“Baptism is a call to come be citizens of Israel, to become part of God’s weird way of saving the world” (William H. Willimon & Stanley Hauerwas, Lord, Teach Us: The Lord’s Prayer and the Christian Life, 54).

“Perhaps the elusiveness of the kingdom is why most of Jesus’ teaching was teaching about the kingdom. Imagine a sermon that begins: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth (Matthew 5:3-5). Blessed are those who are unemployed, blessed are those suffering terminal illness, blessed are those who are going through marital distress. The congregation does a doubletake. Blessed? Fortunate? Lucky? What kind of world is this? . . . In this topsy-turvy place, our values are stood up on their head. Little in this kingdom comes naturally. It comes because God is in charge and because we are invited to be part of God’s rule” (William H. Willimon & Stanley Hauerwas, Lord, Teach Us: The Lord’s Prayer and the Christian Life, 55-56).

“There may be some faiths that detach the individual believer from concern about earthly matters, who strive to rise above outward, visible concerns like swords and shields, wine and bread, politics and power. Christianity is not one of those religions. We want you, body and soul. Indeed, we believe that your body is your soul. So we’ve got opinions about the way you spend your money, invest your time, cast your ballot” (William H. Willimon & Stanley Hauerwas, Lord, Teach Us: The Lord’s Prayer and the Christian Life, 52-53).

“Our goal is not to fill you with enough spiritual hot air to float you a foot above the earth. Our goal is to teach you to pray in such a way that material matters like politics and bread will be for you spiritual matters” (William H. Willimon & Stanley Hauerwas, Lord, Teach Us: The Lord’s Prayer and the Christian Life, 50).

“But the practices of Christianity are not to be despised because they are not saviors. Gold is not food, you cannot eat it, but you would not say it is useless and throw it away. Your soul’s eternal well-being most certainly does not depend on the practices of Christianity, but it is certain that without them, as a general rule, your soul will not do well. . . . No one but a fool would think of building a house without ladders and scaffolding, and just so, no wise man will despise means” (J. C. Ryle, Thoughts for Young Men, 75-76).

“We live as we pray” (William H. Willimon & Stanley Hauerwas, Lord, Teach Us: The Lord’s Prayer and the Christian Life, 49).

Special Rules for Young Men

• For one thing, resolve at once, by God’s help, to break off every known sin, however small.
• Resolve, by God’s help, to shun everything which may prove an occasion of sin.
• Resolve never to forget the eye of God.
• Be diligent in the practice of your Christianity.
• Resolve that wherever you are, you will pray.

*From J. C. Ryle’s Thoughts for Young Men (pp. 65-84).

“The Lord’s Prayer is like a bomb ticking in church, waiting to explode and demolish our temples to false gods” (William H. Willimon & Stanley Hauerwas, Lord, Teach Us: The Lord’s Prayer and the Christian Life, 47).

“There is no telling the harm that is done by associating with godless companions and friends. . . . You must remember, we are all creatures of imitation: precept may teach us, but it is example that draws us” (J. C. Ryle, Thoughts for Young Men, 60).