Introducing a memorable vocabulary and an easy-to-use practical framework, More equips readers to not only embark on a journey of discovering their unique personal calling but to take real, meaningful action to fulfill it.
More meets Christians where they’re at, acknowledging the roots of their discontent and demonstrating how to move from inspiration and desire into action. Church strategist and ministry activator Todd Wilson shows how all believers can live more abundant lives around the uniqueness of how they were made and what they are called to do.
More enables readers to answer three of the most important and profound questions we all naturally ask:
• Who am I created to be? • What am I created to do? • Where am I to be best positioned to do it?
The integrated answers to these key questions—the BE-DO-GO of a person’s life—represent the core dimensions of personal calling. Inspiring and challenging, More gives readers permission and encouragement to engage in the journey God has solely for them.
Todd is a friend of mine and he is sold out on discipleship --he focuses on the idea that a mature disciple of Jesus has a specific calling on his or her life that God has gifted them to fulfill not only for their own good but for the good of the body the church
Solid 3.5 rounded up for the information/worksheets on the book's website. The book is extremely practical, a bit repetitive, and rather easy to follow. The presented framework (BE-DO-GO) is built on personality theory....and aims to use approaches like StrengthsFinder and Myers Briggs to take you beyond your vocation and into your calling.
If you DO read, please GO to the website and check out the resources on it to help with application.
Calling is interactive. It requires we know who we are, what purpose we have, and our position in each season of life. A great way to honor God is by discovering and engaging the unique gifts and purposes He gives. Before reading this, I was very limited on knowing the difference between general and personal calling. This book offers a lot of resources and guidelines for being intentional in working through understanding what your calling is. For the first time in a long time, I have a paper I'm going to have up in my room with some takeaways to apply what I learned here. I do recommend reading the book! :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I would recomend this book before Purpose Driven Life... and I really enjoyed Purpose Driven Life. Helps understand the life of every believer that we must live into, and how that plays out in our particular life. Full with resources and complete thought. The tools are given to begin prayerfully identifying your personal calling. One of the best books I've read in the last year.
Such an amazing book. Incredible reminder of who we are, what we are called to do and where we are called to go. Todd leads us to look specifically in these three areas again to find our uniqueness. Love this book and the tools it provides.
My pastor suggested this book as I’m in a season of considering how best to use my skills and abilities. Wilson provides an excellent framework for understanding our BE, DO and GO. I highly recommend this book!
[Note: This book was provided free of charge by BookLook/Zondervan Press in exchange for an honest review.]
This book is what you get when you combine a book on Christian practical theology with personality theory. Whether you appreciate this book and to what extent you appreciate it will depend on a few factors that it is worthwhile to discuss. For one, this book is full of personality theory, like the Strengths Finder [1] and the Myers-Brigg's test [2], and even a few more obscure personality texts related to one's spiritual calling. Those readers who enjoy personality theory will find much to appreciate here in terms of knowing where they fit best within local congregations as well as in their own personal evangelistic efforts. That said, those readers who dislike personal theory will find much to criticize here. I have already hinted at another factor that is worthwhile to discuss but will spell it out in greater detail. This book has the guiding assumption that evangelism is a matter of universal concern and not merely vocational concern among deacons, elders, paid ministry and the like. Where there is agreement in wide involvement in evangelism, this approach is likely to be welcomed. Where such agreement does not exist, this book is likely to cause offense.
In terms of its content and structure, the book has an intriguing and noteworthy format. The first part of the book: foundations in calling, examines such matters as trusting God as the author of our story, stepping forward in faith, having two scripts for two kingdoms, surrendering the leading role to God, owning our part of the calling in action, trusting God, and discovering our unique roles based on our background and experiences. The second half of the book discusses discovering one's calling, which is where the personality theory becomes particularly notable. If the first half of the book focuses on scripture, or at least some citations of it with particular interpretations, the second half focuses on citations of personality theory and a model of core and unique identity, mission, and position under the be-do-go rubric. The book imagines our identity as being a disciple crafted by God, our mission as making disciples and doing good works and deeds, and our position as being where we are, and where we are most effective. After this there is a discussion on the importance of having mentors and living our faith. At the beginning of the book there are forwards by Rick Warren and Dr. Coleman and an epilogue by Bob Buford closes the book along with acknowledgements and notes. The book has a website, but as of writing it was not fully loaded.
Aside from the questions of the book's assumptions about the validity of personal inventories as well as of personal evangelism efforts, and the book is quite strong on both of those points, there are a few other aspects of the book that are worthy of commentary as well. The author attempts to mediate between those who point on the fact that we cannot in any way earn God's grace through good works but who do not focus on the obedience to God that naturally follows, and those who focus on the godly living expected of believers. The author does speak about surrendering lordship of our lives to God, but there is no discussion of the body of law that believers are committed to obey. The author desires believers to trust the Holy Spirit, but leaves no pointing to the Word of God to describe what believers should and should not believe that allows believers to properly test the spirits. This book therefore fits within the broad tradition of books that are specific about matters of personal thought and interest of the author, but frustratingly vague when it comes to biblical instruction. In the same manner as people like John Maxwell, this is a book by someone who is far more comfortable in psychology and business consulting than in biblical instruction, when what is most needed is sound biblical application in practical areas of life, an area where this book has little new to offer. It is a missed opportunity, given the interesting but unbiblical material the author does discuss throughout the second half of the book.
Do you know why God left you on planet Earth? Do you know how he has uniquely wired and gifted you? Do you know how to use your gifts and abilities to have the greatest impact? Would you like to be able to say “Yes!” to each of these questions?
More: Find your personal calling and live life to the fullest measure, by Todd Wilson is designed to help the reader embark on a journey of discovering your unique personal calling. The author tries to help his readers answer three basic questions of life: (1) Who am I created to be? (2) What am I created to do? and (3) Where am I best positioned to do it?
Whereas most books of this nature jump into assessment tools—spiritual gifts, abilities, personality, leadership style—the author takes the time to lay out a foundation on which he will build his argument. The thesis of the book is based on two key verses. Jesus came to give us abundant life (John 10:10), and he has created each of us to accomplish good works (Ephesians 2:10).
The author then explains the basic formula for discovering one’s purpose. It follows a BE-DO-GO formula. As Todd explains, each of us has a core purpose. We are to be disciples who make disciples wherever we are. We then have a secondary purpose that is tied to our unique gifts, abilities, passion, and personality. He references a number of assessment tools and websites that the reader can use to identify the unique characteristics of his/her life.
In the final chapter, the author lists “The Ten Truths of Calling” which all of us should embrace regardless of who we are: Trust deeply in the author of our story. Step forward in faith, even when we cannot see clearly. Abandon the earthbound kingdom of me in order to gladly serve in the eternal kingdom of God. Submit to the lordship of Jesus. Embrace our mission to carry the fullness of Jesus to every corner of society. Live in common with a healthy, local community of faith. Take personal responsibility of the unique role Jesus gives us. Trust the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit. Be disciples of Jesus who make disciples where we are. Fulfill our unique personal calling to play our role in God’s mission where we can be most effective.
I found the book to be very helpful and encouraging. It would be a good resource for a recent graduate, someone heading into mid-life, or anyone wanting to determine if there is more to life than what they are currently experiencing.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
More meets Christians where they’re at, acknowledging the roots of their discontent and demonstrating how to move from inspiration and desire into action. Church strategist and ministry activator Todd Wilson shows how all believers can live more abundant lives around the uniqueness of how they were made and what they are called to do.
Introducing a memorable vocabulary and an easy-to-use practical framework, More equips readers to embark on a journey of discovering their unique personal calling. It enables readers to answer three of the most important and profound questions we all naturally ask.
(1) Who am I created to be?
(2) What am I created to do?
(3) Where am I to be best positioned to do it?
The integrated answers to these key questions—the BE-DO-GO of a person’s life—represent the core dimensions of personal calling. Inspiring and challenging, More gives readers permission and encouragement to engage in the journey God has solely for them.
My Review:
The "calling" very exciting, scary and most dreaded word on the planet all in one. I will never forget the day that God called my husband. My husband was so worried about it that he went straight to our pastor with what He felt God had conveyed because after all, if anyone knew what to do it would be him, right?! And that is what started the ball rolling that day it is also what caused "huge" rebellion in my husband that would take many years to correct and a rebellion that did a lot of damage to our family. It also caused me to constantly go to Him with what do I do now questions.
Todd Wilson is use to these sort of things and he shows you how to navigate "the calling". He does tend to map it out in a way that I wish this book had been written earlier because my family sure could of used it. First things first, agreeing to the call then stepping out in faith and then the now what questions. A great quick read with thoughts to ponder at the end of each chapter. So many times we forget that we have to help lead others to Christ and this should be our first goal at all times.
A great book on how to find your personal calling and how to navigate something so overwhelming!
**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from the author.
"Force yourself right now to create a general picture or description of what 'well done' could look like in three years. Then list specifically and concretely three to five things you MUST DO in the next three months to give you momentum toward that three-year vision. Sling. Stone Faith. Giant." (pg. 211)
"It's our nature to plan and await clarity before we act. God wants us to see 'Goliath' opportunities in front of us and act now. Not in several years when we have more clarity, more margin, more strategy, and a more attractive opportunity. Instead he wants us to lean into what's directly in front of us and act with more faith." (pg. 209)
"Yes, preaching and teaching are important and personal witnessing is important, but it's the substance of what happens in our community--the gospel in radical practice within the church day to day--that profoundly attracts those far from God.
"Do we fall short in being all that Jesus intends? Yes. But that doesn't change the truth that the local church is his chosen strategy for deploying his followers to carry the fullness of himself into every corner of society. We can dislike our shortcomings in doing church, but we can't disown it without being in rebellion against it Founder." (pg. 56)
When I requested this book from BookLookBloggers, I thought that it would be a great reference book for my personal walk with God. Instead, I had a difficult time sticking with this book. It had a lot of great points, and was set up in such a way to help you understand your own personal calling with many scripture references, but it was not very interesting. It may just be me, because I am not currently questioning my calling. I know who I am in God, and what I believe He wants me to do with my life for His glory. This book is set up more like a textbook, and I think would be very helpful to new christians or group study, but it just wasn't right for me.
I appreciated the authors mix of inspiration and practicality. Much of the material didn't apply to where I'm at now, but there was value in reviewing some basic tenants and I can see the value for others.