Jake's Thoughts

     Reading what Bonhoeffer has to say about ministry was quite interesting and insightful. I thought that he has done a good job at tying in ministry to what he talked about in the rest of the book as well. There is so much to ministry and I believe that we must take that seriously as Christians. I believe that Pastors and all Christians, no matter their calling, should take it very seriously and other believers should be holding them to that.      One of the things that Bonhoeffer talks about is the ministry of listening. For me, something that stuck out to me the most in this section was this quote, “There is a kind of listening with half an ear that presumes already to know what the other person has to say. It is an impatient, inattentive listening, that despises the brother and is only waiting for a chance to speak and thus get rid of the other person” (pg. 98). I often catch myself doing this. I am not going into ministry myself as a pastor (at lea...

     This week Bonhoeffer touched on something that is very deep and near to my heart. It is something that I struggle with and did not even think about it this way until after reading this chapter. On page 76 he says, “The person who comes into a fellowship because he is running away from himself is misusing it for the sake of diversion, not matter how spiritual this diversion may appear” (pg 76). Compared to previous chapters, this one really convicted me. The other ones made me think hard, but this one was completely different. It really showed me the level of my weakness.      For a long time, I have struggled with lustful temptations and desires and have often fallen to them. It still goes on today. After reading this chapter, it helped me realize what I do when I am struggling with this sin. I will often go hang out in a spiritual setting and allow the idea of that setting help me pull away from my sin instead of my relationship with God. I am also ...

     This week’s reading caught my eye because I am a huge quality time type of guy and love community with my brothers and sisters in Christ. Community in the church and community outside of the church often gets confused or looked at as the same. It is not. There is a blatant difference between relationships with a fellow believer and a relationship with a non-believer. Both are important, but one has more aspects and a greater meaning. Our relationship with a non-believer will be for the strong reason of spreading the Gospel and encouraging them to follow Christ. It is so different with a believer.      When we are in relation with a non-believer, we do not get much of anything that truly matters. We might show them love but get a different outcome from them in return. That is different with a fellow believer. Bonhoeffer says on page 22, “Our righteousness is an ‘alien righteousness,’ a righteousness that comes from outside of us (extra nos)”. Believer...