The Moral Teachings of Jesus

""With his eye on current trends in the church, and especially among young adults, David Gushee throws a lifeline to all who are hungry for something authentic, a return to Jesus' 'radical instruction' that calls Christians to shape and renew their own lives--spiritual and social--while confronting the challenges of a materialistic and increasingly amoral culture. The result is a welcoming introduction to the teachings of the one whose moral vision can still transform lives and cultures that will be ideal for both individual and group study."" --R. Alan Culpepper, dean and professor emeritus of New Testament, McAfee School of Theology, Mercer University ""What does Jesus really say about how his followers should live? Clearing the deck of polemical partisanship and free of cherry-picking soundbites from Scripture, David Gushee guides us through the four Gospels and shows us. He distills into forty succinct, reader-friendly, and academically sound chapters Jesus' radical moral message for living in harmony with God's ways. This book deserves a wide reading, not only among followers of the Christian path, but of those who have grown weary of its many distortions in the public sphere."" --Peter Enns, professor of biblical studies, Eastern University ""David Gushee offers us an insightful invitation to explore the principles and practical implications of the teachings of Jesus afresh. This is a compelling and much needed new resource for our time! While it stands to engage all who are curious about the teachings of Jesus, it's sure to equip the growing contingent of 'post-evangelical' Christians longing to embody a faithful witness as they follow Jesus in our time."" --Keri Ladouceur, co-founder and executive director, Post-Evangelical Collective ""As a biblical scholar who has delved deeply into Pauline ethics, I see David Gushee's The Moral Teachings of Jesus as an essential addition to the disciplines of Christian ethics and biblical scholarship. Gushee's engagement with the ethics of Jesus is a tour de force that invites the reader to radically reorder the ways that we engage the humanity of those that we often ignore. I look forward to assigning this text in my classes."" --Angela N. Parker, associate professor of New Testament and Greek, McAfee School of Theology, Mercer University ""This book has been a long time coming. David Gushee is an ethicist, a pastor, and a follower of Jesus--who is taken, challenged, and sometimes baffled by the moral teachings of Jesus. In this compact yet comprehensive volume, one senses an existential attention to his subject. It is, in equal measure, illuminating and unsettling."" --Ken Wilson, pastor emeritus, Blue Ocean Church ""In this timely and important book, David Gushee presents a compelling exploration of the teachings and example of Jesus, emphasizing their enduring relevance and radical nature for justice, the flourishing of all creation, and the reality of peace. Gushee's insightful analysis invites contemporary seekers around the world to engage deeply with Jesus' example and teachings, especially at a time when ethical considerations and moral conflicts challenge the fabric of our societies. I found it challenging and transformative. I highly recommend it!"" --Dion A. Forster, professor of public theology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam ""David Gushee--a crucial voice among theological ethicists--looks at familiar gospel stories with fresh eyes so as to interpret Jesus' moral teachings. Readable and accessible, Gushee seeks to counter the toxic Christianity prevalent among today's Christian nationalists by focusing on a Jesus who--along with so many today--reside on the margins."" --Miguel A. De La Torre, professor of social ethics and Latinx studies, Iliff School of Theology ""In The Moral Teachings of Jesus, David Gushee refocuses Christians on what matters most--the words and work of Christ. This book brings together a diverse variety of perspectives and theological disciplines in order to help the reader understand the words of Jesus in their fullness. I can't wait for this book to get in the hands of folks at our church. It is a game-changer."" --Zach W. Lambert, lead pastor, Restore Austin ""In Moral Teachings, David Gushee has provided a gift to the church and the academy. Using the teachings of Jesus, other biblical passages, and learnings from historical figures, Gushee articulates a radical ethical understanding that provides a moral compass for our current context. This biblically sound, theologically astute, and ethically relevant book should be mandatory reading in classrooms, congregations, and other faith communities."" --Grace Ji-Sun Kim, professor of theology, Earlham School of Religion