John Dickson
"Our Good Crisis is exactly the kind of Christian book we need more of—one that examines the text of Scripture carefully while listening to the anxieties of our age with sympathy. By applying this approach to the Beatitudes, the opening lines of the Sermon on the Mount, Jonathan Dodson achieves something wonderful. He encourages believers to live faithfully amid our moral and technological complexities, and he helps doubters imagine what it would be like to take Christ's ancient wisdom seriously today."
Hannah Anderson
"It's easy enough to see the impending crises brought about by our technical, data-driven age; it's harder to believe that these difficulties present us with an opportunity for self-reflection, and yes, even spiritual growth. In Our Good Crisis, Jonathan K. Dodson guides us back to the ancient wisdom of the Sermon on the Mount, showing readers how the Beatitudes can lead us to blessing even in—especially in—the modern age. Confronting everything from our propensity to outrage to our fixation with self to our comfort addictions, Our Good Crisis reveals Jesus' words to be as good news to us today as they were to those who first heard them."
Russell Moore
"The Beatitudes can be intimidating to Christians, and more so the more we know what they mean. This book provides fresh and honest insight into the beauty and glory of these words of the kingdom. Whatever crisis you may face now or in the future, I pray this book will reframe for you what it means to be 'blessed.'"
Jen Oshman
"Our Good Crisis is a compass, drawing the reader back to our true north, to God himself. As we walk across the ever-changing landscape of our age, Dodson reminds us of the never-changing goodness of the Beatitudes. God in heaven is the source of virtue, of all that's good, of the very remedy needed for the crises we see in the world and in ourselves. This meditation on the Beatitudes will nourish your soul and exhort you to walk with Jesus, living out his kingdom here on earth, by the power of his Spirit."
Jon Tyson
"Jonathan has written an important book for followers of Jesus in our divided and hostile culture. Brimming with theological insight, genuine hope, and a beautiful way forward for these confusing times, I believe this book will greatly improve our credibility as disciples in the world."
David F. Wells
"A keen look beneath the frenzied surface of our modern world to see what lurks there—how people think, both about themselves and their world. It is these attitudes that are here brought face-to-face with the truth of the Beatitudes. This book is direct and helpful."
John Starke
"We are in an age where the performance of the self is more important than the reality of the self, creating what Dodson calls a crisis of the good. Jesus' words, then, in Matthew 5 can feel alien to us—otherworldly. They demand that the inner self be the chief concern, rather than how the world sees us. Near the end of his book Jonathan Dodson writes, 'Each Beatitude inspires and challenges us at once.' That's true and it's also true of Dodson's book. Each chapter is both compelling and exposing."
Collin Hansen
"I can't think of a more encouraging and challenging way to spend our time than to dwell on these famous words of Jesus. Jonathan Dodson will help you understand their revolutionary meaning and also apply Jesus' teaching for our cultural moment."
Allen Yeh
"Pastor Jonathan Dodson poignantly unpacks the perennial truths of the greatest sermon of all time, revealing its ancient wisdom for our morally confused times. Replete with real-world examples, both historical and contemporary, this book offers a compelling countercultural solution to our moral crisis grounded in Jesus' upside-down kingdom."
Ivan Valdez
"Reflecting on secular and nonsecular thinkers, Jonathan does an amazing job of pointing us to the message that brings about true human flourishing. This book will challenge and encourage you to boldly live out your faith. This is a must read!"
From the Publisher
"Our Good Crisis is exactly the kind of Christian book we need more of--one that examines the text of Scripture carefully while listening to the anxieties of our age with sympathy. By applying this approach to the Beatitudes, the opening lines of the Sermon on the Mount, Jonathan Dodson achieves something wonderful. He encourages believers to live faithfully amid our moral and technological complexities, and he helps doubters imagine what it would be like to take Christ's ancient wisdom seriously today."
--John Dickson, author and historian, senior lecturer in public Christianity, Ridley College, Melbourne, Australia
"It's easy enough to see the impending crises brought about by our technical, data-driven age; it's harder to believe that these difficulties present us with an opportunity for self-reflection, and yes, even spiritual growth. In Our Good Crisis, Jonathan K. Dodson guides us back to the ancient wisdom of the Sermon on the Mount, showing readers how the Beatitudes can lead us to blessing even in--especially in--the modern age. Confronting everything from our propensity to outrage to our fixation with self to our comfort addictions, Our Good Crisis reveals Jesus' words to be as good news to us today as they were to those who first heard them."
--Hannah Anderson, author of All That's Good: Recovering the Lost Art of Discernment
"Our Good Crisis is a compass, drawing the reader back to our true north, to God himself. As we walk across the ever-changing landscape of our age, Dodson reminds us of the never-changing goodness of the Beatitudes. God in heaven is the source of virtue, of all that's good, of the very remedy needed for the crises we see in the world and in ourselves. This meditation on the Beatitudes will nourish your soul and exhort you to walk with Jesus, living out his kingdom here on earth, by the power of his Spirit."
--Jen Oshman, author of Enough About Me: Find Lasting Joy in the Age of Self
Library Journal
03/01/2020
Could Jesus's Beatitudes, as the opening section of his Sermon of the Mount, have any relevance to contemporary culture, where moral crises and changing values make it a very complex environment? This is a key question Dodson (Founding Pastor, City Life Church; The Unbelievable Gospel) considers in this latest book. He notes that Christianity is culturally different than it was a few decades ago, which can result in confusion and uncertainty. Dodson believes the Beatitudes can provide a kind of compass for believers by emphasizing key values and encouraging the development of personal virtue. He uses each of Jesus's eight Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1–12) to address different aspects of Christian character and behavior. Stories and illustrations help Dodson communicate clearly and effectively. Yet, it is evident that he has done significant research on the subject. While other books have been written on this topic, this book is somewhat unique owing to its emphasis on cultural analysis and virtue ethics. VERDICT A helpful resource for those interested in the Beatitudes and the Sermon on the Mount, as well as Christian ethics.—John Jaeger, Johnson Univ., Knoxville, TN
