
The Love That Is God
An Invitation to Christian Faith
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
$0.99/mo for the first 3 months

Buy for $14.95
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Trevor Thompson
About this listen
“God is love is the radical claim of Christianity,” writes Frederick Bauerschmidt at the beginning of this little meditation on the essentials of Christian faith. In a rich yet accessible style reminiscent of C. S. Lewis and G. K. Chesterton, Bauerschmidt breathes life back into that claim, drawing from Scripture, great Christian and non-Christian writers of the past, and his own lived experience to show just how countercultural and subversive Christianity is actually meant to be. Eschewing the abstract and dogmatic in favor of the relational and inviting, he offers something for everyone, from lifelong churchgoers and students of religion to the growing population of “nones” among younger generations who are increasingly seeking spiritual fulfillment outside of institutional Christianity.
With further reading suggestions (both scriptural and nonscriptural) at the end of each chapter, The Love That Is God is the perfect starting point of a spiritual journey into deeper relationship with God.
Michael Ramsey Prize (2023)
Listeners also enjoyed...
-
The Tears of Things
- Prophetic Wisdom for an Age of Outrage
- By: Richard Rohr
- Narrated by: Drew Jackson
- Length: 6 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In his first major work since The Universal Christ, one of our most prominent spiritual voices offers a wholehearted and hope-filled model for the world today, grounded in the timeless wisdom of the Hebrew prophets. How do we live compassionately in a time of violence and despair? What can we do with our private disappointments and the anger we feel in such an unjust world? In his most personal book yet, Richard Rohr turns to the writings of the Jewish prophets, revealing how some of the lesser-read books of the Bible offer us a crucial path forward today.
-
-
Friar Rohr doing what he does best
- By D. Beahn on 03-13-25
By: Richard Rohr
-
Discovering Christianity
- A Guide for the Curious
- By: Rowan Williams
- Narrated by: Rowan Williams
- Length: 3 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Rowan Williams' guide to the essentials of the faith will get you thinking about God in fresh and exciting ways. It will help you to grasp the way in which the best Christian theology is arrived at through the creative interplay of scripture, tradition and reason. And it will help you develop a broader and deeper appreciation of the positive difference Christianity continues to make in the world today.
-
-
Profound concise simple and alive. Great interviewer as well.
- By James Rhodenhiser on 03-03-25
By: Rowan Williams
-
Thomas Keating
- The Making of a Modern Christian Mystic
- By: Cynthia Bourgeault
- Narrated by: Anu Anand
- Length: 7 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the first four decades of his life as a Trappist monk, Thomas Keating created a comprehensive, unified psychospiritual pathway leading from healing to holiness and from contemporary psychological wellness to classic mystical sanctity and beatitude. As one of the key innovators of the meditative practice of Centering Prayer, he fashioned a powerful on-ramp to the Christian contemplative tradition. Yet, as beloved author and Keating disciple Cynthia Bourgeault shows, that was not the end of Keating’s story.
-
An Introduction to Prayer
- By: Robert Barron
- Narrated by: Robert Barron
- Length: 2 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
An Introduction to Prayer offers a collection of rich yet brief reflections on prayer in the Catholic spiritual tradition from acclaimed author, speaker, and theologian Bishop Robert Barron.
-
-
Robert Barron - A prophet for our times
- By Anonymous User on 01-09-25
By: Robert Barron
-
The Wood Between the Worlds
- A Poetic Theology of the Cross
- By: Brian Zahnd
- Narrated by: Brian Zahnd
- Length: 7 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Everything about the gospel message leads to the cross, and proceeds from the cross. In fact, within the narrative of Scripture, the crucifixion of Jesus is literally the crux of the story—the axis upon which the biblical story turns. But it would be a mistake to think we could sum up the significance of the crucifixion in a tidy sentence or two. That kind of thinking only insulates us from the magnificence of what God has done. In our ongoing quest to make meaning of the cross, we need to recognize that this conversation will never conclude-that there is always something more to be said.
-
-
Just beautifully executed
- By Anonymous User on 04-22-25
By: Brian Zahnd
-
The Widening of God's Mercy
- Sexuality Within the Biblical Story
- By: Christopher B. Hays, Richard B. Hays
- Narrated by: Simon Kerr
- Length: 7 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Discussions of the Bible and human sexuality often focus on a scattered handful of specific passages. But arguments about this same set of verses have reached an impasse, two leading biblical scholars believe; these debates are missing the forest for the trees. In this learned and beautifully written book, Richard and Christopher Hays explore a more expansive way of listening to the overarching story that scripture tells. They remind us of a dynamic and gracious God who is willing to change his mind, consistently broadening his grace to include more and more people.
-
-
The Bible As a Whole
- By Greg Impink on 03-20-25
By: Christopher B. Hays, and others
-
The Tears of Things
- Prophetic Wisdom for an Age of Outrage
- By: Richard Rohr
- Narrated by: Drew Jackson
- Length: 6 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In his first major work since The Universal Christ, one of our most prominent spiritual voices offers a wholehearted and hope-filled model for the world today, grounded in the timeless wisdom of the Hebrew prophets. How do we live compassionately in a time of violence and despair? What can we do with our private disappointments and the anger we feel in such an unjust world? In his most personal book yet, Richard Rohr turns to the writings of the Jewish prophets, revealing how some of the lesser-read books of the Bible offer us a crucial path forward today.
-
-
Friar Rohr doing what he does best
- By D. Beahn on 03-13-25
By: Richard Rohr
-
Discovering Christianity
- A Guide for the Curious
- By: Rowan Williams
- Narrated by: Rowan Williams
- Length: 3 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Rowan Williams' guide to the essentials of the faith will get you thinking about God in fresh and exciting ways. It will help you to grasp the way in which the best Christian theology is arrived at through the creative interplay of scripture, tradition and reason. And it will help you develop a broader and deeper appreciation of the positive difference Christianity continues to make in the world today.
-
-
Profound concise simple and alive. Great interviewer as well.
- By James Rhodenhiser on 03-03-25
By: Rowan Williams
-
Thomas Keating
- The Making of a Modern Christian Mystic
- By: Cynthia Bourgeault
- Narrated by: Anu Anand
- Length: 7 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the first four decades of his life as a Trappist monk, Thomas Keating created a comprehensive, unified psychospiritual pathway leading from healing to holiness and from contemporary psychological wellness to classic mystical sanctity and beatitude. As one of the key innovators of the meditative practice of Centering Prayer, he fashioned a powerful on-ramp to the Christian contemplative tradition. Yet, as beloved author and Keating disciple Cynthia Bourgeault shows, that was not the end of Keating’s story.
-
An Introduction to Prayer
- By: Robert Barron
- Narrated by: Robert Barron
- Length: 2 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
An Introduction to Prayer offers a collection of rich yet brief reflections on prayer in the Catholic spiritual tradition from acclaimed author, speaker, and theologian Bishop Robert Barron.
-
-
Robert Barron - A prophet for our times
- By Anonymous User on 01-09-25
By: Robert Barron
-
The Wood Between the Worlds
- A Poetic Theology of the Cross
- By: Brian Zahnd
- Narrated by: Brian Zahnd
- Length: 7 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Everything about the gospel message leads to the cross, and proceeds from the cross. In fact, within the narrative of Scripture, the crucifixion of Jesus is literally the crux of the story—the axis upon which the biblical story turns. But it would be a mistake to think we could sum up the significance of the crucifixion in a tidy sentence or two. That kind of thinking only insulates us from the magnificence of what God has done. In our ongoing quest to make meaning of the cross, we need to recognize that this conversation will never conclude-that there is always something more to be said.
-
-
Just beautifully executed
- By Anonymous User on 04-22-25
By: Brian Zahnd
-
The Widening of God's Mercy
- Sexuality Within the Biblical Story
- By: Christopher B. Hays, Richard B. Hays
- Narrated by: Simon Kerr
- Length: 7 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Discussions of the Bible and human sexuality often focus on a scattered handful of specific passages. But arguments about this same set of verses have reached an impasse, two leading biblical scholars believe; these debates are missing the forest for the trees. In this learned and beautifully written book, Richard and Christopher Hays explore a more expansive way of listening to the overarching story that scripture tells. They remind us of a dynamic and gracious God who is willing to change his mind, consistently broadening his grace to include more and more people.
-
-
The Bible As a Whole
- By Greg Impink on 03-20-25
By: Christopher B. Hays, and others
-
The Gift of Being Yourself
- The Sacred Call to Self-Discovery
- By: David G. Benner
- Narrated by: David Cochran Heath
- Length: 3 hrs
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Much is said in Christian circles about knowing God. But Christians throughout the ages have agreed that there cannot be deep knowledge of God without deep knowledge of the self. Discerning your true self is inextricably related to discerning God's purposes for you. Paradoxically, the more you become like Christ, the more you become authentically yourself. In this profound exploration of Christian identity, psychologist and spiritual director David G. Benner illuminates the spirituality of self-discovery.
-
-
God in Jesus
- By KIM on 12-21-24
By: David G. Benner
-
The Challenge of Acts
- Rediscovering What the Church Was and Is
- By: N. T. Wright
- Narrated by: N. T. Wright
- Length: 7 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This book offers a brief introduction to the Acts of the Apostles. Acts is a substantial book, sitting right in the middle of the New Testament, looking back to the four Gospels and ahead to the mission of the early church. It provides a framework for our understanding of the letters; but it does more than that. It offers a sophisticated and nuanced view of what it means to think of the gospel of Jesus, Israel's Messiah, going out into the world over which Israel's Messiah claims the status of Lord.
-
-
Glad Wright narrated
- By Adam Shields on 12-05-24
By: N. T. Wright
-
On the Ecclesiastical Mystagogy
- Popular Patristics Series, Book 59
- By: Jonathan J. Armstrong
- Narrated by: Jonah Martin
- Length: 2 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Maximus' vision of the liturgy contemplates the interpenetrating relationships of all things with each other and with Christ, in whom all things cohere. The church building, the human being, and the cosmos are all mutually related and symbolically reflect each other. Further, in the liturgy, we enter into the mystery of Christ.
-
Invitation to Love 20th Anniversary Edition
- The Way of Christian Contemplation
- By: Thomas Keating
- Narrated by: Chris Courtenay
- Length: 6 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Thomas Keating was a Cistercian monk who founded the worldwide 'Contemplative Outreach', teaching people the art of meditation. Invitation to Love provides a road map for the journey that begins when Centering Prayer is seriously undertaken. Pointing to some of the recognizable landmarks on this journey, as well as to its ultimate destination, Father Keating addresses common questions regarding contemplative practice: How will it affect my life? Where does it lead us spiritually? What obstacles will I encounter along the way? How does it work?
-
-
A Must Read
- By Kimberly A Miller on 03-16-24
By: Thomas Keating
-
Our Father
- By: Alexander Schmemann
- Narrated by: Alexander Hatcher
- Length: 1 hr and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This commentary on the Lord's prayer has been compiled from a series of broadcasts made by Father Alexander Schmemann on Radio Liberty to listeners in the Soviet Union. Because this single short prayer of Christ has everything that needs to be said about God, his kingdom, this life, and all of us, it is not an exaggeration to suggest that in this commentary, Father Schmemann provides us with a map for seeing anew the purpose and measure of our whole life.
-
-
New Love for the Lord’s Prayer
- By Sara Wright Shropshire on 03-10-25
-
Sacraments of Healing
- By: Kallistos Ware
- Narrated by: Jonah Martin
- Length: 2 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
It is often said that the Orthodox Church is a hospital and that our understanding of salvation is therapeutic. Here Met. Kallistos explores what this means in many different ways, and helps us to understand more deeply our relationship with Christ the physician of souls and bodies, who came to save and to heal both us and the world.
-
-
Awesome. Glory to God.
- By Devilsreject1026@yahoo on 11-17-24
By: Kallistos Ware