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Bonhoeffer's Life Together: A Deep Dive into Community and Discipleship
Are you seeking a deeper understanding of Christian community and discipleship? Then you’ve come to the right place. This comprehensive guide explores Dietrich Bonhoeffer's seminal work, Life Together, dissecting its core tenets and offering practical applications for building vibrant and authentic Christian communities today. We'll delve into Bonhoeffer's insights on prayer, worship, work, and conflict resolution, offering a fresh perspective on fostering meaningful relationships within the context of faith. Get ready to explore the timeless wisdom found within Life Together and discover how its principles can transform your own life and the lives of those around you.
Understanding the Context of "Life Together"
Before we dive into the specifics of Bonhoeffer's teachings, it's crucial to understand the context in which Life Together was written. Written in 1939-1940, while Bonhoeffer served as a clandestine pastor in a seminary near Berlin, the book reflects the unique challenges and opportunities of living a Christian life under Nazi oppression. This wasn't a theoretical treatise; it was a practical guide for a community struggling to maintain its faith and identity in the face of immense adversity. This context imbues the book with a palpable sense of urgency and relevance, reminding us that faith is not a solitary pursuit but a shared journey demanding both individual commitment and communal support.
Bonhoeffer's Vision of Christian Community
Bonhoeffer didn't envision a utopian community devoid of conflict. Instead, he presented a realistic picture of Christian living, acknowledging the inevitable challenges and tensions within any group of people. He emphasized the importance of recognizing our shared humanity, accepting our imperfections, and working through disagreements with grace and humility. His vision wasn't about achieving effortless harmony but about cultivating a space where honest conversation and mutual forgiveness could flourish.
Key Themes in Bonhoeffer's "Life Together"
The Necessity of Prayer
Bonhoeffer stresses the importance of corporate and individual prayer as the foundation of a thriving Christian community. He argues that true prayer isn't simply a recitation of words but a genuine encounter with God, shaping our hearts and minds and preparing us for the challenges of life together. He emphasizes the significance of listening prayer, where we actively seek God's guidance and wisdom, and intercessory prayer, where we pray for one another’s needs and burdens.
The Importance of Worship
Beyond Sunday services, Bonhoeffer saw worship as an integral part of daily life. He describes how even simple tasks can become acts of worship when approached with a spirit of devotion and humility. He underscores the importance of communal worship, emphasizing its power to unite believers and deepen their understanding of God's love.
Work and Vocation in Community
Bonhoeffer viewed work not as a mere means to an end but as a vocation, a calling from God. He believed that every task, performed with diligence and integrity, can be a form of worship and service to others. Within the community, this translates into shared responsibility and mutual support, where each member contributes their unique gifts and talents to the common good.
Handling Conflict and Forgiveness
Life Together doesn't shy away from the reality of conflict within communities. Bonhoeffer acknowledges the inevitability of disagreements and misunderstandings but emphasizes the vital role of forgiveness and reconciliation in maintaining unity. He encourages honest communication, humble confession, and a willingness to extend grace, even when deeply hurt. He highlights the danger of harboring resentment and the transformative power of genuine forgiveness.
Applying "Life Together" in the 21st Century
While written during a specific historical context, the principles outlined in Life Together remain remarkably relevant today. The challenges of building and maintaining strong Christian communities persist, albeit in different forms. By embracing Bonhoeffer's insights on prayer, worship, work, and conflict resolution, we can cultivate environments of genuine fellowship, mutual support, and spiritual growth.
Building Authentic Christian Community Today
Bonhoeffer's teachings offer a blueprint for creating vibrant, authentic Christian communities in the 21st century. By prioritizing honest communication, mutual accountability, and selfless service, we can move beyond superficial relationships and foster genuine bonds of love and support. This requires intentional effort, self-reflection, and a commitment to living out our faith in tangible ways.
Conclusion
Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Life Together is not simply a historical document; it's a timeless guide for cultivating vibrant Christian community. By embracing its core principles, we can deepen our understanding of faith, strengthen our relationships, and contribute to a world marked by genuine love, compassion, and mutual respect. The insights found within these pages remain relevant and powerfully transformative for today's believers.
FAQs
1. Is "Life Together" only relevant to religious communities? No, many principles in Life Together, such as the importance of genuine community, honest communication, and conflict resolution, are applicable to any group striving for strong, meaningful relationships.
2. How can I apply Bonhoeffer's teachings on prayer in my daily life? Start by setting aside dedicated time for prayer, both individually and with others. Practice listening prayer, seeking God's guidance, and intercessory prayer for those around you.
3. What does Bonhoeffer mean by "work as vocation"? He means that our work, whatever it may be, should be approached with a sense of purpose and meaning, as a way to serve God and others.
4. How can I address conflict within my community using Bonhoeffer's principles? Embrace honest communication, avoid defensiveness, seek to understand other perspectives, and prioritize forgiveness and reconciliation.
5. Where can I find a copy of "Life Together"? You can easily purchase a copy from most major online retailers like Amazon, or find it at your local bookstore or library.
| bonhoeffer life together: Life Together Dietrich Bonhoeffer, 2016-06-13 |
| bonhoeffer life together: Life Together Dietrich Bonhoeffer, 1996 |
| bonhoeffer life together: Life Together Dietrich Bonhoeffer, 1978-10-25 After his martyrdom at the hands of the Gestapo in 1945, Dietrich Bonhoeffer continued his witness in the hearts of Christians around the world. His Letters and Papers from Prison became a prized testimony to Christian faith and courage, read by thousands. Now in Life Together we have Pastor Bonhoeffer's experience of Christian community. This story of a unique fellowship in an underground seminary during the Nazi years reads like one of Paul's letters. It gives practical advice on how life together in Christ can be sustained in families and groups. The role of personal prayer, worship in common, everyday work, and Christian service is treated in simple, almost biblical, words. Life Together is bread for all who are hungry for the real life of Christian fellowship. |
| bonhoeffer life together: Psalms Dietrich Bonhoeffer, 2021-11-22 Jesus died with a psalm on his lips. For millennia, humans have been shaped by the Psalms. And before the Nazis banned him from publishing, German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer published this book on the Psalms. What comfort is found in the Psalter? What praise, and what challenge? What threat? In the pages of Psalms: The Prayer Book of the Bible, discover the richness this book of Scripture held for Bonhoeffer, and learn to pray psalms along with Christ. First published in 1940, this classic reveals how the Psalms are essential to the life of the believer and offers Bonhoeffer's reflections on psalms of thanksgiving, suffering, guilt, praise, and lament. Now with an introduction by Walter Brueggemann and excerpts from the Psalms, Bonhoeffer's timeless work offers contemporary readers ancient wisdom and resources for the living of these days. Includes a biographical sketch of Bonhoeffer written by his friend and biographer Eberhard Bethge. |
| bonhoeffer life together: Bonhoeffer as Youth Worker Andrew Root, 2014-10-14 The youth ministry focus of Dietrich Bonhoeffer's life is often forgotten or overlooked, even though he did much work with young people and wrote a number of papers, sermons, and addresses about or for the youth of the church. However, youth ministry expert Andrew Root explains that this focus is central to Bonhoeffer's story and thought. Root presents Bonhoeffer as the forefather and model of the growing theological turn in youth ministry. By linking contemporary youth workers with this epic theologian, the author shows the depth of youth ministry work and underscores its importance in the church. He also shows how Bonhoeffer's life and thought impact present-day youth ministry practice. |
| bonhoeffer life together: Bonhoeffer on the Christian Life Stephen J. Nichols, 2013-06-30 The abundance of conferences, lectures, and new books related to Dietrich Bonhoeffer attests to the growing interest in his amazing life and thought-provoking writings. The legacy of his theological reflections on the nature of fellowship, the costliness of grace, and the necessity of courageous obedience has only been heightened by the reality of how he died: execution at the hands of a Nazi death squad. In this latest addition to the popular Theologians on the Christian Life series, historian Stephen J. Nichols guides readers through a study of Bonhoeffer’s life and work, helping readers understand the basic contours of his cross-centered theology, convictions regarding the Christian life, and circumstances surrounding his dramatic arrest and execution. Part of the Theologians on the Christian Life series. |
| bonhoeffer life together: A Testament to Freedom Dietrich Bonhoeffer, 1990 Dietrich Bonhoeffer was just thirty-nine years old when he was executed by the Nazis in 1945, yet his influence on Christian theology and life has been enormous. A testament to freedom takes readers along a biographical-historical journey that follows Bonhoeffer through the various stages of his life and career, including his final years in the underground resistance against the Nazi government and his subsequent martyrdom. This book features previously untranslated writings, sermons, and selections from his letters spanning his entire pastoral-theological career, including his prison letters |
| bonhoeffer life together: From Isolation to Community Myles Werntz, 2022-04-12 It is no secret that isolation is one of the key ailments of our age. But less explored is the way the church as it is frequently practiced contributes to this isolation instead of offering an alternative. With the help of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, this book argues for a renewed vision of the church community as a theological therapy to cultural, moral, and sociological isolation. It offers an account of how familiar church practices, such as Scripture reading, worship, prayer, and eating, contribute to community formation in the body of Christ. |
| bonhoeffer life together: Bonhoeffer's Seminary Vision Paul R. House, 2015 Exploring a neglected facet of Dietrich Bonhoeffer's life and legacy, this book examines his work training seminary students for pastoral ministry, arguing for personal, face-to-face education in response to today's rise of online education. |
| bonhoeffer life together: Theological Education at Finkenwalde H. Gaylon Barker, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Mark Brocker, Douglas W. Stott, 2014-04-17 In the spring of 1935 Dietrich Bonhoeffer returned from England to direct a small illegal seminary for the Confessing Church. The seminary existed for two years before the Gestapo ordered it closed in August 1937. This volume includes bible studies, sermons, and lectures on homiletics, pastoral care, and catechesis, giving a moving and up-close portrait of the Confessing Church in these crucial years—the same period during which Bonhoeffer wrote his classics, Discipleship and Life Together. |
| bonhoeffer life together: Strange Glory Charles Marsh, 2015-04-28 Winner, Christianity Today 2015 Book Award in History/Biography Shortlisted for the PEN/Jacqueline Bograd Weld Award for Biography In the decades since his execution by the Nazis in 1945, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the German pastor, theologian, and anti-Hitler conspirator, has become one of the most widely read and inspiring Christian thinkers of our time. With unprecedented archival access and definitive scope, Charles Marsh captures the life of this remarkable man who searched for the goodness in his religion against the backdrop of a steadily darkening Europe. From his brilliant student days in Berlin to his transformative sojourn in America, across Harlem to the Jim Crow South, and finally once again to Germany where he was called to a ministry for the downtrodden, we follow Bonhoeffer on his search for true fellowship and observe the development of his teachings on the shared life in Christ. We witness his growing convictions and theological beliefs, culminating in his vocal denunciation of Germany’s treatment of the Jews that would put him on a crash course with Hitler. Bringing to life for the first time this complex human being—his substantial flaws, inner torment, the friendships and the faith that sustained and finally redeemed him—Strange Glory is a momentous achievement. |
| bonhoeffer life together: Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Meditations on Psalms Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Edwin Hanton Robertson, 2005 Eloquent, incisive, encouraging, and challenging--Bonhoeffer invites readers to find in the Psalm both a path toward rest in God and a call to Christ-like living as followers of the Lord Jesus. |
| bonhoeffer life together: Spiritual Care Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Bonhoeffer says spiritual care is a function of the congregation and that it is an aspect of the broader, more encompassing activity of proclamation. In Spiritual Care, we are confronted with the awesome truth that in speech God's presence is known and that speech is also our own; in silence God's presence is known and that silence is also our own. The text demands us to consider how the gospel message is brought to people in the midst of their personal lives, and his message and counsel use the tools given within the traditional life of the church so that such grace becomes enacted, enfleshed, and incarnate in the Christian community. |
| bonhoeffer life together: Life in Community Dustin Willis, 2015-07-16 WHAT MAKES A COMMUNITY EXTRAORDINARY? When people live in community moved by the gospel and marked by the Spirit, great things happen. They commit to one another. They grieve together, sing together, eat, pray, and play together. They love, serve, honor, encourage, and provide for each other gladly. And they live on mission together. Hearts are healed, walls come down, and outsiders come in. No competition. No pretense. No vain conceit. Just full hearts breaking bread and giving freely. It is nothing short of amazing. Most of us live in a shadow of what God intended for us. Life in Community calls us into the light. Reclaiming Scripture’s stunning vision of gospel-centered community, it inspires us to live in love unbounded. Read it, live it, and join the movement: Help unleash the power of extraordinary community. 6-Week group study included. |
| bonhoeffer life together: 5 Minutes in Church History Stephen J. Nichols, 2019 The history of the church is filled with stories. Stories of triumph, stories of defeat, stories of joy, and stories of sorrow. These stories are a legacy of God's faithfulness to His people. In this book, Dr. Stephen J. Nichols provides postcards from the church through the centuries. These snapshots capture the richness of Christian history with glimpses of fascinating saints, curious places, precious artifacts, and surprising turns of events. In exploring them, Dr. Nichols takes the reader on a lively and informative journey through the record of God's providence to encourage, challenge, and enjoy. This is our story--our family history. THE CENTURIES OF CHURCH HISTORY GIVE US A LITANY OF GOD'S DELIVERANCES. GOD HAS DONE IT BEFORE, MANY TIMES AND IN MANY WAYS, AND HE CAN DO IT AGAIN. HE WILL DO IT AGAIN. AND IN THAT, WE FIND COURAGE FOR TODAY AND FOR TOMORROW. |
| bonhoeffer life together: The Cost of Discipleship Dietrich Bonhoeffer, 2016-07-09 One of the most important theologians of the twentieth century illuminates the relationship between ourselves and the teachings of Jesus. |
| bonhoeffer life together: The Cost of Discipleship Bonhoeffer Dietrich, 2015-11-02 Perhaps Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s most radical book, this reading of the Sermon on the Mount has influenced many Christians throughout the world over the last 50 years. |
| bonhoeffer life together: The Life, Works, and Witness of Tsehay Tolessa and Gudina Tumsa, the Ethiopian Bonhoeffer Samuel Yonas Deressa, Sarah Hinlicky Wilson, 2017-06-15 This book opens a window into the lives and extraordinary witness of a Christian couple whose faithful life of service has earned the moniker of Ethopia’s Bonhoeffer. In Part One, the reader encounters the extant writings of Gudina Tumsa. Gudina’s ideas were by no means silenced by his murder. If anything, quite the opposite, as is so often the case with martyrs. Part Two is a highly personal account of Gudina and Tsehay’s life, witness, and sufferings. Aud Saeveras, a Norwegian missionary working with her husband in Ethiopia, got to know Tsehay during her many years in prison, often bringing her food. After Tsehay was finally released, Saeveras encouraged her to report the truth about what had happened. The result was this memoir, first written in Norwegian, then translated into German, and now for the first time in English. Saeveras frames the story, but most of the words are Tsehay’s. This collection concludes with an essay by Samuel Yonas Deressa on the impact that Gudina’s vision has had on the EECMY and the formation of the Gudina Tumsa Foundation with its various scholarly and development activities. Gudina lives on in the many Ethiopian Christians who continue to be inspired by his life and witness. |
| bonhoeffer life together: The Enneagram for Spiritual Formation A. J. Sherrill, 2020-09-15 Author A. J. Sherrill still remembers the moment when his life was forever changed by a word he didn't even understand at the time: Enneagram. A personality theory that includes nine different types, the Enneagram has become a popular tool for self-awareness and improvement. But in this book, Sherrill goes deeper, exploring with Christians how the Enneagram can be a pathway to profound spiritual transformation. Sherrill reveals the Enneagram as a tool to unlock new ways of viewing identity, personality, discipleship, spiritual practices, evangelism, and the Bible. Using this fresh approach, Sherrill shows how our true identity is that of a beloved child of God. Recognizing that, we can move confidently into the world expressing this identity through our unique personality. Through Sherrill's detailed spiritual exploration of each type, readers will emerge viewing the Enneagram as a precious gift to following Jesus more closely. Foreword by Chuck DeGroat. |
| bonhoeffer life together: The Good and Beautiful God James Bryan Smith, 2009-12-14 Turning to the Gospels, James Bryan Smith invites you to compare your ideas about God with what Jesus himself reveals about his Father. In this Good and Beautiful Series book, Smith leads you through a process of spiritual formation that includes activities aimed at making these new narratives real in your body and soul as well as your mind. |
| bonhoeffer life together: Seize the Day -- with Dietrich Bonhoeffer Charles Ringma, 2014-02-27 This devotional of 365 meditations by theologian and martyr Dietrich Bonhoeffer helps you see that it is possible to impact that world if we allow ourselves to be transformed into the likeness of Christ. Experience the power of Bonhoeffer’s words in a way that challenges you to live out your discipleship daily—combining personal spirituality with an active concern for those around you. |
| bonhoeffer life together: Bonhoeffer's Black Jesus REGGIE L. WILLIAMS, Assistant Professor of Christian Ethics Reggie L Williams, 2021-09 Dietrich Bonhoeffer publicly confronted Nazism and anti-Semitic racism in Hitler's Germany. The Reich's political ideology, when mixed with theology of the German Christian movement, turned Jesus into a divine representation of the ideal, racially pure Aryan and allowed race-hate to become part of Germany's religious life. Bonhoeffer provided a Christian response to Nazi atrocities. In this book author Reggie L. Williams follows Dietrich Bonhoeffer as he encounters Harlem's black Jesus. The Christology Bonhoeffer learned in Harlem's churches featured a black Christ who suffered with African Americans in their struggle against systemic injustice and racial violence--and then resisted. In the pews of the Abyssinian Baptist Church, under the leadership of Adam Clayton Powell Sr., Bonhoeffer was captivated by Christianity in the Harlem Renaissance. This Christianity included a Jesus who stands with the oppressed, against oppressors, and a theology that challenges the way God is often used to underwrite harmful unions of race and religion. Now featuring a foreword from world-renowned Bonhoeffer scholar Ferdinand Schlingensiepen as well as multiple updates and additions, Bonhoeffer's Black Jesus argues that Dietrich Bonhoeffer's immersion within the black American narrative was a turning point for him, causing him to see anew the meaning of his claim that obedience to Jesus requires concrete historical action. This ethic of resistance not only indicted the church of the German Volk, but also continues to shape the nature of Christian discipleship today. |
| bonhoeffer life together: Letters and Papers from Prison Dietrich Bonhoeffer, 1971 |
| bonhoeffer life together: The Radical Pursuit of Rest John Koessler, 2016-01-28 Whether in our careers, churches, schools or families, busyness is the norm, and anything less makes us feel unproductive and anxious. John Koessler understands that rest is not automatic or easy to attain. With honest, biblical reflections on trends in our culture and churches, he presents a unique perspective on how pursuing rest leads us to the heart of God. |
| bonhoeffer life together: The Gospel Ray Ortlund, 2014-04-30 How does the church portray the beauty of Christ? The gospel is the greatest message of all time addressing the greatest need of all people. However, the good news about Jesus does more than just promise eternal life to all who believe. In the latest addition to the 9Marks: Building Healthy Churches series, pastor Ray Ortlund explains the gospel's power to transform individuals from the inside out and create beautiful human relationships. This short book helps readers experience the power of God as they are encouraged to trust in Christ and allow him to transform their beliefs, perspectives, and practices. For everyone who wants to be true to the Bible and honest with themselves, this book offers a practical guide to the fundamental teachings of the gospel and how they affect our relationships with others. |
| bonhoeffer life together: Creation and Fall Temptation Dietrich Bonhoeffer, 1997-03-12 In this enlightening study, renowned twentieth-century theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer offers a careful textual analysis of the story of creation, approaching the biblical tale of Genesis with the eye of a philosopher and the soul of a true Christian. “Creation and Fall” is Bonhoeffer’s lucid, brilliant analysis of the first three chapters of Genesis. Here he discusses the seeming scientific naiveté behind the creation story, God’s love and goodness, and humanity’s creation, its free will, and its blessedness. Bonhoeffer also tackles difficult questions that are raised from the first book of the Bible, questions about the seemingly redundant second story of creation, about God’s own beginning, about the source of the light that was created the first day. The author then expounds upon Adam and Eve’s fall from grace: How could they, creatures made in God’s image, have thought to oppose God so foully? Where did the first evil come from? How did humanity lose its right to live in paradise? In “Temptation,” Bonhoeffer questions how temptation appeared in the midst of Eden’s innocence, and he explores the very nature of evil. Bonhoeffer explains that Jesus Christ helps us to understand and conquer physical and spiritual temptation through His grace and goodness. |
| bonhoeffer life together: The Gospel-Driven Life Michael Horton, 2009-10-01 In his well-received Christless Christianity Michael Horton offered a prophetic wake-up call for a self-centered American church. With The Gospel-Driven Life he turns from the crisis to the solutions, offering his recommendations for a new reformation in the faith, practice, and witness of contemporary Christianity. This insightful book will guide readers in reorienting their faith and the church's purpose toward the good news of the gospel. The first six chapters explore that breaking news from heaven, while the rest of the book focuses on the kind of community that the gospel generates and the surprising ways in which God is at work in the world. Here is fresh news for Christians who are burned out on hype and are looking for hope. |
| bonhoeffer life together: Spiritual Friendship Wesley Hill, 2015-04-14 Christianity Today Book Award Winner Friendship is a relationship like no other. Unlike the relationships we are born into, we choose our friends. It is also tenuous--we can end a friendship at any time. But should friendship be so free and unconstrained? Although our culture tends to pay more attention to romantic love, marriage, family, and other forms of community, friendship is a genuine love in its own right. This eloquent book reminds us that Scripture and tradition have a high view of friendship. Single Christians, particularly those who are gay and celibate, may find it is a form of love to which they are especially called. Writing with deep empathy and with fidelity to historic Christian teaching, Wesley Hill retrieves a rich understanding of friendship as a spiritual vocation and explains how the church can foster friendship as a basic component of Christian discipleship. He helps us reimagine friendship as a robust form of love that is worthy of honor and attention in communities of faith. This book sets forth a positive calling for celibate gay Christians and suggests practical ways for all Christians to cultivate stronger friendships. |
| bonhoeffer life together: Kingdom Race Theology Tony Evans, 2022-01-04 The 2020 murder of George Floyd ignited a racial firestorm throughout America, provoking lament and grief over a long history of tragedy. The widespread protests gave way to a heated discussion about terms such as systemic racism, white privilege, and Critical Race Theory, all framed by the slogan “black lives matter.” The beginnings of a helpful dialogue on diversity became a heated battle, one that quickly spread to the church. Drawing on forty years of ministry experience, Tony Evans writes with a fearless and prophetic voice, probing to the heart of the issue and pointing to God’s Word as the solution. Kingdom Race Theology helps people and churches commit to restitution, reconciliation, and responsibility. His penetrating and practical ideas will help pastors and church leaders sort through the conflicting theories, finding sensible solutions in the form of individual and collective action plans. Christians can work together across racial lines to repair the damage done by a long history of racial injustice. |
| bonhoeffer life together: Sally's Baking Addiction Sally McKenney, 2016-10-11 Updated with a brand-new selection of desserts and treats, the fully illustrated Sally's Baking Addiction cookbook offers more than 80 scrumptious recipes for indulging your sweet tooth—featuring a chapter of healthier dessert options, including some vegan and gluten-free recipes. It's no secret that Sally McKenney loves to bake. Her popular blog, Sally's Baking Addiction, has become a trusted source for fellow dessert lovers who are also eager to bake from scratch. Sally's famous recipes include award-winning Salted Caramel Dark Chocolate Cookies, No-Bake Peanut Butter Banana Pie, delectable Dark Chocolate Butterscotch Cupcakes, and yummy Marshmallow Swirl S'mores Fudge. Find tried-and-true sweet recipes for all kinds of delicious: Breads & Muffins Breakfasts Brownies & Bars Cakes, Pies & Crisps Candy & Sweet Snacks Cookies Cupcakes Healthier Choices With tons of simple, easy-to-follow recipes, you get all of the sweet with none of the fuss! Hungry for more? Learn to create even more irresistible sweets with Sally’s Candy Addiction and Sally’s Cookie Addiction. |
| bonhoeffer life together: Keys to Bonhoeffer's Haus Laura M. Fabrycky, 2020-03-24 In Keys to Bonhoeffer's Haus, Laura M. Fabrycky, an American guide of the Bonhoeffer-Haus in Berlin, takes readers on a tour of Dietrich Bonhoeffer's home, city, and world. She shares the keys she has discovered there--the many sources of Bonhoeffer's identity, his practices of Scripture meditation and prayer, his willingness to cross boundaries and befriend people all around the world--that have unlocked her understanding of her own life and responsibilities in light of Bonhoeffer's wisdom. Keys to Bonhoeffer's Haus tells his story in new ways and invites us to think beyond him into our own lives and civic responsibilities. Fabrycky shows readers how to consider what befriending Bonhoeffer might mean for us and the ways we live our lives today. Ultimately, through her transformative tour of Bonhoeffer's Berlin, she inspires readers to discover and embrace responsible forms of civic agency and loving, sacrificial action on behalf of our neighbors. |
| bonhoeffer life together: Bonhoeffer's America Adjunct Faculty and Coordinator Joel Looper, 2021-08 In the 1930s, Dietrich Bonhoeffer came to Union Theological Seminary looking for a cloud of witnesses. What he found instead disturbed, angered, and perplexed him. There is no theology here, he wrote to a German colleague. The New York churches, if possible, were even worse: They preach about virtually everything; only one thing is not addressed... namely, the gospel of Jesus Christ, the cross, sin and forgiveness, death and life. Bonhoeffer acts for American Protestantism as an Alexis de Tocqueville, whose Democracy in America, a cultural and political analysis of the new republic, appeared a century prior. But what the Berlin theologian found was, if possible, more significant than the observations of the French aristocrat: Protestantism in America was a Protestantism without Reformation. Bonhoeffer's America explicates these criticisms, then turns to consider what they tell us about Bonhoeffer's own theological commitments and whether, in fact, his judgments about America were accurate. Joel Looper first brings Bonhoeffer's reformational and Barthian commitments into relief against the work of several Union theologians and the broader American theological milieu. He then turns to Bonhoeffer's own genealogy of American Protestantism to explore why it developed as it did: steeped in dissenting influences, the American church became one that resisted critique by the word of God. American Protestantism is not Protestant, Bonhoeffer shows us, not like the churches that emerged from the Continental Reformation. This difference gave rise to the secularization of the American church. Bonhoeffer's claims against the church in the United States, Looper contends, hold strong, even after considering objections to this narrative--Bonhoeffer's experience with Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem, and the possibility that Bonhoeffer, during his time in Tegel Prison, abandoned the theological commitments that undergirded his critique. Bonhoeffer's America concludes that what Bonhoeffer saw in America, the twenty-first-century American church should strive to see for itself. |
| bonhoeffer life together: Ethics Dietrich Bonhoeffer, 2012-03-20 From one of the most important theologians of the twentieth century, Ethics is the seminal reinterpretation of the role of Christianity in the modern, secularized world. The Christian does not live in a vacuum, says the author, but in a world of government, politics, labor, and marriage. Hence, Christian ethics cannot exist in a vacuum; what the Christian needs, claims Dietrich Bonhoeffer, is concrete instruction in a concrete situation. Although the author died before completing his work, this book is recognized as a major contribution to Christian ethics. The root and ground of Christian ethics, the author says, is the reality of God as revealed in Jesus Christ. This reality is not manifest in the Church as distinct from the secular world; such a juxtaposition of two separate spheres, Bonhoeffer insists, is a denial of God’s having reconciled the whole world to himself in Christ. On the contrary, God’s commandment is to be found and known in the Church, the family, labor, and government. His commandment permits man to live as man before God, in a world God made, with responsibility for the institutions of that world. |
| bonhoeffer life together: How to Eat Your Bible Nate Pickowicz, 2021-01-05 Loving God means loving His Word. If you’re feeling distant from God, could it be because you’re ignoring His Word? But maybe you don’t know where to start. Maybe the long books and strange names feel overwhelming. Maybe you just don’t like reading. Whatever the case, How to Eat Your Bible will help you cultivate an appetite for life-long study of God’s Word. Find practical guidance for overcoming the hurdles that have kept you from making Bible study a regular part of your life. You’ll also become encouraged to pursue God’s Word by learning how other Christians throughout time maintained this crucial practice. Pastor Nate Pickowicz also includes a unique Seven Year Bible Plan so that you can apply what you’ve learned and continue drawing near to God as you consume His Word. |
| bonhoeffer life together: The Battle for Bonhoeffer Stephen R. Haynes, 2018-09-13 The figure of Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906–1945) has become a clay puppet in modern American politics. Secular, radical, liberal, and evangelical interpreters variously shape and mold the martyr’s legacy to suit their own pet agendas. Stephen Haynes offers an incisive and clarifying perspective. A recognized Bonhoeffer expert, Haynes examines “populist” readings of Bonhoeffer, including the acclaimed biography by Eric Metaxas, Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy. In his analysis Haynes treats, among other things, the November 2016 election of Donald Trump and the “Bonhoeffer moment” announced by evangelicals in response to the US Supreme Court’s 2015 decision to legalize same-sex marriage. The Battle for Bonhoeffer includes an open letter from Haynes pointedly addressing Christians who still support Trump. Bonhoeffer’s legacy matters. Haynes redeems the life and the man. |
| bonhoeffer life together: Love Letters from Cell 92 Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Maria von Wedemeyer, 1994 A collection of letters written between Maria von Wedemeyer and Dietrich Bonhoeffer, while he was in prison before being executed for his part in a plot to assassinate Hitler. The letters written by Dietrich show his passionate and romantic side. |
| bonhoeffer life together: AND Hugh Halter, Matt Smay, 2010 AND brings you fresh encouragement to your ministry. By teaching you how to move beyond the attractional-missional divide and utilize insights from both perspectives, you'll learn how to bring together the very best of the attractional and missional models for church ministry. AND is part of the Exponential Series. |
| bonhoeffer life together: Gospel Wakefulness (Foreword by Ray Ortlund) Jared C. Wilson, 2011-10-06 We may know the gospel. We may believe it—even proclaim it. But we also may assume the gospel and become lethargic. In this book Jared Wilson seeks to answer the central question, how do we experience and present the gospel in a fresh, nonroutine way in order to prevent ourselves and others from becoming numb? His answer may be surprising: by routinely presenting the unchanging gospel in a way that does justice to its earth-shaking announcement. We don't excite and awaken people to the glorious truths of the gospel by spicing up our worship services or through cutting-edge, dramatic rhetoric, but by passionately and faithfully proclaiming the same truths we have already been given in Scripture. Wilson's book will stir churches to live out the power of the gospel with a fervent, genuine zeal. After an explanation of the term gospel wakefulness, Wilson unpacks implications for worship, hyper-spirituality, godly habits, and sanctification, as well as other aspects of church life. Pastors, church leaders, and all in ministry, especially those who are tired or discouraged, will be uplifted, emboldened, and empowered by this book. |
| bonhoeffer life together: God Is in the Manger Dietrich Bonhoeffer, 2012-09-03 Supplemented by an informative introduction, short excerpts from Bonhoeffer's letters, and passages from his Christmas sermons, these daily devotions are timeless and moving reminders of the true gift of Christmas. |
| bonhoeffer life together: Life Together - new edition Dietrich Bonhoeffer, 2015-03-02 This short book is a reflection on life as an intentional Christian community, written by Bonhoeffer during his time as a head of the Illegal Seminary of the Confessing Church in Finkenwalde (Eastern Prussia). |
Life Together - r828
Bonhoeffer, with his sister Christel and her husband, Hans von Dohnanyi, were arrested and incarcerated in Tegel, a military prison, where he remained until October 8, 1944.
LIFE TOGETHER - r828
Welcome to this study! You are about to begin an important journey as, together with others from your congregation, you consider the nature and practice of Christian life and discipleship in …
Study Guide for Dietrich Bonhoeffer's "Life Together"
The study begins with a short essay on Bonhoeffer’s life that explains the context of his work, especially Life Together. The study guide is organized in five parts, easily read in weekly …
Life Together By Bonhoeffer (Download Only)
Life Together originally written by Dietrich Bonhoeffer as a reflection and rule of life during his time as leader of the illegal seminary of the Confessing Church in Finkenwalde Eastern Prussia in …
A Study of Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
This was life together, the life of the Christian community which is described and documented in Life Together (1938). This work, along with Cost of Discipleship, encompasses Bonhoeffer’s …
Designed for Use and Study by Pastors and Deacons Craig L.
This study guide is based on the classic writings of Bonhoeffer, Life Together and Discipleship, books which retain their abiding significance for the life, ministry, and mission of the church …
Life Together By Bonhoeffer - advocacy.ccrjustice.org
Christian Life series historian Stephen J Nichols guides readers through a study of Bonhoeffer s life and work helping readers understand the basic contours of his cross centered theology …
Life Together: Classic exploration of Christian community
Life Together: Classic exploration of Christian community. (Bonhoeffer, 1954) Community. Every human wish dream that is injected into the Christian community is a hindrance to genuine …
Life Together Study Questions - Squarespace
Bonhoeffer, Life Together - Study Guide/ Discussion Questions. Chapter 1, Community. 1. What is the defini.on of community? 2. Where is the Kingdom of Jesus Christ to be lived? 3. How …
LIFE TOGETHER BY DIETRICH BONHOEFFER - Kate Bowler
Bonhoeffer’s Life Together emerged from his academic reflections on the nature of community and his attempts to nurture the conditions where people of faith could flourish. Amid the …
Bonhoeffer’s Life Together WAF Series
Bonhoeffer could have escaped from prison but chose not to for the sake of others. He had prepared to escape with one of the guards when he learned that his brother Klaus had been …
Dietrich Bonhoeffer Life Together (book)
Have you ever longed for a deeper, more meaningful connection within your faith community? Do you crave authentic fellowship and spiritual growth beyond the surface level? Then Dietrich …
Life Together by Bonhoeffer: A Guide to Christian Community
Life Together doesn't shy away from the challenges of community living. Bonhoeffer acknowledges the inevitable tensions and conflicts that arise when individuals with diverse …
1. Life Together - Presbyterian Church
1. Life Together. The Spiritual Discipline and Art of Christian Listening. Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s “The Ministry of Listening” Life Together. “Christians have forgotten that the ministry of listening has …
The Dietrich Bonhoeffer Works English Edition - Word and …
The Dietrich Bonhoeffer Works English Edition is now complete. Here John Matthews supplies a very helpful introduction to and history of the project. He also includes some intriguing …
Living Love(d) Together Bible Study - youthESource
In the coming weeks or months, your son or daughter will hopefully be working through the Living Love[d] Together Bible Studies (www.lcmsgathering.com/communitylife ) based on the …
Editor’s Introduction to the Reader’s Edition of Life Together
Bonhoefer described the church with the memorable phrase, “Christ existing as the church community.”1 Life Together deals with the nature of this Christ-centered community: the life of …
2021 Lenten Study – Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Life Together (Apart)
Mar 3, 2021 · • How has Scripture changed your perspective/focus/lens/priorities in life? How have others’ experiences with Scripture had an effect on you when you comingle your prayers …
Life Together Dietrich Bonhoeffer - cie-advances.asme.org
Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer is not just a book; it’s a call to action, a compelling invitation to live a life of faith deeply rooted in genuine Christian community. Bonhoeffer’s insights, born …
Dietrich Bonhoeffer's ethics of obedience and responsibility in …
we thought might be true is indeed true, that Discipleship and Life Together are works from Bonhoeffer’s less mature period before he truly confronted the hard realities of a world war …
Life Together - r828
Bonhoeffer, with his sister Christel and her husband, Hans von Dohnanyi, were arrested and incarcerated in Tegel, a military prison, where he remained until October 8, 1944.
LIFE TOGETHER - r828
Welcome to this study! You are about to begin an important journey as, together with others from your congregation, you consider the nature and practice of Christian life and discipleship in light …
Study Guide for Dietrich Bonhoeffer's "Life Together"
The study begins with a short essay on Bonhoeffer’s life that explains the context of his work, especially Life Together. The study guide is organized in five parts, easily read in weekly …
Life Together By Bonhoeffer (Download Only)
Life Together originally written by Dietrich Bonhoeffer as a reflection and rule of life during his time as leader of the illegal seminary of the Confessing Church in Finkenwalde Eastern Prussia in the …
A Study of Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
This was life together, the life of the Christian community which is described and documented in Life Together (1938). This work, along with Cost of Discipleship, encompasses Bonhoeffer’s …
Designed for Use and Study by Pastors and Deacons Craig L.
This study guide is based on the classic writings of Bonhoeffer, Life Together and Discipleship, books which retain their abiding significance for the life, ministry, and mission of the church …
Life Together By Bonhoeffer - advocacy.ccrjustice.org
Christian Life series historian Stephen J Nichols guides readers through a study of Bonhoeffer s life and work helping readers understand the basic contours of his cross centered theology …
Life Together: Classic exploration of Christian community
Life Together: Classic exploration of Christian community. (Bonhoeffer, 1954) Community. Every human wish dream that is injected into the Christian community is a hindrance to genuine …
Life Together Study Questions - Squarespace
Bonhoeffer, Life Together - Study Guide/ Discussion Questions. Chapter 1, Community. 1. What is the defini.on of community? 2. Where is the Kingdom of Jesus Christ to be lived? 3. How then, do …
LIFE TOGETHER BY DIETRICH BONHOEFFER - Kate Bowler
Bonhoeffer’s Life Together emerged from his academic reflections on the nature of community and his attempts to nurture the conditions where people of faith could flourish. Amid the mounting …
Bonhoeffer’s Life Together WAF Series
Bonhoeffer could have escaped from prison but chose not to for the sake of others. He had prepared to escape with one of the guards when he learned that his brother Klaus had been …
Dietrich Bonhoeffer Life Together (book)
Have you ever longed for a deeper, more meaningful connection within your faith community? Do you crave authentic fellowship and spiritual growth beyond the surface level? Then Dietrich …
Life Together by Bonhoeffer: A Guide to Christian Community
Life Together doesn't shy away from the challenges of community living. Bonhoeffer acknowledges the inevitable tensions and conflicts that arise when individuals with diverse personalities and …
1. Life Together - Presbyterian Church
1. Life Together. The Spiritual Discipline and Art of Christian Listening. Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s “The Ministry of Listening” Life Together. “Christians have forgotten that the ministry of listening has …
The Dietrich Bonhoeffer Works English Edition - Word and World
The Dietrich Bonhoeffer Works English Edition is now complete. Here John Matthews supplies a very helpful introduction to and history of the project. He also includes some intriguing …
Living Love(d) Together Bible Study - youthESource
In the coming weeks or months, your son or daughter will hopefully be working through the Living Love[d] Together Bible Studies (www.lcmsgathering.com/communitylife ) based on the …
Editor’s Introduction to the Reader’s Edition of Life Together
Bonhoefer described the church with the memorable phrase, “Christ existing as the church community.”1 Life Together deals with the nature of this Christ-centered community: the life of …
2021 Lenten Study – Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Life Together …
Mar 3, 2021 · • How has Scripture changed your perspective/focus/lens/priorities in life? How have others’ experiences with Scripture had an effect on you when you comingle your prayers and …
Life Together Dietrich Bonhoeffer - cie-advances.asme.org
Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer is not just a book; it’s a call to action, a compelling invitation to live a life of faith deeply rooted in genuine Christian community. Bonhoeffer’s insights, born from …
Dietrich Bonhoeffer's ethics of obedience and …
we thought might be true is indeed true, that Discipleship and Life Together are works from Bonhoeffer’s less mature period before he truly confronted the hard realities of a world war and …
