Written on Our Hearts

Few pieces of writing, if any, have shaped our world in the way that the Ten Commandments have. Thousands of years after God first gave them to Moses and Israel, they remain one of the most discussed and most memorized texts in history.

But are they revered? Are they obeyed? Are they loved? Even those who know the commandments well may struggle to see how they apply to Christians living “not under law but under grace” (Rom 6:14). How and why would a follower of Jesus today share the words of the psalmist: “Oh how I love your law” (Ps 119:97)?

In Written on Our Hearts, longtime pastor and preacher Phillip Jensen takes readers into the mind of the eternal, unchanging God who authored the commandments. Jensen shows that the commandments are not only relevant for today’s world, but also central to the transformation of mind, heart and life that God desires for his people.

Here is a radical vision of grace-filled living that delights in the law of the Lord and does good to all people.

Foreword

Preface

Introduction: Zealous for good works

Part I: The who, what and why of goodness

1. Why be good?

2. What is good?

3. Good teacher

Summary of part I

Part II: Loving God

4. God and gods

5. The idol of the eye

6. A rose by any other name

7. Work-life balance

Part III: Loving our neighbour

8. Honour

9. Peace

10. Faithfulness 

11. Generosity

12. All mankind are liars

13. Loving contentment

Conclusion

Appendix 1. Living the cross-shaped life

Appendix 2. The inadequacy of atheism

Acknowledgements

Scripture index

Phillip Jensen studied at Moore Theological College and has worked in student ministry at the University of New South Wales, as the senior minister of St Matthias Anglican Church in Sydney and as the Dean of St Andrew’s Cathedral. He has preached the gospel all over the world, published several books (including The Coming of the Holy Spirit, Guidance and the Voice of God and Prayer and the Voice of God), and currently leads the work of Two Ways Ministries, proclaiming the gospel, training evangelistic leaders and raising up gospel workers.