Is the pastor a performer, manager, entertainer, therapist, or bureaucrat? While modern pastors are often associated with roles like these, Ben Campbell Johnson examines ministry and all its functions from a spiritual perspective and helps pastors see themselves as individuals called by God. With exercises designed to help them reflect on their experiences, he helps ministers recapture the essence of their calling.

This popular theology on the Holy Spirit is at once profound and remarkably accessible. Jack Haberer tracks the doctrine of the Spirit through the Bible, contemporary experiences, and church life and examines the way it applies to social issues in the world today. Haberer's clear presentation brings stories from the Bible to life and makes this book a standout among those on the Spirit and spirituality.

As Christians we believe that God speaks - that God has spoken to people down through the centuries and still speaks to us today. But just how does God speak to us? Has his speech changed over time? And how do we "hear" the voice of God? In this insightful book Ben Campbell Johnson explores the subject of divine speech, highlighting its importance to faith and leading Christian believers into the practice of listening for God's voice in daily life. Johnson first explores the biblical foundations of divine communication, tracing the ways that God has spoken to humankind from the calling of...

This book seeks to help individuals live constantly in God's presence. Writing in the tradition of Brother Lawrence and those authors concerned with the realization of God's presence amid the daily round, Ben Campbell Johnson offers a collection of traditional spiritual practices that Christians have found helpful in fostering a more consistent relationship with God. Following introductory discussion of the reality and nature of spiritual awareness, including a fascinating excursus on the "art of wondering," each chapter of this book describes a spiritual posture that can aid people in...

Over the Past few decades mainline Protestant congregations have not easily embraced the notion of spirituality. As much as any aspect of church life, spirituality has been misunderstood, misused, and resisted by both clergy and laity. Yet times are changing. Today many people feel a deep spiritual hunger and are out looking for fulfillment in a wide variety of settings. In this new context, mainline congregations need to awaken to the presence of the Spirit in their midst and equip leaders to nurture both the personal and corporate spirituality of their congregations. Beyond the Ordinary is...

Here are fresh, enlightening, practical, and logical strategies for "doing" evangelism in the local church. Johnson's "Organismic Evangelism" is a new approach that is based on the utilization of the entire "organism" of the church. Johnson shows how to use these human resources to capture the spirit of Christian love, encouragement, and acceptance.

More than a book, this is a source of information for church members, a study resource for church officers, a guide for church committees, and a text for workshops on evangelism (features an outline for workshops). Its concise organization and...

The greatest problem facing mainline churches today is not declining numbers, shifting social allegiances, or confused leadership. It is loss of vision. This bold yet constructive book urges pastors to again see their congregations as real expressions of "the body of Christ" and suggests ways to revise - and energize - their ministries based on this vision.. "Complete with discussion questions that make it ideal for use in a wide variety of educational settings, Imagining a Church in the Spirit will help church leaders successfully meet the cultural challenges that await us in the...

Companions in Contemplation invites you to join the author on the pathway into a deeper union with God. This book offers the spiritual seeker four things: what is meant by contemplation, what we experience in contemplation, biblical texts that describe images of contemplation and reflections on ideas that push the boundaries of our relationship with God. If you are seeking a deeper relationship with God, the guidance in this book will not give you the path but it will point the way for you to find it. Once you have begun to follow your own path, you will find that the meditations and...

About This Book This book is an invitation to Christians and Muslims to engage in dialogue in order to build relationships of understanding and trust. In a trusting environment all issues can be constructively discussed and resolved. The author first appeals to Christians, who constitute the dominant religion in American culture, to learn about Islam. In order to appreciate Muslims and engage in productive projects with them, Christians must take the initiative in creating trusting relationships. The dominant faith because it comes from a position of strength must make the first move to get...