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The Christian Manifesto: Jesus’ Life-Changing Words from the Sermon on the Plain
Encourages Christians from Luke 6 to live a countercultural life and experience true blessing.
What does genuine Christian living look like in the 21st century, and how can we be motivated to live that way?
The answer comes from Jesus’ sermon in Luke 6 (sometimes known as the Sermon on the Plain), which starts, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God," and goes on to lay out God’s vision statement for the Christian life. It is a manifesto that transcends politics, culture and personality, detailing God’s intentions for his people.
Alistair Begg unpacks this sermon, encouraging Christians to live a radically different life that upends the world's values and philosophies. It's a lifestyle that is counterintuitive and countercultural, yet one that God blesses with true meaning and impact.
As we look at the kindness and compassion of Jesus and ask for the Holy Spirit’s help, we’ll grow in both the motivation and the ability to obey Jesus’ teaching and experience the blessing that comes from that. This compelling book will remind you of God's grace and what it means to follow him, helping you discover the ultimate blessing that is found in him.
What does genuine Christian living look like in the 21st century, and how can we be motivated to live that way?
The answer comes from Jesus’ sermon in Luke 6 (sometimes known as the Sermon on the Plain), which starts, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God," and goes on to lay out God’s vision statement for the Christian life. It is a manifesto that transcends politics, culture and personality, detailing God’s intentions for his people.
Alistair Begg unpacks this sermon, encouraging Christians to live a radically different life that upends the world's values and philosophies. It's a lifestyle that is counterintuitive and countercultural, yet one that God blesses with true meaning and impact.
As we look at the kindness and compassion of Jesus and ask for the Holy Spirit’s help, we’ll grow in both the motivation and the ability to obey Jesus’ teaching and experience the blessing that comes from that. This compelling book will remind you of God's grace and what it means to follow him, helping you discover the ultimate blessing that is found in him.
112 pages, Hardcover
Published September 1, 2023
72 people are currently reading
229 people want to read
About the author
Alistair Begg
163 books336 followersAlistair Begg has been in pastoral ministry since 1975. Following graduation from The London School of Theology, he served eight years in Scotland at both Charlotte Chapel in Edinburgh and Hamilton Baptist Church.
In 1983, he became the senior pastor at Parkside Church near Cleveland, Ohio. He has written several books and is heard daily and weekly on the radio program, Truth For Life. The teaching on Truth For Life stems from the week by week Bible teaching at Parkside Church.
In 1983, he became the senior pastor at Parkside Church near Cleveland, Ohio. He has written several books and is heard daily and weekly on the radio program, Truth For Life. The teaching on Truth For Life stems from the week by week Bible teaching at Parkside Church.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
September 11, 2023
“The Christian Manifesto” is an inspirational book about Jesus’ foundational speech called the Sermon on the Plain, detailing how we honor Him in our lives and relationships as members of His kingdom. It is “a description of the life we were all made for,” and yet it challenges us because it is difficult to act and operate differently than the world around us.
When I first saw this book’s mention of “the Sermon on the Plain,” it left me wondering because I had never heard the passage in Luke’s Gospel labeled this; I thought it was simply a condensed version of the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7. So through this book I first learned something I didn’t know: Each of these sermons took place at separate times and locations with different audiences.
The chapters of the book elaborate on topics such as Kingdom values, loving our enemies, and what the Golden Rule actually means. Each chapter seemed to helpfully build upon itself, and each was convicting in how it called us to represent God through how we live—with His help—in doing even the difficult, such as truly loving our enemies.
This is a book I could already see myself reading again and I definitely recommend it!
A few highlights:
“The hallmarks and priorities of Jesus' kingdom are different from this world's—and so its citizens will be different too. Jesus' call is deep, and it is wide, and it calls us to turn everything we naturally think upside down.”
“Advertisers may make good money, and politicians may win fleeting power, but members of Jesus' kingdom can make a difference for eternity.”
“God has showered his love upon his people—it is not a trickle, it is a torrent—and as our hearts are filled with our Father's love, so out of our hearts may flow his love toward others.”
Thank you to the publisher for providing a copy of this book for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
When I first saw this book’s mention of “the Sermon on the Plain,” it left me wondering because I had never heard the passage in Luke’s Gospel labeled this; I thought it was simply a condensed version of the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7. So through this book I first learned something I didn’t know: Each of these sermons took place at separate times and locations with different audiences.
The chapters of the book elaborate on topics such as Kingdom values, loving our enemies, and what the Golden Rule actually means. Each chapter seemed to helpfully build upon itself, and each was convicting in how it called us to represent God through how we live—with His help—in doing even the difficult, such as truly loving our enemies.
This is a book I could already see myself reading again and I definitely recommend it!
A few highlights:
“The hallmarks and priorities of Jesus' kingdom are different from this world's—and so its citizens will be different too. Jesus' call is deep, and it is wide, and it calls us to turn everything we naturally think upside down.”
“Advertisers may make good money, and politicians may win fleeting power, but members of Jesus' kingdom can make a difference for eternity.”
“God has showered his love upon his people—it is not a trickle, it is a torrent—and as our hearts are filled with our Father's love, so out of our hearts may flow his love toward others.”
Thank you to the publisher for providing a copy of this book for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
October 4, 2023
{Full review posted here: https://www.amberthiessen.com/post/th...}
The mass of tulip bulbs in my garden bucket are all brown, covered in dirt. You can't tell from these what color the flower will bloom. Who we are in Christ will be reflected by how we bloom, the ways we give and love and serve.
In the hustle and bustle of our days, a pause is beneficial, to stop and consider how our being influences our doing.
"When Jesus challenges us not just to say, “Lord, Lord” but to mean it and to live it, it is this Jesus, full of compassion and power, who is issuing that challenge. When Jesus calls us to be different—to embrace upside-down values, to pursue a different kind of love, to be marked by integrity, and to live a life of obedience—it is this Jesus who is calling us."
We will spend our life learning and striving for this life. One where good works flow from a good heart.
In The Christian Manifesto, Pastor Begg takes us through the Sermon on the Plain in Luke 6 to teach us how to live with a heart and hands for Christ.
The author writes this book to invite you to the best possible life. It’s not a gimmick. It’s a personal and relational life outlined for us in Jesus’ sermon on the plain, found in Luke 6:20-49.
Each chapter takes us through a segment of Jesus’ sermon on the plain in Luke 6. He provides us with the context of the passage, helps us understand the teaching, and unpacks how we can take these truths into our lives today.
This journey through Luke 6 is an invitation to live a counter-cultural life in Christ. If you’ve felt the Lord leading you to a new lifestyle or have been searching for how to be a light in this darkness, this resource will help you understand and show you the difference we, as his disciples, can be.
AND, you can also download a free study guide.
*A big thanks to the Good Book Company for the complimentary copy of this book and the opportunity to post an honest review!
The mass of tulip bulbs in my garden bucket are all brown, covered in dirt. You can't tell from these what color the flower will bloom. Who we are in Christ will be reflected by how we bloom, the ways we give and love and serve.
In the hustle and bustle of our days, a pause is beneficial, to stop and consider how our being influences our doing.
"When Jesus challenges us not just to say, “Lord, Lord” but to mean it and to live it, it is this Jesus, full of compassion and power, who is issuing that challenge. When Jesus calls us to be different—to embrace upside-down values, to pursue a different kind of love, to be marked by integrity, and to live a life of obedience—it is this Jesus who is calling us."
We will spend our life learning and striving for this life. One where good works flow from a good heart.
In The Christian Manifesto, Pastor Begg takes us through the Sermon on the Plain in Luke 6 to teach us how to live with a heart and hands for Christ.
The author writes this book to invite you to the best possible life. It’s not a gimmick. It’s a personal and relational life outlined for us in Jesus’ sermon on the plain, found in Luke 6:20-49.
Each chapter takes us through a segment of Jesus’ sermon on the plain in Luke 6. He provides us with the context of the passage, helps us understand the teaching, and unpacks how we can take these truths into our lives today.
This journey through Luke 6 is an invitation to live a counter-cultural life in Christ. If you’ve felt the Lord leading you to a new lifestyle or have been searching for how to be a light in this darkness, this resource will help you understand and show you the difference we, as his disciples, can be.
AND, you can also download a free study guide.
*A big thanks to the Good Book Company for the complimentary copy of this book and the opportunity to post an honest review!
August 16, 2023
This edifying little book is a pretty quick read, but it is packed full of so much from the Sermon on the Plain that Jesus gave. Alistair Begg goes through Jesus' sermon and shows believers the Lord's vision for our life. He shows us how differently we ought to value things then the world does and how this affects our relationships with others and the way in which we live. I found this book to be both an encouragement and convicting. He shows us how we are blessed in Christ, addresses the kind of love that Jesus calls us to, addresses forgiveness, and so much more! This little book is a proclamation of how the Christian is to live and value things. Definitely reccomend this book. It is available for pre-order!
"Poverty yields a far greater response to the gospel than affluence, because poverty reminds us that we are dependent creatures and affluence lies to us that we are self-sufficient. This is why outward poverty may well be a means of spiritual blessing, because it leads a man or women to discover their utter dependence upon God-not only for physical and material things, but also for spiritual blessings."
"The attitude of unforgiveness is one of the consequences of our culture turning away from the idea of sin and the reality of guilt."
"Jesus is not calling you to say the wrong did not matter. He is calling you to say that it did matter and that you are forgiving that person anyway."
Thank you to the @thegoodbookcompanyusa for a copy of this book for my honest review!
"Poverty yields a far greater response to the gospel than affluence, because poverty reminds us that we are dependent creatures and affluence lies to us that we are self-sufficient. This is why outward poverty may well be a means of spiritual blessing, because it leads a man or women to discover their utter dependence upon God-not only for physical and material things, but also for spiritual blessings."
"The attitude of unforgiveness is one of the consequences of our culture turning away from the idea of sin and the reality of guilt."
"Jesus is not calling you to say the wrong did not matter. He is calling you to say that it did matter and that you are forgiving that person anyway."
Thank you to the @thegoodbookcompanyusa for a copy of this book for my honest review!
November 24, 2023
In this book, respected pastor and author Alistair Begg looks at a manifesto for the Christian life, straight from the lips of Jesus, taught in one of his most famous sermons found in Luke’s Gospel (6:20-49), and known as the “Sermon on the Plain.” (similar to the “Sermon on the Mount” in Matthew’s Gospel).
Begg writes that at just 725 words, this manifesto is not exhaustive. It does not cover every aspect of how Christ’s people can live in a way that pleases him, but it is foundational. Here is life as it is designed to be lived and enjoyed.
Begg tells us that the Sermon on the Plain is Jesus’ invitation to you to experience life at its very best. It is his description of what life in his kingdom, a kingdom where all that is wrong is being put right, looks like as we live in this world. Here we discover what the marks of a genuine Christian are. The manifesto is a description of the life we were all made for, but it is a challenge to be different from how I naturally am and how the world around me operates. This call to enjoy the blessing of life in Jesus’ kingdom is a call to be different.
In this book, as we listen to Jesus’ Sermon on the Plain, Begg writes that we shall hear a manifesto describing what genuine Christianity looks like. It is upside down and right way up. It is surprising and wonderful. It is challenging and liberating. It is life at its very best—a blessed life, a kingdom life.
Although this is a short book, it is impactful. It can be read in just a few hours, but there are no wasted words. It’s one of my favorite books I’ve read this year.
Here are some of my favorite quotes from the book:
• The biggest reason for the ineffectiveness of contemporary Christianity is a failure to take seriously the radical difference that Jesus calls for as we follow him as King.
• We are not called to be like the world, and the world does not need us to be like the world. We have something better to say because we have someone better to follow.
• What he is saying is that poverty yields a far greater response to the gospel than affluence, because poverty reminds us that we are dependent creatures and affluence lies to us that we are self-sufficient.
• Blessing comes to the person whose view of this world is robust enough to be able to take account of the reality that life includes funerals as well as parties, and who is willing to weep for and with the suffering.
• The genuine Christian is poor, hungry, crying, and hated—and they have found blessing, for with these things come satisfaction and joy. These are the marks of life in the kingdom of God.
• It is only because God chooses to love those who live as his enemies that you have any hope, any relationship with him, and anything to look forward to in eternity.
• It will only be when the church is prepared to live this out—when we resemble the good Samaritan more than the two religious leaders—that we will make an impact on our countries and their cultures.
• Christians understand that, having been made God’s children by grace, they seek to obey him, and that it is only because they have God working in them that they are they able to do what God calls for in their lives.
• Jesus is saying that we prove ourselves to be the sons of the Most High—not exclusively, not solely, but primarily—in the way we love and do good and are generous to our enemies, without expectation of anything in return.
• Along with the Golden Rule, the command “Judge not” is surrounded by more confusion than virtually any other verse of Scripture.
• Only when repentance and reformation has taken place will it be possible for us to see clearly enough to help others.
• Kingdom life involves having integrity—what we are like on the inside matching what we project on the outside and being quicker to admit our own struggles than to point out how others struggle.
• There can, therefore, be no more important question than that of what we do with Jesus.
• It is possible to have completely orthodox theology and know your Bible very well without genuinely being a Christian.
• Giftedness does not equal an acceptance of Jesus’ lordship,
• Our private behavior, as much as or more than our public profession, reveals the truth or otherwise of our claim to follow Jesus as Lord.
• Those who have truly believed the gospel will seek to obey him.
• Faith is not coming to Jesus and telling him what we have done and what we deserve; it is coming to Jesus because we know that he is compassionate and powerful; that he is willing and he is able to do what we need.
Begg writes that at just 725 words, this manifesto is not exhaustive. It does not cover every aspect of how Christ’s people can live in a way that pleases him, but it is foundational. Here is life as it is designed to be lived and enjoyed.
Begg tells us that the Sermon on the Plain is Jesus’ invitation to you to experience life at its very best. It is his description of what life in his kingdom, a kingdom where all that is wrong is being put right, looks like as we live in this world. Here we discover what the marks of a genuine Christian are. The manifesto is a description of the life we were all made for, but it is a challenge to be different from how I naturally am and how the world around me operates. This call to enjoy the blessing of life in Jesus’ kingdom is a call to be different.
In this book, as we listen to Jesus’ Sermon on the Plain, Begg writes that we shall hear a manifesto describing what genuine Christianity looks like. It is upside down and right way up. It is surprising and wonderful. It is challenging and liberating. It is life at its very best—a blessed life, a kingdom life.
Although this is a short book, it is impactful. It can be read in just a few hours, but there are no wasted words. It’s one of my favorite books I’ve read this year.
Here are some of my favorite quotes from the book:
• The biggest reason for the ineffectiveness of contemporary Christianity is a failure to take seriously the radical difference that Jesus calls for as we follow him as King.
• We are not called to be like the world, and the world does not need us to be like the world. We have something better to say because we have someone better to follow.
• What he is saying is that poverty yields a far greater response to the gospel than affluence, because poverty reminds us that we are dependent creatures and affluence lies to us that we are self-sufficient.
• Blessing comes to the person whose view of this world is robust enough to be able to take account of the reality that life includes funerals as well as parties, and who is willing to weep for and with the suffering.
• The genuine Christian is poor, hungry, crying, and hated—and they have found blessing, for with these things come satisfaction and joy. These are the marks of life in the kingdom of God.
• It is only because God chooses to love those who live as his enemies that you have any hope, any relationship with him, and anything to look forward to in eternity.
• It will only be when the church is prepared to live this out—when we resemble the good Samaritan more than the two religious leaders—that we will make an impact on our countries and their cultures.
• Christians understand that, having been made God’s children by grace, they seek to obey him, and that it is only because they have God working in them that they are they able to do what God calls for in their lives.
• Jesus is saying that we prove ourselves to be the sons of the Most High—not exclusively, not solely, but primarily—in the way we love and do good and are generous to our enemies, without expectation of anything in return.
• Along with the Golden Rule, the command “Judge not” is surrounded by more confusion than virtually any other verse of Scripture.
• Only when repentance and reformation has taken place will it be possible for us to see clearly enough to help others.
• Kingdom life involves having integrity—what we are like on the inside matching what we project on the outside and being quicker to admit our own struggles than to point out how others struggle.
• There can, therefore, be no more important question than that of what we do with Jesus.
• It is possible to have completely orthodox theology and know your Bible very well without genuinely being a Christian.
• Giftedness does not equal an acceptance of Jesus’ lordship,
• Our private behavior, as much as or more than our public profession, reveals the truth or otherwise of our claim to follow Jesus as Lord.
• Those who have truly believed the gospel will seek to obey him.
• Faith is not coming to Jesus and telling him what we have done and what we deserve; it is coming to Jesus because we know that he is compassionate and powerful; that he is willing and he is able to do what we need.
November 4, 2025
This is a firecracker of a book, and it serves as a reminder of how utterly impossible the Christian life is - apart from the animating work of the Holy Spirit. Begg begins by setting out his agenda: “In this book, we're going to look at what can be helpfully seen as a "Christian manifesto." A manifesto is a public declaration or proclamation issued by a monarch or head of state, or by a representative of a company or organization. Here is a manifesto for the Christian life, straight from the lips of Jesus, as he gathered both his followers and those who were thinking about becoming his followers on "a level place"-on a plain and taught them one of his most famous sermons, found in Luke's Gospel and known as the "Sermon on the Plain." It is a manifesto that is not oriented towards the political arena, but towards the relational and individual one…At 725 words (in the ESV English translation), this manifesto is less than a third of the length of the average US presidential inaugural address. It is therefore, of course, not exhaustive - it does not cover every aspect of how Christ's people can live in a way that pleases him - but it is foundational.” Begg concludes, “The Sermon on the Plain, then, is Jesus invitation to you to experience life at its very best. It is his description of what life in his kingdom - a kingdom where all that is wrong is being put right-looks like as we live in this world…To be clear, the Lord is not describing how we come into the kingdom but how we live in the kingdom.”
In beginning to unpack this, Begg points out how radical the Christian life is, and has always been: “What we shall hear Jesus saying to us is radical - how faith in him compels and equips us to live out a new lifestyle that is often countercultural and counterintuitive. This makes the Sermon on the Plain not only an invitation but also a challenge. The hallmarks and priorities of Jesus' kingdom are different from this world's - and so its citizens will be different too. Jesus' call is deep, and it is wide, and it calls us to turn everything we naturally think upside down. Here we shall discover what the marks of a genuine Christian are. No one who is truly a member of Jesus' kingdom is left unchanged by that membership.”
This, then, is how we are to live: to earn the right to tell others about the kingdom by showing them the kingdom. Begg explains that, “The best thing we have to offer those around us is the kingdom of Jesus, and the way to earn the right to speak to them about that kingdom is to show them that kingdom. The biggest reason for the ineffectiveness of contemporary Christianity is a failure to take seriously the radical difference that Jesus calls for as we follow him as King. The 21st-century Western evangelical church has too often given in to the temptation to soft-pedal Jesus' words - to find caveats and loopholes in what he says in order to offer the world something that sounds more palatable and less demanding. We have spent decades congratulating ourselves for being able to go among our non-Christian friends and say, "You know what? We're just the same as you." And they've said, "You know what? I think you're absolutely right!"”
He ends by reaffirming the challenge of Jesus’ words here: “The Sermon on the Plain is challenging. It is an invitation to enjoy the blessing of life in Jesus' kingdom - a description of the best life we can find but, because that life is so countercultural and counterintuitive, it requires us to take a long, hard look at ourselves. Jesus does not compromise or negotiate. If we take his words seriously, they will change us…when Jesus challenges us not just to say, "Lord, Lord" but to mean it and to live it, it is this Jesus, full of compassion and power, who is issuing that challenge. When Jesus calls us to be different to embrace upside-down values, to pursue a different kind of love, to be marked by integrity, and to live a life of obedience - it is this Jesus who is calling us. It is as we look at Jesus that we will find ourselves drawn to him, to follow and serve and obey him. And it is as we look at Jesus that we discover the greatest blessing of all the blessings of being in his kingdom, the greatest joy of all the joys of being part of God's people, and the only thing we truly need in order to experience life at its very best, forever - Jesus himself.”
In beginning to unpack this, Begg points out how radical the Christian life is, and has always been: “What we shall hear Jesus saying to us is radical - how faith in him compels and equips us to live out a new lifestyle that is often countercultural and counterintuitive. This makes the Sermon on the Plain not only an invitation but also a challenge. The hallmarks and priorities of Jesus' kingdom are different from this world's - and so its citizens will be different too. Jesus' call is deep, and it is wide, and it calls us to turn everything we naturally think upside down. Here we shall discover what the marks of a genuine Christian are. No one who is truly a member of Jesus' kingdom is left unchanged by that membership.”
This, then, is how we are to live: to earn the right to tell others about the kingdom by showing them the kingdom. Begg explains that, “The best thing we have to offer those around us is the kingdom of Jesus, and the way to earn the right to speak to them about that kingdom is to show them that kingdom. The biggest reason for the ineffectiveness of contemporary Christianity is a failure to take seriously the radical difference that Jesus calls for as we follow him as King. The 21st-century Western evangelical church has too often given in to the temptation to soft-pedal Jesus' words - to find caveats and loopholes in what he says in order to offer the world something that sounds more palatable and less demanding. We have spent decades congratulating ourselves for being able to go among our non-Christian friends and say, "You know what? We're just the same as you." And they've said, "You know what? I think you're absolutely right!"”
He ends by reaffirming the challenge of Jesus’ words here: “The Sermon on the Plain is challenging. It is an invitation to enjoy the blessing of life in Jesus' kingdom - a description of the best life we can find but, because that life is so countercultural and counterintuitive, it requires us to take a long, hard look at ourselves. Jesus does not compromise or negotiate. If we take his words seriously, they will change us…when Jesus challenges us not just to say, "Lord, Lord" but to mean it and to live it, it is this Jesus, full of compassion and power, who is issuing that challenge. When Jesus calls us to be different to embrace upside-down values, to pursue a different kind of love, to be marked by integrity, and to live a life of obedience - it is this Jesus who is calling us. It is as we look at Jesus that we will find ourselves drawn to him, to follow and serve and obey him. And it is as we look at Jesus that we discover the greatest blessing of all the blessings of being in his kingdom, the greatest joy of all the joys of being part of God's people, and the only thing we truly need in order to experience life at its very best, forever - Jesus himself.”
April 25, 2024
“It is as we look at Jesus that we will find ourselves drawn to him, to follow and serve and obey him. And it is as we look at Jesus that we discover the greatest blessing of all the blessings of being in his kingdom, the greatest joy of all the joys of being part of God’s people, and the only thing we need in order to experience life at its very best, forever—Jesus himself.”
After seeing Begg embroiled in a bizarre controversy recently, and feeling some degree of sympathy for his position, I was eager to read some of his work. I’m not disappointed. It reads more like a sermon series than a book, and could be structured slightly more tightly, but contains solid pastoral insights on an especially convicting sermon of the Lord Jesus.
“Life in this fallen world involves tragedy as well as comedy… it is in tragedy that there is a greater opportunity for us to face the reality of life. “Blessed are you who weep now,” says Jesus. Blessing comes to the person whose view of life is robust enough to be able to take account of the reality that life involves funerals as well as parties, and who is willing to weep for and with the suffering. For only those who have reckoned with the darkness of life, and only those who know that one day the darkness shall pass, can truly appreciate the moments of joy, as they look forward to the coming of the kingdom in all its fullness, when God shall wipe every tear from our eyes.”
After seeing Begg embroiled in a bizarre controversy recently, and feeling some degree of sympathy for his position, I was eager to read some of his work. I’m not disappointed. It reads more like a sermon series than a book, and could be structured slightly more tightly, but contains solid pastoral insights on an especially convicting sermon of the Lord Jesus.
“Life in this fallen world involves tragedy as well as comedy… it is in tragedy that there is a greater opportunity for us to face the reality of life. “Blessed are you who weep now,” says Jesus. Blessing comes to the person whose view of life is robust enough to be able to take account of the reality that life involves funerals as well as parties, and who is willing to weep for and with the suffering. For only those who have reckoned with the darkness of life, and only those who know that one day the darkness shall pass, can truly appreciate the moments of joy, as they look forward to the coming of the kingdom in all its fullness, when God shall wipe every tear from our eyes.”
April 24, 2025
Even though I’ve been a Christian since I was six years old and I grew up in church, the Sermon on the Plain has always confused me. I didn’t really understand it and usually read over the verses without much thought. But I love how Begg takes a deep look into the meanings and teaches how these verses can really change our lives when we apply their biblical perspective. Begg doesn’t mind stating the truth directly, even when it’s convicting and difficult to read (like the chapter about forgiveness), but he writes in a way that is also kind. When reading his books, I always like to keep a pen close by, because there are always so many good quotes I don’t want to forget! Overall, this book is convicting, thought-provoking, deeply encouraging, and a true must-read, especially if you’re interested in delving into the Scriptures but don’t have time to do a massive study. This book is about 100 pages and is broken down into 8 easy-to-read chapters. Perfect for a personal study or a small group!
October 15, 2023
Great little book concerning Luke's version of the "Sermon on the Mount" taken from Luke chapter 6. It would be easy to read this book and say "Yes, yes, good words from Pastor Begg." The difficult thing is to read this book, get past the superficial "Sunday School" answers and get to matters of the heart. DO we love as Christ loved, DO we serve as Christ served, DO we forgive as Christ forgives, DO we live with Christ-like integrity???
Christ offers the free gift of salvation to any who believe and repent. But there will be fruit of conversion. This little exhortation should cause us to examine our hearts, repent of sin, live in light of the gospel of grace and BE WHO WE ARE. I pray that for myself.
Christ offers the free gift of salvation to any who believe and repent. But there will be fruit of conversion. This little exhortation should cause us to examine our hearts, repent of sin, live in light of the gospel of grace and BE WHO WE ARE. I pray that for myself.
February 20, 2025
Started a vague but got better as it went on.
October 11, 2024
Begg befasst sich im Buch mit der Feldrede von Jesus im Lukasevangelium. Dabei geht er auf die einzelnen Grundsätze von Jesus ein und erklärt, wie ein Christ sie zu verstehen und anwenden kann. Es liegt ihm am Herzen, die Christen dazu zu motivieren, den Lehren von Jesus nachzuahmen. In wenigen Seiten bringt Begg es auf den Punkt, worauf es im christlichen Leben ankommt.
September 14, 2023
I just need to stop reading Alistair Begg. This is my own fault. My theological leanings have shifted and where I once found myself in agreement with Begg’s theology and methodology, now I do not.
First, a note on theology: A Christian Manifesto is a short book that is a practical commentary of Jesus’s Sermon on the Plain from the Gospel of Luke 6. It is, in many ways, a parallel sermon to the Sermon on the Mount of Matthew 5-7, containing much of the same material. These two messages are similar in content and theme, but address different political economies. The Sermon on the Mount was given to large crowds in Judea; The Sermon on the Plan was given to people in Galilee. The first sermon is like speaking to a national audience; the second is speaking to a regional audience. It’s a bit odd to address the Sermon on the Plain without contextualizing it alongside the Sermon on the Mount—the more popular passage from which to draw A Christian “manifesto”—but that’s what Begg does.
I also think Begg errs by reducing the Beatitudes to commands to be happy. It’s a simplistic explanation that leads to some poor theology. Happy are those who are sad? Particularly as Begg does not define or contextualize what he means by happiness, we are left with what Begg interprets as a seemingly paradoxical command. Rather, I believe the beatitudes are best translated as “God’s favor.” It’s not about happiness; it’s about having God’s favor. Exchange Jesus saying “happy are those who are poor” to a poverty-stricken audience to “God’s favor is upon those who are poor.” Do you see how that changes the theological outlook?
But enough of the theology, let’s turn to methodology. A lot of pastors write books out of their sermons. The content is first preached, then repackaged into book form. That’s fine. But here, it makes the book just look packaged. It doesn’t seem organic. It feels adapted. There’s no great deep dive into Scripture. It’s all superficial and simply not that engaging. The book feels cobbled together for the simple purpose of selling books. I’ve really enjoyed The Good Book Company in the past, but whether it is my shifting theology (though I don’t think so as I still love their older books!) or a change in what they’re publishing, I’m not finding the quality of material I had come to expect from the publisher.
First, a note on theology: A Christian Manifesto is a short book that is a practical commentary of Jesus’s Sermon on the Plain from the Gospel of Luke 6. It is, in many ways, a parallel sermon to the Sermon on the Mount of Matthew 5-7, containing much of the same material. These two messages are similar in content and theme, but address different political economies. The Sermon on the Mount was given to large crowds in Judea; The Sermon on the Plan was given to people in Galilee. The first sermon is like speaking to a national audience; the second is speaking to a regional audience. It’s a bit odd to address the Sermon on the Plain without contextualizing it alongside the Sermon on the Mount—the more popular passage from which to draw A Christian “manifesto”—but that’s what Begg does.
I also think Begg errs by reducing the Beatitudes to commands to be happy. It’s a simplistic explanation that leads to some poor theology. Happy are those who are sad? Particularly as Begg does not define or contextualize what he means by happiness, we are left with what Begg interprets as a seemingly paradoxical command. Rather, I believe the beatitudes are best translated as “God’s favor.” It’s not about happiness; it’s about having God’s favor. Exchange Jesus saying “happy are those who are poor” to a poverty-stricken audience to “God’s favor is upon those who are poor.” Do you see how that changes the theological outlook?
But enough of the theology, let’s turn to methodology. A lot of pastors write books out of their sermons. The content is first preached, then repackaged into book form. That’s fine. But here, it makes the book just look packaged. It doesn’t seem organic. It feels adapted. There’s no great deep dive into Scripture. It’s all superficial and simply not that engaging. The book feels cobbled together for the simple purpose of selling books. I’ve really enjoyed The Good Book Company in the past, but whether it is my shifting theology (though I don’t think so as I still love their older books!) or a change in what they’re publishing, I’m not finding the quality of material I had come to expect from the publisher.
July 16, 2025
I found this book to be extremely convicting. It is based on sermon Jesus gave in Luke 6 referred to as the Sermon on the Plain. Pastor Begg explains that a manifesto is a public declaration and this sermon is not about becoming a Christian but how we should act as a Christian. The message is counter to everything in our culture and revolutionary. Jesus says blessed are the poor, the hungry, and those who are hated, excluded and reviled for my sake because they are better able to recognize their need for a Savior and if saved they have Jesus and have gained eternal life. Pastor Begg highlights how Jesus preached for us to not tolerate but actually love our enemies, wishing blessing for them. He highlights the passage which says do not judge as the Pharisee did when he publicly prayed but as the sinner who was heard by God. He pointed out how comical it would be if we could picture the man with the load bearing blank in his eye telling another about a branch of sin in his eye. The Christians life is to be one of obedience to his Lord. Immediately upon reading all this I realized that I cannot do this. That, however, is the point. This kind of love and obedience can only be done by the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit and because the Christian knows and is convinced of the love of Jesus.
The book end beautifully looking at the two miracles Jesus performed right after this sermon: the healing of the Roman centurion's servant and the raising of the widow's only son. The centurion's servant was healed because he asked and believed. Jesus raised the widow's son even though He wasn't asked but because He had compassion in His own heart for her. Pastor Begg states that in the end the true blessings are being part of His kingdom, eternal life and, even more, Jesus himself.
The book end beautifully looking at the two miracles Jesus performed right after this sermon: the healing of the Roman centurion's servant and the raising of the widow's only son. The centurion's servant was healed because he asked and believed. Jesus raised the widow's son even though He wasn't asked but because He had compassion in His own heart for her. Pastor Begg states that in the end the true blessings are being part of His kingdom, eternal life and, even more, Jesus himself.
September 26, 2023
What did Jesus really mean? In The Christian Manifesto, Alistair Begg explains Jesus’ life-changing words from the Sermon on the Plain.
Radically Different
At just over 100 pages, this small book is packed with insight. Begg examines Luke 6 and exhorts us to live like Christ. While I was familiar with this section of Scripture, Begg allows you to look at it with fresh eyes and with new understanding.
I was most surprised to see how radically different the Christian life looks like when compared to the world. Begg does not shy away from the fact that the world sees Christian characteristics as the marks of losers. Begg reminds us that true happiness is found in our counter-cultural Christ.
Live Like Christ
I was most challenged to see Begg point the finger back at himself and other Christians. When speaking of censoriousness — a spirit of self-righteous, self-exalting, hypocritical, harsh judmentalism — he says that even Reformed churches are perhaps most in danger. He calls us to be a forgiving people, while still being faithful to Jesus.
This book is a quick and refreshing read that will challenge, equip, and compel you to live like Christ. You will be blessed to sit at the feet of Jesus, hear from his heart, and let his words impact your world.
I received a media copy of The Christian Manifesto and this is my honest review.
Radically Different
At just over 100 pages, this small book is packed with insight. Begg examines Luke 6 and exhorts us to live like Christ. While I was familiar with this section of Scripture, Begg allows you to look at it with fresh eyes and with new understanding.
I was most surprised to see how radically different the Christian life looks like when compared to the world. Begg does not shy away from the fact that the world sees Christian characteristics as the marks of losers. Begg reminds us that true happiness is found in our counter-cultural Christ.
Live Like Christ
I was most challenged to see Begg point the finger back at himself and other Christians. When speaking of censoriousness — a spirit of self-righteous, self-exalting, hypocritical, harsh judmentalism — he says that even Reformed churches are perhaps most in danger. He calls us to be a forgiving people, while still being faithful to Jesus.
This book is a quick and refreshing read that will challenge, equip, and compel you to live like Christ. You will be blessed to sit at the feet of Jesus, hear from his heart, and let his words impact your world.
I received a media copy of The Christian Manifesto and this is my honest review.
October 15, 2023
Stop! Put down those Joel Osteen books about living your best life now and pick up this book by Alistair Begg. In “The Christian Manifesto” Begg takes a deep look at Jesus’ Sermon on the plain. Jesus shows us how to live our best life in this moment here on earth while not becoming a part of this world but standing out from this world. It’s countercultural, it’s not politically correct, it’s not a cancel culture, but one that is humbling, forgiving, merciful, and rewarding not only for self but for others. There is beauty and freedom when we stop living selfishly to be served by others and start living selflessly to serve others.
December 16, 2023
A brief, though vivid look at the Sermon on the Plain (Luke 6). Begg’s style is inviting but its accessibility does not compromise any of its conviction. It will be tempting to read this quickly (which I did), but upon further reflection I think it deserves a more careful, thoughtful approach. Highly recommended.
April 2, 2024
Excellent, clearly written and to the point. This isn’t a very long book but there is a lot packed into the pages. It made me stop and review my own thoughts and position, my attitude and actions, and my feelings and consideration for the wellbeing of others. I haven’t read too many of Alistair Begg’s books but I intend to read more.
October 2, 2023
A must read for every Christian who wants to know how to live in response to what Jesus has done for us. I never realized there was a sermon on the plain, but there is and Jesus himself tells us how to live a life that is changed in that sermon.
October 25, 2023
vintage Alistair
Very good stuff! Not always easily readable. And definitely it makes you stop numerous times and think through what the author is saying. Salvation is free, but it is not easy. this book needs to be preached from our pulpits.
Very good stuff! Not always easily readable. And definitely it makes you stop numerous times and think through what the author is saying. Salvation is free, but it is not easy. this book needs to be preached from our pulpits.
November 9, 2023
One True GOD
Dr. Begg does an excellent job of explaining and showing that JESUS CHRIST is LORD of lords and KING of kings! HE is our CREATOR and we are made to worship and glorify HIM. When we do this HE, WHO gave HIMSELF for us will have compassion, love, grace and mercy on us.
Dr. Begg does an excellent job of explaining and showing that JESUS CHRIST is LORD of lords and KING of kings! HE is our CREATOR and we are made to worship and glorify HIM. When we do this HE, WHO gave HIMSELF for us will have compassion, love, grace and mercy on us.
April 11, 2024
Nothing particularly new, but generally a good discussion of the sermon on the plain as it relates to practical living. Good for group discussion without anyone having to do a lot of work before meeting.
May 12, 2024
Very well written book. Easy to understand, short and to the point, but powerful in message as it pertains to Christian living. Alistair Begg is one of my favorite pastors to listen to. He’s very practical and has a way with illustrations that is unmatched.
January 9, 2025
Great, short book on life inside the kingdom of God. Begg's language and descriptions are simple, profound and encouraging for the believer wanting a real understanding of the Sermon on the Plain. I'll be back reading this again in the near future taking in the rich content that is here!
October 13, 2023
Short but should challenge us. Strong Christ-centred closing chapter.
January 12, 2024
I recommend anything Alistair Begg writes. This book makes a good devotional and can be done as a one-on-one discipleship study.
February 10, 2024
Solid little book - nothing too deep, but a great reminder of how Jesus flips how we see the world on its head, and causes us to love differently through love and obedience
March 2, 2024
Nothing earth-shaking here, just solid exposition of the word. Begg is a great teacher who brings a quick read with the truth we need.
January 1, 2025
Must read for the new or veteran Christian!
August 15, 2025
A challenging book - an exposition of the Sermon on the Plain and other related passages in the Gospel of Luke.
January 13, 2024
Very challenging.
June 3, 2024
Every now and then there was an exegetical leap the conclusion of which I agreed with, but which I didn't feel was warranted from the text. In general, though, this was an excellent book. The treatment of the "golden rule" was especially strong. Fun coincidence that my church is currently preaching through the Sermon on the Plain.
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