If you start to read this book and you find yourself struggling to get into it, I encourage you to push through. The first chapter in my opinion is a bit weak and convoluted, but I assure you it gets much better. If by the end of the 2nd or 3rd chapter you are not captivated by Willard's thought process and content, then you might as well put the book away.

I like how Willard describes the two prevailing views of what the Gospel is in modern day Christianity. Namely, a gospel of sin management that emanates primarily from the conservative Christian camp. And, a social gospel of liberation that often emanates from the liberal Christian camp. But, while Willard does a great job telling us what the Gospel isn't, he fails to clearly describe what it is. It seems to me he may be trying to bridge the gap between the two divergences by saying that the gospel is a yielding to Jesus as Teacher while living in the Kingdom of God.

Willard introduces the premise that heaven is here and has invaded human space. The kingdom of heaven is not only in us, but God occupies the very space around us. He is not some celestial voice or vision in our head, but he is very real, talking with us and guiding us every moment of the day if only we avail ourselves to Him. Willard gives plenty of scriptural support for this premise including how God regularly spoke and interacted with Abraham, Moses, David and many other figures in both the Old and New Testaments.

Willard enters into an understanding of the Beatitudes. He makes it clear that obeying the Beatitudes do not make for God's approval, salvation, or blessing. In other words, they are not a means to an end. Rather, they serve to clarify Jesus' fundamental message that the free availability of God's rule and righteousness extends to all of humanity through reliance upon Jesus himself.

The Sermon on the Mount, or as Willard likes to call it, "Discourse on the Hill" is explained in great depth. He explains that the Sermon should be taken as a whole, rather than piece by piece, nor is the Sermon to be construed as more rules or laws. Rather, the Beatitudes are to "help people come to hopeful and realistic terms with their lives here on earth by clarifying, in concrete terms, the nature of the kingdom into which they are now invited by Jesus' call to repent, for life in in the kingdom of the heavens is now one of your options."

Willard goes into great details about the subject of condemnation. That, when we condemn someone, we are essentially telling that person he or she is in some fashion or another irredeemable and to be rejected. And, nobody generally responds well to condemnation. He explains that rarely does anyone who is condemned will respond in such a way that is desirable to the condemner. Instead of driving people to change their ways Willard proposes that we instead walk with them in kingdom fashion.

Prayer is addressed. Willard proposes that our prayers are in fact heard by God and He acts accordingly. Prayer really does make a difference in what God does or does not do. Willard provides many examples throughout Scripture of how God in essence changes His mind due to the prayer of righteous men and women. Interestingly, Open Theism ascribes to this premise as well to which I ascribe.

Willard describes tangible ways in what it's like to become more of a disciple and student of Jesus. Proposing ways to learn what it means to truly live with Christ. Willard uses the term of curriculum, developing objectives of kingdom values to teach and model. Not in order to merely gain more knowledge, but to turn the mind toward God, actualizing and experiencing the true kingdom life for the believer. Willard proposes there are three ways that God comes before the mind where we can lose ourselves in love of Him: 1) through His creation; 2) through His public acts on the scene of human history; 3) through individual experiences of Him. Willard goes on to explain some of the disciplines that we can adopt in order to walk with Christ on a daily basis: abstinence, solitude, silence, study, and worship.

Willard concludes the book with an eschatoligical glimpse of the future. He calls it the redemption of all things. Ironically, he references George McDonald who is a proponent of universal salvation. A theological ideology that I myself am currently wrestling with to some degree.

In summary, The Divine Conspiracy is, in many ways, a difficult and challenging book to read. Willard does at times seem to ramble on. The book is long and was difficult to push through. But, this book is so full of spiritual meat that transformed the way I look at my own walk with Christ. It offers a lot of practical ways that, when implemented, can indeed bring us into a much more intimate and closer relationship with Jesus. However, because of the depth this book contains, it is one of those books, similar to "Mere Christianity" by C.S. Lewis that I will likely need to read again in order to better grasp. I highly recommend this Christian classic especially for those who are seeking a deeper relationship with our King Jesus and who want to know more about what it looks like to walk and live with him on earth today.
If you start to read this book and you find yourself struggling to get into it, I encourage you to push through. The first chapter in my opinion is a bit weak and convoluted, but I assure you it gets much better. If by the end of the 2nd or 3rd chapter you are not captivated by Willard's thought process and content, then you might as well put the book away. I like how Willard describes the two prevailing views of what the Gospel is in modern day Christianity. Namely, a gospel of sin management that emanates primarily from the conservative Christian camp. And, a social gospel of liberation that often emanates from the liberal Christian camp. But, while Willard does a great job telling us what the Gospel isn't, he fails to clearly describe what it is. It seems to me he may be trying to bridge the gap between the two divergences by saying that the gospel is a yielding to Jesus as Teacher while living in the Kingdom of God. Willard introduces the premise that heaven is here and has invaded human space. The kingdom of heaven is not only in us, but God occupies the very space around us. He is not some celestial voice or vision in our head, but he is very real, talking with us and guiding us every moment of the day if only we avail ourselves to Him. Willard gives plenty of scriptural support for this premise including how God regularly spoke and interacted with Abraham, Moses, David and many other figures in both the Old and New Testaments. Willard enters into an understanding of the Beatitudes. He makes it clear that obeying the Beatitudes do not make for God's approval, salvation, or blessing. In other words, they are not a means to an end. Rather, they serve to clarify Jesus' fundamental message that the free availability of God's rule and righteousness extends to all of humanity through reliance upon Jesus himself. The Sermon on the Mount, or as Willard likes to call it, "Discourse on the Hill" is explained in great depth. He explains that the Sermon should be taken as a whole, rather than piece by piece, nor is the Sermon to be construed as more rules or laws. Rather, the Beatitudes are to "help people come to hopeful and realistic terms with their lives here on earth by clarifying, in concrete terms, the nature of the kingdom into which they are now invited by Jesus' call to repent, for life in in the kingdom of the heavens is now one of your options. "

Willard goes into great details about the subject of condemnation. That, when we condemn someone, we are essentially telling that person he or she is in some fashion or another irredeemable and to be rejected. And, nobody generally responds well to condemnation. He explains that rarely does anyone who is condemned will respond in such a way that is desirable to the condemner. Instead of driving people to change their ways Willard proposes that we instead walk with them in kingdom fashion. Prayer is addressed. Willard proposes that our prayers are in fact heard by God and He acts accordingly. Prayer really does make a difference in what God does or does not do. Willard provides many examples throughout Scripture of how God in essence changes His mind due to the prayer of righteous men and women. Interestingly, Open Theism ascribes to this premise as well to which I ascribe. Willard describes tangible ways in what it's like to become more of a disciple and student of Jesus. Proposing ways to learn what it means to truly live with Christ. Willard uses the term of curriculum, developing objectives of kingdom values to teach and model. Not in order to merely gain more knowledge, but to turn the mind toward God, actualizing and experiencing the true kingdom life for the believer. Willard proposes there are three ways that God comes before the mind where we can lose ourselves in love of Him: 1) through His creation; 2) through His public acts on the scene of human history; 3) through individual experiences of Him. Willard goes on to explain some of the disciplines that we can adopt in order to walk with Christ on a daily basis: abstinence, solitude, silence, study, and worship. Willard concludes the book with an eschatoligical glimpse of the future. He calls it the redemption of all things. Ironically, he references George McDonald who is a proponent of universal salvation. A theological ideology that I myself am currently wrestling with to some degree. In summary, The Divine Conspiracy is, in many ways, a difficult and challenging book to read. Willard does at times seem to ramble on. The book is long and was difficult to push through. But, this book is so full of spiritual meat that transformed the way I look at my own walk with Christ. It offers a lot of practical ways that, when implemented, can indeed bring us into a much more intimate and closer relationship with Jesus. However, because of the depth this book contains, it is one of those books, similar to "Mere Christianity" by C. S. Lewis that I will likely need to read again in order to better grasp. I highly recommend this Christian classic especially for those who are seeking a deeper relationship with our King Jesus and who want to know more about what it looks like to walk and live with him on earth today.