SOUL GUIDE (Spiritual Formation Line) (Paperback)

by BRUCE DEMAREST (Author)
Key Phrases: François Fénelon, soul care, true guilt, Jesus Ministers Spiritual Direction, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Commonly associated with monastic orders and the mystical practices of Roman Catholic saints, the discipline of spiritual direction is one that conservative Protestants have approached with caution and caveats. That may be changing. Well known in evangelical circles, Demarest, a popular author and professor at Denver Seminary, argues that spiritual counselors and "soul friends" are indeed part of God's plan for the converted Christian. Although comfortable referring to classic spiritual authorities like Teresa of Avila and the Desert Fathers (and Mothers), Demarest believes that "soul-care"-relationships between experienced Christians and those seeking guidance in faith-are driven by the believer's fundamental need to imitate Christ's life and character. "In Jesus Christ, then, we find the pattern of spiritual guidance and the qualities of the ideal spiritual director," he writes. At the heart of the book is a group of meditations on various Gospel passages; Demarest uses an event in the life of Jesus Christ to draw some conclusions about his character and relationships. One of a series of books on spiritual formation offered by NavPress, this volume offers readers application questions at the end of each chapter. The author's focus on Jesus as principal spiritual mentor should allay conservatives' concerns about extra-biblical eclecticism, and his balanced and straightforward style should also give this volume wide appeal. One minor gripe: in a book that avoids any controversy over gender roles, the occasional use of the word "man" instead of "humanity" is jarring.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Description
Identity. Purpose. Hearing God. Direction. Relationships.

Life is a journey and the path is rarely straight and smooth. On the way, we must make a myriad of decisions––career, marriage, ministry, lifestyle, and more. How do we know which path to take? We need a wise guide with a spiritual compass. Soul Guide: Following Jesus As Spiritual Director offers wisdom and insight for those who hunger for help with the deeper issues of life.

In Soul Guide, spiritual and professional mentor Dr. Bruce Demarest provides biblically based and practical information on life and soul guidance using the example of Jesus Christ as our Spiritual Director. This book will help you:

· Find guidance and direction from the teachings of Jesus, Moses, Martin Luther, Teresa of Avila, C. S. Lewis, Henri Nouwen, and more
· Learn how to wait on God and catch the scent of the Spirit
· Deal with confusion, fear, and betrayal
· Discover God’s perspective on busyness and guilt
· Restore your lost passion for life

Discover deeper intimacy with God as you learn how to let Jesus be your spiritual mentor. Soul Guide is spiritual direction for the journey of the soul. Come, join the adventure!

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Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: NavPress (March 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1576832864
• ISBN-13: 978-1576832868
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #76,022 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Insightful and refreshing look at the "heart" discipleship, March 22, 2003

By	Joe Harvey (Longmont, CO USA) - See all my reviews

Whether you view yourself as a "spiritual director" or not, this book has a lot to offer in terms of insights into individual spiritual growth. Squarely within the evangelical Christian tradition, the author presents a refreshing emphasis on the personal and interpersonal aspects of living faith. He provides a general explanation of his approach to spiritual direction and then proceeds, for the bulk of the book, to illustrate the techniques used by Jesus to guide people to faith and spiritual growth. The book is insightful in considering how people think and relate to spiritual issues and struggles. You can tell the author has actual dealt with real people in the real world. Finally, the author avoided the tendancy of some to simply spiritualize everything and subject all problems to a "faith formula." It is well written and provides questions for personal reflection throughout.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful guide for Christian living, June 12, 2005

By	J. N. Geddes (Red Wing, MN USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I thought this was a very well written and practical guide for Christian living. Demarest gives numerous examples of how we should live our lives by following the greatest example we have, the life of Jesus Christ. He covers many topics pertaining to life that I would have never considered and carefully examines each topic and provides thought provoking insights that kept my interest through the entire book. A top ten favorite for my booklist.