A Call to Spiritual Reformation: Priorities from Paul and His Prayers [Paperback]

D. A. Carson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 1992

According to Carson, God doesn't demand hectic church programs and frenetic schedules; he only wants his people to know him more intimately. The apostle Paul found that spiritual closeness in his own fellowship with the Father. A Call to Spiritual Reformation investigates the Epistles, claiming that Christians today can still achieve the confidence Paul enjoyed by following his life-shaping principles and searching for a deeper devotional experience. (67)

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

God doesn't demand hectic church programs and frenetic schedules; he only wants his people to know him more intimately, says D. A. Carson. The apostle Paul found that spiritual closeness in his own fellowship with the Father. A Call to Spiritual Reformation investigates the Epistles to see what lessons Paul taught in his "school of prayer."

Christians today can still achieve the confidence Paul enjoyed by following his life-shaping principles and searching for a deeper devotional experience.

"[This book] provides a . . . pointed argument that the greatest need for churches today is not education, evangelism, or programs, but a deeper knowledge of God. It contributes to filling that need by assisting those who read it to a fuller life of prayer."
Review and Expositor

"The reader is guided, gently yet persuasively, towards a reformation in personal dealings with God. This excellent and timely book can be heartily commended."
The Banner of Truth

D. A. Carson is professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, Illinois. He is the author of How Long, O Lord? and editor of Teach Us to Pray and Right with God.

About the Author

D. A. Carson is Research Professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, Illinois. He is the author of How Long, O Lord? and editor of Teach Us to Pray and Right with God.

Product Details

• Paperback: 230 pages
• Publisher: Baker Academic (June 1, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0801025699
• ISBN-13: 978-0801025693
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #68,561 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

D. A. Carson (Ph.D., University of Cambridge) is research professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. He is the author or coauthor of over 45 books, including the Gold Medallion Award-winning book The Gagging of God and An Introduction to the New Testament, and is general editor of Telling the Truth: Evangelizing Postmoderns and Worship by the Book. He has served as a pastor and is an active guest lecturer in church and academic settings around the world.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best book on prayer, after the Bible, September 16, 2001

By 

Mr. Timothy Johnson (DICKSON, ACT Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Call to Spiritual Reformation: Priorities from Paul and His Prayers (Paperback)

This is quite simply one of the best Christian books I have ever read, short of the Bible itself, and is one of the books I find that I keep coming back to time and time again, for new insight and for its continuing challenge and reminder to think about the way I pray.

In this book, Carson systematically works through all of Paul's prayers in the New Testament. For each one, he presents a careful exegesis - working carefully through the passage and explaining its meaning. He then goes on to show Paul's priorities in his prayer - which are inevitably caught up with Paul's focus on trusting God intimately and on his other-person centredness. Finally, for each prayer, Carson presents some background theology on surrounding issues and shows how this relates to our lives today.

In addition, Carson is extremely practical in the way he provides practical advice and pointers for the way we should be praying. He gives useful advice on what and how we should be praying, based on the passages he works through, but also on how to manage a daily prayer time.

If you are a Christian, you should definitely read this book, particularly if you are keen to think more about the way you should be praying or if you are looking for pointers on how to pray in a Biblical way. If you are not a Christian, this book will still give you a useful insight into what Christians are doing when they pray and why they do it. And you never know - you might even find it challenging and realise that there is something in this Christianity 'thing' after all...

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This book can change the way you pray!, August 17, 2001

By 

Mark A. Tusken "saintmarker" (Geneva, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Call to Spiritual Reformation: Priorities from Paul and His Prayers (Paperback)

I taught this book to a class of thirty on saturday mornings and we were riveted by its depth. So often books fall into the shallow "how to" trap. This book moves way beyond the popular craze of "The Prayer of Jabez", to challenge the believer to stretch their prayers to reflect the mind of Christ. Rather than praying about what we want, Carson shows us Paul's New Testament Prayers and leads us to ask for what God wants in our lives. You will be glad you studied this book.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Learn to Pray biblically - like Paul does!, November 13, 2000

By 

Jonathan Koh (Singapore) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Call to Spiritual Reformation: Priorities from Paul and His Prayers (Paperback)

This book changed my thinking on Prayer. Some people say that prayer is merely talking to God and anyone can do so. You don't need to learn how to pray - but just talk to God like a friend. This view is no doubt true in a sense. Yet, as we mature as Christians, we need to go beyond that and let our prayers be shaped by how biblical authors prayed! This is something that is missing in many Christian's lives and even as i start to notice how people pray, i see how so UNLIKE Paul many Christians pray!

Carson writes in the preface about, "...enthusiastic praying in some circles that overflows with emotional release but is utterly uncontrolled by any thoughtful reflection on the prayers of Scripture."

He said it all right! We need to pray more like how Paul prays. And this is a wonderful book that expounds Paul's prayer. A great resource to improve one's prayer contents and prayer life. As we reflect biblically on Paul's prayers, our prayers become more biblical and Paul's (as well as God's priorities) in prayer, becomes ours too! Now that is exciting and can do wonders to our prayer life!