Discipleship

Themes Bonhoeffer picks up the theme of obedience from the previous chapter and expands it in this chapter. The central idea is that Christians have taken a simple obedience to Jesus’ commands and have turned them into something highly complex but ultimately meaningless. We do this through a variety of justifications—that Jesus intended us to […]

Themes Bonhoeffer pulls apart the question of how we are supposed to respond to Jesus’ call to discipleship. Though this seems like something that should be straightforward, he argues that we get it wrong most of the time. Using the pericope of the three people who sought to be Jesus’ disciples (see Bible passage above

Themes Bonhoeffer lays out the central problem Christianity faced in the world, the conflict of cheap grace versus costly grace. Cheap grace, in his view, is the grace proclaimed widely and abundantly by the church: the justification of sin presupposed by a grace that cannot be earned through human action or devotion. It is grace

As you read Bonhoeffer’s writing, take your time. His writing is beautiful, delightful, and poignant, and it is theological writing. Unlike reading a novel, his words are meant to be chewed on, read and reread as you take in their meaning. You cannot rush through this book, pace yourself. Expect to take an hour or