A life-changing guide to being formed like Jesus What does Jesus teach us about spiritual formation? Ultimately, this is the question motivating the practice of the classical spiritual disciplines. Many of the spiritual masters that we look to today offer great insights on various aspects of the Christian faith journey. Their words speak to us of union with God, transformation, and purpose. But behind these worthy goals stands Jesus, shaped himself by the ancient Jewish creed for spiritual formation, the Shema. This creed expresses that Israel is to love God with heart, soul, and strength. Jesus amended that creed of Judaism for his very own followers and so gave to them a creed for spiritual formation: they are to love God and to love others. In this practical, story-filled, witty, and illuminating volume, Scot McKnight gives Christians an opportunity to walk alongside Jesus as he teaches the Jesus Creed of love of the Father and love of others.

"Amid a sea of books on Christian spiritual formation, McKnight, professor of religious studies at North Park University in Chicago, brings us a simple, highly readable one focused on the weightiest teaching of Jesus: love God and love others as yourself. The 'Jesus Creed' of the title is a trimmed down version of the Shema of Judaism (Deut. 6:4 — 9), which declares we are to love God with all our being, amended to include caring for one's neighbor as oneself (Lev. 19:18). Packed with vivid and touching stories — from the Bible, history and the author's life — this book covers important aspects of what it means to love God and others. McKnight shows great respect for the Jewish heritage of Jesus and offers readers scholarly, yet highly accessible, illustrations of the sociocultural landscape of first-century Palestine. The book is slim on doctrine, making no comment on the thorny theological squabbles that divide many Christians. That's refreshing for the reader tired of the squabbling, but may leave others wondering what love does require in certain difficult situations. Still, this book is an excellent introduction to Christian spirituality. Its pages glow with compassion, generosity and the invitation to understand what was important to Jesus and what is crucial for Christianity." Publishers Weekly (Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information, Inc.)