Contrite Courage: How the Guilty Lean on Grace

In 'The Cost of Discipleship,' Dietrich Bonhoeffer challenges readers to question their understanding of true discipleship. He distinguishes between 'cheap grace,' which is forgiveness without repentance or commitment, and 'costly grace,' which demands obedience, sacrifice, and a genuine transformation of the believer's life. The book delves into the Sermon on the Mount, emphasizing the Beatitudes and the righteousness that Christ demands from his followers. Bonhoeffer also highlights the importance of community, forgiveness, and love in the context of Christian discipleship. He argues that true discipleship involves following Christ even in the face of opposition and persecution, and that it requires a radical inward transformation and a commitment to deny self and follow Jesus.

Written in 1746 during the First Great Awakening, 'Religious Affections' is a treatise by Jonathan Edwards that aims to discern the true signs of Christian conversion. Edwards argues that true religion consists largely in holy affections, emphasizing the role of emotions and the inclination of the will in religious experience. He distinguishes between legitimate and illegitimate emotions, providing twelve signs that are uncertain and twelve true signs of gracious affections. The book is a comprehensive guide to understanding the marks of a saving work of the Holy Spirit and the importance of testing one's faith to ensure it is genuine.