Audiobook · read by volunteers
School of Obedience
Andrew Murray (1828–1917)
Read by Joy Chan · 10 chapters · 2 h 36
About the book
What does it really mean to obey God? Andrew Murray, one of the most widely read devotional writers of his time, tackles the question head on in The School of Obedience. He argues that absolute obedience is both necessary and attainable for every believer, and that it is the key to a close and joyful relationship with God. Drawing on Scripture, he looks at the place of obedience in the Bible, at the obedience of Christ, and at the secret of true obedience, and he writes in a direct, warm and practical manner. Ten chapters, read by Joy Chan in about two and a half hours, offer a clear and focused reflection. This recording will appeal to listeners interested in Christian devotional literature, in spiritual discipline or in the thought of a much-loved teacher.
Introduction
Andrew Murray (1828-1917) was a South African minister of the Dutch Reformed Church and one of the most influential Christian writers of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. He was born in the Cape and trained in Scotland and the Netherlands before serving congregations in South Africa, and he wrote a large number of devotional books. Many, such as Abide in Christ and With Christ in the School of Prayer, were translated into numerous languages and remain in print.
The School of Obedience, published in 1898, belongs to this body of work. Murray's method is to take a single theme and to follow it through the Bible, then to draw out practical consequences for the daily life of faith. Here the theme is obedience, which he treats not as a burden but as the path to freedom and fellowship with God. His chapters are short, clearly organised and addressed to ordinary believers rather than to scholars. They are intended to be read slowly, with time for reflection, and the chapter titles, such as Obedience: Its Place in Holy Scripture, The Obedience of Christ and The Secret of True Obedience, trace the development of the argument.
Readers from other traditions may find that the book reflects a particular style of evangelical devotion, and its tone is earnest and exhortatory. For those who share that perspective, it offers encouragement, and for others it provides a window into a widely influential strand of Christian spirituality.
This LibriVox recording is read by Joy Chan. It lasts about two hours and thirty-six minutes and is divided into ten files, beginning with the preface.
Public domain
Andrew Murray died in 1917: the work is in the public domain in Switzerland, more than 70 years after the author’s death.
The LibriVox volunteers dedicated this recording to the public domain.
Sources : LibriVox page · Files at the Internet Archive · Original text