Welcoming Gifts
Sacrifice in the Bible and Christian Life
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Narrated by:
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Jeremy Davis
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By:
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Jeremy Davis
About this listen
In modern parlance, the word "sacrifice" conjures images of suffering, loss, and even martyrdom. But sacrifice, as practiced in the Old Testament and throughout the ancient world, was most often the occasion of joyous celebration—a way of drawing near to God and to the other members of the community.
Welcoming Gifts explores the history of sacrifice, the meaning of Christ's sacrifice, and what the concept should mean for Christians today—a way of expressing and cementing our relationship with God.
©2022 Jeremy Davis (P)2022 Jeremy DavisListeners also enjoyed...
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- It's Time to Restore the Supremacy of Jesus Christ
- By: Leonard Sweet, Frank Viola
- Narrated by: Sean Runnette
- Length: 5 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
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What is Christianity? It is Christ. Nothing more, nothing less. Christianity is not an ideology and not a philosophy. Christianity is the Good News that beauty, truth, and goodness are found in a Person. And conversion? It's more than a change in direction; it's a change in connection.
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Excellent book
- By Peter C. on 01-06-18
By: Leonard Sweet, and others
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Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist
- Unlocking the Secrets of the Last Supper
- By: Brant Pitre, Scott Hahn - foreword
- Narrated by: David Cochran Heath
- Length: 6 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
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In recent years, Christians everywhere are rediscovering the Jewish roots of their faith. Every year at Easter time, many believers now celebrate Passover meals (known as Seders) seeking to understand exactly what happened at Jesus' final Passover, the night before he was crucified. Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist shines fresh light on the Last Supper by looking at it through Jewish eyes.
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I am a Protestant trying to learn more about the significance of the Eucharist and I feel that my eyes have been opened up ..
- By Kim Lank on 03-08-18
By: Brant Pitre, and others
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The Power of the Cross
- Putting It to Work in Your Life
- By: Tony Evans
- Narrated by: Calvin Robinson
- Length: 6 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
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In The Power of the Cross, Tony Evans applies Christ's work to life today. He systematically and pastorally explains three aspects of the cross: its person, its purpose, and its power.
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Power of the Cross
- By Donnie Thomas on 06-07-23
By: Tony Evans
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Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die
- By: John Piper
- Narrated by: Robertson Dean
- Length: 3 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
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The central issue of Jesus' death is not the cause, but the meaning - God's meaning. That is what this book is about. John Piper has gathered from the New Testament 50 reasons. Not 50 causes, but 50 purposes - in answer to the most important question that each of us must face: What did God achieve for sinners like us in sending his Son to die?
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I feel like I didn't get very much out of it.
- By C. Williams on 11-05-12
By: John Piper
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Multiply
- Disciples Making Disciples
- By: Francis Chan, Mark Beuving
- Narrated by: Francis Chan
- Length: 8 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
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You were made to make disciples. Jesus gave His followers a command: “Follow Me.” And a promise: “I will equip you to find others to follow Me.” We were made to make disciples. Designed for use in discipleship relationships and other focused settings, Multiply will equip you to carry out Jesus’ ministry. Each of the 24 sessions in the audio book corresponds with an online video at www.multiplymovement.com, where New York Times best-selling author David Platt joins Francis Chan in guiding you through each part of Multiply.
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Inspirational
- By Ashley on 07-01-15
By: Francis Chan, and others
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What Jesus Meant
- By: Garry Wills
- Narrated by: Garry Wills
- Length: 4 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
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In what are billed "culture wars", people on the political right and the political left cite Jesus as endorsing their views. Garry Wills argues that Jesus subscribed to no political program. He was far more radical than that. In a fresh reading of the gospels, Wills explores the meaning of the "reign of heaven" that Jesus not only promised for the future but brought with him into this life.
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The best book on Jesus I've read.
- By Jack on 10-29-11
By: Garry Wills
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Following God Fully
- An Introduction to the Puritans
- By: Joel R. Beeke, Michael Reeves
- Narrated by: Bob Souer
- Length: 4 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
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The Puritans, as a body, have done more to elevate the national character than any class of Englishmen that ever lived. Ardent lovers of civil liberty, and ready to die in its defense - mighty at the council board, and no less mighty in the battlefield - feared abroad throughout Europe, and invincible at home while united - great with their pens, and no less great with their swords - fearing God very much, and fearing men very little - they were a generation of men who have never received from their country the honor that they deserve.
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Great book!
- By Daniel on 07-20-20
By: Joel R. Beeke, and others
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Sermon on the Mount
- A Beginner's Guide to the Kingdom of Heaven
- By: Amy-Jill Levine
- Narrated by: Nan McNamara
- Length: 5 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
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How is the follower of Jesus to understand the words of the Old Testament? How are those words relevant to the New Covenant he is establishing? What might the words of the Lord’s Prayer have conveyed to his initial followers, and why is that historical information essential to the prayer two millennia later? In Sermon on the Mount, Dr. Amy-Jill Levine takes a detailed and colorful overview of Matthew 5-7, collectively known as Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount.
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Ye Resist Not Evil
- By Jaden Kellogg on 08-19-20
By: Amy-Jill Levine
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Pleasures of God
- Meditations on God's Delight in Being God
- By: John Piper
- Narrated by: Grover Gardner
- Length: 11 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
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The weight of glory is a happy burden. Thus God is the happiest Being in the Universe. To know Him in His pleasures is to see Him as He is - and to have a fresh encounter with His transforming presence. If you are hungry for this deep delight, consider the gladness of His great heart. The things that make God glad are the measures of His greatness. Christ and the cross. Choosing His people and bruising His Son. Creating the world and revealing His worth. The gladness of His people in the greatness of His glory.
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Must read
- By Spencer Kitchen on 04-15-15
By: John Piper
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What listeners say about Welcoming Gifts
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- David Von Schmittou
- 10-25-22
A theological tidal wave of enlightenment.
If your a student of scripture, this book will help you put together some of the seemingly disconnected themes of the old and new covenant’s; removing the fog of Old Testament worship to reveal a much closer kinship to our fellow son’s of Abraham from the BC era.
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- Jaclyn Ann Blankenship
- 01-17-23
Superb analysis
Excellent analysis and documentation of 'sacrifice' in the Bible and encouragement for how the Biblical usage can draw us into a more meaningful relationship with God. I'll be purchasing the book.
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- Paul
- 09-19-23
Sacrifice is not substitutionary atonement
Davis looks closely at how sacrifice was understood as gift in Old and New Testaments as well as in Orthodox Christianity and how it came to be misunderstood and misconstrued in modern usage. In particular he identifies the logical flaws in the theory of substitutionary atonements and shows how they do not make logical sense when understood in light of how sacrifice and scapegoating (two very different acts in scripture) were understood and practiced. The book makes important points for a more accurate understanding of sacrifice including and especially for the one bloodless sacrifice that Christ requires of His Church in the Thanksgiving (Eucharistic) offering of bread and wine that are the core sacrificial ritual of the One Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, that all Christians should be participating in and consuming regularly as members of the body of Christ.
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- Ben Bauman
- 06-20-22
Profound and Accessible Overview
Fr. Jeremy Davis' book provides a refreshing look into an aspect of Orthodox Christian doctrine that many often struggle to grasp. By reexamining sacrifice in its original context, as a relational meal between God and man, "Welcoming Gifts" explains how Old Testament ritual practice perfectly aligns with our New Testament understanding of the eucharist.
I was impressed by the text's accessible tone, often unpacking complex theological rationale in succinct laymen's terms. The book is broken into chapters detailing particular aspects of sacrifice, any or all of which would make a good topic for church discussion groups. I look forward to recommending this book to those seeking a deeper understanding of Orthodox liturgical practice, as well as those struggling to mesh Old Testament offerings requiring blood with the Divine Liturgy's rational and bloodless worship.
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- Pauline Magnusson
- 07-14-22
Incredible book that expanded and clarified my understanding of this critical topic!
It never occurred to me that my understanding of sacrifice has been shaped more by modern interpretations and less by what ancient people (and thus Scripture) actually understood about the topic.
This is a must-read for anyone who wants to actually understand what the Bible is saying as a whole about the topic of sacrifice, from the Old Testament to the Gospels and Epistles.
From a sound quality perspective, the audio is a little echoey at times, it doesn’t detract at all from the book as a whole, and I’m already starting to re-listen - it’s just that meaty of a read. (Note that the depth of the read shouldn’t dissuade you at all - it’s not a hard read, just incredibly thought provoking.)
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- Susan
- 06-08-22
It was like a private retreat.
I didn’t know what to expect from an audiobook but I was not disappointed! Fr Jeremy’s delivery was solid and i loved that he made references to pop culture to help the reader/listener more easily understand the weighty subject of sacrifice. I found this to be a consuming subject, I will be sharing the book with many friends and family. The subject was treated thoroughly, what a comprehensive and fascinating book! It was like a private retreat!
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- Colin
- 06-12-22
Restoring the Meaning of "Sacrifice"
The idea behind “Welcoming Gifts” is that our modern understanding of sacrifice is one of violence and pain, or at the very least discomfort and inconvenience. It’s transactional in the sense that the sacrificer loses something in order to gain something else.
But, that is not necessarily how the ancient world viewed sacrifices.
Father Jeremy begins with an overview of sacrifice in the Kingdom of Israel and in the ancient world more broadly. From there, he moves to the Israelite's failure to adequately hold up their end of the agreement (so to speak) and how this eventually led to Christ’s sacrifice, which is a perfect fulfillment of the Mosaic Covenant. Finally, he ends with how all of this is relevant to us: how we should consider sacrifice, how it is reflected in the Divine Liturgy, and more.
Welcoming Gifts is an incredibly approachable and yet theologically rich book. Nothing felt too complex to understand, nor did anything feel dumbed down. I normally listen to audiobooks while cooking or driving, but for this one I did need to actively listen and take a few notes.
Finally, Father Jeremy narrates the book himself. I always think it’s a bonus when the author reads their own work. His voice is pleasant to listen to and the audio quality is excellent.
Overall, this is an excellent book for anyone seeking to learn about the concept of sacrifice.
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- Jordan R.
- 06-03-22
M.div course without the confusion
Father Jeremy Davis does an amazing job describing and explaining something so complex and heavy in a way that even I can understand it. It would not surprise me if this became a required reading for a heavily theological course but without all the confusing language.
How western society views sacrifice has changed and this has changed how we view the sacrifices commanded by God in the Old Testament and ultimately Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. Father Jeremy realigns our thinking of sacrifice to how the ancient Jews and Church Fathers understood it and helps everything make sense.
Father’s reading is calming and the audio quality is top notch.
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- Alex Holguin
- 08-02-22
A invaluable redemption of the term "Sacrifice"
It’s time to rid ourselves of the ghost left behind by improper sacrifice – and this book seeks to begin that invaluable work.
For a term used so frequently (and if this book’s author is correct regarding its invocation – rather incorrectly as well) the concept of “sacrifice” sure seems to make people uncomfortable. Sacrifice, as a term, conjures images of blood, violence, gratuitousness, and fear. Culturally speaking, the concept of sacrifice might rest in the mind as a scary space that transports one back to periods of pre-modern moments of history where blood rituals ended the lives of otherwise innocent people and animals – or even modern moments where entire populations are forced to serve a ruling class, even to the point of death. A common thread in these notions of sacrifice is that it glosses over and, in a sense, erases the true philosophical history of sacrifice. What can be reclaimed if one was able to return to the fuller origins of sacrifice, not as a gruesomely bloody “eye for an eye” mentality, but as a means of selfless giving to establish truer relationships? This is part of the larger array of questions tackled by Welcoming Gifts’ author, Fr. Jeremy Davis, and is a must-have for any religious inquirer looking to better understand what ancient Judeo-Christian persons meant when they called for “sacrifice.”
Welcoming Gifts is divided by four main parts (Rediscovering Sacrifice, Old Testament Sacrifice, Christ’s Sacrifice, and Our Sacrifices), which are each further sub-divided into 3-4 chapters. The text is an insightful read for many reasons, but the two that are most apparent among a first read-through might include a critical breakdown of how sacrifice is invoked in ancient pagan cultures and how/where those notions diverge in Orthodox Christian culture[s]. What is particularly curious is how, ultimately, the distinction between ancient pagan and Orthodox notions of sacrifice is that they are more similar than they are distinct to the modern eye, and Fr. Davis does an important work in helping excavate the historical baggage that has been overloaded onto the term. Moving beyond the western juridical notion of sacrifice as a legal atonement for one’s sins, the text pushes the reader to consider how sacrifice is much closer to a self-emptying posture that works to establish a relationship between self and other. Here one can see that sacrifices of all kinds were often sealed with a special meal – oftentimes at a feast; hardly as gruesome a scene as a strictly literal reading of the bible might imply. As Fr. Davis moves from this ancient contextualization of sacrifice to the sacrifice that occurs on the cross (and as a result, the one that is repeated through the rational and bloodless sacrifice inherent to the divine liturgy), the reader is treated with an appreciation of not only the fuller picture of what a sacrifice may be, but also a fuller appreciation of the gravitational range of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. Christians that are interested in the meaning and contextual background of an admittedly sometimes confusing set of Old Testament scripture verses about sacrifice will be rewarded with a connection to the life and work of Jesus Christ.
I came to this text by way of Audible and was more than pleased with the sound quality. The reading was clear, maintains a slow reading pace (not much is lost if one were to minorly increase the speaking-speed), and the quick turnaround of the chapters maintains a good flow of content. The content itself could be considered engaging to many, as I’m sure scholars of cultural engagements with sacrifice and religious historians could join hands with Christian laypeople that are looking to read the Christian story with more illumined eyes. I wish to highlight scholars because the audiobook features an appendix and sometimes pauses to highlight important footnotes that yields additional critical information – suggesting that additional resources are at the disposal of the particularly engaged reader. While this book may appeal to scholars, listeners of Ancient Faith’s radio-podcast Lord of Spirits might uniquely appreciate this reading, as the level of nuance and intellectual investigation that Fr. Davis communicates with an uncanny level of ease would allow one to feel right at home – regardless of one’s scholarly status or vocation.
Without being too cheeky, the book sacrifices the repulsive notions of the term for the truly beautiful ones: it allows Orthodox Christians to better connect to their ancient roots without the confusing, gratuitous, and ultimately alienating elements of sacrifice that have built up in the West over time. For anyone formed or informed by the Judeo-Christian scriptures, this book is a must read to better understand how sacrifice marks our religious past, the always present moment of Jesus Christ, and how we are continually called to sacrifice with our daily lives.
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- Caleb Evans
- 03-18-23
Great book!
Always love it when authors record their own audio books. It is very informative and Christians from all traditions should read and consider what it says.
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