Over this next month we will be focusing on listening to the life of Jesus. Here is a short list of books that we have found helpful in our quest. We have chosen theologians and practitioners from a variety of perspectives and drawn from suggestions given by several of our authors. However we would love to expand the list – you may note for example that all these authors are white males! Who are the women and those of other ethnic backgrounds that speak to us from the life of Jesus? So often we feel that we jump straight from the birth of Jesus to his crucifixion and death and live more through the words of Paul then the life of Jesus. What books would you recommend that help us learn from the life of Jesus and the gospel stories?
Bailey, Kenneth: Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes.
Bock, Darrell L.: Recovering the Real Lost Gospel: Reclaiming the Gospel as Good News.
Bonhoeffer, Dietrich The Cost of Discipleship.
Bourgeault, Cynthia: The Wisdom Jesus: Transforming Heart and Mind–A New Perspective on Christ and His Message
Keller, Timothy: The Prodigal God.
Kraybill, Donald: The Upside Down Kingdom.
Newbigin, Lesslie: The Gospel in a Pluralist Society.
Nouwen, Henri The Return of the Prodigal Son.
Scandrette, Mark: Practicing the Way of Jesus.
Stassen, Glenn: A Thicker Jesus.
__________: Living the Sermon on the Mount: A Practical Hope for Grace and Deliverance
Stott, John R.W.: Life In Christ: A Guide For Daily Living.
Vanier, Jean: Drawn Into the Mystery of Jesus Through the Gospel of John
Wright, N.T. : The Challenge of Jesus.
_________: The Lord and His Prayer
You might also like to browse back through some of the posts in a previous series Following Jesus What Difference Does it Make.
3 comments
Just in case anyone did not know, Ken Bailey spent most of his life in the Middle East. In today’s parlance, he was a Third Culture Kid. (#TCK) His depth and breadth of understanding of that part of the world is truly amazing. Ken just died a few months ago, but he leaves behind a wealth of writing about the life of Jesus and the cultural aspects of His part of the world.
Thanks for your comment – I did not know he had recently died. His insights into Middle Eastern culture are part of what I appreciate about his perspectives. These will be sorely missed.
I was blessed to know Ken for about 15 years as he navigated retirement. A loving, caring, deeply insightful, incredibly intelligent pastor/teacher. The whole church is poorer for his loss. Rest in peace, Ken.