The Sense of the Call: A Sabbath Way of Life for Those Who Serve God, the Church, and the World

by Dawn, Marva J.

• ISBN13: 9780802844590
• ISBN10: 0802844596
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-02-28
• Publisher: Eerdmans Pub Co

Summary

Why is it "so hard" to serve God these days? Church workers suffer from low morale, while Christians of all stripes struggle to find their way in a culture fixated on sexuality, violence, and wealth. In "Keeping the Sabbath Wholly," Marva Dawn introduced the vital Sabbath aspects of "resting, ceasing, feasting, "and "embracing." Now, in "The Sense of the Call," she expands these into a way of life for serving God and the Kingdom every single day of the week. A Sabbath way of life, Dawn asserts, consists of "resting" in the Kingdom's grace, "ceasing" by grace attitudes and actions that hinder the Kingdom, "feasting" so as to radiate the gracefull splendor of the Kingdom, and "embracing" the Kingdom's gracious purposes. To this end, Dawn teaches skills such as learning to rest in prayer, saying no to busyness, enjoying the body, and embracing the cost of living as a Christian disciple.Frank yet compassionate, "The Sense of The Call" will guide all who serve, whether in the Church or world into a more restful, joy-full life of trust in God.

Table of Contents

Introduction	ix
The Courage to Be God's Servant	1	(32)
RESTING
Keeping the Sabbath Wholly as a Restful Manner of Life	33	(39)
The Intimate Conversation	72	(49)
Prayer as Learning to Rest in Grace
CEASING
Freedom to Say No --- and, Therefore, Yes	121	(25)
Learning to Cease Our Busyness
The Principalities and Powers	146	(33)
Learning to Cease Listening to the World
FEASTING
The Body Is a Temple	179	(27)
Enjoying the Feast of Self
The Exhilaration of Community	206	(23)
Learning to Feast as a Sabbath Congregation
EMBRACING
Equipping the Saints	229	(21)
Embracing the Community's Mission
Joy in Our Weakness	250	(28)
Embracing the Cost of Discipleship
Conducting the Symphony	278	(18)
Embracing Our Role as Leaders in the Church and the World
For Further Reading	296