Book Report: The Call by Os Guinness For this book report, I chose to write about “The Call” by Os Guiness. I had never read, or even heard of this book, or even the author before becoming a student at DBU. However, I am overjoyed that I was introduced to the work of Os Guinness. I opened this book and read it 100%, cover to cover; I even listened to a presentation given by Guinness on The Call. In “The Call” Os Guinness tackles the idea of calling in the church; what it is, what it means for us, how to overcome the modern-day view of calling and how to live out our call to Jesus Christ as believers. In chapter one, Guinness sets the stage for his entire book by noting that whatever we are seeking for pleasure will never be fulfilling unless God reveals Himself in it, unless he makes Himself known. “Answering …show more content…
Guinness point out that every believer has received a primary and secondary calling. The “primary calling as followers of Christ” (Pg.31), is one that is from God, to God, and for God. This primary call is not a calling to a specific thing such as “motherhood, politics or teaching”, or a specific place, such as New York, but instead is a direct call to God. Guinness expounds upon the secondary calling explaining that “Our secondary calling, considering who God is as sovereign, is that everyone, everywhere, and in everything should think, speak, live and act entirely for Him.” (Pg. 31) Guinness addresses the distortion that has taken place in the church that just because we become Christians, love to read Scripture and teach, that we are automatically called to be vocational ministers. Every idea that Guinness brings forth in “The Call” is thoroughly explained. The author is successful in presenting and proving the ideas that he presents. Guinness accomplishes his purpose in explaining what true calling is, and what it means for
...hat share my faith and together worship Jesus. I believe that by being in fellowship with other believers I will have a strong opportunity to pursue and fulfill God’s purpose in my life, whether it is a daily or lifetime calling.
Wilson, Barbara S., Arlene Flancher, and Susan T. Erdey. The Episcopal Handbook. New York, NY: Morehouse Pub., 2008. Print.
In the beginning of the book, Bounds expresses that we depend on God just as much as he depends on us. Our relationship with Christ is simple, but requires a lot of communication. He shows why it is so important to be in communication and prayer with Christ when preparing a sermon. Bounds says that, "Prayer is the mightiest weapon." (p. 46) What he means by this is that prayer gives life and force to all. He goes on to talk about how a true ministry is of God, and how this ministry can be most effective if we are in communication with God.
In chapter two, ‘Francis and His Companions,’ Cunningham exposes the considerable growth in Francis of Assisi’s influence, as he recounts his companions that joined him after deciding to live his life. The chapter is significant because it exposes how Francis of Assisi’s gospel is different from the orthodox Catholic practices, which recognized the pope, as the sole Vicar of Christ. (Cunningham 32). This chapter is important in my life because it reinforces my conviction God is the almighty and all-powerful, and all people regardless of the status of the needed to worship
Catholicism's Theology as explained above is of an inclusive nature. Therefore, as explained in the Gospel of Christ humanity is called to him and hi...
Dialogues 7th ed. Eds. Gary Goshgarian and Kathleen Kruger. New York: Parson-Longman, 2011. 490-92.
"EXPLORING THEOLOGY 1 & 2." EXPLORING THEOLOGY 1 2. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 May 2014.
Fundamental to the Christian faith is the concept that the God of the Bible is a personal and active deity. Empirical and biblical evidence specifically directs the diligent researcher to the irrefutable verification that the Bible portrays God as dynamically involved with His creation. Scripture expresses His love and desire is that all humanity comes to know Him (2 Pet. 3:9 [KJV]). Furthermore, the Bible teaches that the Christian believer has a vigorous and personal relationship with God through the Holy Spirit (Rom 5:5, 8:26-28). The contemporary pastor equipped with holy doctrine and intimate fellowship with the Holy Spirit, becomes a conduit to declare the message of Christ to the world.
Brook, John. The School of Prayer, An Introduction to the Divine Office for All Christians. Collegeville, Minnesota: The Liturgical Press, 1992.
The meaning of the calling was drastically changed by latter Protestant leaders Calvin and Baxter. They presented the calling as a form of obligation to work for God with no other options. The calling pushed for individuals to lead an ascetic life; that is, work hard and not enjoy the fruit of their labor. Calvinists preached that should a person should work as hard a possible because the amount of wealth earned would determine their salvation and without a calling the individual is seen as worthless in the eyes of God (Weber in Desfor Edles and Appelrouth 2010:176). The calling differed between leaders as Luther’s version of the calling instilled ideas of good morality whereas Calvinists indirectly coerced their followers to work as hard as they could should they want to be saved (Desfor Edles and Appelrouth 2010:168-69).
“First, there is the call to be a Christian. Second, for each individual there is a specific call—a defining purpose or mission, a reason for being. Every individual is called of God to respond through service in the world. Third, there is the call that we face each day in response to the multiple demands on our lives—our immediate duties and responsibilities” (Smith, ...
Harrison, Everett F. Interpreting Acts the Expanding Church. Grand Rapids: Academic Books, 1997. 151-52. Print.
Burrow, R. (Director) (2014, February 11). The Promise of God. Prophetic and Ethical Witness of the Church. Lecture conducted from Christian Theological Seminary, Indianapolis.
As abovementioned, spirituality involves a response which presupposes a calling. From a religious point of view, a call can also be referred to as a vocation. What then is a spirituality of vocation? This is in essence a universal call to the Christian gospel. In other words, it is an all-inclusive relationship that is concerned with the encounter...
“I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth…” The words of the Apostles’ Creed are familiar to many Christians. “I baptise you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit” are words that every Christian has heard several times. And yet, Protestant Christians are at a loss as to how to explain the doctrine of the Trinity, or to identify the origins of the Apostles’ Creed. Professor Williams resolutely answers these questions, citing “Tradition” as their source. The post- apostolic era, Pre-Reformation theological illiteracy of Protestant Christians, particularly those belonging to the Evangelical or “Free” church, movements have caused deep divides and fragmentation, Williams argues. At the root of this issue is the inability to see past the perceived interference of the state in the church’s affairs, and an unwarranted rejection of the Tradition that the Holy Spirit worked to plant during this time.