Called to the Ministry

by Edmund P. Clowney

What is Christ's calling to you? You may be seeking an answer, you may be avoiding the question—but when the Lord calls, he will be answered. God's call came suddenly to Elisha, who was plowing a field when Elijah cast the prophet's mantle on him, and to Peter, who was holding a fishing net when Jesus called him.

What does the Bible say about Christ's calling today? We are told that the Lord calls us by name, and every Christian has his or her own calling—a calling as a child of God and a servant of God.

In this timeless book Clowney address the question of how the Lord calls us today. Christ's spoken word no longer sounds by the lake of Galilee, but he has not left his disciples without direction.

Genres: Theology, Christian, Christianity, Leadership, Religion, Nonfiction, Church

92 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 1976

About the author

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he earned a Bachelor of Arts from Wheaton College in 1939, a Bachelor of Theology from Westminster Theological Seminary in 1942, a Master of Sacred Theology from Yale Divinity School in 1944, and a Doctor of Divinity from Wheaton College in 1966.

Reviews

[Andrew Hageman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first received this book as a teenager from my pastor. I think I started to read it but didn't get all the way through. What a fool I was.

This book is hard to read because it makes clear the seriousness, the scorn, the education, and the service which is required of a person serving in ministry. But yet it affirms that if you feel the calling and gifts of the spirit align with that calling, you have no other option but the ministry. To whom much has been given, much will be required.

"Martin Luther, like many ministers of the gospel, might have had a brilliant career in law, but the fire in his bones prevented it"

Lawyer has always been my backup career if the door to ministry is shut. Wild.

[Jake Busch · Rating 5 out of 5]

“To miss your calling, follow this three-point program: assume that it begins in the future, decide that you don’t know what it is, and sit down to wait for the Lord’s call (67).”

A wonderful little book for those assessing a call to ministry. Perhaps the most succinct and biblically clear that I’ve read on this topic. Great read.

[S.F. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Especially good if you are wondering if you should be a pastor. Last chapter was the most practically helpful. Tons of scripture and profound wisdom throughout.

[Davis Sweatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yearly read for me from here on out

[Josiah Bolding · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sobering, encouraging, and helpful. Highly recommend.

[Unpil · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a little gem of a book, full of wisdom and conviction. The whole book can be summarized in a single sentence:

The call of the Word of God to the gospel ministry comes to ALL those who have the gifts for such a ministry. (p.79)

[Laramie Gildon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. I was too Work of the Pastor was the go to quick read for the pastor but this book really did a number on me. It’s so simple, yet drives the point home that it is Christ who calls His people to whatever ministry they’re called to. It’s very easy to read but I was not a fan of the font my copy was in. Outside of that I found this very helpful. 90 pages and if you read 10-15 pages a day you can knock it out in a week.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5
Short but encouraging and helpful book on understanding the call to the ministry. It’s written by a theologically conservative Presbyterian, but I think it would be helpful for anyone wanting to better understand the call - not just pastors. The chapter on discerning the call was my favorite part.

[Caleb Haynes · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sharply written work that seeks to help believers define their Christian calling so that whatever they do, whether in word or deed, it may be done for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and not for themselves or for men.

[Chip · Rating 5 out of 5]

Money. Every Christian in any vocation would benefit from the first half.

[Terry Dykstra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Necessary Read

For anyone considering ministry, a helpful guide. For those already in ministry, an essential reminder of Christ’s calling and authority bestowed upon us.

[Henry Holmberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Humbling and scary.

[Isaiah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent.

[Andrew Murch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book because I know Clowney as a great theological writer and teacher. I was very pleased with his brief analysis of this crucial subject of practical theology. As a teenager, I wrestled with my own calling to ministry. As a vocational pastor, I have walked this path with numerous people. Clowney's book is one I will recommend in the future. The primary reason is because of where he starts. I see a number of young people who experience growing affections for God and a hunger to see people come to know Him. From here, they jump to the conclusion that they must be called to the ministry. I think there are two things those in this spot need to hear: 1) You are certainly called to ministry, and 2)That may not mean what you think it means. Clowney begins his book by encouraging the reader that we are first called to Christ, and as we are called to Christ we are all called to the ministry. The later chapters discuss what a vocational call may include. The primary thing it includes is fruit. A person's call to ministry is discovered in community and affirmed through the fruit that results from them working out. This is a short and worthy read.

[Oliver Pierce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not sure why I gave this four starts the first time. Its five story gold for sure. Biblical, insightful, even humorous. Great for both men considering ordained ministry, those already in it and even those just wrestling with the idea of calling in general.

[Andre · Rating 5 out of 5]

It seems like I am always currently reading this book and/or referencing it somehow!

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a tendency to read books 60% through and then just give up. Particularly religious books, I feel that they become repetitive. At this point, I start looking for my next book which begins with me starting a couple different books and I forget to come back and finish.

Not this book, now it could be said it was too short to become repetitive, but I have seen it done before. The latter part of this book was like lighting a fire in my soul.

The purpose of this book is to address God's calling for your life, particularly in ministry. As Christians I think it is easy to forget that God as called all of us because He calls those who are saved. We have heard this calling through the preaching of the word, through reading his word, through prayer, and through our brothers and sisters encouraging us.

A call to ministry is the same thing. I personally have struggled with this calling. I had not had a great experience when I was a pastor a couple years ago and have really struggled with if God was calling me why I would have experienced such a failure. Something that stood out to me in this book is that Clowney writes about the New Covenant being different from the Old. In the Old, God spoke to them and gave them signs to direct their paths, they did not understand and their purpose was to obey. We live in a greater covenant, we have the Holy Spirit within us and now we do not need a voice or sign to direct us, because we understand the why and the purpose. We are on the other side of seeing the reality of Christ. We live in the already and not yet.

Clowney writes about not seeking signs and voices, but understanding God's word and rightly discerning what is the right judgement for each circumstance. For ministry that will require you to desire it, to discern your gifting and judge rightly if you are to serve. Knowing that God does not give you gifts to hide them or confuse them. These giftings and qualifications should be affirmed by your church (like Paul, Timothy and others were).

I found this book encouraging and lifting up my doubts and replacing it with faith. Highly recommend for anyone in ministry or thinking about going into the office of minister, elder, or deacon.

[Adam Nesmith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I rarely say this, but every Christian should read this book. Although the title seems to indicate only those who feel called to pastoral ministry should read it, I would say 4/5 of the book is addressed to believers in general. Clowney does a fantastic job of slowly building his argument from general truths that apply to all believers to specific guidance for those interested in ministry. His conclusion is a crescendo he has built to and you feel the force of it.

This book should be given to anyone at a transition stage of their life (graduates, newly married, career decisions etc.) it is more about 1. In this unique time before the return of Christ, what should be our focus as Christians? 2. What has God already objectively called us to in scripture? And 3. How can we use the previous two to discern a more “subjective” call to a specific area of ministry in life?

A great great book and incredibly easy to read. It’s less than 100 pages but contains more truth and practical implications than many books 5 times it’s length. Buy it now, read it ASAP and reflect on its contents deeply.

[D. Ferguson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first half of the book is about God’s general calling on all believers, summarizing the concept of calling in Scripture. The second half is about the calling to pastoral ministry. Pastoral ministry is not a ministry of high rank, but rather of high responsibility in servant hood. All authority derives from Christ. The work is primarily the ministry of the Word, but also includes leadership, oversight, mercy ministries, evangelism, etc. The various titles for an overseer point to the wide variety of gifts required for the work. The final chapter, “Clear Calling,” is the portion I found most helpful. The primary point of that section is that each one is responsible to use the gifts that he has received. If a person has been gifted for pastoral ministry, then the church should recognize that and he should use those gifts and service to the church. We are not permitted to neglect our gifts, but are rather commanded to fan them into flame.

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book about callings in general, then callings to ministry in general, and then calling to The Ministry specifically. I enjoyed this book, and found it contained helpful guidance about how one is to discover what the Lord is calling him. I would pair this book with Kevin DeYoung's "Just Do Something" for our "analysis paralysis" generation. Clowney goes a little further and grounds Calling to one's giftings that the Lord grants that is to be recognized personally and in the communion of the body of Christ. A small read of 90 pages. Very consummable.
Since Clowney is a good Church historian, I would have liked to have seen what he had to say about how callings were deciphered in ages past. Although this is a perfectly good book which said all that needed to be said, and certainly not saying anything wrongful, it could have been peppered with history with insights from the church triumphant.

[Trenton Cleveland · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, an accurate description of the qualifications of a minister and what the minister's calling should look like (both externally and internally). I found it decently helpful in reconciling feelings I was having concerning the call to ministry. I especially liked the end where there is talk about the need for an external call from the church proper when it comes to ministerial calling and that it's not just a "burning in the bosom." I would have preferred more of the book be dedicated to that subject, but I understand that this is meant for ministers in general, not just me. I will say, the writing style for me was not very palatable for some reason and made it difficult to internalize what was being said. I as well feel like the author was a little repetitive and talked around subjects. It seemed as if the book could have been condensed into a shorter work.

[Aaron J. Gregas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this for a seminary course on Pastoral Ministry. This is one that I will commit to rereading in the future. Although this is a short book, it took me a long time to read through because each paragraph is packed full of scripture and aged wisdom. The perfect balance between understanding the scriptures and the calling to ministry in light of redemptive history, culminating in the work of Christ, in the categories of systematic theology and church polity, and the practical outworking of these truths in the Christ’s church, and the fallen world we live in. I don’t think there is a better book on the subject. Even if you do not sense a call to ministry, Clowney reminded me of what it means to be called to be a Christian, first and foremost.

[Ethan Montgomery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Clowney does a wonderful job of explaining that your calling to thr ministry isn't a cookie cut answer, but something that everyone is called to in some way. We are all called to minister and to be faithful Christians. However, through the use of our gifts from God, it may become evident to ourself and others that God may be calling you to be a minister. But just like you can't be a good baseball player without exercising your abilities and gifts, you can't be a minister without exercising your gifts you have now. We need to be faithful with what we've been given before we are faithful over a congregation.

[Joshua Sunderland]

The first half was more general, regarding calling as a whole even beyond ministry. I didn't like this section, not because I disagreed with it, but it felt like he was trying to quote as many verses as possible instead of just trying to explain it. The second half is waaay better, focusing on ministry, the gifts for it, and its calling. I'd recommend this for anyone who is considering ministry, especially those who are initially wrestling with the idea.

[Landon Coleman · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is some amount of meandering in this book, but the outline and major points are both solidly biblical and practically helpful. Clowny approaches the question of being "called to ministry" in terms of being called by name (salvation), being called to service (ministry), and being called to a distinctive and clear ministry (vocational ministry).

[Calum Mackenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent (but short) book, full of wisdom that constantly references the Bible.

Some very poignant and honest advice, encouraging the reader to ask some honest questions. I’d recommend this for anyone considering going into Christian full-time work or training.

If I’m being fussy, I’d maybe say that it could be slightly cheaper since it’s only 90 pages long.

[Ramona Conti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not sure if the content was bad, or if it was the reader the author had read the audio book version but I had a hard time gathering any information. It was odd that after listening to the 3 hour long book I was unable to recall anything from it. I may try to re-read this at a later time without the audio book and see if my thoughts/review change.

[Diana Florián · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part one was really great for understanding what are calling is as Christians and how we share “both the ministry of the cross and the dominion of the crown”.

Part two was more on the call to ministry as pastors, so I read through it pretty quickly but still found helpful reminders on the exercise of our gifts in the context of the church.

[Dan Mason · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great little book on clarifying the nature of God's calling for all Christians and then, more specifically, those considering full time vocational ministry. It is scripture-saturated and immensely practical.

[Jeremy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book by Clowney discussing the calling of a Christian and how that relates to a call to ministry. Clowney's approach is to pull from many different passages, often in the same paragraph, but his writing is clear and he often turns a good phrase.