Product Description

One of the prime movers in the emerging church has pulled together this 52-week life-changing devotional presenting a bird's-eye view of the Bible's overall message and the essentials of the Christian faith. Designed to turn readers into both evangelists and activists. Holistic spirituality at its best. 288 pages, softcover. Jericho.

Publisher's Description

From critically acclaimed author Brian McLaren comes a brilliant retelling of the biblical story and a thrilling reintroduction to Christian faith.

This book offers everything you need to explore what a difference an honest, living, growing faith can make in our world today. It also puts tools in your hands to create a life-changing learning community in any home, restaurant, or other welcoming space.

The fifty-two (plus a few) weekly readings can each be read aloud in 10 to 12 minutes and offer a simple curriculum of insightful reflections and transformative practices. Organized around the traditional church year, these readings give an overview of the whole Bible and guide an individual or a group of friends through a year of rich study, interactive learning, and personal growth.

Perfect for home churches, congregations, classes, or individual study, each reading invites you to

Cultivate an honest, intelligent understanding of the Bible and of Christian faith in 21st century

Engage with discussion questions designed to challenge, stimulate, and encourage

Reimagine what it means to live joyfully and responsibly in today's world as agents of God's justice, creativity, and peace

If you're seeking a fresh way to experience and practice your faith, if you're a long-term Christian seeking new vitality, or if you feel out of place in traditional church circles, this book will inspire and activate you in your spiritual journey.

Author Bio

BRIAN D. McLAREN is an author, speaker, activist, and public theologian. He is a popular conference speaker and a frequent guest lecturer for denominational and ecumenical leadership gatherings in the U.S. and internationally, and is Theologian-in-Residence at Life in the Trinity Ministry. Brian's writing spans over a dozen books, including his acclaimed Why Did Jesus, Moses, the Buddha, and Mohammed Cross the Road, A New Kind of Christian trilogy, A Generous Orthodoxy, and Naked Spirituality. Learn more: BrianMcLaren.net

Editorial Reviews

"This is one of the most remarkable documents in recent Christian writings...There is no evangelizing here, and no preaching, only a sinewy, but orderly and open, presentation of the faith that holds. The result is as startling as it is beautiful."Phyllis Tickle, author, The Age of the Spirit"Brian McLaren has a talent for expressing theological viewpoints in a way that doesn't divide the camp. He gives everyone on the theological spectrum, from orthodox to progressive, something to chew on and contemplate. His new book, WE MAKE THE ROAD BY WALKING, doesn't disappoint."Charles Toy, co-founder of The Christian Left"A ton of people have been waiting for this book-they just didn't know it! Brian has given us a clear and compelling guide to walking the Jesus path together, around the table, in the living room, discussing and learning and growing. This book is going to help so many people."Rob Bell, author of What We Talk About When We Talk About God"It is at once inspiring and challenging, ancient and contemporary, intellectually rigorous and profoundly practical. It changed the way I engage Scripture, the way I pray, the way I experience communion, and the way I interact with my neighbors."Rachel Held Evans, author, A Year of Biblical Womanhood"WE MAKE THE ROAD BY WALKING has given me the tools I needed to make sense of my friendships and weave them into something that makes our connections more meaningful; the community that I have always longed for, a community that accepts me for me, a community that faithfully lives out the gospel through its actions, treating all people with respect, value, and like they matter."Romal Tune, author, GodÂs Graffiti: Inspiring Stories for Teens"This is Brian McLaren at his best, and I think this is what so many readers want from him: Deeply rooted in scripture, yet offering fresh, even radical, readings. WE MAKE THE ROAD BY WALKING will surely be a benefit and blessing to many."Tony Jones (tonyj.net), theologian-in-residence at Solomon's Porch, author of The Church Is Flat"I love this book, because through each page you will hear the whisper of Jesus echo in your heart. You will find yourself taken on a journey that will make you more alive, more loving, and with a bigger vision for changing the world. I'm buying copies for all my friends!"Canon Mark Russell, CEO, Church Army UK and Ireland

The author claims he is not dogmatic, except that he is extremely dogmatic on his pet causes (the environment, gay "marriage," etc). This sort of literature appeals to the "spiritual but not religious" types, but I can't imagine any mature Christian getting anything from this. Like most liberal authors, he throws in a lot of Scripture but he's seems to cherry-pick the Bible very carefully, and make the verses fit his own agenda. He appears to be extremely hostile to evangelical Christians. If "savor this aliveness" is your idea of a profound spiritual insight, you might enjoy this book. This kind of bumper-sticker theology has nothing to nurture a mature believer.

You are not finished yet. You are "in the making." You have the capacity to learn, mature, think, change, and grow. You also have the freedom to stagnate, regress, regress, constrict, and lose your way. Which road will you take?

As a believer, I find this statement to be true - we can all grow or die, depending on the choices we make. The book provides tools for each believer to evaluate his or own life - either as an individual, as part of a small group, or as part of a larger group worshiping together. Or, a church or parachurch group may chose to wrap-up a year long study using all three approaches.

The book is divided into 4 Parts, 52 Chapters, plus a number of supplemental sessions to allow the individual or groups to evaluate their growth through the year. Each chapter includes a suggested reading, a devotional or contemplative reading designed to bring that passage alive to the contemporary reader. The chapter ends with a series of questions to encourage the individual or group to dig deeper into the topics covered in the current chapters. Similarly, each quarter (13 chapters) concludes with a series of questions to evaluate individual and group growth.

Though the book is challenging and worth the time spent working through the studies, I am bothered by the author's suggestion that the same book could be rewritten for groups of "Jews, Muslims, and others." Such a task could only be done fairly by alternate authors with their hears firmly rooted in those traditions. For a Christian to attempt to write a devotional for those of other traditions would seem to stretch both the Christian's commitment and other's belief systems as well.

Read with care and used to critically examine one's personal belief system, the book has values for Christians coming from a variety of backgrounds. Merely giving the book a cursory reading would seem to be unfair to the author and the book's purpose.

______________

This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are my own.