Trust in God: The Christian Life and the Book of Confessions

by David W. Johnson

Overview

In this accessible book, David Johnson examines the Christian spiritual life using the Book of Confessions of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) as a guide. He demonstrates how the Book of Confessions can help us understand what it means to be a Christian and how one goes about living a Christian life. Johnson uses the rubrics of faith, love, and hope to ground our understanding of spirituality and help us develop disciplines for our spiritual lives. These disciplines include listening and speaking, worship and Sabbath, giving and stewardship, patience and planning, and reconciling. Three appendices give concrete guidelines for engaging in Bible reading and prayer—the two central spiritual disciplines of the Reformed tradition. Johnson's helpful book invites laity and clergy to participate in the blessings and joys of a Reformed vision of the spiritual life.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781611643084
Publisher:	Westminster John Knox Press
Publication date:	03/14/2013
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	448 KB

About the Author

David W. Johnson is Assistant Professor of Church History and Christian Spirituality and Director of the Program of Formation in Ministry at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. He is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments vii

Introduction ix

1 Some Words: The Vocabulary of Faith 1

2 Some Questions: The Spiritual Life Today 17

3 Some Help: Tradition and the Spiritual Life 31

4 Interlude: "These Three": Faith, Love, and Hope 45

5 Faith 49

6 Love 77

7 Hope 91

Appendix A Bible Study as a Spiritual Discipline: A Practical Guide 115

Appendix B Disciplined Prayer: A Practical Guide 119

Appendix C Daily Confession as a Spiritual Discipline: A Practical Guide 121

Notes 125

For Further Reading 133

Index 135