Ears to Hear: Recognizing and Responding to God's Call

by Edward S. Little

Overview

Invites us to recognize – and respond – to our own unique vocations.

Ears to Hear takes readers on a journey through the Old Testament, showing the way God called ordinary people to service, and drawing parallels for ordinary people in the twenty-first century. The story of Abraham, who was called away from his homeland with no clear destination, exemplifies the insecurity of modern-day readers who may be called to abandon the security of their homes or their jobs to do God’s will. The story of Moses, who was armed with a list of serious—and logical—objections to God’s call, is a lesson for contemporary readers faced with seemingly insurmountable obstacles to their vocations. In each of these stories, Little shows that God’s call—in Old Testament days and now—is always accompanied with more than enough grace to answer it.

Each chapter concludes with a set of discussion questions, making this an ideal book not only for individuals discerning God’s call, but also for parish study groups.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780819219398
Publisher:	Church Publishing, Incorporated
Publication date:	07/01/2003
Pages:	154
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)

About the Author

Edward S. Little is Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Indiana. He is the author of Ears to Hear (Morehouse, 2003). He lives in South Bend, Indiana.

Table of Contents

	A Personal Note	1
	Prologue	3
1	Called to Insecurity: Abraham	10
2	God's Persistent Call: Jacob	20
3	Objections to God's Call: Moses	29
4	God's Call to Ordinary People: Bezalel and Oholiab	38
5	The Fear of God's Call: Joshua	47
6	Called by a Community: Deborah	56
7	God's Call and Our Self-Image: Gideon	64
8	Called by God, Called by a Mentor: Samuel	73
9	An Unlikely Call: David	82
10	Call Forwarding: Elijah and Elisha	91
11	Called in Brokenness: Hosea	100
12	God's Intrusive Call: Amos	109
13	Called in Holiness: Isaiah	117
14	When a Call Becomes a Burden: Jeremiah	126
15	Restoring a Lost Call: Zerubbabel	135
16	Called by Circumstances: Esther	145

Editorial Reviews

"Bishop Little's portraits of the call of God upon the lives of some of the greats of Scripture is poignant, perceptive, and to the point. They are a lesson to us in reading, marking, learning, and inwardly digesting the Scriptures, then faithfully interpreting them so they speak to each of us in today's rush and tumble world."
—Richard Kew

"Bishop Little is doing something wonderful for the church—he is reclaiming the title of teaching bishop. Using personal examples, real people, and up-to-the-minute references, this exceptionally gifted storyteller shows us how vital and dynamic the Bible continues to be. There is nothing canned, phony or dull on any page of this lively volume. Well-written, imaginative and easy to read, Ed Little's work will be a delight for both individuals and study groups."
—Fleming Rutledge, author of The Bible and the New York Times and the Battle for Middle-earth

"There is much wisdom to think about in Ears to Hear"
-Episcopal Life

"..offers good teaching, gentle wisdom, and vibrant invitation."
- Byron Borger in Coalition for Christian Outreach Newsletter

"What does the world "vocation" mean to you? To many, it means a call to serve God in the Church, as a minister or priest. Clergy aren't the only ones with vocations - or calls - from God. Lay people, too, are called to God's service, and in this book Bishop Little invites all of us to recognize and respond to our own unique calls."
—Anglican Book Centre

From the Publisher