Jesus Books - Page 7

Jesus and the Disinherited

Howard Thurman

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 10 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Read this book! 5 out of 5 stars.
7 of 7 people found this review helpful.

Want to know the experience of an African American in America in the thirties and forties, the man who "discovered" Ghandi, went to India, and brought back his message, the man who then taught his students at Boston University School of Theology this message.

One of his students was Martin Luther King.

This short book should be bought, read, and shared.

Victory in respecting personality 4 out of 5 stars.
7 of 7 people found this review helpful.

I tracked down Jesus and the Disinherited after reading Richard Lischer's fine study of Martin Luther King Jr, Preacher King. Howard Thurman, I had learned, was an influence on Martin Luther King Jr. A scholarly Christian reflecting on the African-American experience, he preached non-violence long before it was fashionable. As the back cover states, this is "an influential book whose message helped shape the civil rights movement and changed our nation's history for ever."
Thurman compares the situation of African-Americans to that of the Jews in the time of Jesus. He analyzes the psychological effects of oppression on individuals. He describes the strategies oppressed people adopt for survival based on fear, deception and hate. Fear teaches our body to avoid confrontation with a member of the dominant community, we use double talk so as not to attract negative attention, and our only possible response becomes hatred which keeps us from moral disintegration.
Jesus' call to love enemies was revolutionary. Genuine love must be a mutual recognition of the dominant and oppressed communities as human beings. Genuine love at an individual level (I hate all Asians, but this person I know to be a human being) may lead to an exceptionalism which does not remove the deep hatred of the others collectively.
Thurman concludes, "What, then, is the word of the religion of Jesus to those who stand with their backs against the wall? ... They must recognize fear, deception, hatred, each for what it is. Once having done this, they must learn how to destroy these or to render themselves immune to their domination." (p. 108)
The power of this book derives from Thurman's own experience of oppression and his analysis of Jesus' own experience of minority. It is not betrayal to love our enemies; it is a victory when the dominant and oppressed communities respect each other as equals.

Editorial Review:

In this classic theological treatise, the acclaimed theologian and religious leader Howard Thurman (1900-1981) demonstrates how the Gospel may be read as a manual of resistance for the poor and disenfranchised.

"Richly endowed. . . . It is the centerpiece of the black prophet-mystic's lifelong [work]."


--Vincent Harding

Jesus: A Revolutionary Biography

John Dominic Crossan

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 50 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Hit and Miss 3 out of 5 stars.
6 of 12 people found this review helpful.

J.D. Crossan's conclusions are really hit or miss in this book. I found his work on the infancy narratives and Jesus' egalitarian philosophy to be generally on the mark but I have some major disagreements elsewhere.

First, he admits that he does not believe in miracles. I'm OK with such a sentiment as long as one explains the numerous miracle stories in the Gospels. Crossan fails to do so in a convincing manner.

Second, Crossan pretty much ignores Jesus' apocalyptic utterances, passing them off as later additions to the Jesus tradition. However, he provides little evidence to convince the reader of that conclusion.

Finally, his take on the resurrection stories is absurd. He wants us to believe that they weren't meant as historical narratives but as stories used to prop up the Twelve or Peter or the Beloved Disciple above the general community. To me, it seemed like eisegesis and not exegesis. I can't imagine the four evangelists had anything like that in mind.

Editorial Review:

John Dominic Crossan's bestselling and critically acclaimed biography of the historical Jesus. "This is an outstanding book--both popular and intelligent. Accessible language and direct, dramatic narration . . . a compelling portrait of Jesus."

The Jesus Dynasty: The Hidden History of Jesus, His Royal Family, and the Birth of Christianity

James D. Tabor

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 133 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

The Jesus Dynasty offers a startling new interpretation of the life of Jesus and the origins of Christianity that is grounded in careful analysis of the earliest Christian documents and recent archaeological discoveries, including the much-discussed "Jesus family tomb."

In The Jesus Dynasty, biblical scholar James Tabor brings us closer than ever to the historical Jesus. He explains the crucial relationship between Jesus, a royal descendant of David, and his relative John the Baptizer, a priestly descendant of Aaron and Jesus' teacher. When John was killed, several of his followers -- including Jesus' four brothers -- joined with Jesus, who continued John's mission, preaching the same apocalyptic message. After Jesus confronted the Roman authorities in Jerusalem and was crucified, his brother James succeeded him as the leader of the Jesus dynasty.

James Tabor has studied the earliest surviving documents of Christianity for more than thirty years and has participated in important archaeological excavations in Israel. His reconstruction of the life of Jesus and his followers, and of the early years of Christianity, will change our understanding of one of the most crucial moments in history.

Just Like Jesus

Max Lucado

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 75 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Excellent/Challenging Book 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This is an excellent book to challenge your life to become more like Jesus. Max is an excellent writer and paints a picture for all to understand and become closer to the God who created us.

Great inspirational reading 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I always like reading Max Ludaco's books. This is once again another great inspirational and motivational book about God's Love.

Great Inspiration 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

What a great book. Small and easy to carry from place to place. Such an awesome message to take to heart.

Great small group study! 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Our ladies small bible study group chose this book for our next study starting in January. After looking through the chapters on having a forgiving heart, a listening heart and worship-hungry heart and a focused heart, just to name a few, it seems to be a great study for our group. I also appreciate the study guide in the back of the book with questions to ponder on each chapter. The study guide focuses questions on 'Finding the Heart of Jesus', 'Probing the Mind of Jesus' and 'Becoming the Hands of Jesus' for each chapter which makes for excellent discussions among the group or if you're an individual reader. I would recommend this book very highly.

Editorial Review:

In his best-selling book Just Like Jesus, Max Lucado explains that God loves you just the way you are . . . but He refuses to leave you that way. Why? Because our ultimate goal should be a life that is just like Jesus. And with determination, faith and God's help, we can all change for the better, no matter how long the bad habits have settled in. The reputation and recognition of the bestseller is sure to make this new edition an instant favorite.

Knowing Jesus Through the Old Testament

Christopher J. H. Wright

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 8 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

level headed reading: Jesus in his own context 5 out of 5 stars.
12 of 12 people found this review helpful.

in order to properly understand the Jesus of the new testament, instead of making a Jesus of our own liking, it is necessary to understand Jesus as he himself indicated. Jesus himself, according to the new testament, made constant reference and allusion to the hebrew scriptures, ( old testament ), as he sought to explain himself, his actions, his teachings and his significance. Understanding the old testament is therefore of paramount importance for understanding what Jesus was and is about. This means far more than knowing some of the messianic proof texts or knowing about Noahs ark or the temple and sacrificial system of the ancient hebrews. Understanding the old testament involves knowing the overall aim and purpose of it, and how it all is held together by connected themes that form a unified whole. Christopher Wright's book, Knowing Jesus Through the Old Testament, is an absolute Godsend towards getting the drift of the old testament and how it carries forward to the Jesus of the new testament. This book is a little bit technical at times, it is not a devotional work, but reading this book will educate a person to accurately understand what the old testament is about and how it flows into the person of Jesus, thereby expositing the true meaning and intent of Jesus according to the background that Jesus himself referred to. Thanks Chris Wright for this fabulous book. Also, for serious bible study of the best sort, see his excellent magnum opus, The Mission Of God. It is truly outstanding!! For some other great little books on Jesus that are sane and sober, see: Jesus and His World by Peter Walker, The Original Jesus by N.T. Wright, and for a bit of a larger work see Jesus and The Gospels by Craig Blomberg.

Editorial Review:

Tracing the story of Jesus as it is told in the Old Testament, Christopher J.H. Wright introduces the Jesus of history who is also the fulfillment of God's design for his people.

The reed of God,

Caryll Houselander

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 7 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

The reed of God 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

What a wonderful book! I would highly recommend it to all who are wanting a closer relationship with Jesus and His Mother,It is a very profound book written by a convert!

Ad Jesu Per Mariam 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

Through the words and illustrations of this book what shines through is the beautiful love of a woman for Christ and His Church. It is a devotional work, interspersed with Houselander's poetry. She writes from an early twentieth century English outlook and thus her chapters are interspersed with examples from the war. She doesn't get stuck in this contemporary setting though, but rather effectively uses it to bring the life of the Christian to greater clarity. In the course of the book she accomplishes two things beautifully. First she shows the importance for the Christian of a relationship with Mary. How the example of Mary can inspire and guide us, especially in difficult times, and how we can turn to her as an intercessor and mother. Secondly, she shows how Mary draws us towards Christ, and how ultimately our relationship with Mary is senseless otherwise.

Editorial Review:

First published over half a century ago, Caryll Houselander's The Reed of God is a spiritual classic that deserves to be rediscovered by a whole new generation of readers. Houselander's beautiful and profound mediation depicts the intimately human side of Mary, Mother of God, as an empty reed waiting for God's music to be played through her. She shares her insightful and beautiful vision of Mary on earth, Mary among us, Mary as a confused but trusting teenager whose holiness flowered with her eternal "Yes."

Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ

John Piper

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 14 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Jesus is Awesome!!! 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

After reading this book I fell in love with Jesus all over again! I was going through a rather discouraging time of my life when I read it, and was letting satan's lies get the best of me, but God used the truths in this book to encourage and strengthen me. The book is not very long, and contains 13 short little chapters, each one focusing on a different aspect of the character of Christ. Jesus is so awesome! He's the Lion and the Lamb, the express radiance of the glory of God, and in fact God himself. Yet despite His position He gave it all up and suffered through shame and reproach and inexpressible anguish on this earth because of our sin. Jesus knows when to be tough and when to be compassionate, and He always has our best interest in mind. He is the source of invincible life and there's nothing that can keep in in the grave! And some day He's going to come back in all of His glory, and faith will be swallowed up by sight. John Piper states all of these truths and many more in such a clear, concise way. This book contains so much scripture, it could almost come straight from the Bible. Each chapter ends with a powerful prayer that really makes you think. This is one book I can wholeheartedly recommend for ANYONE, saved or unsaved, and it ends with a clear gospel presentation. "Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ" is definitely my favorite Piper book because it gets beyond all the theological talk and the reasoning and the mumbo jumbo, and you're only left with Jesus, and He is the only thing that matters anyways. His lifechanging power is displayed on every single page of this book. Order two copies, one for yourself and one to give away. And reread it often as a short devotional, it always reminds me of how much Jesus has done for me and how awesome he is, and I go about my day rejoicing!

Editorial Review:

John Piper has written this book in the hope that all will see Jesus for who he really is and will come to enjoy him above all else.

Jesus Before Christianity

Albert Nolan

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Total reviews: 27 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

A glimpse of the Jesus movement before Jesus died 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

Nolan wants to understand what people saw in Jesus before anyone could call him "the risen one". There was a movement of Jesus' followers before Easter or Pentecost. What was it like? Nolan's clear, common-sense approach presents reasonable distinctions between Jesus' own teaching and the theological interpretations of later followers. He notes where the later interpretations do or don't fit with Jesus' own words, or with the context of Jewish history. For example, concerning the accounts of Jesus execution, Nolan notes that the gospel accounts say that Jesus gave himself up to the executioners, believing that this was God's will. But the accounts also report that Jesus was a wanted man, and the authorities in Jerusalem argued as follows:

"This man is performing many signs. If we leave him alone like this the whole population will believe in him. Then the Romans will come and sweep away our temple and our nation .... it is more expedient for one man to die than for the whole nation to be destroyed." (John 11: 48-50)

Nolan points out that this logic was very traditional. The wanted man must be handed over lest the entire community suffer on his account. Perhaps, Nolan suggests, this was the real sense in which Jesus was "a sacrifice for the people". And possibly it was this threat of punishment from imperial overlords which was later ascribed to God -- so that it was God who had Jesus die rather than make all of humanity suffer.

--author of "Different Visions of Love"

Reflections of Christ

Mark Mabry

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Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

What if you could have been there the night of Christ's birth? Or the day of His baptism? What would it have been like to sit at His feet while He taught the people the sinners, the children, the apostles? What would the sky have looked like over Gethsemane? Photographer Mark Mabry re-creates authentic, meridian-of-time scenes using both full-color and black-and-white photographs. This first-of-a-kind book showcases twenty-five scenes of the life of Christ. From the Nativity to His miracles to His death and resurrection, these unique portrayals, accompanied by New Testament scripture, offer a powerful witness of the Lord Jesus Christ. Included in the book are behind-the-scenes author notes, providing readers with an intimate glimpse into the making of each photograph. Stunning and sacred, Reflections of Christ is an ideal coffee-table book that is filled with images that millions of people have already experienced and grown to love. It is a book that Christian families will be proud to have in their homes.

In My Place Condemned He Stood: Celebrating the Glory of the Atonement

J. I. Packer

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Total reviews: 7 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

An important anthology that reaffirms the classic doctrine of substitutionary atonement and counters the ongoing attacks against it.

If ever there was a time and a need for an enthusiastic reaffirmation of the biblical doctrine of substitutionary atonement, it is now. With this foundational tenet under widespread attack, J. I. Packer and Mark Dever's anthology plays an important role, issuing a clarion call to readers to stand firm in the truth.

In My Place Condemned He Stood combines three classic articles by Packer The Heart of the Gospel ; his Tyndale Biblical Theology Lecture, What Did the Cross Achieve ; and his introductory essay to John Owen's The Death of Death in the Death of Christ with Dever's recent article, Nothing but the Blood. It also features a foreword by the four principals of Together for the Gospel: Dever, Ligon Duncan, C. J. Mahaney, and Al Mohler. Thoughtful readers looking for a compact classic on this increasingly controversial doctrine need look no farther than this penetrating volume.