Rating: 
Summary: The Master Teacher Revealed
Review: "The Divine Conspiracy" takes Jesus seriously for what he claimed to be. He was a teacher. He was not just a nice teacher but a brilliant one. In this book Dallas Willard shows how this brilliant teacher illuminates life in a way no one else ever has. Willard penetrates to the genius of the teaching and uncovers the reasons why the lifestyle Jesus advocates fits best the real world we all live in. I have been reading religious literature for 25 years and have never read a book that stunned me and gripped me like this one has. It introduces the life of the "Kingdom of the heavens" in a way that is so warm and attractive that one can sense the truth of Willard's statement [p. xvii] that "The really good news for humanity is that Jesus is now taking students in the master class of life."
Rating:
Summary: the book of the century!
Review: Dr. Dallas Willard, philosophy professor at USC and contemporary exemplar of the spiritual life with Jesus of Nazareth, has masterfully explicated to us the nature, centrality and pragmatics of discipleship. If you wish to learn from the greatest christian teacher of the 20th century, you must get this book.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent book
Review: Of course, the only "must have" book is the Bible. But this is a book many Christians should read. In this book, Willard makes the case that Christians have missed the point of the gospel. Instead of being about forgiveness, or mercy, or something else it is about one thing: the Kingdom of God. And in the Kingdom of God, all those other points are found in harmony supporting the larger concept.In this book, Willard develops this idea and spends a lot of time trying to show you the Scriptural evidence for his view. I found it very compelling, and very sound. Some of his conclusions I may not totally agree with but I found this approach and way of seeing things very refreshing and liberating. Also, Willard is not a theologian per se. In fact, he is a philospher. So you'll see a philosophical style of writing. I personally like it. But you won't see the pandering style of writing that many modern Christian books employ. Willard treats you as an adult, and an intelligent one at that. It is nice to find an author who doesn't speak down to you.
Rating:
Summary: Learn how to transform your heart, your life
Review: This book is a treasure, the most valuable book I have ever read, not counting the Bible. I say this for the following reasons:
1) The author shatters common assumptions which "consumer" Christians have about Christ's teachings. He shatters these assumptions by explaining what Christ actually taught. For instance, our primary goal should not be to change our behavior, but rather to transform the inner life of the soul, from which behavior flows.
2) He explains the reality of the kingdom now, that we are to live actively in God's kingdom now.
3) In later chapters he explains, based on what Jesus did, and taught, how we can pursue the transformation of our inner being, and truly live in God's kindom now. I'm just scratching the surface of this book. It is based on and includes many scriptures, and includes many quotes from
great Christians throughout history. Most importantly for me, I have noticed a change in me since I've read the book and become an apprentice to Christ. I have a strong confidence in Christ that wasn't there before. I sense His presence, He's real. I could go on and on. I'm giving this book as a gift to people, and have recommended it to my bible study group. Blessings to you.
Rating:
Summary: Goes deep...but gives the credit to whom it belongs....
Review: Be prepared to search your soul...the journey is well worth the effort. If you savor this book and read for "understanding" of not only the words but of how they apply to your life. You will find yourself, examining exactly how you are living out God's purposes for your life. I HIGHLY recommend using the workbook as you read along, it will give you direction and guide you past the surface of yourself to find Him living in you...and how you can live in Him. I loved Purpose Driven Life (especially for the masses) by Rick Warren. Divine Conspiracy is all that and more...in fact read Purpose Driven Life first and then prepare to DIG DEEPER with Divine Conspiracy. Divine Conspiracy is Purpose Driven Life on Steroids. Dallas' work only enhances the one true book...the Bible.
Rating:
Summary: THE FIVE OF ALL FIVES!!
Review: This is the Five of all Fives. This book blew my mind. I realy should read it again and again and again. Anyone who desires to know what it really means to be a follower of Christ should read this book. This is the one of the Best Books I have ever read.
Rating:
Summary: Best Book I've Read . . . Ever
Review: Willard's style is not for the faint of heart. He is a philosophy professor, after all. That makes for a very precise, every-word-counts style. So prepare to take some time to work through this. But here's the deal: You will be MASSIVELY rewarded.
'The Divine Conspiracy' is quite simply the richest book on the spiritual life I've ever read. Willard walks through the Sermon on the Mount in a way that makes it absolutely come alive. After reading this, you realize Jesus was, indeed, 'the smartest man who ever lived.'
This book changed the way I look at life and the way I live my life. It would be incredibly difficult for me to string together enough superlatives to do this book justice; so I won't even try. Just know that a careful reading of this book is likely to transform you in incredibly significant ways.
Rating:
Summary: Goes deep...but gives the credit to whom it belongs....
Review: Be prepared to search your soul...the journey is well worth the effort. If you savor this book and read for "understanding" of not only the words but of how they apply to your life. You will find yourself, examining exactly how you are living out God's purposes for your life. I HIGHLY recommend using the workbook as you read along, it will give you direction and guide you past the surface of yourself to find Him living in you...and how you can live in Him. I loved Purpose Driven Life (especially for the masses) by Rick Warren. Divine Conspiracy is all that and more...in fact read Purpose Driven Life first and then prepare to DIG DEEPER with Divine Conspiracy. Divine Conspiracy is Purpose Driven Life on Steroids. Dallas' work only enhances the one true book...the Bible.
Rating:
Summary: The Divine Conspiracy: Rediscovering Our Hidden Life In God
Review: Deep waters so get out your waders and put on your thinking cap -- this is NOT trivial reading. But if you're serious about understanding the Christian life, the Divine Conspriracy is possibly THE book to read. Among many other things, Willard turns the common interpretation of the Sermon on the Mount, i.e., another set of standards we must attain to in order to please God, on its head. Contrary to what we've misunderstood, it is not a narrowing funnel of higher achievements we have to meet, but a real life illustration of who the kingdom is ALSO available to. In New Testament society the meek, the poor in spirit, etc. were looked down upon and considered "less than". Jesus points to these people and says, "No, blessed are these." Willard makes this so easy to see, you just want to sigh with relief. I also liked what he has to say about Jesus being the smartest man in the world. Willard's prose is beautiful and . . . he has a nutty sense of humor as well. You'll like the ending he coins for The Lord's Prayer.
Rating:
Summary: Certainly the Best Book I Have Ever Read
Review: My mother bought this book for me about a year ago when she attended a teacher's conference in California. She heard Willard speak and decided that since I was into philosophy, that she would buy it for me. I neglected to read the book until about a month ago. Since then I have found a book that has truly brought back joy into my life as a Christian. It is so easy, in this ungodly world that we live in, to only see your Christian walk as something that only gets you into heaven and forget the fact that Jesus tought us exactly what to do while we are waiting. Willard has constructed here a work that i would place on my shelf of honor along with C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity and Thomas A'Kempis' Imitation of Christ. This book is truly one of the classics in Christian literature. If you are a Christian already then don't let this great opportunity pass you by. This book will open your mind on how to be a direct apprentice to your King and Savior and bring untold amounts of joy into your life!
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