The Jesus Lectures-4

How to Best Express Godly Love

By: Daniel Lyle

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

What if Jesus returned not yet for the final Rapture, but just to do a quick, interim inspection of his followers? What would he say about how they love their neighbors?

“How to Best Express Godly Love” is the fourth of an imagined series of ten speeches given in the first person by Jesus, focused on the efforts of modern-day Christians. Short excerpts found in the Bible concerning entering and remaining in God’s Kingdom are expanded. Additional details are based on expert translations, authoritative Bible commentaries, and historical accounts. Although still closely adhering to the first-century Gospels, these talks extrapolate into our modern-day, complex world.

If you are comfortable with your present understanding of Jesus or are fully satisfied with the doctrines taught by your particular Christian group, you may find parts of these fictional lectures uncomfortable or even offensive. However, if you have a deep love for the Biblical Jesus, wish to delve deeper into His thinking, and long to move ever closer to God, you may find these discourses both intriguing and thought-provoking.

“The Jesus Lectures-4” challenges Christians’ present-day understanding of the following seven topics: 1) a Priest, Levite, Samaritan, and Lawyer; 2) the Foundation of Reality; 3) a Loud Beggar; 4) Raising the Dead; 5) Riding on a Donkey; 6) Glorification by Defeat; and 7) a Fine Pair of Sandals. Although conversational and friendly, centered around “folksy” stories and dramatic confrontations, this first-person lecture moves far beyond accepted traditions and standard sermons. Jesus enlightens us all on how to demonstrate our love to skeptics.

As with many other fictional depictions of Jesus found in books, music, art, and movies, “The Jesus Lectures-4” should be “taken with a grain of salt.” Rather than starting from a set of doctrines taught by some particular Christian group, lecture #4 instead focuses entirely on the time-honored, validated texts of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. As such, descriptions and elaborations may differ from officially sanctioned interpretations. Readers are free to discard what’s not useful for them, while treasuring any new “nuggets” of wisdom.

The author’s intent is not to create controversy, but to deepen our appreciation for Jesus’ transcendent first-century teachings. Rather than advocating a fresh list of rigid Rules, “The Jesus Lectures-4” explains dynamic Principles for each of us proving our love for God.