Is it really possible to live out the Great Commandment? When an expert in the law asked Jesus what the greatest commandment is, Jesus gave a clear and simple answer: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." But what does the Great Commandment look like on the ground, in our day-to-day lives? And can we even come close to living it out? Jesus, Greg Ogden believes, has a simple answer to that too. He writes, "Jesus didn't follow [the Great Commandment] up by saying, 'I know I'm asking a lot, but do the best you can. I know you'll never fully approximate this high and lofty goal, but it's still worth striving for.' . . . Jesus thinks this is possible." And with Jesus, Ogden has found, itis possible--and essential. In this practical, in-depth handbook, Ogden draws from his years of pastoral experience training and discipling others to help us truly be changed by Christ into people who love God and love others with all that we are. Following the format of his bestsellingDiscipleship Essentials, each chapter includes
Is it really possible to live out the Great Commandment? When an expert in the law asked Jesus what the greatest commandment is, Jesus gave a clear and simple answer: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." But what does the Great Commandment look like on the ground, in our day-to-day lives? And can we even come close to living it out? Jesus, Greg Ogden believes, has a simple answer to that too. He writes, "Jesus didn't follow [the Great Commandment] up by saying, 'I know I'm asking a lot, but do the best you can. I know you'll never fully approximate this high and lofty goal, but it's still worth striving for.' . . . Jesus thinks this is possible." And with Jesus, Ogden has found, itis possible--and essential. In this practical, in-depth handbook, Ogden draws from his years of pastoral experience training and discipling others to help us truly be changed by Christ into people who love God and love others with all that we are. Following the format of his bestsellingDiscipleship Essentials, each chapter includes
Getting the Most from The Essential Commandment
Introduction: Jesus Believes It Is Possible! .
1 The Essential Commandment Explained
Part One: Love the Lord Your God . . . with All Your
HEART
2. A Broken and Contrite Heart
3. A Listening Heart
Part Two: Love the Lord Your God . . . with All Your
SOUL
4. Our Soul Thirsts for God
5. Our Souls . . . Fully Alive . . . to the Glory of God
Part Three: Love the Lord Your God . . . with All Your
MIND
6. Having the Mind of Christ
7. Transformation of the Mind
Part Four: Love the Lord Your God . . . with All Your
STRENGTH
8. Focusing Your Energy
9. Growing Healthy Bodies
Part Five: Love Your NEIGBHOR As Yourself
10. Have Mercy for Those in Need
11. Love Those Who Would Do You Harm
12. Demonstrate Compassion: Loves Evidence
Appendix A: How Are We to Understand the Essential Commandment?
Appendix B: Building a Discipleship Ministry
Greg Ogden (D.Min., Fuller Theological Seminary) is executive pastor of discipleship at Christ Church of Oak Brook in Oak Brook, Illinois. Previously he was academic director of the doctor of ministry program and associate professor of lay equipping and discipleship at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. Prior to that he was a pastor for twenty-three years with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). He is the author of Discipleship Essentials and coauthor with Daniel Meyer of Leadership Essentials.
"The Essential Commandment could be a great resource for the
development of a church mission. I foresee immense usefulness in
the encouragement of outreach to communities with which all
churches are surrounded."
*Lyn Housen, Insights, November 2012*
 |
Ask a Question About this Product More... |
|
