Hearing God's Call: Ways of Discernment for Laity and ClergyWm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 08/10/2002 - 190 páginas How can one discern if a calling truly is from God? How can one be alert to the fact that one call is ending and another is beginning? In this insightful book Ben Campbell Johnson gives inspiring, experience-based advice on these and other questions concerning the call of God. Johnson begins by relating several stories of both laypersons and clergy who have experienced God's call. He does so in order to underscore two significant points: God is still calling believers today, just as he did in earlier times, and God's empowering call extends to clergy and laity alike. In the rest of the book Johnson explores various aspects of the call, offering spiritually wise observations on how best to discern and respond to the voice of God. Although Hearing God's Call is about a serious spiritual subject, Johnson never discusses it in a vague or nebulous fashion but always anchors it in instructive particulars. He uses numerous relevant anecdotes to illustrate his principal points, and he provides a thoughtful series of discernment exercises at the end of each chapter. The book concludes with an appendix that examines prominent biblical figures who experienced God's call, including Peter, Paul, John the Baptist, and Mary, the mother of Jesus. Filled with rich spiritual insights, many inspirational stories, and much practical advice, this book will help anyone seeking to hear God's call with greater clarity and act on it with greater conviction. |
Índice
God Is Calling Today | 1 |
Is God Messing with Your Life? | 15 |
Sources of Gods Call | 29 |
The Fingerprints of God | 48 |
Wrestling with God and Ourselves | 65 |
The People Connection Reflections from Others | 84 |
Discernment to Act | 101 |
Living into the Call | 115 |
From Call to Call | 134 |
Dealing with the Living Stones | 150 |
Biblical Illustrations of Gods Call | 166 |
180 | |
Palavras e frases frequentes
Abimelech abused children affirmation Ananias answer asked attended awakened awareness baptized began begin believe Carol certitude challenge Christ Christian church clarity clearness committee Columbia Theological Seminary congregation conversation Daniel decision discern God's disciples Eleanor Dark ence Exercises in Discernment experience experienced faith fear feel felt gifts give God's call hear heard Holy Holy Spirit idea imagine invited issue Jabbok River Jacob Jesus learning listen living stones look Lord mind minis minister mission ordained ministry Pablo pain pastor Perhaps person Peter pray prayer presence question reflect Reggie relational model relationship response road to Damascus Ronald Saul Saul of Tarsus Scripture searching seeking seemed seminary sense of call share silence speak Spirit spoke story struggle talk teaching tell things Thomas Merton thought Timothy tion told trust vision voice Walter Brueggemann wonder words worship