Praying With Paul: A Call to Spiritual Reformation by D. A. Carson

by D.A. Carson

This study shows the priorities of prayer, a God-centered framework for prayer, and practices for a more meaningful and dynamic prayer life.

Genres: Prayer, Christian, Christianity, Theology

Paperback

First published November 1, 2014

About the author

Donald A. Carson is research professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. He has been at Trinity since 1978. Carson came to Trinity from the faculty of Northwest Baptist Theological Seminary in Vancouver, British Columbia, where he also served for two years as academic dean. He has served as assistant pastor and pastor and has done itinerant ministry in Canada and the United Kingdom. Carson received the Bachelor of Science in chemistry from McGill University, the Master of Divinity from Central Baptist Seminary in Toronto, and the Doctor of Philosophy in New Testament from the University of Cambridge. Carson is an active guest lecturer in academic and church settings around the world. He has written or edited about sixty books. He is a founding member and currently president of The Gospel Coalition. Carson and his wife, Joy, reside in Libertyville, Illinois. They have two adult children.

Reviews

[Rod Innis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This study guide goes very well with the book of the same title. It has a good summary of the material in the chapter to be read in the book. It has 8 lessons while the book has 12 chapters. A couple of the lessons cover 2 chapters and a couple of the chapters are no covered in this study guide. He is a good book to use with a group. I am part of a group studying this book.
This study guide has some good thought-provoking questions and topics for group discussion. You could, perhaps, just read the study guide, but I recommend reading the book as well. There is some repetition but it is worth it.

[Jerelene · Rating 2 out of 5]

went through this book with a friend. it’s extremely wordy and unnecessarily so. the breakdown of scripture is a bit excessive, seemingly breaking down the simplest of words, or using the same word in the definition of it. and the questions weren’t always great, they were very confusing or weren’t as engaging. also a couple of typos, but I digress. it did help my friend and I pray more in general, which was the goal. but this wasn’t an enjoyable workbook to go through unfortunately.

[Susanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like DA Carson, and this book on prayer is fabulous. Highly recommend. This is one I’ll try to re-read every year.

[Noel Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book I've EVER read on prayer.

[Rob Messenger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this particularly to see the chapter on Ephesians 3:14-21 a favourite passage/prayer; great!
The chapters on prayer and the sovereignty of God and prayers related to ministry were helpful too;
so, 4 stars then...

[Clancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love Paul, and I love studying prayer. Unfortunately, I found this study to not be one of my favorites.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book a lot, it was eye opening, but I don't think it had a lasting impact on my life.

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read and completed the questions in this study guide as a part of the Praying with Paul Leader Kit. The DVD study was outstanding, particularly the teaching sessions by D. A. Carson. The group discussion questions in the study guide frequently weren't worded in such a way as to facilitate discussion, which is unusual for a LifeWay study. If you lead a group study of this book, I suggest rephrasing the questions. It was helpful, but would have been more so if the material were simplified a bit more. All in all though, I would recommend it. I'm thinking Don Whitney's book 'Praying the Bible' might be a bit easier to read and apply, but I haven't read it yet.

[Derek Winterburn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book. Carson works through some key prayers of the apostle to uncover what he prayed for, and draws out the message that these are prayers God wants to hear. He is wise enough to know that there is a wider compass of praying in the Bible, but Paul's prayers are so unlike most of ours it is salutary to give them close attention. Mixed in with the chapters of exegesis are more practically orientated excurses, which are full of down-to-earth sober advice and good counsel.

This is a book I look forward to re-reading.

[Robyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got this as an additional resource for the study of Paul's prayers discussed in D.A. Carson/Tabb's Bible Study. What great additional information to drive home the lesson's points on just how we ought to pray. This will remain in my library as I have much to learn about prayer and continue to grow in prayer fellowship with my brother's and sister's in Christ. I studied this particular study twice and only had the study guide book the second time around. It is a wonderful addition to the study and even alone provides wonderful academic review of D.A. Carson's sermon series.

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent book by Carson. We've done so many books of his in our weekly Bible study that we now call him 'Don.' He took prayers of Paul and gave commentary and application. My best take-away from the study is to look for signs of God's grace in lives of other Christians, and let them know what I've seen. That was Paul's pattern of encouragement.

"What (Paul) wants Christians to pray for, at every stage of their spiritual pilgrimage is excellence, 'what is best.'"
"May He work in us what is pleasing to Him."

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good group Bible study. Carson is very academic, but in a group this is fun to discuss. The weekly commentary and questions are not too difficult to work through. It helped me to outline his main points by paragraph which allowed the discussion to flow better for me at least. I also highlighted the scripture texts mentioned in the commentary so I could look at a glance his main points and direction.

[Clara Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book I will read and re-read. "God is absolutely sovereign, ... Human beings are responsible creatures..." Thanksgiving is expressed to God for the believers but in such a way as to encourage the believers. "Paul's prayer to God is that we might have the insight needed to grasp certain crucial truths."

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books on prayer I've read. Carson walks through several prayers of Paul from his epistles and demonstrates how our prayer life can be envigorated by emulated the apostle. Highly recommended!

[Matt Crawford · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is Carson lite. It's not the highly technical analytical version that we are used to and is commentaries. Each chapter is dedicated to one of the famous prayers of Paul uses it as a template for our prayers.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books on prayer. If ever Christian read this book, I think it would revolutionize the church.

[Leinad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super helpful book, using Paul's letters as a model of how to pray. I don't think I quite got to the last couple of chapters, but I'll definitely be revisiting them along with the book as a whole.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn't the study I thought it would have been. While it did make some great points, I feel like it caused me more anxiety then actually being helpful. It just didn't feel very practical into today's world nor did it really feel like it make me better at praying. I feel like I understand how to pray a little more but I do not feel as if it made me sure or steady.