God Calling provides groundbreaking and provocative insights into how God works in the world through the gift of his Holy Spirit. In the NT we do not find the saints praying and constantly asking God what to do; instead, the Spirit continuously leads and guides, giving Spiritual Direction for People in the Real World--people just like you! Looking at the biblical record as a whole, God Calling delivers a paradigm shift for our understanding the indwelling Spirit's impact on Christians' decision-making, prayer life, spiritual practices, and knowing God's will. Bringing spiritual warfare down to the real world, God Calling helps us correct some of our hyper-spiritual practices, while giving clear spiritual direction to enable followers of Jesus living in the real world to be wise, mature, and Christ-like, and for his church to be robust, proactive, and confident.
Jeffrey J. Kilmartin, a rural church pastor for over twenty years, is now serving as a seminary lecturer and missionary in Central and West Africa, ministering among an unreached people group. He and his wife, Sonya, have four grown children and presently live in Banyo, Republic of Cameroon.
“Without doubt this is the best book on Christian guidance that I have ever read. The author dispenses with the well-intended guidance quackery frequently peddled among those who yearn for God’s guidance in living our puny, fleeting-like-grass-yet-spiritually-significant selves. The author’s wryly self-deprecating conversational style is coupled with experience-derived wisdom, a deep understanding of human nature, and a keen eye for pious hocus-pocus.”
—Jonathan Bonk, Research Professor of Mission, Boston University
“The author, who, I am proud to say, is one of my former students, has written a very timely, witty, entertaining, and yet at the same time sobering book. He does a fine job and a great service to the church in delineating false assumptions, especially as it relates to understanding and ascertaining God’s will. . . . I recommend it highly!”
—Jerry Shepherd, Associate Professor of Old Testament, Taylor Seminary
“How can Christians learn God’s specific will for daily life? Not by observing signs, nor by practicing over-subjective ‘conversational prayer,’ nor by ascetic disciplines such as fasting, but by growing into Christ’s character as described in the general precepts of Scripture, then making sensible decisions to meet needs around us, empowered by God’s Spirit. Kilmartin offers a sane (and in places controversial) corrective to individualism, materialism, and hyperspirituality in the North American church.”
—Paul A. Rainbow, Professor of Bible, Sioux Falls Seminary
“With an easy-to-read and down-to-earth style, Jeff Kilmartin explores discerning and walking according to the will of God. Confidently navigating the Scriptures, he challenges contemporary ideas about hearing God’s voice. Any Christian seeking clarity regarding prayer and God’s guidance will be helped by this book.”
—Jonathan Kienzler, Director of Biblical Studies, Vanguard College, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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