Popular author Ben Campbell Johnson discusses how the will of God relies on the depths of the human psyche. He addresses in specific terms how one may use intuition, imagination, and memory to ascertain the leading of God's will. Johnson claims that once God's will is sensed, one must trust that God will continue to give guidance. For each chapter, a series of reflection exercises is provided along with a brief guide to the process of discernment.
Here are fresh, enlightening, practical, and logical strategies for doing evangelism in the local church. Johnson's Organismic Evangelism is a new approach that is based on the utilization of the entire organism of the church. Johnson shows how to use these human resources to capture the spirit of Christian love, encouragement, and acceptance. More than a book, this is a source of information for church members, a study resource for church officers, a guide for church committees, and a text for workshops on evangelism (features an outline for workshops). Its concise organization and straightforward writing offer proven methods for accomplishing the job set before us by our Lord -- Go, ye, into all the world!
A retreat type book, "Listening For God" is a rewriting of the Ignatian spiritual exercises for the Protestant lay market, although it will also appeal to Catholics. The book includes 30 "directives" that lead a person through salvation history.
Real-life situations in today's world constantly challenge people, and the authors respond to these challenges by drawing upon the Reformed tradition to provide guidance for spiritual development. Includes practical suggestions, lesson plans and exercises, and recommendations for encouraging spiritual growth.
Avoiding theological jargon and using language more accessible to the lay person than that in the Bible, this book invites readers to discover for themselves what Jesus has done for the world and continues to do in the world. The invitation is offered in the form of daily readings from the four Gospel accounts of Jesus' life and ministry.
Popular author Ben Campbell Johnson views Christian life as a journey toward God and himself as one of the travelers. He describes how the spiritual life develops in relation to the events, perceptions, and interpretations of every day. Enriched by stories as well as biblical and personal examples, this clearly written book can guide Christians on their most important journey.
God is still calling believers today, just as He did in earlier times, and God's empowering call extends to clergy and laity alike. ... this book will help anyone seeking to hear God's call with greater clarity and act on it with greater conviction" -- BACK JACKET.
Over the Past few decades mainline Protestant congregations have not easily embraced the notion of spirituality. As much as any aspect of church life, spirituality has been misunderstood, misused, and resisted by both clergy and laity. Yet times are changing. Today many people feel a deep spiritual hunger and are out looking for fulfillment in a wide variety of settings. In this new context, mainline congregations need to awaken to the presence of the Spirit in their midst and equip leaders to nurture both the personal and corporate spirituality of their congregations. Beyond the Ordinary is explicitly written to help church leaders who have had no formal training in spiritual formation. Drawing from years of experience teaching Christian spirituality, Ben Campbell Johnson and Andrew Dreitcer explore the spiritual dimensions of leadership, looking in depth at the meaning of spirituality as it relates to the tasks of ministry. This friendly, inspiring book will enable readers to erase the negative stereotypes of spirituality and develop vital models and practices for the church today. The book introduces a faithful understanding and practice of the spiritual life to those who have not yet dipped into the well that is Christian spirituality. For those who have already tasted this water and still thirst, it offers a way to dip even more deeply. Chapters discuss the issues surrounding a meaningful spirituality for our changing times, the importance of holding prayer and mission in tension, and the crucial role of Scripture in the formation of our lives. The authors also underscore the importance of vision, myth, and discernment in the spiritual life of the church. And they discuss the power of spiritual practices like discernment and visioning for enhancing the spirituality of congregations and helping them become agents of social transformation. Intended for personal and group use by pastors, elders, other church leaders, and those preparing for service in the church, the book includes questions for reflection and discussion as well as journaling exercises to encourage learning and growth.
Looking upon Christian life as a spiritual journey, Ben Campbell Johnson discusses the importance of prayer for those who want to continue their progress toward God. He shows that the life of prayer involves all the human faculties--reason, imagination, emotion, and will. As ways of deepening knowledge and love of God, he considers meditation and contemplation and gives helpful suggestions for their practice. He shows how a deeper awareness of God has social implications and leads to a vision of a transformed world. Johnson discusses his own need for a guide on the spiritual journey, illustrating how such a companion can help others. He emphasizes the importance of keeping a journal and gives practical help in getting started with it.
Many mainline churches today have members (both laity and clergy) who find it a problem to speak face-to-face about God. This creative book offers a theological foundation, practical suggestions, and a positive model for sharing faith. Ben Campbell Johnson combines evangelism and spiritual guidance in order to provide a fresh image and a new style of faith sharing. He gives a model of spiritual direction that offers a positive, attractive way of doing face-to-face evangelical work.
Is the pastor a performer, manager, entertainer, therapist, or bureaucrat? While modern pastors are often associated with roles like these, Ben Campbell Johnson examines ministry and all its functions from a spiritual perspective and helps pastors see themselves as individuals called by God. With exercises designed to help them reflect on their experiences, he helps ministers recapture the essence of their calling.
This is a print on demand book and is therefore non- returnable. As Christians we believe that God speaks -- that God has spoken to people down through the centuries and still speaks to us today. But just how does God speak to us? Has his speech changed over time? And how do we "hear" the voce of God? In this insightful book Ben Campbell Johnson explores the subject of divine speech, highlighting its importance to faith and leading Christian believers into the practice of listening for God's voice in daily life. Johnson first explores the biblical foundations of divine communication, tracing the ways that God has spoken to humankind from the calling of Abraham, to the appearance of Jesus, to the continuing work of the Spirit in the early church. He then gleans important lessons about God's language from a wide range of Christian figures throughout history -- Polycarp, Julian of Norwich, Teresa of Avila, Henri Nouwen, and others. As this historical record shows, God communicates with us in a variety of ways. In exploring these different modes of "GodSpeech," Johnson deftly guides readers into the practice of "intensive listening," a way of posing issues to God and discerning his response. Numerous anecdotes illuminate Johnson's discussion, and each chapter ends with questions for reflection and discussion as well as suggestions for journaling. Johnson concludes the book by recounting a number of personal experiences that vividly illustrate the value of learning to listen to God's voice. At a time when many Christians hunger for a more personal, meaningful connection with God, this book shows readers how to discern divine language and forge a closer, richer relationship with "the God who speaks.
Living before God invites readers to explore ways to enrich their relationship with God. Writing in the tradition of Brother Lawrence and other authors concerned with living intentionally in the presence of God, Ben Campbell Johnson outlines several spiritual practices that can help Christians deepen their sense of God's presence.
Targeted for the baby boomer generation, Calming the Restless Spirit offers nurture to those desiring to return to the church, those seeking a deeper relationship to God, and those hungering for spirituality who have never known it before. Ben Campbell Johnson guides readers to rediscover faith, explore the Holy Spirit, and reach out to others with their discoveries.
The greatest problem facing mainline churches today is not declining numbers, shifting social allegiances, or confused leadership. It is loss of vision. This bold yet constructive book urges pastors to again see their congregations as real expressions of "the body of Christ" and suggests ways to revise - and energize - their ministries based on this vision.. "Complete with discussion questions that make it ideal for use in a wide variety of educational settings, Imagining a Church in the Spirit will help church leaders successfully meet the cultural challenges that await us in the twenty-first century.
This Christian primer is for those who are asking the question How can I experience God? A Seeker's Guide to Christian Faith serves as a simple introduction to the most basic understandings of the Christian faith and will help new believers (and long-time believers too) begin the journey toward knowing God. Ben Campbell Johnson has written 31 brief, easy-to-read articles or guidances to help seekers begin to deepen their faith. He gently leads the reader through the daily tenets of Christian living including prayer, scripture reading, meditation, outreach, and listening to God and helps them understand the importance of living faithfully. In ordinary language, free from church jargon, the guidances are organized in six overarching themes, essential to the Christian faith: Getting Your Bearings, Naming Your Hunger, Learning a New Language, Discovering the Book, Expressing the Faith, and Reaching Farther. This little book will encourage people who are mostly new to the faith to make sense of inner longings and to recognize that God has always been present in their lives.
This special package of ten booklets is designed for churches that wish to buy multiple copies for their congregation. It also includes a free 16-page Leader's Guide that offers pastors and other leaders suggestions for a six-week study using A Seeker's Guide to Christian Faith.
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