The Applause of Heaven - Max Lucado [0]
APPLAUSE
of
HEAVEN
MAX LUCADO
To Stanley Shipp, my father in the faith
CONTENTS
Publisher's Preface vii
Foreword ix
Before You Begin xiii
1. Sacred Delight 3
Blessed . . .
2. His Summit 17
Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down.
3. The AZuent Poor 27
Blessed are the poor in spirit ...
4. The Kingdom of the Absurd 37
... for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
5. The Prison of Pride 51
Blessed are those who mourn ...
6. Touches of Tenderness 61
... for they will be comforted.
7. The Glory in the Ordinary 69
Blessed are the meek ...
8. The Bandit of joy 79
... for they will inherit the earth.
9. A Satisfied Thirst 93
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness .. .
10. Life in the Pits 101
... for they will be filled.
11. The Father in the Face of the Enemy 109
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
12. The State of the Heart 123
Blessed are the pure in heart .. .
13. Nice Palace but No King 135
... for they will see God.
14. Seeds of Peace 141
Blessed are the peacemakers .. .
15. The Greasy Pole of Power 151
... for they will be called sons of God.
16. The Dungeon of Doubt 163
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness ...
17. The Kingdom Worth Dying For 173
... for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
18. The Applause of Heaven 185
Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward....
Notes 195
Study Guide 199
PUBLISHER'S PREFACE
Since The Applause of Heaven first appeared in the fall of 1990, Max Lucado has truly become a household name in Christian America. Over the years his books have touched the hearts of millions of men and women around the world. Enthusiastic response to this book-including reviews in many periodicalsmakes it clear that the work has become a modern classic. It is a book that will be treasured for generations to come.
What readers find in these pages is a series of soul-stirring insights into some of Christ's most provocative teachings in the New Testament. It is not a theological treatise, however, but a heart-to-heart conversation. By offering a fresh look at the Beatitudes-as they appear in the Gospel of Matthew- Lucado's narrative opens our eyes to old truths in compelling new ways. It allows us to see ideas and images we may have missed, no matter how many times we have read them before.
In the hands of this gifted writer, words and phrases become instruments of wonder and imagination. Max Lucado's personal examples and his stories from real life reveal the sparkling facets of the biblical text in a penetrating and colorful light. Every page offers new treasures and new moments of joy. The work, as a whole, is a re-examination of heaven's value system. No wonder The Applause of Heaven has become one of the most successful Christian books of our time.
To add to the overall enjoyment of this edition, we have chosen eighteen dramatic illustrations by several great masters, each one representing in some way the theme or message of the accompanying chapter. We hope you agree that these pictures, in a variety of styles and media, are a natural complement to the remarkable breadth and versatility of Max Lucado's poetic vision.
Max Lucado reminds us that "Matthew, chapter five is not a list of proverbs or a compilation of independent sayings, but rather a step-by-step description of how God rebuilds the believer's heart." In the Beatitudes, Jesus promises "blessings" to all who come after him-to all who decide to live their lives each day by his example. This edition of The Applause of Heaven shows us how to have that kind of life, and how to live it more abundantly.
THE PUBLISHER
FOREWORD
God says all the big words in our lives. Still, it is ofttimes the little words that make the Big Word sing. Max Lucado is a rare and welcome talent who is dedicated to the Word made flesh, but is also a spellbinding spinner of such smaller words as may ornament God's Word.
I first discovered Lucado when I casually took No Wonder They Call Him the Savior off a bookstore