The Radical Invitation of Jesus

The book addresses the way we are able to understand the radical invitation of Jesus. The invitation is to those who heard Jesus in the first century, the intervening centuries, and those in the twenty-first century urging them to turn away from a life that is self-centered and to seek a life that is God-centered, accepting the reign of God in one's life rather than wealth, pleasure, power, and fame. Jesus says that we are to seek first the kingdom of God and all of our basic needs will be met, being transformed and finding meaning and purpose in our lives.The invitation is radical in that it calls on us to give up the accepted norms and values of our culture and world and give ourselves to a life of integrity and truthfulness, love and compassion, and justice and peace. We are invited to find our true identity, to be filled with and transformed by the God of love and to become one who is filled with grace and truth, as Jesus was.The heartfelt sincerity of Duncan's scholarship and insights resonates deeply inside of me. As a Muslim, I am profoundly inspired by this book to move beyond my ego and evolve into the fullness of my being; to live a God-centered life and engage fully in the social justice and earth care issues of our time.--Jamal Rahman, author of Spiritual Gems of IslamDuncan Ferguson has done the serious biblical and theological study required to unfold the depth and meaning of Jesus' radical call to discipleship, for Jesus' own day and for ours. This clearly written book will enrich the study of the life and teaching of Jesus in college and seminary classes and will challenge readers in the church to embrace Jesus' invitation to live out God's reign in their own lives.--Thomas F. Johnson, retired Professor of Bible and Theology, George Fox UniversityDuncan S. Ferguson has served in the church and higher education as a chaplain, professor, and senior level administrator. He received his PhD at the University of Edinburgh, and has had a deep commitment to teaching and writing across his career. His recent books are Lovescapes: Mapping the Geography of Love (2012), The Radical Teaching of Jesus (2016), and Mindful Spirituality: The Intentional Cultivation of the Spiritual Life (2018). He is currently engaged in several programs related to international peace and justice.