Description: The goal of this book is for readers to experience a personal encounter with the wisdom of Jesus found in Matthew 5-7. The Sermon on the Mount has grown out of pastor James Mayfield's study and struggles across the years as person, marriage partner, parent, pastor, teacher, and writer. The primary guides for this book have been John Chrysostom, Augustine of Hippo, Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Wesley, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Because there are forty chapters, the book is well suited for Lent, but it is not limited to that season. Endorsements: ""The Spirit of God works through the teachings of Jesus, weaving, binding, penetrating, healing, provoking, correcting, reminding, reconciling. Jim Mayfield's forty reflections are for those who want more than sound-bite, tip-for-the-day Christianity. He helps us delve more deeply and invites us to know God more intimately by sifting life experience through the wisdom of Jesus. Great for personal daily devotion or to stimulate group conversation about matters of life and faith "" -Robert Schnase Author of Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations Bishop of the United Methodist Church ""Mayfield's book is infused not only with the wisdom of Jesus, but also with his own considerable wisdom accrued and intentionally nurtured in the course of his rich ministry and faithful life. He writes as pastor, scholar, husband, father, and friend--inviting us to partner with him in reflecting, again, on Jesus' most well-known teachings. His stated hope for the book is that readers may 'experience a personal encounter with the wisdom of Jesus.' Certainly each of his forty chapters provides us with the opportunity to do so. Suggested for use as a Lenten study, each chapter ends with study questions that can be used to guide group discussion or to deepen personal reflection. Mayfield's book, in this regard, is as useable as it is profound."" -Cynthia L. Rigby W.C. Brown Professor of Theology Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary ""Jim Mayfield is a wise pastor who makes the message of Jesus accessible to all seekers of wisdom and truth. His pastoral experiences have brought him into contact with a vast array of political views and personal beliefs. His spiritual insight connects those experiences with meeting Jesus. Decades ago, Paul Scherer defined the Bible as a place to meet God. In this book, Jim Mayfield has managed to demonstrate how powerful that meeting can be."" -William B. Lawrence, Dean Professor of American Church History Perkins School of Theology About the Contributor(s): James L. Mayfield is a retired United Methodist Pastor. While serving as pastor he also taught at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary and served one year as Chaplain of the Senate of the State of Texas.