For a book, I would select 1 Peter to teach Christian living; mainly because Peter so strongly links a wide range of truths about Jesus to all kinds of aspects of his audience’s lives. I have seen people really changed once they got their heads around Peter’s lines of reasoning.
For a single passage, I would select Colossians chapter 1 because of the direct link Paul makes between hearing and believing the gospel message and living out the love. He then outlines a very “big” picture of that gospel message.

Scot,
I agree. We took a group of students through the first book, A Good and Beautiful God, last semester. It was well done and impactful. I recommend the series for small groups! I just received a copy of this book on Monday and am looking forward to working through it. I have the privilege of reading through his third book on community, as he is writing, and making some comments. A communications prof at Sterling is a close friend of Jim’s. Hope you are well. – Joellen

The Sermon on the Mount was served up to me in several diverse ways in my Christian journey. Early on, it was practically absent from my New Testament because the Sermon on the Mount was about life in the millennium and we ain’t there yet. Later, the SOTM was packaged as moralisms, i.e., a new set of “laws” to guide a good, moral Christian life. Dallas Willard introduced me to the idea that the SOTM is not prescriptive laws, but simply descriptive of the people and way of life within God’s loving reign…now; not way off in the future millennium.
I think the SOTM is a classic text from which to build a vision of kingdom living in this now/not yet era.

Does my choice of Ecclesiastes reflect too pessimistic an outlook on life? It certainly approaches the question of Christian living from the “what doesn’t work” side. Yet, it clearly captures the futility of life apart from God, while showing the timelessness and universality of humans struggling to find meaning and purpose.

Two of the most transformational books I’ve read about Christian living have highlighted the Sermon on the Mount: DB’s “(The Cost of) Discipleship” and Brian McLaren’s “The Secret Message of Jesus.” So I would say Smith is in good company, and indeed it sounds like this book is along the same lines as SMoJ.

I think 1 Corinthians 13 gets to the heart of how a Christian should reflect their faith through their lives.
It is, after all, “the most excellent way”

The Sermon on the Mount would be my choice for a foundational text. I just finished Richard Rohr’s book, Jesus’ Plan for a New World, a very helpful treatment of the Sermon on the Mount, and, as I read it, I thought: I’d like to read this with others. I don’t have Smith’s book (yet), but I like the way he incorporates “soul exercises” and stresses the importance of community to spiritual transformation. Thanks for introducing the Apprentice Series to me.

I would offer Ephesians 4.17-5.21, but even better Colossians 3.1-17. Of course, Jesus’ words to love God and love our neighbor says it all in a very concise way. BCK: I got a kick (and a mental jump start) from your suggestion of Ecclesiastes. Who knows? That may be the way to go, particularly for some personalities.

I don’t think the Sermon on the Mount is necessarily the logical starting place. It puts flesh on the ethical thrust of the Christian life, but doesn’t provide a comprehensive framework, nor does it address some of the theologically and chronologically prior truths, attitudes, and activities of the Christian life.
Colossians 1:9-14 is where I’d start. This message lays out the logical flow of the passage as it relates to the means and end of the Christian life. The passage is a gem.

I’m gonna have to go with Romans 12 as a model for Christian life. Maybe a more pragmatic perspective. I’ve enjoyed several podcasts on Matthew 5 and 6 in recent months opening new thoughts on my existing understanding. But as I help to develop/disciple new leaders – people leaning into a deeper, comprehensive, Christ-like life – Romans 12 hits the mark.

Aren’t those narratives too simplistic?
Aren’t we alone in some sense? Kicked out of the garden?
Don’t we have some control? Does it have to be either “I am in control” or “Jesus is in control”?
The narratives idea is great, but they have to be accurate. I think we are better servants if we help people cope and deal, say, with loneliness rather than telling them that it is not real.
Otherwise, great article! Good luck on your sermon series!

“False narratives’ – I call them lies from the pit of hell — in fact, have a book in my computer that I need to publish called – Go To Hell, Telling Lies to go back where they came from.

Interestingly, as I have prepped to teach Matthew 5-7 I have wondered about its “key to life” qualities. Although not coming off as a commentary, I’m glad that you have brought this book to our attention today. In preparing to teach through the Sermon on the Mount I’ve been wondering about beneficial reference or frame of reference material. It sounds as if this would be a great read for a helpful big picture perspective?!
Scot or others, any other suggested resources specifically related to the Sermon on the Mount have more of a third-way trajectory or certainly directed away from the take as Christian morality laws? This book should prove interesting in that, unfortunately, the “new law” is much of my experience and in fact, the way I approached the text years and years ago when I last taught it. Scot, your forthcoming commentary (2011), as I recall, is to be on the Sermon on the Mount isn’t it? Anything that helps to fill the gap in the interim? (Poor timing on my part in teaching this now… {sigh.})
I’m very glad to be introduced to this book and series.

Gotta Say that I think Philippians 2 is where I would start. What Paul says there seems to lay the ground for everything else in terms of posture and action.

Terry @13,
Dallas Willard’s “Divine Conspiracy” is my suggestion.
Michael @14,
I think yours is the best of some very good suggestions. A friend of mine recently said, “God is the source of humility.” Ponder that.
Dana