John Andrew Gallery
Books/AuthorI live in Philadelphia where I have been active in Quaker meetings for the past thirty years. Since retiring in 2013, I have devoted most of my time to writing. Friends Journal has graciously published a number of my articles and essays, and Pendle Hill has published two pamphlets I have written — including the most recently published pamphlet (#469) Reflections from a Solitary Meeting for Worship, and an earlier pamphlet (#358) Reflections from a Prayer Vigil for Peace. I have also self‐published two pamphlets (On Love and On Generosity), as
well as the book Living in the Kingdom of God, which I an offering to FGC attendees. In addition to writing on spiritual topics, I have also written several books related to my professional work in architecture, city planning, and historic preservation. These include Philadelphia Architecture, A Guide to the City—4th Edition 2019; The Planning of Center City Philadelphia—From William Penn to the Present (2009), and a guide to Sacred Sites of Center City (2009), all available from Paul Dry Books. For further information about me, to see samples of my spiritual writing, and to order self‐published books see my website below. |
About My Book
Living in the Kingdom of God (Second Edition, 2021) examines the parables of Jesus of Nazareth based on two assumptions: first, that the “kingdom of God” is not a place we go after death—it is a “state of being” that each of us can achieve in our lifetime. Second, that the parables are to be taken literally, as stories about people already living in the kingdom of God. They illustrate through the behavior of those people the values they live by as examples for us to follow. This approach has led me to identify eleven practical though challenging
ideas that constitute what I believe are Jesus’ core spiritual and ethical teachings. The first section of the book indicates how three well‐known parables illustrate these core teachings. The second section shows how examples from Jesus’ life and his other sayings reflect these same ideas. New to this second edition is adiscussion of the meaning of Jesus’ invitation “follow me,” and its relevance for today. A third section describes Jesus’ ideas about God and a final section describes spiritual practices derived from gospel examples that can help each of us reach this new state of being and begin living in the kingdom of God. By focusing on the words, the teachings of Jesus, and not on the theological
issues of his birth, divinity, death, or resurrection, Living in the Kingdom of God makes Jesus’ teachings more accessible to all who want to live a happier and fuller life, regardless of religious orientation.
I am offering this second edition to FGC Gathering attendees at a special discounted price of $10 with free shipping (normal retain price $15). To order, go to www.johnandrewgallery.com / spiritual. (Please note: if you pay via PayPal, it will charge you $12, and I will refund $2 with your purchase.)
Living in the Kingdom of God (Second Edition, 2021) examines the parables of Jesus of Nazareth based on two assumptions: first, that the “kingdom of God” is not a place we go after death—it is a “state of being” that each of us can achieve in our lifetime. Second, that the parables are to be taken literally, as stories about people already living in the kingdom of God. They illustrate through the behavior of those people the values they live by as examples for us to follow. This approach has led me to identify eleven practical though challenging
ideas that constitute what I believe are Jesus’ core spiritual and ethical teachings. The first section of the book indicates how three well‐known parables illustrate these core teachings. The second section shows how examples from Jesus’ life and his other sayings reflect these same ideas. New to this second edition is adiscussion of the meaning of Jesus’ invitation “follow me,” and its relevance for today. A third section describes Jesus’ ideas about God and a final section describes spiritual practices derived from gospel examples that can help each of us reach this new state of being and begin living in the kingdom of God. By focusing on the words, the teachings of Jesus, and not on the theological
issues of his birth, divinity, death, or resurrection, Living in the Kingdom of God makes Jesus’ teachings more accessible to all who want to live a happier and fuller life, regardless of religious orientation.
I am offering this second edition to FGC Gathering attendees at a special discounted price of $10 with free shipping (normal retain price $15). To order, go to www.johnandrewgallery.com / spiritual. (Please note: if you pay via PayPal, it will charge you $12, and I will refund $2 with your purchase.)