Following the Call

This is a wonderful selection of readings that invite us to consider how connecting ourselves with Christ calls a new social order into being. The wide range of voices represented highlight how truly universal and globally transformative the Sermon on the Mount has already been, and can become even more so through our active working with it. The book is beautifully produced and a pleasure simply to look at and leaf through, but its real power will come about through working with it and making its message real in community. I'm grateful to have had the chance to preview it.

Plough's collections do a great job of picking classic writers with a knack for saying something substantial in the most beautiful way, and this book is no exception. Very thought-provoking, encouraging without being sappy, and a great way to get exposed to some excellent Christian thinkers.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review, via NetGalley.
Eberhard Arnold; Compiled and Edited by Charles E. Moore
Publisher: Plough Publishing House
This is a collection that features writings from a variety of writers and theologians, including Mother Teresa, Leo Tolstoy and John Wesley.
I was drawn to the book because I was intrigued to see the group of authors featured in the text. I was really excited to read Leo Tolstoy’s contributions, for example, because I really enjoyed the discussion of faith in Anna Karenina.

Previewing a Devotional

This is my first time previewing a devotional and it was a much different experience for me than reviewing a fiction book. While I usually bookmark sections that the Lord uses to speak to me, so that I can revisit them, I found myself wanting to bookmark about 80% of the pages.

The book, a compilation of voices that spans centuries and cultures, is meant to be read in community, just as it was written communally. I can certainly understand why it is meant to be read in groups, as it prompts discussion.

Structure and Themes

The weekly devotional covers the entire Sermon on the amount, divided into 52 sections for a year-long study. Most chapters feature multiple authors, although some are one, longer piece of writing.

Something I really appreciate is that the entire book is about the Kingdom of God. This is one of the main themes that I more frequently encounter in allegory, rather than in Christian circles. It is, however, central to Jesus’ teachings! The book is divided into four sections:

Kingdom Character (Matt. 5:1-16)
Kingdom Commands (Matt. 5: 17-48)
Kingdom Devotion (Matt. 6:1-18)
Kingdom Priorities (Matt. 6:19-7:28)
It feels a bit strange to say that one section of a devotional was “my favorite,” but I would say that the most meaningful section, for me, was the section about prayer (Kingdom Devotion).

Overall, I would describe the book as being full of grace, truth and beauty. It consistently promotes Jesus’ Kingdom, centralized on the idea that Jesus meant what he said. There is no room to qualify or lessen His words.

Audience

Reading through the book rather quickly for the purposes of review reminded me, a bit, of my college honors program. At the Torrey Honors Institute, we blitzed through theology, philosophy and classics, sometimes reading and discussing two seminal works in a week. I would definitely recommend this book to those who enjoy reading theology.

Although I don’t typically enjoy reading theology, I found this book to be very impactful. I also feel that, because the sections are fairly short for a whole week of study, readers do not need to be theology fans to appreciate the study. The spacing allows for plenty of time to ruminate on what you are reading.

Recommendation:

I highly recommend the title as a community read for friends and groups spanning different ecumenical traditions. I think this is an excellent resource, contributing to unity in the Body of Christ.

The Sermon on the Mount is the blueprint for how to live a Christian life. This new book from Plough offers essays interpreting and discussing this most important part of the New Testament by famous authors including Augustine of Hippo, Martin Luther King Jr, Dietrich Bonhoeffer and many others. Every essay is different and thought provoking. They give new ways of understanding Jesus' teachings and how they relate to everyday human life. I think it would be a great book for study groups and discussions. It is truly a book that not only enhances the way you read the Sermon on the Mount, but changes your life for the better.

I received a free e-copy of this book in return for a fair and unbiased review.

Following the Call
Pub Date: Sept 7,2021
Plough Publishing House

Thanks to Plough Publishing House and Net Galley for the ARC. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Following the Call is a gathering of reflections on Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. It is designed to be read as a group reading and provides 52 weeks of material to learn, discuss, and meditate on. I believe this would be beneficial to small groups and a meaningful study.

I like this devotional's message and structure. It's unique and inspiring.
4 star

A great collection of weekly meditations to see you through the entire year, written by some well-known and recognizable names: poets, theologians, authors from the past and the present. Although the book is meant for group discussion, it can definitely be used for your personal devotions.

Jesus’s most famous teaching is the “Sermon on the Mount.” I have heard parts of it and was struck by the teaching which seems to get to the root of the human condition at that time. Yet it seems to me that it still is relevant to today’s human condition. This book brings together the importance of having conversations with others after reading. It’s not a book to be read alone as it’s purpose is to bring people together. The book considers the Sermon on the Mount” radical thinking. Is it? Jesus guides us in a new way of looking and finding a world of love and peace. This isn’t the easiest book to explain without repeating what others have said that this book is about. It’s an interesting and inspiring to read and then discuss with someone. It’s a book that I wish had been written sooner as it might have open people’s minds to look at what we think is okay in this world that moves so quickly.

This book is a phenominal and powerful study of Jesus's Sermon on the Mount. It is a collection of writings from a wide variety of voices from different traditions and time periods. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Marin Luther King Jr., C. S. Lewis, Mother Theresa, Leo Tolstoy, Soren Kierkegaard are among the many contributors.

Going through the Sermon on the Mount line by line, the writings show different perspectives yet ultimately all of them encourage readers to put Christ's teachings into practice in their own lives.

This is a book meant to be read slowly, studied, and shared with others. I highly recommend it!!

My thanks to NetGalley and Plough Publishers for allowing me to read an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and are freely given.

One of the most powerful teachings of Jesus is none other than the Sermon on the Mount. Even though many sermons have been preached on it, many books written about it, and many references made to it, these precious messages continue to astound us. If there is one theme about the Sermon on the Mount, it would be about the revelation of the Kingdom of God. This is where this book comes in, to help us learn from the different masters of reflection throughout the ages. Compiled from the writings and expositions from Early Church leaders like Irenaeus (2nd Century), Gregory of Nyssa (4th Century), and Jerome (4th Century); to modern writers like Wendell Berry, Stanley Hauerwas, Timothy Keller, Philip Yancey, and more, readers get to learn about kingdom character, kingdom commands, kingdom devotion, and kingdom priorities. Like having multiple preachers on selected sections of the Sermon on the Mount, we get many powerful perspectives on Jesus' teachings. E. Stanley Jones asserts that the Sermon is not about a Christian's duty but liberty to do all the good they can. On the beatitudes, Philip Yancey gives us a profound image of what it means to be poor in spirit, often making provocative observations about the virtues of poverty. There seems to be a correlation between the beatitudes discussed and the corresponding expertise or experience of the authors concerned. For instance, the beatitude on mourning brings together writers like Nicholas Wolterstorff who had experienced personal tragedies. The beatitude on purity engages Søren Kierkegaard's famous reflections on purity. The beatitude on persecution draws from the experience of Jerome and Oscar Romero, both of whom were persecuted because of how they practiced their faith convictions. Just reading the short reflections alone and a little knowledge of the contributors' backgrounds gives the reader a fascinating insight not only into the passage but also into the unique ways God has touched these individuals.

The section on Kingdom Commands shows us many new insights into what we commonly see as biblical law. The Sermon on the Mount does not replace the Law but elevates the Law to a whole new level. Not only is the fulfillment of it possible, it is vital for the greatest work of all: Love. On Kingdom Devotion, the focus shifts from the Law to the practice of righteousness, something which runs counter to the hypocrisy of the age. This includes meditations primarily on the Lord's Prayer, which essentially ties in what has been taught before into seeking God's will fully in order to venture into practicing it. Finally, on Kingdom Priorities, we receive a call to action. We learn what it means to be salt and light, about devotion to Christ, and many other teachings that are familiar to any regular Church-going believer.

My Thoughts
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In one volume, we get a treasure full of precious meditations on the Sermon on the Mount. This treasure comes from centuries of reflections by various authors and practitioners who had not only taught but received deep insights into Jesus' teachings. This is a gift for us to treasure and to build upon. Let me give three thoughts about this book. First, the meditations are brief enough for readers to pause and ponder regularly. In an age of text snippets and short attention spans, not many people have the patience to read thick volumes of theology or Christian literature. Thus, to have the many different authors providing short passages to read fits the timeslot of anyone claiming to be too busy to read. In that sense, this book can be used like a devotional. The Sermon on the Mount should in itself be meditation material. This book enhances the overall meditation process. Second, I appreciate the thoughtfulness behind the compilation. With each theme in the Sermon, Moore gives us several perspectives of the different writers to help us see the passage from different angles. Some of us would gravitate toward authors that we are familiar with. Reading authors that we find unfamiliar should enrich our library of spiritual writers. I find it helpful also to ponder on the background of each writer even as I read the short meditation. I ask two questions: Why did Moore include this person's work? What is the background of this person? Just the journey to answer these questions gives us a fresh understanding of the theme and its practice. The discussion questions at the end of the book provide more questions that we can talk about in small groups.

Finally, I sense an overall unity in the entire book. The kingdom theme is the main point. Moore has captured the essence of the Sermon on the Mount from the different writers to give us a wide range of interpretations and applications of the precious sermon of our Lord Jesus. In one book, we get a whole list of other treasured writings from the past. At the end of it all, I have just one conclusion. Wow!

Charles E. Moore is a member of the Bruderhof community. He writes for Plough Quarterly and has compiled and edited several acclaimed books, including Called to Community: The Life Jesus Wants for His People; Provocations: Spiritual Writings of Kierkegaard; Everyone Belongs to God: Discovering the Hidden Christ; and Bearing Witness: Stories of Martyrdom and Costly Discipleship.

Rating: 4.75 stars of 5.

conrade
This book has been provided courtesy of Plough Publishing House and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

I read this book alone but I think it would be powerful to read as a group or even with my spouse to build upon the teachings. Very powerful. Loved it.

I enjoyed these sort of vignettes about the Sermon on the Mound.. A variety of voices brought different ideas and insight.
I did my daily Bible reading and then followed up with an entry. This was helpful for learning and insight.

This book is a powerful study of Jesus's Sermon on the Mount. The entire book is about the Kingdom of God. A great plan for the year, Jesus' most powerful sermon that teaches us how we are to live. Highly recommend

Plough recently published a beautiful anthology called Following the Call: Living the Sermon on the Mount Together. This is another book I will be dipping into. It includes selections on each section of the Sermon on the Mount by a broad array of Christian writers, including St. John Chrysostom, St. Iraneaus, St. Jerome, St. Augustine, St. Gregory of Nyssa, St. Cyprian of Carthage, Dostoyevsky, Tolstoy, Madeleine L’Engle, Thomas Merton, Peter Kreeft, Martin Luther King Jr., Deitrich Bonhoeffer, Dorothy Day, Frederica Mathews-Green, Howard Thurman, William Barclay, Philip Yancey, Mother Theresa, and many more. Each selection is also quite short, allowing for meditation and reflection on each passage in this important part of Scripture.

On the verse “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth,” the selection from St. John Chrysostom exhorts us to be meek so that the devil will not “be able so much as to look you in the face.” He refers to Christ being tempted after fasting for us:

Reflecting then on these things, become like Him, to the utmost of your power. No longer then will the devil be able so much as to look you in the face, when you have become such a one as this. For indeed he recognizes the image of the King, he knows the weapons of Christ, whereby he was worsted. And what are these? Gentleness and meekness. For when on the mountain Christ overthrew and laid low the devil who was assaulting him, it was not by making it known that he was Christ, but he entrapped him by these sayings, he took him by gentleness, he turned him to flight by meekness.

This book is on my 2022 Lenten reading list: https://beingincommunity.com/what-im-reading-this-lent-2022-edition/

Taking the Sermon on the Mount is one that most people - religious or not, are familiar with. The authors here reflect on the message, sharing their thoughts and the message they see from the text.

This was an amazing read and one that I am sad that I did not get to before. It was amazing and full of great insight - whether you are of the same faith or not, that can help to aid in the study of the Sermon on the Mount. Highly recommend this one!

The Sermon of the Mount is well-known; I've read it hundreds of times. This collection of readings let me dig into the sermon slowly in a way that let it seep into my life in new ways. As in any anthology, I liked some readings more than others. That's part of what makes it good: although I likely won't read a whole book by some of these writers, I've at least been exposed to their writings. Now that I've read the book myself, I'd love to gather a small group and work through it together. There are questions at the end of the book for each chapter, which will make it easy for a group study.