No Nonsense Discipleship

by Bruce Guckelberg

"No Nonsense Discipleship: The Sermon on the Mount" is a challenge and call to the body of Christ to go back to the radical demands Jesus has for his disciples. There is no easy believe-ism for Jesus' followers. Discipleship isn't a recreational activity, hobby, part-time pursuit, or something that one does in her spare time. Being a disciple of Christ is about committing your whole life to following the Lord Jesus and living for his glory. Many books have been written on the Sermon on the Mount, so why another book on that topic? There are several reasons why I've chosen to write about Jesus' Sermon. First, we live in an age where discipleship is being watered down, commitment seems to be decreasing, and church attendance is on the decline. I believe that the modern-day church needs to recapture Jesus' no nonsense demands for discipleship. With Jesus, half-hearted commitments don't cut it. The life of discipleship that he advocates in his Sermon is vastly different than the easy believe-ism many churches are embracing today. Believers in Christ need to seriously consider the no nonsense requirements of discipleship that Jesus sets forth, and evaluate themselves to see if they are living as Jesus instructs them in his Sermon. Secondly, I consider the sermon to be Jesus' flagship teaching. If you want to gain insights about what Jesus was all about regarding his morals, ethics, righteous living, and what he expected from his disciples, the Sermon on the Mount is the place to go. Third, Jesus offers some of his most practical teaching about everyday life in the Sermon. He covers topics that hit home to everybody such as making a living, having correct priorities, not getting side-tracked with worldly pursuits and more. His teaching is practical for everyday life, not theoretical.Fourth, Jesus challenges people to make a decision about whether or not they will respond to the call for discipleship and become citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven. Reading Jesus' sermon will challenge the reader to make a decision regarding what they will do about Jesus. Will they respond in faith and become his committed disciple, or will they walk away in unbelief.There are many people who attend church regularly but appear to be living in a state of spiritual anemia. Jesus addressed this sort of situation in his Sermon. There are many people who think they are true believers, but in point of fact are not! Jesus also addressed this situation in his Sermon. For the long-time Christian or new believer this book will challenge you to consider the stringent demands Jesus has for his disciples.The religious leaders of Jesus' day were deluded into thinking that their righteousness was of a quality to ensure that they would be acceptable to God, however Jesus thought otherwise. Many people today walk in the same deluded sense of righteousness that was characteristic of many people in First Century Palestine. Jesus sets the record straight about what constitutes true righteousness that is pleasing to God.In my book I provide historical and cultural background to provide the reader with more insights into what the world of Jesus' day was like. This will enable one to gain more insights into each passage. The value of Jesus' teaching is that it is very practical in nature and hits the reader right where he lives. I've provided numerous applications and illustrations from everyday life to take the teaching of Jesus into our modern world so it is relevant to the contemporary reader. To gain deeper insights into each passage I examine some of the Greek words and grammar, but do so in a way that doesn't leave the reader confused thinking this is over his head. If you never studied Greek you will be able to understand what I've written in a clear and concise manner. It is my hope that a close reading of Jesus' instruction for discipleship may awaken a rigorous determination to follow Jesus.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1520651589
• ISBN13: 9781520651583
• Release Date: February 2017
• Publisher: Independently published
• Length: 299 Pages
• Weight: 1.14 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.8" x 6.0"