The Imitation of Christ: Introduction

Douglas Jacoby Podcast

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

ACCESS ALL IMITATION OF CHRIST PODCASTS HERE (scroll down) Sin

ce the early 1400s,

The Imitation of Christ

has been a Christian classic—for many centuries surpassed in printing and sales only by the Bible itself. Nor in its time was any book more translated into contemporary languages (apart from Scripture).

Imitation

originally circulated as a series of devotional booklets, the earliest of which reached the public as early as 1420, a year or two after à Kempis began writing. Thomas à Kempis (Thomas Haemmerlein, 1380-1471) spent most of his life in Germany, spending 72 years of his life as a member of the Brothers of the Common Life at Mount St. Agnes Monastery. This work was originally written in Latin. For non-Latin readers there are numerous versions in modern languages. The

Imitation

has been available in English since 1696.

The

Imitation

consists of four books and 114 chapters. This is the original arrangement:
.

• BOOK ONE: Helpful Counsels for the Spiritual Life—25 chapters
• BOOK TWO: Directives for the Interior Life—12 chapters
• BOOK THREE: On Interior Consolation—59 chapters* BOOK FOUR: On the Blessed Sacrament—18 chapters

(In our series we will

sample

the chapters—reading selectively, not studying the entire work.)

The plan:

* I'll read the selection for the day.

* Scriptural connections will be pointed out.* Practical application will follow (thought questions, personal challenges, prayer points).

• Most podcasts are 10-15 minutes in length.* You will also find powerful à Kempis sayings.* 31 podcasts in all..May this series help all who long for the heart of Christ to become more like him.

1 Jan—

Despising Vanity

2 Jan—

Offering Ourselves

3 Jan—

Taking Up Jesus' Cross

4 Jan—

The Royal Way of the Cross

5 Jan—

The Power of Divine Love

6—

The Intimate Love of Jesus

7—

Futile Hope

8—

Selfish Love

9—

Hearing God's Words

10—

Knowledge / Wisdom / Not Believing Everyone

11—

Not Trusting Self / Trusting God

12—

Human Misery / Weakness

13—

The Loss of All Comfort

14—

Bearing Injuries / Christ's Obedience

15—

On Obedience / Earthly Affections

16—

Benefits of Obedience / Self-Denial / Surrender of Self

17—

Over-Anxiety / Holy Examples

18—

Guard of Humility / Thinking Humbly

19—

Contempt of Worldly Knowledge

20—

The Confidence of Grace

21—

Bearing with Others

22—

On the Love of Solitude & Silence

23—

Peaceableness / Purity / Conscience

24—

The Exercises of a Righteous Person

25—

Reading the Holy Scriptures

26—

Security / Temptation

27—

A Sensitive Heart

28—

Rash Judgment and Words

29—

Desiring Eternal Life

30—

Coasting / Delight / Free Spirit

31—

Meditating on Death / Final Desire / Eternity

Feedback on TIOC:

* Love the à Kempis podcasts—fabulous start to each day. Thank you, praise God!
* I’m encouraging our whole house church to follow along with the Imitation of Christ study series.
* The podcasts are thought-provoking—very helpful and refreshing for me. This teaching is a gift from God to me right now. I am sharing what I'm learning with my sisters (who live in four other cities). The Word will not return void.
* This is very powerful—so glad you decided to podcast from The Imitation. This also fits perfectly with our church's 2019 theme.
* The quiet times are short and very powerful and life changing. Thank you!