Book of the Month - January 2025
Praying with Paul: A Call to Spiritual Reformation
D.A. Carson - ISBN: 978-0801097102 - 2015
Author:
D.A. Carson
D. A. Carson (PhD, University of Cambridge) is emeritus professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois, and is the author or editor of more than fifty books, including The God Who Is There, Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament (coedited with G. K. Beale), and How Long, O Lord? He is a founding member of The Gospel Coalition and an active guest lecturer in academic and church settings around the world.
Brief Synopsis:
God doesn't demand hectic church programs and frenetic schedules; he only wants his people to know him more intimately, says top-selling author D. A. Carson. The apostle Paul found that spiritual closeness in his own fellowship with the Father. By following Paul's example, we can do the same. This book calls believers to reject superficiality and revolutionize their lives by embracing a God-guided approach to prayer.
Previously published as A Call to Spiritual Reformation, this book has now been updated to connect more effectively with contemporary readers. A study guide, DVD, and leader's kit for the book are available through Lifeway and The Gospel Coalition.
Insights:
“is it not nevertheless true that by and large we are better at organizing than agonizing? Better at administering than interceding? Better at fellowship than fasting? Better at entertainment than worship? Better at theological articulation than spiritual adoration? Better—God help us!—at preaching than at praying?”
“In the biblical view of things, a deeper knowledge of God brings with it improvement in the other areas mentioned: purity, integrity, a willingness to sacrifice, evangelistic faithfulness, better study of Scripture, improved private and corporate worship, better relationships with brothers and sisters in Christ, a heart for the lost, and much more. But if we seek these things without passionately desiring a deeper knowledge of God, we may be running after God’s blessings or pursuing God’s power without running after him.”
“But that means that when we pray, when we ask God for things, we must try to tie as many requests as possible to Scripture. That is an immensely practical step.”
“Much praying is not done because we do not plan to pray. We do not drift into spiritual life; we do not drift into disciplined prayer. We will not grow in prayer unless we plan to pray. That means we must self-consciously set aside time to do nothing but pray.”
Should I read it or skip it?
When a book stops working for me, I stop working on it. I am not sure if it was the format. I listened to this book on my Audible account. I was often confused about the chapter changes. The tracks did not follow the same format as other Audible books (each chapter is a track). I also did not read the progenitor of this book, A Call to Spiritual Reformation.
Praying with Paul by D.A. Carson offers a deep and thoughtful study of the Apostle Paul’s prayers, challenging readers to pursue a richer, more theologically grounded prayer life. Carson walks through several of Paul’s prayers in his letters, unpacking their structure, priorities, and spiritual depth. With clarity and conviction, he shows how Paul’s prayers center on God's glory, the advance of the gospel, and the spiritual growth of others—far from the self-centered patterns often found in modern prayer.
However, I experienced an opposing viewpoint while reading Praying with Paul. I want argue that while the book offers theological depth, it can feel overly academic and inaccessible to the average believer. Carson’s scholarly approach, though insightful, may intimidate the average believing reader who is looking for a more personal or experiential guide to prayer. For some, the emphasis on doctrinal precision and exegetical detail might overshadow the relational and spontaneous aspects of prayer that many Christians find most meaningful.
The book’s tone could be perceived as corrective rather than invitational, leaving some of us feeling as though our current prayer practices are inadequate or spiritually immature. While the call to deeper, gospel-centered prayer is important, a more balanced approach that embraces both structure and intimacy might resonate more widely.
My favorite book by Carson is Basics for Believers: An Exposition of Philippians. I should probably reread & review it at some point. I am not saying skip this book. I am saying skip the Audible version and read the hard copy.
