Chapter 4, Ministry Summary and Analysis

Bonhoeffer develops the Scriptural and spiritual basis for community and devotions of the fellowship in the first three chapters of the work. In this next chapter he discusses the interaction of community members with each other. His objective is a set of rules and advice to direct the members' behavior. Bonhoeffer recommends what the members pay attention to and how they think, feel and interact with one another. Despite his claim that Christian community fellowship is a divine reality, Bonhoeffer is realistic and practical. He recognizes the members need human rules of thought and discipline to support a more distant appeal of divine approval. The early chapters organize daily devotions to support a spiritual foundation for the divine reality. This section proposes interpersonal practices to maintain the functioning organization of a human reality.

The author refers to these rules...