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

Marva J. Dawn (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 2006

In a culture that is fixated on sex, violence, and wealth, Dawn calls us to the counterintuitive values of the gospel: resting in prayer; saying no to busyness; enjoying the body; and embracing the cost of discipleship. How to live your life upside down, so others can see the world aright.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In her newest book, Dawn, a theologian and educator with Christians Equipped for Ministry in Vancouver, Wash., applies the concepts of her earlier book, Keeping the Sabbath Wholly, to the ministry of clergy and church leaders. While using the same Sabbath practices as in her first book (resting, ceasing, feasting and embracing the Kingdom), Dawn focuses more on God's call to ministry that reclaims, revitalizes and renews, "and thus reigns through us before others, on behalf of others, sometimes in spite of others, and always with others." The book's mission—to spiritually rejuvenate those who are often burned out from unending service—is essential and long overdue. But despite the promising concept, the blend of the themes of the first book with these new themes is sometimes unfocused and rambling. Dawn quotes other scholars, sometimes at great length, on almost every page, so there's little that's new. Dawn's repeated insistence that she's "such a beginner" with these ideas and practices, her frequent references to her own health problems, added to her overreliance on other scholars' work, leaves the impression that this particular book may not be the best guide to exploring a Sabbath way of living. (Mar.)Look for more reviews, exclusively on the Web, at www.publishersweekly.com, Review Annex.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author

Marva J. Dawn is a theologian, author, musician, and educator with Christians Equipped for Ministry, Vancouver, Washington, and Teaching Fellow in Spiritual Theology at Regent College. A scholar with four masters degrees and a Ph.D. in Christian Ethics and the Scriptures from the University of Notre Dame, Dr. Dawn has spoken for clergy and worship conferences and seminaries throughout North America and in Madagascar and in Eastern and Western Europe. She has written many books, most of which are published by Eerdmans.

Product Details

• Paperback: 315 pages
• Publisher: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company (March 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802844596
• ISBN-13: 978-0802844590
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #201,483 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Marva J. Dawn serves the global Church as a theologian, author, musician, and educator under Christians Equipped for Ministry and as Teaching Fellow in Spiritual Theology at Regent College in Vancouver, British Columbia. A scholar with four master's degrees and a Ph.D. in Christian Ethics and the Scriptures from the University of Notre Dame, Dr. Dawn has taught for clergy and worship conferences and at seminaries throughout the world. She is also well-known and highly appreciated as a preacher and speaker for all ages and sometimes contributes to worship by means of her musical gifts. She is the author of more than fifteen books and is happy married to Myron Sandberg; they reside in Washington State.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Pragmatic Call to Sabbath, February 4, 2008

By 

Betty Mulloy (Waukesha, WI USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Sense of the Call: A Sabbath Way of Life for Those Who Serve God, the Church, and the World (Paperback)

As a person in ministry though not a pastor, I found this book extremely helpful in addressing the way many of us in ministry "work" for God but forget to "be" with God. The call to observe Sabbath well is part of our call to ministry and Dr. Dawn has some excellent thoughts here. I loved her sections on restful living and prayer - learning to rest in grace. She considers the blocks to prayer (the three temptations of Christ + pride), and offers devotional practices that stretch our skills.

The Messiah complex is one of the greatest hinderances to healthy spirituality and healthy ministry and Dawn addresses this issue with compassion, hope and encouragement while challenging us to remember that we have human limits and were made to live as members of community not leaders who live slightly removed from it. When we embrace our humanity instead of trying to live beyond its limits, we open the door to fruitful life and sustainable ministry.

I strongly recommend this book as a helpful tool for ministers to find ways to honor the Sabbath and embrace it as God's gift and commandment. You will find undercurrents of social justice and great encouragement to equip the saints to do the work of the Church, enabling ministers and leaders to be part of the ministering community, to live whole, healthy lives.

Someone once said you can't take people where you haven't gone. This book will help you live the gift of Sabbath and invite others join the journey toward a deeper life in Christ and to live wisely and well in a self-absorbed and hurting world.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Sense of the Call: A Sabbath Way of Life for Those Who Serve God, the Church and the World, April 20, 2011

By 

Paula Hemphill (TRAVELERS REST, SC, US) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Sense of the Call: A Sabbath Way of Life for Those Who Serve God, the Church, and the World (Paperback)

As a pastor's wife and one who serves the church personally, I resonated with this message. Some of the insights that should be obvious were profound at this point in my life. I have recently been diagnosed with cancer and am finding rest a vital part of my healing and restoration. Marva's emphasis on revitalizaion and renewal now as a foretaste of heaven have encouraged me to evaluate my life rhythm. I appreciate her vulnerability and honesty in her own struggles. I have recommended this book to others who have also found it helpful.

8 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Poor scholarship, April 6, 2006

By 

Mark A. Trautman (New Brunswick, NJ United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Sense of the Call: A Sabbath Way of Life for Those Who Serve God, the Church, and the World (Paperback)

I have often enjoyed this author's work; however, this time I believe that the author uses her evangelical Christianity to mask unexamined prejudices. I believe that, in this book, the author uses holy scripture and psuedo-intellectual gloss rather than rigorous scholarship to discuss race, gender, sexuality and the church. I find her arguments on sexuality shamefully dismissive. I hope that the author will reconsider this work.