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Shaped by the Cross: Meditations on the Sufferings of Jesus
"Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps." 1 Peter 2:21 What must it have been like to draw near to Christ as he drew near to the cross? Reflecting on Michelangelo's majestic Pieta, in which Mary gathers the suffering Jesus into her arms, Ken Gire offers seven meditations on a costly discipleship that invites us to take up our cross and follow our Savior―through death to life everlasting.
119 pages, Paperback
First published November 18, 2011
8 people are currently reading
50 people want to read
About the author
Ken Gire
60 books51 followersKen Gire is the author of more than 20 books, including "The Divine Embrace," "Windows of the Soul," "The Work of His Hands," the Moments with the Savior series, and the Reflective Life series. He has also co-authored "The Birthright" with John Sheasby. Two of his books have been awarded a Gold Medallion. A full-time writer and speaker, Ken is the founder of Reflective Living, a nonprofit ministry devoted to helping people learn how to slow down and live more reflective lives so they can experience life more deeply, especially life with God and other people. Ken is a graduate of Texas Christian University and Dallas Theological Seminary. He has four children and three grandchildren and lives near the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains in Monument, Colorado.
As a bestselling author, Ken speaks primarily on the subjects in the books he has written. In the past, he has spoken at such venues as Bill and Gloria Gaither's Praise Gathering, Billy Graham's Training Center---the Cove, Laity Lodge, Wind River Ranch, Young Life, as well as a variety of denominational and non-denominational churches. He has spoken in the church service itself but has mostly done church retreats. He is available to speak for large, public events as the keynote speaker or for smaller, more private events, such as leadership retreats. In all of his talks, Ken uses a variety of audio-visuals, such as film clips, and so the host would need to have the necessary equipment and someone to operate it. His messages can be anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the venue. Since most of his speaking topics are from the books Ken has written, you can get a greater feel for his talks by first getting the book from Amazon.com, which carries both his in-print and out-of-print books.
As a bestselling author, Ken speaks primarily on the subjects in the books he has written. In the past, he has spoken at such venues as Bill and Gloria Gaither's Praise Gathering, Billy Graham's Training Center---the Cove, Laity Lodge, Wind River Ranch, Young Life, as well as a variety of denominational and non-denominational churches. He has spoken in the church service itself but has mostly done church retreats. He is available to speak for large, public events as the keynote speaker or for smaller, more private events, such as leadership retreats. In all of his talks, Ken uses a variety of audio-visuals, such as film clips, and so the host would need to have the necessary equipment and someone to operate it. His messages can be anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the venue. Since most of his speaking topics are from the books Ken has written, you can get a greater feel for his talks by first getting the book from Amazon.com, which carries both his in-print and out-of-print books.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 26, 2013
Helmut Thielecke, the distinguished German theologian, visited the US in 1963 and was asked what he thought was the most important question Americans were facing. His response caught many by surprise. He replied that he thought the question of how Americans deal with suffering the most significant. He recognized that the American response was one of simply trying to eliminate suffering but never that suffering could be the raw material to shape our souls.
Ken Gire relates this story as part of this collection of meditations on the suffering of Christ centered around Michelangelo's Pieta. The book includes photo images of the sculpture taken by Robert Hupka at the World's Fair in New York in 1964, when the sculpture was there on loan. Each image is from a different vantage point and shows the statue illuminated against a black background. The chapters in the book move back and forth between reflection on the Pieta from these different perspectives and biblical material reflecting on the suffering God, the humanity of Christ, the wounds Christ suffered, the suffering of Mary, the body of Jesus as a broken sacrifice, and the resurrection. Word and image come together in taking us into both what Christ suffered and how as his disciples, his body, we may enter into and be transformed by suffering when it comes. The closing chapter recalls The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe when Aslan breathes life on the menagerie of animals frozen into statues, and reflects on the liberation of the living Christ from death, from stone to be the first of many who will know this new life.
Each chapter concludes with a prayer and questions for personal or group reflection. This would be a marvelous book to use during Lent for personal devotions, or group study.
Ken Gire relates this story as part of this collection of meditations on the suffering of Christ centered around Michelangelo's Pieta. The book includes photo images of the sculpture taken by Robert Hupka at the World's Fair in New York in 1964, when the sculpture was there on loan. Each image is from a different vantage point and shows the statue illuminated against a black background. The chapters in the book move back and forth between reflection on the Pieta from these different perspectives and biblical material reflecting on the suffering God, the humanity of Christ, the wounds Christ suffered, the suffering of Mary, the body of Jesus as a broken sacrifice, and the resurrection. Word and image come together in taking us into both what Christ suffered and how as his disciples, his body, we may enter into and be transformed by suffering when it comes. The closing chapter recalls The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe when Aslan breathes life on the menagerie of animals frozen into statues, and reflects on the liberation of the living Christ from death, from stone to be the first of many who will know this new life.
Each chapter concludes with a prayer and questions for personal or group reflection. This would be a marvelous book to use during Lent for personal devotions, or group study.
October 6, 2019
Inspiring
I enjoyed this book so much. I love the way Ken Gire writes. This book gave me a beautiful picture of Jesus and heaven. Reminded me, that He is still working on me.
I highly recommend any of Ken Gires books!
I enjoyed this book so much. I love the way Ken Gire writes. This book gave me a beautiful picture of Jesus and heaven. Reminded me, that He is still working on me.
I highly recommend any of Ken Gires books!
August 22, 2019
Great book of meditations. I loved that Gire uses Michelangelo’s Pieta as the symbol throughout. Beautiful depiction of deep truth. Would be a great Easter study.
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February 12, 2018Shaped by the Cross is Ken Gire's devotional on the sufferings of Jesus. Drawing his inspiration from Michelangelo's sculpture The Pieta, Gire shows the humanity that lay within the divinity Jesus, and why that humanity is so important to us now.
The book is filled with beautiful black and white photos of the Pieta, some of them so entrancing that they will take your breath away. Gire does an exceptional job of making comparisons to the work of a sculptor and the work God does in our lives, chipping away at the stone until he reveals exactly what we were meant to be.
Gire researched Michelangelo, sculpting, and art history in preparation for this book. The results show, as he quotes liberally from biographies of Michelangelo and art critics. He is able to weave history, art, and theology into a personal devotional that will leave the reader with a desire to draw closer to the cross.
At the end of each chapter is a prayer and a list of discussion questions, making this valuable for individuals or groups.
The book is filled with beautiful black and white photos of the Pieta, some of them so entrancing that they will take your breath away. Gire does an exceptional job of making comparisons to the work of a sculptor and the work God does in our lives, chipping away at the stone until he reveals exactly what we were meant to be.
Gire researched Michelangelo, sculpting, and art history in preparation for this book. The results show, as he quotes liberally from biographies of Michelangelo and art critics. He is able to weave history, art, and theology into a personal devotional that will leave the reader with a desire to draw closer to the cross.
At the end of each chapter is a prayer and a list of discussion questions, making this valuable for individuals or groups.
April 21, 2014
Read this short devotional during Holy Week, finishing on Easter. Gire examines the death of Jesus through the lens of Michelangelo's Pieta (and scripture and theology). I know people love Ken Gire, but I have never read him before. Liked this one though, because of its incorporation of a visual meditation (rare for us protestants).
May 6, 2015
I hate to say this since it was a gift to me, but this book didnt' say anything different to me that other christian books. It repeated the same thing to me. So, I found it boring. I can see though how my dear friend who gave me the book related to it though. Just wasn't for me.
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February 20, 2016Awesome. I love this guy's writing.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews