap in Hauerwas’ work: an engaging and easy to reader primer for his work and thought. I will recommend this as where to start from now on.

Excellent work by both Stanley Hauerwas and Charles E. Moore. Highly recommend!

The wonderful folks at Plough Publishing are back with one of their best spiritual guides yet - Jesus Changes Everything: A New World Made Possible, an exploration of the words and theological wisdom of the man whom Time magazine once dubbed "America's theologian" for his ability to deliver theologically sound zingers and insights into today's ethical questions.

While I'd long been aware of Hauerwas, it was really during my seminary years that I became more fully immersed in Hauerwas's writings. Now then, true confession. I really didn't resonate with him during my seminary years, though in the years that have followed I've gained a much deeper appreciation for his words, wisdom, and insistence that Christians should welcome their status as outside and embrace the radical alternative Jesus has always had in mind for us.

"Jesus Changes Everything" is a collection of key readings from Hauerwas's major books and writings. Thus, those fully familiar with Hauerwas may not find as much to appreciate here but here's hoping this collection introduces him to an entirely new generation.

I'd have a hard time calling Hauerwas either liberal or conservative (which I have a feeling would please him just fine). He's a provocative writer with substance underneath it - as I was reading this collection, I found myself often nodding my head as I was reminded time and again that following Jesus is supposed to come at a cost and shake things up.

Hauerwas is a theologian and Christian ethicist, professor emeritus of theological ethics and of law at Duke University. He's authored or edited over 50 books. In 2001, Time named him "America's Best Theologian," though his reply was "best" is not a theological category. He was raised in a lower-middle class home and at one point was apprenticed to his father as a bricklayer. This background seems to inform his theology. Throughout this collection, you'll breathe in Hauerwas's emphasis on the importance of the church and you'll recognize glimpses of systematic theology, philosophical theology, and a host of other areas. I can't help but think it took me a few years of active ministry to really embrace Hauerwas and to understand the fullness of his writings.

For the curious, this collection is a fantastic place to start. While it may not offer the fullness of Hauerwas's writings and teachings, it's a wonderfully developed and easy to understand spiritual guide that will serve as a great introduction to one of the great contemporary American theologians.