Becoming the Answer to Our Prayers

"Prayer is not so much about convincing God to do what we want God to do as it is about convincing ourselves to do what God wants us to do." —from the Introduction Activists Shane Claiborne and Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove show how prayer and action must go together. Their exposition of key Bible passages provides concrete examples of how a life of prayer fuels social engagement and the work of justice. Phrases like "give us this day our daily bread" and "forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors" take on new meaning when applied to feeding the hungry or advocating for international debt relief. If you hope to see God change society, you must be an ordinary radical who prays—and then is ready to become the answer to your own prayers.



Shane Claiborne is a preacher, writer and lover of Jesus. He attended Eastern University, where he studied sociology and youth ministry. Claiborne is cofounder of The Simple Way and is currently a part of The Alternative Seminary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He serves on the board of the Christian Community Development Association. He is the author of The Irresistible Revolution and coauthor of Jesus for President. Catch up with him at thesimpleway.org.



Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove (M.Div., Duke Divinity School) is director of the School for Conversion in Durham, North Carolina, where he is a member of the Rutba House new monastic community. He is the author of To Baghdad and Beyond and coauthor of Inhabiting the Church: Biblical Wisdom for a New Monasticism. He is also the coeditor of School(s) for Conversion: 12 Marks of a New Monasticism. Catch up with him at newmonasticism.org.

Introduction


Part I--The Lord's Prayer


Ch. 1 An Invitation to Beloved Community


Ch. 2 Begging for God?s Economy


Ch. 3 Temptations Along the Way


Part II--John 17


Ch. 4 Love and Unity for the Sake of the World


Ch. 5 Praying as a Peculiar People


Part III--Ephesians 1:15-23


Ch. 6 Growing Deeper in Spiritual Wisdom


Ch. 7 Receiving Our Inheritance


Epilogue


Notes


About the Authors (and their Communities)