Life Together By Dietrich Bonhoeffer Essay

The actions that people make around us can help us succeed as a society. In The Book of Martha, Martha’s actions helped solve a huge problem that humanity faced: greed. The human mind is capable of experiencing many emotions, and though we try to avoid negative emotions, there are times when we are victims to our own mind. In reality, humans have more negative characteristics other than greed. By practicing religion, one can find a way to better themselves. Our community and society revolves around our belief of a higher being. Through the teachings of God, we make decisions that will benefit our society. A way in which people practice their religion is by attending mass, held at a church. The church that I decided to visit is called, “The Parish of Santa Rosa,” in which I got the chance to interview one of the Pastors.

It is both an unarguable and undesirable fact that we live in a society completely remote from our fellow man. There is no longer a sense of community between friends and neighbors — no brotherhood in the presence of coworkers in the commercial workplace. Even the higher, spiritual presence that had once bound together all things in worship and praise has faltered in the face of this profound apathy. It is not that mankind has lost its ability to communicate — modern technology provides us with the ability to speak to one another over tremendous lengths and sustain friendships in staggering amounts. The reason for this chasm of communal indifference stems from man's lost desire to understand one another, as well as the divine presence around

So much of society seems to live his/her life on a sort of self-serving autopilot mode. Rarely does one stop to think how or why he/she is making certain decisions or how these decisions can affect his/her life in the future. Often times, it is not until one has a “string of bad luck” or something tragic happens in one’s life, when he/she will turn to Jesus for help “getting them through this problem” only to return to one’s self-centered ways once his/her life has returned to normal. Living life with a Christian worldview is not something that one can take off a shelf and use when needed and allow it to collect dust on that shelf the rest of the time. This paper will discuss the many parts that make

Dietrich Bonhoeffer explains a variety of topics about the reformation of the church in his book on Life Together. Something that was very powerful for me while reading this great work is the power of silence for Bonhoeffer. He explains the importance of listening. The ability to be silent while a brother or sister of Christ is speaking is very powerful. Listening to God through people is something that I have been battling in church recently. Based on Bonhoeffer, Life Together, I have learned how important to listen to my brothers and sisters in Christ because it would be the same to listen to God.

What does Christian community really mean? Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Faith in Community by Dietrich Bonhoeffer gives insight into what Christians relationships were designed to be like. The main theme Bonhoeffer explores is Christ in the Christian community under the Word of God. Bonhoeffer explains God’s gift of community by arguing the following: “It is grace, nothing but grace, that we are allowed to live in community with Christian brethren” (Bonhoeffer, 1978, p. 20). In addition the author adds, “Christian community is like the Christian’s sanctification. It is a gift of God, which we cannot claim. Only God knows the real state of our fellowship, of our sanctification” (p. 30). Overall Life Together is biblically

In a world that does not know the Gospel anymore, we must indulge in it, and love our fellow community though they may not share similar values, but find balancing in still remaining in our own values. Though many of times we find ourselves in opposition of the majority of the world, we must exude Christ love onto others as He does to us unconditionally. The author addresses ways in which we are able to live out our faith and still find a place within our community though they may not share similar values.

Our love for Christ binds us together like brothers with a spiritual connection. The street

The primitive illiterate life of believers required an interdependence that few experience in North America today. Sharing homes, foods, water, and relying on one another for work was the structure of life at the time. The benefit of this life was the “forced” community it created. While today many believers are independently secure and provided for, the sense of community is less apparent. Reclaiming communal aspect of discipleship will be beneficial because it is the biblical design of discipleship as the Acts narrative and epistles

The Christian classic, Life Together, by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, is a book where he outlines his experiences as a Christian pastor and theologian training young pastors in Finkenwalde Seminary and of the Brothers House. Bonhoeffer also details the essential principles needed for Christian fellowship, gleaned in the backdrop of the pre-war German underground. Dietrich treatise helps answer questions about community in Christian life; he believed that God bestows brotherhood upon us for a reason especially under illegality. His Christian message is clear: “Without Christ there is discord between God and man and between man and man…. Christ opened up the way to God and to our brother.”

Over the years, many models have been developed and implemented to endeavor to make disciples. Some of the models have been effective and others have not. Among some of the most biblical and efficient models are the ones that involve small groups. Within the small groups models, they can be broken down into further detail, such as pastoral involvement, the church’s goal, missions mindedness, etc. In this paper, I will explain my philosophy of small groups in a church and the importance of the relational group in authentic disciple making. I will also explain how missional groups can help the body of Christ move out into the community. Finally, I will summarize my status in regards to living in community with other believers and being missional with that community.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer remained faithful to God throughout the Shoah and believed that his faith in God directed him to take part in a conspiracy with the motive to remove Hitler from power and later assassinate him. He did not blame God for the Shoah and instead stated “He is weak and powerless in the world, and that is precisely the way, the only way, in which he is with us and helps us. [The Bible] … makes quite clear that Christ helps us, not by virtue of his omnipotence, but by virtue of his weakness and suffering. … The Bible directs man to God’s powerlessness and suffering; only the suffering of God can help.” Bonhoeffer undertook the role of a double agent and assisted Jewish people in escaping Nazi persecution. It can be assumed that

Given the proper investment of time and effort, this book will assist any believer in both repairing their interpersonal relationships as well as assisting in the eternal redemption of others. Thompson once convinced of the validity of this patter, both re-thought and re-taught everything he was doing in the field of evangelism. The pattern consists of seven concentric circles that represent seven different levels of relationships. Beginning with one’s self moving progressively outward through family, relatives, friends, neighbors and associates, acquaintances to person X (that unexpected kingdom connection). The author then leads the reader through a seven step process that helps insure that each relationship is whole and accessible to the Holy Spirits uninterrupted flow. That process begins with getting right. This encompasses the clearing of past offenses, getting right with God, yourself and others as mentioned in Matthew 5:23-24. The readers is then led to precede to survey existing relationships. This helps to determine those previously overlooked opportunities to share Christ love. Thirdly, we are to assume a posture of prayer, allowing God’s Holy Spirit to work in and through us in intercession and reconciliation. The fourth step in the process is the building of relational bridges into the lives of those God has revealed to us. These bridges are reinforced by step five, the showing of God’s love

Paul was in an uncertain and trial-filled position. Yet he is the one encouraging the church to have hope, joy and peace. He virtually demands the members to feel triumphant: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” Paul, who is suffering in prison, pleads with the Philippians: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything Have joy and peace within because these are fruits of the Holy Spirit living within us (Galatians 5:22). So Paul tells the

Born in 1906 in Germany and hung in 1945, renowned theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer has been known as a pastor, an accused assassin, an anti-Nazi dissident, a key founding member of the Confessing Church, and a modern theological writer with no equal. Perhaps one of his most famous works is “Life Together” a personal meditation of the nature of the modern-day Christian community. Naturally, as the title suggests, the main theme of the book is life together as Christians under the Word of God. In the first chapter of the book, Bonhoeffer establishes his thesis, drawing upon examples and passages from the Bible to explain how we are supposed to live together, specifically explaining the role of Christ in our community. Bonhoeffer professes that

In The Cost of Discipleship, Dietrich Bonhoeffer describes how he believes one must live in order to be a true disciple of Christ. He covers various points of contention within the Christian faith to illustrate how one might follow “the concrete call of Christ” (92). One of Bonhoeffer’s overlaying principles involves the concept of humility. He says that “it is imperative for the Christian to receive renunciation, to practice self-effacement, to distinguish his life from the life of the world” (46). Furthermore, he says that “only when we have become completely oblivious of self are we ready to bear the cross for his sake” (97). Bonhoeffer paints a picture of complete and utter self-denial. As a genuine follower of Christ, we must reject our worldly vocations and aspirations while keeping our eyes firmly fixed upon the cross.