The Substance of Faith: And Other Cotton Patch Sermons

To read The Substance of Faith is once again to experience Clarence Jordan at his best: the flashing wit that could illuminate even as it entertained the blazing concern that knew how to lay its burden on the heart of even the casual listener the biting irony that pierced sham and pretense the depth of spirit that saw fresh meaning in the most familiar passage of Scripture. Within the pages of this book youll discover the basic themes of Clarence Jordans life: Incarnational Evangelism the God Movement and his prophetic insight into the enemies of authentic faith such as Mammon. Dallas Lee has brought all this together from what Clarence Jordan said in pulpit classroom and lecture hall. Every sermon in this book is a blossoming flower with thorns - a flower revealing Gods love and a thorn in the side of those who are unwilling to incarnate Gods love to others. These sermons will both comfort and challenge you into a deeper relationship with the Prince of Peace. Jimmy Carter from the Foreword He was highly entertaining with a vivid colloquial relevance - a great storyteller with a grand sense of humor and a sly sense of irony. But underlying these extemporaneous sermons you also will recognize fresh scholarship on ancient ideas and a life lived where the light meets the dark. Dallas Lee from the Introduction Clarence Jordan had a rare combination of Biblical scholarship passionate faith and - most important - the courage to put that faith into action. This is a priceless collection of his most important ideas presented in his own words. Don Mosley Jubilee Partners Jordan said that to be a faithful Christian we must live our lives in scorn of the consequences. Substance of Faith is Clarences timeless road map on what it takes for us to join up with the God Movement. John Cole Vodicka Prison & Jail Project Clarence Jordan deeply affected my family through his phenomenal intellect insights and concern for human beings. Habitat for Humanity would not exist today without his unique vision and determination to make Christianity relevant in todays time. Faith Fuller Producer/Director of Briars in the Cotton Patch: The Story of Koinonia Farm Clarence Jordan one of seven children of a prominent small town family in Georgia had a desire to help others from an early age. Family thought he might become a lawyer. Instead he majored in agriculture at the University of Georgia. But believing that man doesnt live by bread alone he went on to earn his MA and PhD in New Testament Greek from Southern Baptist Seminary where he met and married Florence. Together with Martin and Mabel England they founded Koinonia Farm in 1942 an intentional Christian community located in Americus Georgia. He died there in 1969. His primary works include the Cotton Patch Version of most of the New Testament. Dallas Lee is author of The Cotton Patch Evidence: the Story of Clarence Jordan and the Koinonia Farm Experiment Harper & Row 1971. Koinonia Farm has reprinted paperback editions of the book with the publishers permission. Copies are available through Koinonias direct mail communications at www.koinoniapartners.org.