God Is In The Manger by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

I realize this is January but I wanted to let you know about a book I read during Advent and Christmas.  I have been looking for a good Advent book for a long time and I have found it.



God Is In the Manger: Reflections on Advent and Christmas

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Translated by O.C. Dean Jr.

Compiled and Edited by Jana Riess

Westminster John Knox Press 2010

ISBN: 0664234291
ISBN-13: 9780664234294

Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-45) was a Christian minister, seminary professor, and theologian who became one of the leading voices of opposition against Nazism during World War II. He was a founding member of Germany's Confessing Church and was executed for participating in a plot to assassinate Hitler. His theological views have become highly influential in the years since his death.

This little book is divided into 5 parts:

·         Advent Week One—Waiting

·         Advent Week Two— Mystery

·         Advent Week Three—Redemption

·         Advent Week Four— Incarnation

·         The Twelve Days of Christmas and Epiphany

"There are only two places where the powerful and great in this world lose their courage, tremble in the depths of their souls, and become truly afraid. These are the manger and the cross of Jesus Christ."  -Dietrich Bonhoeffer

"No priest, no theologian stood at the cradle of Bethlehem. And yet, all Christian theology finds its beginnings in the miracle of miracles, that God became human." -Dietrich Bonhoeffer

As you can see from the above quotes, reading devotional literature by Dietrich Bonhoeffer can be challenging. But God is in the Manger opens up the gospel and will take you to the heart of the Christmas story.

Most of these devotions are taken from writings during the time Bonhoeffer was being held in a Nazi prison cell. Also included with each day’s reading are short excerpt from Bonhoeffer’s letters and passages from his Christmas sermons.

I plan to read this again before Advent 2011. We need to be reminded about the real reason for Christmas—Christ.