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Life Together and Prayerbook of the Bible (Dietrich Bonhoeffer Works, Vol 5) by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
greaydean's review against another edition
4.0
This translation is much easier to read. I found this out as I read it with some of my friends and they were reading the older version. More expensive but definitely worth it. I'm even thinking of getting Discipleship (The Cost of Discipleship) and reading it. Which I've wanted to for years, but just couldn't motivate. This might just be the thing to push me over the edge.
This book really opens ones eyes in a timeless manner to the possibility, even the hope of true community. Life giving and ground breaking. Read it and awaken to the possibilities of life together.
This book really opens ones eyes in a timeless manner to the possibility, even the hope of true community. Life giving and ground breaking. Read it and awaken to the possibilities of life together.
adamrshields's review against another edition
5.0
Short review: (Only Life together, I haven't read Prayerbook of the Bible yet). I have read this a couple times in the past. This time his comments on the expectations of community and living in the community that God has placed you in were the sections that most struck me. This is a short book and if you have not read it yet, you really need to.
Full review on my blog at http://bookwi.se/life-together-bonhoeffer/
Full review on my blog at http://bookwi.se/life-together-bonhoeffer/
hgbutchwalker's review against another edition
5.0
I became fascinated by Dietrich Bonhoeffer after reading Eric Metaxas' excellent biography of him a couple of years ago. These two books of Bonhoeffer add weight to the sense of alignment and fellowship I feel with him.
Life Together is a thought-provoking discussion of an area that the American church desperately needs to reclaim - the need for true community in the body of Christ. We were not meant to live in the individualistic way that most of us do - we need our brothers and sisters in Christ and Bonhoeffer profoundly describes why and what that could look like.
The Prayerbook of the BIble is a brief but challenging introduction to the use of the Psalms in our prayers. His idea that the Psalms represent Christ's own prayers and that by praying the Psalms we join Christ in prayer deserves further consideration.
Definitely worth a read.
Life Together is a thought-provoking discussion of an area that the American church desperately needs to reclaim - the need for true community in the body of Christ. We were not meant to live in the individualistic way that most of us do - we need our brothers and sisters in Christ and Bonhoeffer profoundly describes why and what that could look like.
The Prayerbook of the BIble is a brief but challenging introduction to the use of the Psalms in our prayers. His idea that the Psalms represent Christ's own prayers and that by praying the Psalms we join Christ in prayer deserves further consideration.
Definitely worth a read.
davehershey's review against another edition
4.0
Best book I've ever read on Christian community. My only regret is that I did not read this 10 years ago.
The Prayerbook of the Bible, also included, is a nice little book. Honestly, I thought I was reading the introduction when I read it, it was so short. I finished and only then realized that was all it was; more of a pamphlet really.
The Prayerbook of the Bible, also included, is a nice little book. Honestly, I thought I was reading the introduction when I read it, it was so short. I finished and only then realized that was all it was; more of a pamphlet really.
bickleyhouse's review against another edition
5.0
This book, or two books in one, rather, is amazing. In Life Together, Bonhoeeffer examines what Christian community should look like. Granted, he is writing from an experience that few of us in the modern world can truly have. He lived in a true community that could get up, worship together with prayer and Scripture reading, first thing in the morning. Then, after their day of work, could all gather together again at the end of the day. This is simply not feasible in our society, at least not where I live.
However, there are many things that today's Christian can learn from this book about community. One thing that he pointed out is that, "The Christian cannot simply take for granted the privilege of living among other Christians." When read in the context of Nazi Germany (for that's when this book was originally written), this becomes even more meaningful. But we, in modern America, cannot take this for granted, either. Bonhoeffer also notes that, "The physical presence of other Christians is a source of incomparable joy and strength to the believer." We simply cannot survive alone. The idea of Christian community is not just an ideal, it is a "divine reality."
In reality, I could quote from this book all day long. I won't do that, because time forbids me. I gained much knowledge from this book; knowledge that I hope to be able to eventually pass on to our church's small group ministry.
In the smaller book, Prayerbook of the Bible, Bonhoeffer takes a close look at the Psalms. He believed that the church should be constantly praying the Psalms, and that all of them fit somewhere into the pattern that Jesus gave us in the Model Prayer. He breaks them into categories of Creation, The Law, The History of Salvation, The Messiah, The Church, Life, Suffering, Guilt, and Enemies. Very informative, very inspiring.
I recommend this volume to anyone who is serious about building a deeper relationship with Christ through the community of Christians.
However, there are many things that today's Christian can learn from this book about community. One thing that he pointed out is that, "The Christian cannot simply take for granted the privilege of living among other Christians." When read in the context of Nazi Germany (for that's when this book was originally written), this becomes even more meaningful. But we, in modern America, cannot take this for granted, either. Bonhoeffer also notes that, "The physical presence of other Christians is a source of incomparable joy and strength to the believer." We simply cannot survive alone. The idea of Christian community is not just an ideal, it is a "divine reality."
In reality, I could quote from this book all day long. I won't do that, because time forbids me. I gained much knowledge from this book; knowledge that I hope to be able to eventually pass on to our church's small group ministry.
In the smaller book, Prayerbook of the Bible, Bonhoeffer takes a close look at the Psalms. He believed that the church should be constantly praying the Psalms, and that all of them fit somewhere into the pattern that Jesus gave us in the Model Prayer. He breaks them into categories of Creation, The Law, The History of Salvation, The Messiah, The Church, Life, Suffering, Guilt, and Enemies. Very informative, very inspiring.
I recommend this volume to anyone who is serious about building a deeper relationship with Christ through the community of Christians.
tdwightdavis's review against another edition
5.0
Bonhoeffer's easiest book to read, yet his most challenging. Every Christian needs to read this.
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