Broken Signposts

How Christianity Makes Sense of the World

By: N. T. Wright

Narrated by: Ralph Lister

Length: 5 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's summary

In this thoughtful follow-up to Simply Christian, today’s leading Bible scholar, Anglican bishop, and acclaimed author uses the Gospel of John to reveal how Christianity presents a compelling and relevant explanation for our world.

N. T. Wright argues that every world view must explain seven “signposts”, indicators inherent to humanity: justice, spirituality, relationships, beauty, freedom, truth, and power. If we do not live up to these ideals, our societies and individual lives become unbalanced, creating anger and frustration - negative emotions that divide us from ourselves and from God, he contends.

Using the Gospel of John as his source, Wright shows how Christianity defines each signpost and illuminates why we so often see them as being "broken" and unattainable. Drawing on the wisdom of the Gospels, Wright explains why these signposts are fractured and damaged and how Christianity provides the vision, guidance, and hope for making them whole once again, ultimately healing ourselves and our world.

©2020 N. T. Wright (P)2020 HarperCollins Publishers

Clear and Helpful

Loved it! I found this book thought provoking an interesting. I will probably read it again! Rooted in the Gospel of John but not like a textbook. One might call it a recalibration of some basics that everyone ought to be familiar with, but not many are.

Refreshing

I use the word "refreshing", because N. T. Wright provides a framework for making sense of how the Good News of Jesus functions in a world full of bad news- and how Jesus leads the way into the new creation of which all who follow Jesus are a part. I highly recommend Broken Signposts.

Favorite NT Wright Book

I’ve been reading N.T. Wright for 20 years. I’m a minister and he’s had a tremendous influence on my thinking and preaching of the Gospel, second only to C.S. Lewis. This is my favorite book of Wright’s so far because it so artfully captures and explains Christ’s unique and comprehensive meeting of primary, deep and relentless human yearnings. Wright ties them to the Gospel of John, and through it to their roots in the larger narratives of scripture. Brilliant!

Great study of John

I so enjoyed this book! Great understanding of content and context! Creation to Kingdom is super.

Ties a lot of Wright's concepts together.

Wright has a singular message in many of his books that points to the Kingdom coming, instead of the 'saints going'. Broken Signposts helps pull the ideas he touts in a little tighter.
Very well narrated by Ralph Lister.

Hearing the echoes of something more, something beyond

It’s not your typical apologetic, if one at all. Rather, Broken Signposts engages the depths and delights of John’s gospel, asking that God’s image bearers (humans) consider some of our most basic yearnings, priority desires and puzzling failures as evidence of a reality, a fully formed world which God in Christ has begun and will ultimately complete. Wright, here, helps us envision the world our heart, mind and spirit hopes for, but presently only glimpses here and there, now and then as a sign pointing to the good conclusion of all history! Restoring Humpty Dumpty’s shattered, fragmented existence is hopeless for the king’s horses & men, but not for God’s Christ (King). Broken Signposts is a breath of fresh hope and vision and energy for disciples of Jesus (and those searching the Way) living in the deluge of messiness and chaos. peace

Start with conclusion chapter.

I always find Wright a bit chewy and worth the labor to fully understand. This is one of his more coherent messages for me. I would suggest starting at the brief conclusion chapter first before returning to the beginning. It’s a clear and compelling summary of his framework for the book. I wish I had started there.

Great as always!

Tom has yet again written a very timely text that looks at our world through the lens of Trinitarian Christianity that offers both hope and challenge to the reader/listener.

A Definite Re-Read

This is a book that I will be listening to every couple months. It felt like a clear cool wind blowing thru the cobwebs of my mind.

Classic Wright

NT Wright is known for his ability to show the entire Bible into one narrative. This is no different.

In his book, “Simply Christian,” Wright used an idea at the beginning to point to the need for a creator, called “echoes.” This book uses the same concept but he calls them “Broken Signposts.”

Pertinent for the church today.