The School of Discipleship (15): Learning from Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s book, “The Cost of Discipleship”

What can we learn from Bonhoeffer's book, The Cost of Discipleship? This book was first published when Bonhoeffer was only 31 years old. Page references are to the edition I was using at the time I wrote these notes. I've included the page references. It will give you a rough idea of the part of …

Learning from Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s death

To the end, Bonhoeffer showed remarkable courage and compassion. The day before his execution was a Sunday. The prisoners were permitted to have a service, with Bonhoeffer as the minister. He spoke on "the Scripture passages for the day": "Through his stripes, we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5) and "Blessed be the God and Father of …

Berkouwer on Bonhoeffer

Berkouwer’s discussion of christology and theodicy refers to insights from theologians of different eras – Paul, Luther, Calvin, Barth, Bonhoeffer, Moltmann (‘A Half Century of Theology’, pp. 254-257). The lessons he draws from this analysis are profound: ‘ … what is involved is not a theoretical answer to the enigma of evil … but an …

Dietrich Bonhoeffer: a witness of Jesus Christ

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was German by birth and nationality, but he was utterly and completely opposed to the Nazi regime. When Bonhoeffer spoke the words, “When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die”, he was doing more than emphasizing Christ’s call to take up the cross daily. In a very literal sense, he …

Dietrich Bonhoeffer: A witness of Jesus Christ

Bonhoeffer died because of his refusal to compromise, his refusal to depart from the path of following Jesus Christ. Long before the Second World War began, Bonhoeffer was a marked man. On January 30th 1933, Hitler came to power. The following day, Bonhoeffer gave a broadcast talk over the Berlin radio network. Before it was …