The Way of the Desert (PDF Download)

Content

In the Bible the desert is a place of punishment and discipline, but also of blessing and love's reawakening. Both Jesus and the people of Israel before him spent time in the desert, learning what it meant to be chosen and loved and holy. Yet while the people of the Exodus frequently got it wrong, providing some cautionary tales for us to learn from, Jesus himself constantly got it right, offering a perfect model for us to follow.

In The Way of the Desert Andrew Watson takes us on a Lenten journey from Ash Wednesday to Easter Day, from the parting of the Red Sea to Israel's entry into the promised land. Combining these Old Testament scriptures with insight from the Gospels, he reveals the continuing relevance of the exodus story to all who would seek to follow Christ.

The author writes:

'It became the must-have accessory among Christian young people in the 1990s: a rubber wristband cryptically inscribed with the letters WWJD. A hundred years earlier, Charles Sheldon, American pastor and Christian Socialist, had written a book entitled What Would Jesus Do? and the initials on the wristbands picked up just the same question. Whatever situations we face in life - whatever decisions we are called upon to make - the issue of WWJD is vital for the Christian disciple. Jesus' call, after all, is to "follow me".'

'As a church leader at the time when WWJD wristbands were selling by the truckload, I was therefore positive about this simple summons to Christian thinking and discipleship. My only reservation was that WWJD seemed to beg a prior question, and one on which our young people appeared increasingly hazy, namely "What Did Jesus Do?" Short of marketing my own range of WDJD wristbands there were limited means to get my message across, though I mentioned it in the odd sermon at the time. But the danger of asking speculative questions about Jesus without rooting them clearly in the Jesus of the Gospels is a real one. How easy to construct a Jesus of my own making, a pocket Jesus (or idol, to use the Bible's own term), who conveniently seems to share my views on politics, religion, money and relationships, without making me feel uncomfortable or challenged at all!'

'As we approach Lent, the question "What did Jesus do?" yields some interesting answers, for the 40 days of Lent reflect the period that Jesus spent in the wilderness following his baptism and before the start of his public ministry. It's a period briefly mentioned by the Gospel writer Mark (1:12 - 13) and described in greater detail by fellow evangelists Matthew (4:1 - 11) and Luke (4:1 - 13). So what did Jesus do in what we could call the first Lent?'

Andrew Watson introduces The Way of the Desert

Watch introductions to each week in The Way of the Desert - ideal for use in Lent discussion groups

Endorsements

I think that Andrew Watson has an enormously attractive and effective style in opening up the text and making real connections with everyday life. The fruits of scholarship combined with astute understanding of the human condition and the challenges and opportunities that we constantly face. Along with the group discussion guide I think that the text is a rich resource not just for Lent, but for other seasons of Christian study and discernment.
The Rt Revd Dr Alastair Redfern, Bishop of Derby

This thoughtful and accessible study contains exactly the combination of biblical challenge and encouragement that is the mark of an excellent Lent Book. I commend it very warmly indeed.
Rt Revd James Newcome, Bishop of Carlisle

Author info

Andrew Watson is Bishop of Aston and is involved in promoting church growth and leadership across the Birmingham Diocese. He was previously vicar of St Stephen's, East Twickenham, where he helped pioneer three church plants. He has also written The Fourfold Leadership of Jesus (2008, reprinted 2010) and Confidence in the Living God (2009) for BRF.

• View other titles by Andrew Watson

Reviews

From Lichfield Cathedral Bookshop - January 2012

Now we have for Lent The Way of the Desert by Andrew Watson, Bishop of Aston. Here are Bible Readings printed out in full, accompanied by deeply thoughtful and interesting comments, particularly relevant to today's world...

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From The Good Bookstall - January 2012

This year's BRF Lent book includes group study material as usual.

I have not attempted to read all through this book - I have kept that treat till Lent, but the first few chapters caught my attention and kept me reading. Not the way you are intended to approach this book. Reading each designated passage as a daily discipline throughout Lent, and there is a reading for Easter Day as well, would be infinitely more rewarding than rushing through as a reviewer.

The theme throughout is looking at Jesus' life and ministry alongside Israel's time in the desert until their entry into the promised land. Read the introduction to see how Andrew Watson has approached this subject and why. The result is a closer look at both stories than most of us have undertaken before. We are led into new thoughts and insights that will enrich our faith - but need time to ponder upon. This is where sharing in a group can be such a positive experience.

I have browsed through the prayers at the end of each chapter, and as I have thought before when looking at similar books, these could be usefully gathered together into a little book of prayers on their own. Nearly all are written by the author and based on particular verses in the Bible, they form an integral part of the daily offering. This book is special and highly recommended.

Reviewed by Mary Bartholomew

Book details

• ISBN: 9780857460165Z
• Published: 18 November 2011
• Status:
• Format: PDF Download
• Pages: 240