The Divine Conspiracy Continued audiobook

While the title for this book is appropriate, it is not only a continuation of Willard’s work in The Divine Conspiracy, but it is an extension of all of his works. As one who has read and re-read Willard’s previous books for years, I always found myself fascinated with the summary implications he tended to sketch toward the end of his books. Particularly in the final chapter of The Spirit of the Disciplines, titled “The Disciplines and the Power Structures of This World,” Willard intriguingly used broadly descriptive language to portray how disciples of Jesus in all walks of life would affect the entire world for good. Whereas that chapter was the brief, general description of how that would happen, this book is the detail that I and many readers of Willard’s previous work have been longing for.Some readers who expect another “spiritual formation” book similar to Willard’s previous work may find themselves initially disappointed. Even though it is thoroughly consistent with Dallas’ previous writings, it is also very different. However, the book should be very appropriately be found on the shelves of readers of spiritual formation classics, because it is the most thorough, inspiring, and thought-provoking explanation yet available on how true Christian spiritual formation is always, inevitably for the sake of others. “If there is to be a next stage to the so-called spiritual formation movement, this must be it.” (Kindle loc. 711)Following Willard’s death, when I first heard that this book was to be released and had been co-authored with Gary Black, Jr., I was initially skeptical. I’m not alone in saying that The Divine Conspiracy transformed my understanding and practice of Christianity, so to have a follow-up to such a masterful book to be co-authored by someone I didn’t know of and released after Dallas’ death made me expect a letdown. However, Black proves himself to be up to the task of coauthoring a book whose title will invite such high expectations. Having been a close friend of Willard, as well as having focused on Willard’s theology for the subject of his PhD studies and first book, The Theology of Dallas Willard, there is no one better qualified.As anyone familiar with Willard would hope and expect, this book will make the reader think and requires willingness to do mental work and be challenged. It is well worth the effort, though, for it is a gift for all of us who long and hope for the day when the kingdoms of this world will conform to the kingdom of our God and Christ.

Dallas Willard will be missed. I read The Divine Conspiracy in seminary and it changed me in ways I'm still figuring out. Over a decade later Willard is still challenging me and changing me from glory to glory through this, his last book. In many ways this is a much different book and you should know that before you start. Whereas the original helped us understand how a call to build the Kingdom of Christ affects us individually this book focuses more on how leaders of all stripes must live this out with our society in mind. Ministers are actually the last group to be discussed so the authors can spend more time talking about how doctors, lawyers, professionals, retailers and the like have an immense calling to live out the Kingdom THROUGH the work they do each day. There's been a wave of late to assume that the only work that is meaningful in life must be directly done in some sort of overseas missions capacity. Or the work has to be directly focused in some ministerial capacity (social work, justice work, etc.) Willard smashes this and brings us back to center. All of that work is great and necessary. But the Kingdom is built every day as each of us seeks to honor Christ in the daily work that the Lord has given us, right here, right now. If we ignore this fact we will see a bright spark at the edge of society where a few of us can do full time ministry and the rest of society will go to seed as we fail to bring the kind of intentionality and integrity to our workplaces that is necessary if our society is to thrive and the Kingdom is to be built here as well as overseas. This is crucial!That being said this is a Willard book so it's heavy on the philosophy. If you're looking for devotional reading this is not it. And the payoff comes at the very end, not in the middle so you have to be committed to finishing if you want to truly enjoy it. But this has been true of almost every Willard book so if you've read his past works this will walk in the same vein.I am deeply saddened that there won't be more books by our brother. But I'm profoundly grateful for what he's left behind. It will continue to do just what he hoped for a long time to come.

I liked this book a lot. . . deep, but clear, simple to understand content. I highly recommend. It's the only book I've ever read that upon completion, I went back to page 1 and read it a second time.

Good

An amazing book on leadership and how we bring the Kingdom to inhabit our worlds. Amazing.

3.75

Was a little late in finishing my Lenten book. Excellent companion to the Divine Conspiracy. Would love to reread and discuss this in a small group.

I highlighted so many thought-provoking and downright convicting statements in The Divine Conspiracy Continued, some of which I shared either on FB or Amazon. The content of this book is so relevant to contemporary times and to all the multitudes of peoples and cultures alive on the earth right now in the 21st century. Some of the passages are absolutely an indictment (in best sense) of contemporary Christian culture in America and deserves the audience of all religious and spiritual leaders of our time. Dallas' s insights and knowledge on spiritual matters are not to be ignored nor discounted but studied and pondered on. Even if it can be said that not one particular culture or religous group has all the answers, Dallas and Mr. Black teach us how it is possible to apply Kingdom principles to our lives now that would result in a harmonious existence with all cultures and that is what is truly pleasing to God ultimately. There is so much to learn here and those of us who read it are increasingly blessed. Dallas has left his God-honoring legacy and thank God for him.

Finally! I'm finally finished. It was slow going at first (I had similar types of issues with the original Divine Conspiracy when I got to around page 80), but the mid-section of my book is now marked up like crazy with underlining scattered in the front section and the last section. Here's why I so appreciate the book. Typically in a church, a pastor hopes to get the followers to sign up for church activities. Folks go to church and activities and they've done their Christian duty (plus we're supposed to convert people, too). Along come Willard and Black teaching that following Jesus means following after good (Jesus) and flourishing in whatever we're called to do: janitor, dancer, teacher, businessman, politician, lawyer, doctor, researcher, parent, bricklayer. Do all with the skills of Jesus, the mind of Christ, seek after the good of oneself, one's employees (if you have employees), and your customers/clients. And, just a note: the title is "fulfilling" God's kingdom. No one is saying that any human beings are "bringing about" the kingdom. I highly recommend the book.

How to participate in the "Divine Conspiracy" in which God is overcoming the human kingdoms of this world with love, justice and the knowledge of truth (p.307). This book is an appropriate capstone to the career and life of Dallas Willard. As such it follows on his previous work going on to cover new ground as to how disciples can begin to fill the present void in moral and servant oriented leadership thus serving effectively God's Kingdom purposes

The follow up to the Divine Conspiracy Willard's masterpiece this volume finished after his death by Gary Black Jr. continues with an examination of what is needed from leaders in all phases of society to overcome the impasse that we are currently mired in. Packed with insightful and useful information and food for thought. Very good.

Dallas's voice still rings clearly in this book, lending weight to Gary Black's efforts to extend on personal correspondence with him about the application of his ideas from Divine Conspiracy. While not as impactful as Dallas's individual work, the book was still helpful and remains true to Dallas's core ideas.

Absolutely profound and transformational. There is nothing this insightful on the life of Christ in the life of a believer -- nothing. This is a must read for anyone serious about their faith.