Description: The goal of this book is for readers to experience a
personal encounter with the wisdom of Jesus found in Matthew 5-7. The
Sermon on the Mount has grown out of pastor James Mayfield's study and
struggles across the years as person, marriage partner, parent, pastor,
teacher, and writer. The primary guides for this book have been John
Chrysostom, Augustine of Hippo, Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Wesley,
and Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Because there are forty chapters, the book is
well suited for Lent, but it is not limited to that season.
Endorsements: ""The Spirit of God works through the teachings of Jesus,
weaving, binding, penetrating, healing, provoking, correcting,
reminding, reconciling. Jim Mayfield's forty reflections are for those
who want more than sound-bite, tip-for-the-day Christianity. He helps us
delve more deeply and invites us to know God more intimately by sifting
life experience through the wisdom of Jesus. Great for personal daily
devotion or to stimulate group conversation about matters of life and
faith!"" -Robert Schnase Author of Five Practices of Fruitful
Congregations Bishop of the United Methodist Church ""Mayfield's book is
infused not only with the wisdom of Jesus, but also with his own
considerable wisdom accrued and intentionally nurtured in the course of
his rich ministry and faithful life. He writes as pastor, scholar,
husband, father, and friend--inviting us to partner with him in
reflecting, again, on Jesus' most well-known teachings. His stated hope
for the book is that readers may 'experience a personal encounter with
the wisdom of Jesus.' Certainly each of his forty chapters provides us
with the opportunity to do so. Suggested for use as a Lenten study, each
chapter ends with study questions that can be used to guide group
discussion or to deepen personal reflection. Mayfield's book, in this
regard, is as useable as it is profound."" -Cynthia L. Rigby W.C. Brown
Professor of Theology Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary ""Jim
Mayfield is a wise pastor who makes the message of Jesus accessible to
all seekers of wisdom and truth. His pastoral experiences have brought
him into contact with a vast array of political views and personal
beliefs. His spiritual insight connects those experiences with meeting
Jesus. Decades ago, Paul Scherer defined the Bible as a place to meet
God. In this book, Jim Mayfield has managed to demonstrate how powerful
that meeting can be."" -William B. Lawrence, Dean Professor of American
Church History Perkins School of Theology About the Contributor(s):
James L. Mayfield is a retired United Methodist Pastor. While serving as
pastor he also taught at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary and
served one year as Chaplain of the Senate of the State of Texas.
