We Make the Road by Walking: A Year-Long Quest for Spiritual Formation, Reorientation, and Activation

Brian has given a clear and concise road map of the road we as believers are walking on. It is informative as well as imaginative and leaves room for individual choices even as we are all walking together in our quest for God. This book makes for a good read, but it also makes way for some lovely conversation and communion with others as we travel this journey we call life. I like the queries Brian places at the ends of the chapters. They give us some down time from our walking so we can kick off our boots, think about where we have been and share our impressions, engaging with others as they rest with us. This would be great as small group endeavor as well as a Sunday School class adventure. In a world where so much communication is one way, this would be a welcome time of true communion with one another that is necessary in everyone's soul.

This is a perfect book for anyone. There are references to the Bible that will take your reading and study deeper. There are ideas for further study at the end of each short chapter. The parish I attend is studying this book for our adult formation class and it’s just lovely. It’s so uplifting and offers so much peace.

Very interesting and thoughtful journey through highlights of the Bible. It's not a commentary study but rather a devotional look at the great themes of the Bible. Refreshing theme running thru is "aliveness" and the goodness of God. Even though it has 52 chapters intended to be dwelt on weekly, I read it straight thru and hope to use it in a weekly study group sometime. Each chapter has material for meditation and group discussion. I believe McLaren gets closer to the ancient Christianity of Jesus than the modern American fundamentalists and their vengeful God of judgment.

Have not yet finished but these are continually delightful, sometimes soul shaking, distillations of Biblical revelation. The style of writing is pithy and entertaining, and each chapter is as elegantly constructed as a poem. Each short chapter is also packed with psychological and historical insights, or if not insights, at least thoughts that have never occurred to me in a life of sincere reading of the Bible.More than many Christian theologians, McLaren blurs the myriad distinctions between revelation in the Old Testament and in the New -- as though to say they both are New and always New.McLaren is a writer who really can provide spiritual guidance for a person seeking to bring faith to maturity.

While skeptical when ordering this book, it has turned out to be excellent for both individual and a small group study. My ecumenical women's group has been meeting weekly for over thirty years and has become jaundiced by many Bible and small group offerings. This book was bought for use as a personal study book and was offered to the group as Lenten study. It has worked well; we read both the scripture passages and short chapters aloud and have had meaningful discussions generated by end of chapter questions. This is quite different from other studies whose questions are so simple that we roll our eyes. While the group claims a "main-line" heritage, our theology and traditions encompass conservatives, moderates and liberals, and the book has appealed to us all. The book has guided us as we traveled through Lent, and we are planning to continue the journey through the next season of the ecclesiastical year. While the book is not a heavy theological tome, it has sufficient substance to guide a group of seekers with Biblically based readings and questions that expand a discussion. It also has an appreciation for an audience that is mature and grappling to refine faith and belief rather than being told what to believe. The appendix has excellent suggestions for small groups and the chapters are designed for a year’s study. The book has passed our group’s high approval standards; if looking for a good group study book, please consider this one.

diamond is multifaceted, so does the truth... and so does this book!What I like about this book... is that it talks about the truth with leaving the door open for the reader to ponder, to think and to come up with other possibilities of what the truth might be. It is written with an open and creative spirit.Carefully and beautifully the author opens a new door for a christian (not only christian, but also for all those who are interested in understanding the path of God) to enter and discover a new world with new possibilities. This book answers many questions that dogmas haven't been able to answer. It sets fire to a new path, and unless we walk this path, we will not discover the multifaceted nature and meaning of the truth. And who knows... unless we risk what we already know, we will never be able to know what we don't know yet. I call this a new path to a new identity ...well, I loved this book and I think it is the right book to read :)

Book has some notations, but they do not interfere with reading. Pages are in great condition as is binding. Arrived in reasonable timeline.

Honestly? I am basically a lover of McLaren books. I find them challenging and well writen. This one however is more of a very predictable bible study than a challenging book about a Christian issue deserving careful consideration. The questions on the end of each chapter were also rather predictable. I suppose the book is just to be used for devotional reading in conservative Christian families settings. Not primarily for theological reflection.

A classic that keeps on giving

It would be easy to give up reading by a few chapters in - it's a different book to many. But stick with it, it gets easier as you go. But beware - it will make you think about and question what you thought you already knew and believed.

All to often we forget to nourish our Spirit. This is a journey to bring not only inner peace but to project this inner peace to everyone around us in our daily walk. To nourish the Spirit is to live-out our life the way God intended through following Jesus. Only then can we walk with positive blessings of all that we were meant to be from this life into eternity. I’m singing - please join me. Tons of peace & love to all.🦋

Great devotional if you are tired of the same old perspectives being rehashed over and over. Beware: Makes you think. The questions at the end of each chapter are well thought out. A good book for small group study and sure to evoke conversation.

I really like this book. It has helped me structure my devotional times with God without being too prescriptive. It's style is very approachable, not cheesy or preachy and is suitable both as an introduction to God (I was going to say "to Christianity", but it's great strength is that it's really about God's character) and as a way to re-aquaint oneself with Him. There are readings and then some thoughts, but I like that there is enough space for the reader to focus on what is most meaningful for them. It feels like the author is sitting with you chatting about what you've just read and helping to give you insights, inspiring you to draw closer to God but not preaching at you. There are a few questions at the end of each chapter which are thought-provoking but not heavy. I would really love it if there was an Italian translation as there are many people in Italy crying out for a resource like this!