Compelled by Love: The Most Excellent Way to Missional Living (Paperback)

by Ed Stetzer (Author), Philip Nation (Author)
Key Phrases: indwelling love, obedient love, missional believers, Holy Spirit, Spirit of God, Searching Love (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
<DIV>Understand what it means to be compelled by love. In the book entitled Compelled by Love, trusted missiologist Ed Stetzer and coauthor and pastor Philip Nation challenge readers to look at love within the context of God, the church, and the lives of individual believers. Selected as the 2008 2009 emphasis book for WMU®, a million-member nonprofit missions organization, Compelled by Love will give readers a basic theological grounding and a platform for personal application as they understand what missional living is all about it is simply the calling to love others. Look at the love of God; begin to truly understand what is at the center of the church s foundation, commission, and direction; but most importantly, understand your role within the mission of God as you integrate love into all aspects of your missional calling.</DIV>

From the Publisher
"This is a great tool to help your church learn how and why we should live compelled by love. God calls us to nothing less."-- Rick Warren, author of The Purpose-Driven Life

"Compelled by Love is a much-needed overview for how God's love compels us to love as He is loving in our world." -- Henry Blackaby, author of Experiencing God and Called and Accountable

"Here is an anthem of love that the missional church can sing with all its heart."-- Leonard Sweet, Drew Theological School, George Fox University,

"Compelled by Love is a great read for those needing encouragement and direction for engaging in God's work in the world."--Thom Rainer, author of Simple Church

"Compelled by Love is a fine contribution to spiritual reflection and church renewal."-- Timothy George, founding dean, Beeson Divinity School, Samford University, and senior editor, Christianity Today

"Compelled by Love gives us a much needed teaching on an overused word. . . .This book is necessary reading to redeem our understanding of how love fuels missional living."-- Mark Driscoll, Mars Hill Church, author of Vintage Jesus: Timeless Answers to Timely Questions

"Compelled by Love helps us recover the legitimacy that only love can bring. And God knows, we could be a whole lot more loving!"-- Alan Hirsch,author of The Forgotten Ways and The Shaping of Things To Come

"If the church needs anything today, it is to learn to love again. Ed and Philip remind us that love is the only motive that can really make us missional. And these two men live out what they write."-- Dr. John Avant, senior pastor, pastor, First West Church, author of Authentic Power: How to Unleash It in Your Life

"Ed and Philip help us discover biblically sound answers to crucial questions. Compelled by Love is filled with words of wisdom that will protect the best crafted how-to plans from being hijacked by fuzzy motives and misplaced goals."--Steven M. Pike, administrator,US Missions director, Assemblies of God Church Planting and Health

"Ed and Philip call us to evaluate our lives and ministries by the standard of love. This book will meddle with our motives, but will call us to a higher way of living." -- Dr. Ronnie W. Floyd, senior pastor, First Baptist Church of Springdale and the Church at Pinnacle Hills, author of Finding the Favor of God: A Discovery That Will Change Your Life

"Compelled by Love is a compelling resource to spur conversation in small groups."-- Bill Easum, cofounder, Easum, Bandy & Associates

"Compelled by Love is the type of book that creates the atmosphere to see change in ministry."-- Johnny Hunt, pastor, First Baptist Woodstock "Ed and Philip talk about the ultimate purpose of missions--to first love God with all our heart, and then to love others as we love ourselves. Love trumps mission, and together they equal missional love."-- Elmer Towns, dean, School of Religion, Liberty University

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: New Hope Publishers (May 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1596692278
• ISBN-13: 978-1596692275
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #219,909 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Deals with the real issues of misisonal living, May 20, 2008

By	Darryl Dash "DashHouse" (Etobicoke, ON Canada) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

One of my friends often says that we don't have a how-to problem. It's much more serious than that: we have a want-to problem. That could be why many of the books and seminars we have don't really work. Many of them offer more how-to solutions, when what we really need is to want to do what we already know we should be doing.

Compelled by Love: A Most Excellent Way to Missional Living, written by Ed Stetzer and Philip Nation, is different. It tackles the real reason we don't engage in mission as we should. The issue is not technique; it's love.

The authors write:

"If we operate by our own view of the world and our own strength, we will walk away from people every time. However, Christ's love in us - the conviction of Christ's truth displayed in love and the change in our lives because of redemption - causes us to have a new view of people and a new life of compassion for the saved and the lost."

Stetzer and Nation take us on a tour of the triune God's missional love for us. They then lead us to consider the church's mission, which is evidence of God's love. We are not called to be the hippest churches, nor are we to focus on our abilities. Instead, it's about presenting God's presence to the people of this world. When we understand God's love and our mission, we'll be prepared to give up on our "needs", and love and be loved within the church. We'll discover that love and obedience go together. This will lead us to love and to share God's missionary passion for the world.

If you're looking for a how-to book on missional living, this isn't it. But if you're looking for a book that will lead you to think about issues below the surface of missional living and missional churches, then Compelled by Love is a book you'll want to read.

5.0 out of 5 stars Love for one's neighbor was one of the core teachings of Jesus Christ, July 10, 2008

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

Love for one's neighbor was one of the core teachings of Jesus Christ. "Compelled by Love: The Most Excellent Way to Missional Living" is a handbook for Christians to find the love of God, use it to complete themselves, and spread it to others as well. Also included is a crash course in basic theology, enhanced with biblical texts and advice on applying what one learns. "Compelled by Love: The Most Excellent Way to Missional Living" is a top pick for community library Christian studies collections.

5.0 out of 5 stars Compelled to read this book!, June 12, 2008

By	Jeffrey Langley (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Wow! Philip Nation and Ed Stetzer have outdone themselves on this book. I was especially amazed that this is Philip's first book. The insight into God's Word and His desires for us to live missionally in a hurting world, makes this a must read for all people of faith.

It also has great application for people considering becoming Christ followers. People need to know that God loves us and we, in turn, must love those who need Him. In other words... EVERYONE!

Thanks Philip and Ed for writing this fantastic book! Highly recommended!