Encountering Jesus : How People Come to Faith and Discover Discipleship

In sixteen short but perceptive commentaries, Anthony J. Gittins recounts the experiences of various women and men from the New Testament--insiders and outsiders, people of substance and people regarded as sinners--whose lives were changed by an encounter with Jesus. Based on solid biblical scholarship but retold in language accessible to all and illuminated by the author's fresh perspective, these stories emphasize the way in which people come to faith and discover discipleship. Encountering Jesus presents New Testament figures in a new light and is perfect for both group study and personal reflection. Among the discipleship stories included are the healing of the paralytic from the Gospel of Mark, the healing of the Canaanite woman's daughter from Matthew, the conversion of Zacchaeus the tax collector from Luke, and the healing of the man born blind from John. Anthony J. Gittins writes: ""Typically, the stories demonstrate that there are often a number of stages or steps involved. The easiest way to identify them is to notice exactly what each person says, and in what sequence, during his or her encounter with Jesus. With the rare exception of someone immediately identifying Jesus with God... most people are a little slower.... Readers may look out for a three-step or four-step approach to faith, as a person moves to an even more specific identification of Jesus. It is an interesting, englightening, and sometimes surprising exercise."" Anthony J. Gittins, CSSp, is emeritus professor of theology and culture at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. Born in Manchester, England, he earned an MA and PhD from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. He was ordained a priest in 1967 and is an internationally recognized lecturer and retreat master. Father Gittins is the author of 18 books, including two previous works on the theology of discipleship: Encountering Jesus: How People Come to Faith and Discover Discipleship and A Presence That Disturbs: A Call to Radical Discipleship.