Discerning God's Will Together: A Spiritual Practice for the Church [Paperback]

Danny E. Morris (Author), Charles M. Olsen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1998

Imagine making decisions about your church based on the question, "God, is this your will?" This idea is the premise behind Discerning God's Will Together. This contemporary book offers a fresh alternative to the often-rancorous parliamentary procedures many church groups use when making important decisions. Structured around church traditions and biblical examples of decision-making, this book explains how to seek and find God's will when making a decision. Any size group can use the step-by-step approach provided by the authors.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Danny E. Morris is retired from The Upper Room and the author of several books. He lives in Brentwood, Tennessee.
Chuck Olsen is founder and senior mentor for Worshipful-Work Center for Transforming Religious Leadership in Kansas City. Ordained in the Presbyterian Church, he served congregations in Pennsylvania, Nebraska, and California. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Alban Inst (November 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1566991773
• ISBN-13: 978-1566991773
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,059,692 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Peaceful Practices for Decision-making, July 1, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Discerning God's Will Together: A Spiritual Practice for the Church (Paperback)

Tired of the usual administrative hassle using the church's version of Parliamentary procedure, I turned to this book, which promised a more spiritual way of making decisions. Imagine decision-making based on an understanding of spirituality instead of legalisms! Morris and Olsen offer such a practice through their discernment process. (They get a little cute as they explore the process and coin words based on discernment, but that can be excused.) This is a fine book. It allows those who feel intimidated by the rules of parliamentary proceduce to move beyond that and offers the timid fresh ways to act on their convictions.

The book has a helpful chart that shows the step-by-step process of moving toward discernment. I found the illustrations helpful and the cover art connects with the ancient tradition of the church and represents a sense of listening for God.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rightly Elevates the Faith Community, February 17, 2005

By 

J. Randolph Turpin Jr. - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Discerning God's Will Together: A Spiritual Practice for the Church (Paperback)

Morris rightly elevates the role of the faith community in the process of discernment and decision-making. He states that individual discernment has limitations; God's will for the world and the church requires corporate discernment. While the process of discernment does recognize the insights of individuals, "it also looks to the wisdom of the whole community as people talk to one another, come to consensus, and take action." The aim is to "see where the Spirit rests." The author suggests that decision making should take place in the context of worship where the agenda is offered to God. Church business sessions should include elements of prayer, song, affirmations of faith, Bible study, story telling, silence and celebration. Morris's message is summarized in these words: "Decision making can no longer be defined as doing what we think is best; it should be a search for the mind and will of God within a community of people with whom God has chosen to dwell."

4.0 out of 5 stars Book review, April 3, 2010

By 

Clement N. Street "Omnivorous Reader" (Pikeville, KY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Discerning God's Will Together: A Spiritual Practice for the Church (Paperback)

I am especially interested in steering my congregation toward spiritual discernment to determine it's mission and it future. I purchased this book to learn more about how it could be taught to small groups. I found it's step by step method very helpful.