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The Cost of Discipleship (Dietrich Bonhoeffer Works #4)

4.33 of 5 stars 4.33 · rating details · 10,704 ratings · 423 reviews

One of the most important theologians of the twentieth century illuminates the relationship between ourselves and the teachings of Jesus What can the call to discipleship, the adherence to the word of Jesus, mean today to the businessman, the soldier, the laborer, or the aristocrat? What did Jesus mean to say to us? What is his will for us today? Drawing on the Sermon on t...more

Paperback, 320 pages

Published September 1st 1995 by Touchstone (first published 1937)

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May 05, 2012 Dwight Davis rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I went into Discipleship thinking that I would really hate it. I love the early academic theology of Bonhoeffer, and I'm really interested in Bonhoeffer studies, but I figured that a book couldn't be that interesting and ground breaking if so many evangelicals love it (and especially not if Rick Warren wrote a book about it). I was so wrong.

Bonhoeffer puts forth a lot of very radical ideas here. The idea of the Church being the physical manifestation of Christ, and therefore vicariously represen...more

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May 18, 2011 booklady rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: EVERYONE!

Shelves: 2010, 2011, classic, prayer, non-fiction, religion, scripture, spiritual, theology, worth-reading-over-and-over, favorites

Listened to the audio version of this book and found it very compelling. It challenged me in ways I didn't know I needed challenging, which is why it earns 5 stars from me. As a lifelong cultural Catholic and for the last twenty years (or so) actively striving-to-be-Christlike Catholic, I need books which help me to look at my faith from a fresh perspective.

Bonhoeffer's eclectic approach to the Gospels reminds me very much of his German compatriot and one of my other favorite authors, Pope Bened ...more

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Dec 30, 2009 Sandy Ferguson rated it 5 of 5 stars

Where does one begin?
This is a book that will profoundly change your understanding about what it means to be a person of faith in the world. Bonhoeffer challenges us to look beyond the values of this world, and asks us are we willing to embrace the true cost of discipleship? His analysis of cheap grace, and its corrupting influence reminds us that there are times that we have to challenge the powers of this world, that there are times when to be a good Christian means we can't always be a good c...more

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May 07, 2013 Paul Mullen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Having read Eric Mataxus's brilliant biography of Bonhoeffer... 5 stars... skip this review... go read the biography... I had to read more of what Bonhoeffer wrote. It is tough reading. Good food, but vegetables when my brain occasionally wanted chocolate!

The book is divided into 5 sections:

1) Grace and discipleship
2) The Sermon on the Mount
3) The messengers
4) The Church of Jesus Christ and the life of discipleship

The book is worth your time if you're interested in deepening in discipleship. Se...more

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Jan 08, 2013 Joy rated it 4 of 5 stars

My Tuesday Bible study has been discussing this book over the past several months. We enjoyed the book and our time together so much that we didn't even take a summer break. Several of us read the Eric Metaxis book on Bonhoeffer's life, so that was helpful in putting Bonhoeffer's thoughts into the context of the life he was living in Nazi Germany. It was encouraging to see that there were believers who discerned early the evil of Hitler. The Bonhoeffer family was very prominent, yet not Christia...more

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Dec 28, 2012 Natalie Wickham rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: christian-living, classic-literature

Ever since reading the remarkable Bonhoeffer biography by Eric Metaxas last year, I’ve been eager to read more of Bonhoeffer’s own writings. Discipleship is of particular interest to me, so I decided to start with this book. As was alluded to in the biography, the book deals not primarily with the concept of discipleship in regards to discipling others, but primarily with the individual’s role and responsibilities as a disciple of Christ. I copied down many excerpts from various chapters, but es...more

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Oct 24, 2012 Jonathan Woodward rated it 3 of 5 stars

Within the first few pages of the first chapter, I fell in love with this book. The first chapter, entitled “Costly Grace,” caught me hook, line, and sinker. This is not to say, however, that Bonhoeffer keeps me fastened to his words. Actually, quite the opposite happens. I find that his thoughts become repetitive, and unnecessarily provocative. Themes are repeated over and over. This is not to say that The Cost of Discipleship does not offer a good read, rather it was unnecessarily repetitive i...more

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Oct 22, 2012 Eli Mostrales rated it 5 of 5 stars

In this book, Bonhoeffer coined the term cheap grace. Justification by grace alone is arrived at as the answer to a sum, not as the initial data in man's spiritual quest; here is a relevant quotation from the book:

At the end of a life spent in the pursuit of knowledge Faust has to confess:

"I now do see that we can nothing know."

That is the answer to a sum, it is the outcome of a long experience. But as Kierkegaard observed, it is quite a different thing when a freshman comes up to the university...more

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Sep 22, 2011 Emily Woodham rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: theology

I loved this book! Some passages were more difficult than others, but I found it to be time well spent to think through what Bonhoeffer had to say.

I disagree with some of Bonhoeffer's pacifist views. He mentioned that he differs from the Reformers on those points, and I think I'd side more with them. Considering that he was a part of the plot to assassinate Hitler, I'd be interested to know how he reconciled the plot with what he proposes in The Cost. I am reading his biography by Metaxas, and...more

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May 08, 2011 Will Waller rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: classic, non-fiction, religious

The cost of discipleship was an important one for me-turned a new corner with this one. Here are some of my notes from it:

The seemingly dischotomous problem of the clals to faith through grace with the call to obedience as well.
* they are not divorced but are united--the story of Peter and the boat.
* he must be called to obey -- they faith in Jesus exists and he obeys the call to it.
* to the sinner who struggles with faith he must obey Jesus' way then he will find faith.

Story of the young ric...more

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Jan 27, 2011 John Martindale rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: christian, classics, audiobook

This is an important book, addressing an unintended result of the reformation, which was a wide spread attitude that "I can do whatever I want and live my own life, because I'm covered by his grace." This what he calls "cheap grace". Bonhoeffer is insistent that without active obedience there is no faith and without faith there is no obedience, the two are intertwined. That grace cost Jesus and it cost us everything, but the exchanged is good (our worthless life for His eternal life) There were...more

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Jul 23, 2011 Kurt rated it 1 of 5 stars

I just don't see the appeal of this book. In the opening pages, Bonhoeffer introduces readers to the idea that grace is free but not cheap, and following Jesus is an all-consuming choice that involves a Christian's entire life. Which is important, and true, and something that should be established early. From there, though, Bonhoeffer writes for chapter after chapter in a style that at times is academic to a point of incomprehensibility and at times simple enough that his exegetical efforts amou...more I just don't see the appeal of this book. In the opening pages, Bonhoeffer introduces readers to the idea that grace is free but not cheap, and following Jesus is an all-consuming choice that involves a Christian's entire life. Which is important, and true, and something that should be established early. From there, though, Bonhoeffer writes for chapter after chapter in a style that at times is academic to a point of incomprehensibility and at times simple enough that his exegetical efforts amount to simple rewordings of the texts. I did receive some benefit from reading and pondering small sections of the Sermon on the Mount (I read this book in small increments, like a devotional), but all of the value came from Jesus' words, not Bonhoeffer's. I recognize that this book has great historical value, and many of today's great authors have read and cherished it, but I feel like I wasted hours of my life by reading anything beyond the introductory chapters.

Also, I have not completely made up my mind on whether or not a Christian should have been involved in an attempt to assassinate Hitler. Bonhoeffer never mentions his involvement in this book, though, and it makes his chapters on overcoming evil with radical peace and the love of Christ.. incomplete, at best, and dishonest at worst. I don't have a perfect timeline of Bonhoeffer's life, so maybe this book was written before his involvement in any attempt on someone else's life, but the peace chapters are still unconvincing when the reader knows that Bonhoeffer's life did not match his teachings (which nowhere indicate that an exception can be made to justify Bonhoeffer's attempt).

Ultimately, I am left holding this book and reflecting on inartful academic phrasings that I don't understand, simple exegesis that isn't remarkable enough to invite agreement or disagreement on my part, and exhortations to a life of radical peace that I know the author himself did not live. I am thankful for the positive impact this book has had on writers, thinkers, and other Christians over the years, but it had no positive impact whatsoever on me. (less)

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Dec 18, 2012 Lori-ann rated it 4 of 5 stars

Bonhoeffer’s distinction between cheap and costly grace is well worth reading. Although it is true that grace is something given, it is equally true that grace accepted carelessly can be cheapened. What comes to mind for me in regards to this distinction is the unfortunate death of the church in our present. There are many who would argue that they can find grace on their own or in nature, but it seems to me that a lack of Christian community deeply hinders a person’s ability to understand disci...more Bonhoeffer’s distinction between cheap and costly grace is well worth reading. Although it is true that grace is something given, it is equally true that grace accepted carelessly can be cheapened. What comes to mind for me in regards to this distinction is the unfortunate death of the church in our present. There are many who would argue that they can find grace on their own or in nature, but it seems to me that a lack of Christian community deeply hinders a person’s ability to understand discipleship (and thus costly grace)in a way that only the education church attendance can offer. I certainly understand, on the other hand, how an individual grows distrusting of the church. The church has truly failed on so many levels, and some of Bonhoeffer’s theology in later chapters would have to go into the scary category. For instance, his explanation of the parable of the rich man, I found quite chilling. I couldn’t argue his point, which made it a bit of an unsettling read for me. He uses the parable to explain that answering the call can only be carried out through obedience. Anything less than spontaneous obedience is not a direct response to Jesus, but to something else more important to the individual. Anything short of blind obedience, renders both grace and discipleship as abstract, and leaves them in the realm of ideas because there can be no faith without a corresponding action. Ideas give homage to our own minds, and the temptation is to create and follow the god of our own creation. On the face of it, this does not seem like an unreasonable assertion.
Bonhoeffer exposes the rich man’s questioning as temptation. He writes,

“ …this means disobedience from the start. Doubt and reflection take the place of spontaneous obedience. The grown-up man with his freedom of conscience vaunts his superiority over the child of obedience. But he has acquired the freedom to enjoy moral difficulties only at the cost of renouncing obedience. In short, it is a retreat from the reality of God to the speculations of men, from faith to doubt.”

And here’s where things get a bit scary for me, because immediately my mind gives in to reflection/temptation. It is his use of the phrase "to enjoy moral difficulties", that struck me. There is an obvious grain of truth to that assertion. Humankind unquestionably have enjoyed the luxury of a good moral debate. I can see how sneaky moral debate can be, and although I am not a fan of anthropomorphizing evil as Satan, I can visualize such a Satan as the embodiment of ‘the great debater’.Yet, I can’t accept blind obedience, and in fact would argue against this, and can therefore, according to this theology, never be faithful. I cannot consider myself a disciple. “Blind obedience to the ‘word of God’?” I would ask. “Who’s interpretation of “God’s word’?” would be my next question. Of course, the rich man is speaking directly to Jesus, in the flesh. I, on the other hand, did not meet the earthly Jesus, and must rely of what others tell me is the word of God, a dangerous predicament if you ask me. The rich man’s questioning about Eternal life demonstrates that he does not understand that he is talking directly to God through Jesus, and that he does not see Eternal life as anything more than an academic problem to be debated with a good rabbi. He enjoys the debate, and does not really seek the answer. The fact that the question remains unanswered for the rich man shows that he was never really seeking it.
The book was a good read, and the questions it raises for me will be mulled over in my mind for a long time. (irony?) It is a book that inspires the reader to think deeply. It challenges the reader to come to a deeper more authentic understanding of discipleship, lifting the term itself out of the realm of the abstract and back into a concrete form based in present reality.

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Jun 14, 2012 Thomas Kinsfather rated it 3 of 5 stars

A few diamonds scattered among a lot of gravel. Bonhoeffer offers excellent thoughts on humility, discipleship, and serving Jesus.His life is beyond admirable and his devotion to Christ is unquestionable. But the insights in this book could have been condensed down into 80 pages or so. Much of the book wanders from place to place like a tourist without a guide, only loosely commenting on the Scriptures he is examining. He makes odd statements, like the Sermon on the Mount doesn't need to be inte...more

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Aug 07, 2011 Jeanie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: serious-about-god-theology

Bonhoeffer was only a few that understood that National Socialism was godless and in my opionion stripping men of dignity, liberty and freedom. I think this is a good read because the enemy of cheap grace is so rapid in our churches today. Bonhoeffer lived in a time where cheap grace could not be afforded and so do we. The book gives a clear understanding of grace thru discipleship. Bonhoeffer goes on to say that this cheap grace is what we give ourselves instead of being given by God thru Jesus...more

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Nov 22, 2008 Estelle is currently reading it

is hard for me, and so good.

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Nov 10, 2009 Amy rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: ALL Christians

Recommended to Amy by: My Pastor

One of the best Christian books I've ever read. Tons of insight on what it should mean to be a modern Christian. I dog eared almost every single page with significant amount of underlining throughout. So obviously I can't include all my favorite quotes here, so I'll have to only pick a few.

"The future in modern society depends much more on the quiet heroism of the very few who are inspired by God"

"Every moment and every situation challenges us to action and to obedience. We have literally no tim...more

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Dec 14, 2012 Tom Shemanski rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book is all about reminding Christians of the eternal cost that Jesus paid for His people, His being united with them and in turn the Christians' obligation to "carry His cross". It was written in reaction to what he calls "cheap grace", which is a distortion of protestant theology that uses God's grace as a license to sin. I felt that the first chapter that talks about cheap grace is a must read for Christians in general.

The bulk of the book however, is Bonhoeffer's commentary on the sermo...more

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Mar 13, 2013 Erin rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: bragging-rights, nonfiction, own, religious

Powerful writing and powerful ideas. The only problems I had were that it began to feel like a chore to read after a while (but that's probably because I don't read a lot of nonfiction, let alone theology) and that Bonhoeffer's rhetoric bordered on discouraging. I don't know how much value this book would hold for people who aren't interested in Christianity, as every main idea is grounded on belief in Jesus Christ. Unlike, say, Mere Christianity, I think this is a Christian classic that isn't v...more Powerful writing and powerful ideas. The only problems I had were that it began to feel like a chore to read after a while (but that's probably because I don't read a lot of nonfiction, let alone theology) and that Bonhoeffer's rhetoric bordered on discouraging. I don't know how much value this book would hold for people who aren't interested in Christianity, as every main idea is grounded on belief in Jesus Christ. Unlike, say, Mere Christianity, I think this is a Christian classic that isn't very friendly to those outside the faith.

Bonhoeffer excels in the inspiration department, and does so uniquely. For the most part he writes in a way that convicts and draws attention to the ways people fall short of Christ, but most of the time it doesn't feel condemning. Unfortunately, there were a few times that it did cross over into something that seemed like condemnation, but I think that might be because I think Calvinistic theology is distasteful and discouraging. I don't know if Bonhoeffer was actually a Calvinist, but his ideas I found most repellent reminded me of that theology.

Five Key Quotes:

"Only the believers obey, and only the obedient believe.”

"Earthly goods deceive the human heart into believing that they give it security and freedom from worry. But in truth, they are what cause anxiety."

“Thus an encounter between a disciple and another person is never just a freely chosen encounter between two people, confronting each other’s views, standards, and judgments immediately. Disciples can encounter other people only as those to whom Jesus himself comes. Jesus’ struggle for the other person, his call, his love, his grace, his judgment are all that matters.”

"An idea requires fanatics, who neither know nor respect resistance. The idea is strong. But the Word of God is so weak that it suffers to be despised and rejected by people. For the Word, there are such things as hardened hearts and locked doors. The Word accepts the resistance it encounters and bears it. It is a cruel insight: nothing is impossible for the idea, but for the gospel there are impossibilities. The Word is weaker than the idea. Likewise, the witnesses to the Word are weaker than the propagandists of the idea. But this weakness liberates them from the sick restlessness of a fanatic; they suffer with the Word. Disciples may retreat, or even flee, as long as their weakness is the weakness of the Word itself, as long as they do not abandon the Word in their flight. They are nothing but servants and tools of the Word, and should not want to be strong when the Word is weak."

“Discipleship in essence never consists in a decision for this or that specific action; it is always a decision for or against Jesus Christ."

Probably overdoing it on the quotes there, but I didn't take notes on this for nothing! I think I would try to sum up Bonhoeffer's entire message in the words "see only Jesus". Not human laws, religious laws, one's conscience, fears, or desires. He even urges readers to be rid of their sense of self and trade it for new life in Christ. That kind of language must make no sense to people outside of the church, which is why I can't see this book being readable by non-Christians. I will definitely be reading it again in the future, and I expect that I will find it even more valuable upon revisiting. (less)

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Jul 28, 2009 Brett rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book will mess you up, and you will be better for it - at least it should. Bonhoeffer combats what he coins "cheap grace" (i.e., grace with no demand, no cost, no cross). He demonstrates that the life of discipleship is the life of crucifixion. But this is not from some pussified metrosexual pastor, wearing his tight button-down, throwing around terms like "imitatio christi." No, this is from a man who did it, who faithfully followed and bore witness to Christ until the end when he was hung...more

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Mar 16, 2013 Mike rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: spirituality

I have spent most of my life attending what are generally called the mainline Protestant denominations in the US. I grew up in the United Methodist Church and I'm now a PCUSA Presbyterian. I have heard this book quoted or referenced In sermons and bible studies more times than I can count. But I had never actually read it myself so I decided to as part of a Lenten discipline of reading only books on religion during Lent.

Having now finished, I am surprised at its popularity among liberal Christi...more I have spent most of my life attending what are generally called the mainline Protestant denominations in the US. I grew up in the United Methodist Church and I'm now a PCUSA Presbyterian. I have heard this book quoted or referenced In sermons and bible studies more times than I can count. But I had never actually read it myself so I decided to as part of a Lenten discipline of reading only books on religion during Lent.

Having now finished, I am surprised at its popularity among liberal Christians. Don't get me wrong, I liked a lot it but the message of this book is that the gospel is true, that it is urgent that it be proclaimed, and that all men need to repent and follow it. This is so very different from the Stuart Smalley like "I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggone it, people like me" school of preaching that I hear more Sundays than not. Here's a couple of sentences from Bonhoeffer: "Nothing could be more ruthless than to make men think there is still plenty of time to mend their ways. To tell men that their cause is urgent and that the kingdom of God is at hand is the most charitable and merciful act we can perform, the most joyous news we can bring."

Now maybe your PCUSA or United Methodist (or Episcopal Church or ELCA Lutheran) church is different from mine, but that's not the message I'm hearing every Sunday. (How I wish I did.) So why is Bonhoeffer quoted so often? I think it is mainly that his heroic life and martyrdom while struggling against the Nazis has made his biography more prominent than his theology. And the phrase cheap grace makes a nice sound bite for those who've never really taken the time to read what Bonhoeffer meant by it. And that's a shame because there is much here that we in 21st century America need to hear.

Anyway, I have the book 4 stars. On message and theology, I'd give it 5 but it is pretty thick and not easily readable in parts. How much of that is due to translation issues from the original German and how much is due to it being just a very academic writing styleI don't know. I had the same issue when I read Pope Benedict's book on the life of Christ. Perhaps I just have a problem reading German theologians. I would also note that this probably isn't the best book for a non-Christian or someone who has been away from church a while. It presupposes a pretty good grasp on the bible and basic concepts of theology. CS Lewis' Mere Christianity would be a better introductory kind of book. But if you're looking for a meaty, substantive theological treatise, this is a good one.

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Dec 25, 2011 Tim Chavel rated it 4 of 5 stars

What is the cost of being a disciple of Jesus Christ? Well that is what this book explains. Bonhoeffer makes nit plain that the price is high. Ther cost means we must die to self! I few quotes from the book:

Jesus asks nothing of us without giving us the strength to perform it. His commandment never seeks to destroy life, but to foster, strengthen and heal it. p. 40

"Ye are the salt." Jesus does not say: " You must be the salt." It is not for the disciples to decide whether they will be the salt o...more

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Aug 27, 2011 Lorna rated it 5 of 5 stars

I wish I could have read this book in its original language - German - because I'm just just a bit of the brilliance is lost in translation. However, the necessary content has remained well intact and it is the content which makes it a book for all seasons, nations, and peoples. In Bonhoeffer's work, he describes the many ways in which the Christian will have to sacrifice himself in order to follow Christ. He deals seriously with topics such as "the Enemy," speaking of the time which is "coming...more I wish I could have read this book in its original language - German - because I'm just just a bit of the brilliance is lost in translation. However, the necessary content has remained well intact and it is the content which makes it a book for all seasons, nations, and peoples. In Bonhoeffer's work, he describes the many ways in which the Christian will have to sacrifice himself in order to follow Christ. He deals seriously with topics such as "the Enemy," speaking of the time which is "coming when the confession of the living God will incur not only the hatred and the fury of the world, for on the whole it has come to that already, but complete ostracism from 'human society,' as they call it. The Christians will be hounded from place to place, subjected to physical assault, maltreatment and death of every kind. We are approaching an age of widespread persecution. Therein lies the true significance of all the movements and conflicts of our age. Our adversaries seek to root out the Christian Church and the Christian faith because they see in every word we utter and every deed we do, even when they are not specifically directed against them, a condemnation of their own words and deeds" (151). He goes on to say that Christians "must not fear men. Men can do them no harm, for the power of men ceases with the death of the body. But they must overcome the fear of death with the fear of God. The danger lies not in the judgement of men, but in the judgement of God, not in the death of the body but in the eternal destruction of body and soul" (218).
Furthermore, Bonhoeffer goes on to encourage the Christian person in the community of believers in chapters on "The Visible Community" and "The Saints," making statements like "Let [the Christian] remain in the world to engage in frontal assault on it, and let him live the life of his secular calling in order to show himself as a stranger in this world all the more. But that is only possible if we are visible members of the Church" (264-265). Bonhoeffer describes how Christians are to live in the world, but not be of the world - having marriages, relationships, practices and behaviors that are transformed by the Holy Spirit and lived out in an effort to become more like Christ (269). His book ends on a triumphant note, speaking of him who "is born of God has ceased from sin, sin has no more dominion over them, they are dead unto sin and live through the Spirit" (286) and talking about God's followers in this way "They wander on earth and live in heave, and although they are weak, they protect the world; they taste of peace in the midst of turmoil; they are poor, and yet they have all they want. They stand in suffering and remain in joy, they appear dead to all outward sense and lead a life of faith within. 'When Christ, their life, shall be manifested, when once he appears in glory, they too will appear in glory with him as princes of the earth. They will reign and triumph with him, and adorn heaven as shining lights. There, joy will be shared by all' (C.F. Richter). That is the Church of the elect, the Ecclesia, those who have been called out, the Body of Christ on earth, the followers and disciples of Jesus" (270-271).
Following Christ is serious business; not following Christ is a death wish for one's soul. Please read this book regardless of which category you fall into - you may find yourself switching teams.(less)

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Sep 21, 2011 Kayla rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: christian-living

Bonhoeffer has some incredible things to say. In the first part of his book, he compares “costly grace” and “cheap grace.” How often we cheapen God’s grace! I underlined a lot in that section. In the second (and longest) of the three parts, he goes through the Sermon on the Mount in depth. Some of what he mentioned, I’d heard before; some I hadn’t. It was interesting to look at it with a different perspective. His third section is mostly about the Church and what we should look like in the world...more

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Jul 20, 2011 Ashley Anderson rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: escuela

I read this as a senior in college and became convinced of the personal price that we must pay as followers of Jesus. However, upon further reflection and life experience, I have come to deeply question the theology that this book supports. While we find ourselves at odd with the Powers That Be, we may indeed find ourselves at great risk. Questioning dominating and oppressive systems (and the human beings who embody such systems), we who are rooted in a faith that does justice are often in dange...more

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Feb 08, 2012 C. Hollis Crossman rated it 5 of 5 stars

Put simply: grace is not cheap, and Christ's followers are called to imitate Him and practice the God-ordained ethics presented in the Law and elaborated in the Beatitudes.

Bonhoeffer calls us to abandon the heretical notion of "free grace" in the sense of "grace that requires nothing of the recipient." While this is technically true in the sense that no one is saved through his or her good works, it's also absolutely true that God calls us to repentance and new life in the Spirit.

The call is ete...more

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Apr 20, 2012 Steve rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: non-fiction, christianity

A great thought provoking read setting forth Bonhoeffer's thoughts on the Word as it relates to discipleship. I particularly appreciated his thoughts on "cheap" vs. "costly" grace: "cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline. Communion without confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ." While Gods grace is freely given it isn't free, and while you could never earn God...more

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Jul 18, 2010 Barry rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book is chock full of wisdom and deeply profound insights, but it took me almost two months to get through it simply because its readability is quite low. Perhaps this is because of the translation, or because Mr Bonhoeffer wrote in a different era, but whatever the reason, it's a tough read. Compounding the problem of poor readability is the injection of strong opinions about non-essential Christian beliefs. Writers are entitled to their opinions like everyone else, and I'm entitled to dis...more

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Apr 26, 2013 Friedrich Kauder rated it 4 of 5 stars

Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote this book having returned to Nazi Germany in order to teach prospective pastors a version of Christianity very different from the twisted "Germanic" doctrine of the official church of the Reich. Living in a society deformed by a merciless regime and perhaps anticipating his own martyrdom, Bonhoeffer explored what it means to be Christian.

Bonhoeffer's theology is radical: he rejects this world. Its pains are meaningless, its pleasures a dangerous distraction from faith....more

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Jun 18, 2009 J. Alfred rated it 3 of 5 stars

Well, Bonhoeffer is WAY over my head. I liked what I understood, or thought I liked what I thought I understood. I am confused and distressed about some of what I thought he was saying, though: there's no salvation outside the visible church? There can be no vice in a true Christian? I don't know, but I'm pretty sure that makes me a non-Christian, and I have generally felt things that unchurch me to be somewhat distasteful.
I did like some of his expostitions, though, especially that "the son of...more

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About Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a German Lutheran pastor and theologian. He was also a participant in the German Resistance movement against Nazism, a founding member of the Confessing Church. His involvement in plans by members of the Abwehr (the German Military Intelligence Office) to assassinate Adolf Hitler resulted in his arrest in April 1943 and his subsequent execution by hanging in April 1945, sho...more

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Books by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Faith in Community

Ethics (Dietrich Bonhoeffer Works, Vol. 6)

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Quotes from The Cost of Discipleship

“Cheap grace is the grace we bestow on ourselves. Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession.... Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.” — 268 people liked it

“Judging others makes us blind, whereas love is illuminating. By judging others we blind ourselves to our own evil and to the grace which others are just as entitled to as we are.” — 202 people liked it

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The Cost of Discipleship (Dietrich Bonhoeffer Works #4)

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