So Send I You / Workmen of God: Recognizing and Answering God's Call to Service

by Oswald Chambers

Chambers emphasizes God's call to all believers to become His servants. He challenges readers to discover the fulfillment God alone gives to His children who seek His will above everything else. Of particular importance for those in vocational Christian service.

Genres: Religion, Christian, Christian Living

240 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Oswald Chambers was born to devout parents in Aberdeen, Scotland. At age 16, Oswald Chambers was baptized and became a member of Rye Lane Baptist Chapel. Even as a teenager, Chambers was noted for his deep spirituality, and he participated in the evangelization of poor occupants of local lodging houses. Oswald married Gertrude in May 1910, and on May 24, 1913, Gertrude gave birth to their only child, Kathleen. In 1915, a year after the outbreak of World War I, Chambers was accepted as a YMCA chaplain. He was assigned to Zeitoun, Cairo, Egypt, where he ministered to Australian and New Zealand troops, who later participated in the Battle of Gallipoli. Soon his wooden-framed "hut" was packed with hundreds of soldiers listening attentively to his messages. Confronted by a soldier who said, "I can't stand religious people," Chambers replied, "Neither can I." Chambers was stricken with appendicitis on October 17, 1917 but resisted going to a hospital on the grounds that the beds would be needed by men wounded in the long-expected Third Battle of Gaza. On October 29th, a surgeon performed an emergency appendectomy, but Chambers died November 15, 1917 from a hemorrhage of the lungs. He was buried in Cairo with full military honors. Gertrude, for the remainder of her life published books and articles for him edited from the notes she had taken in shorthand from his sermons. Most successful of the thirty books was, "My Utmost for His Highest", which has never been out of print and has been translated into 39 languages.

Reviews

[Ian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is for "So Send I You". I will update it when I've finished "Workmen of God."

This should be compulsory reading for all believers, not just those called to the mission field. Every paragraph has power and as a result is a book that should be consumed slowly to allow the words to soak into you.

At the heart of the book is the perspective that we are called to relationship with Jesus. We are not first called to people, but to Him. "Our Lord's first obedience was not to the needs of human beings but to the will of His Father, and the first great duty of the Christian is not to the needs of mankind, but to the will of the Lord." (p152). It is through our relationship with Jesus that He leads us into "discipling" others.

Chambers reinforces by much repetition the critical importance of our relationship with Jesus. If we're not right with Him, then we'll struggle in our role to "disciple others". I particularly loved how he mentioned Jesus requested the handful of disciples he took with him to Gethsemane to "keep watch with Me". He requested three times and it challenged me to assess the ways in which I am so easily distracted from 'keeping watch.' Chambers went onto say once we are able to 'keep watch with Him" we will be in a position of having let go of ourselves having determined that we are not our own, but His.

Full of tremendous wisdom and challenging interpretations of Scripture I would recommend this to every believer to read as most significantly it increases your desire to know Jesus even more. In letting go of our self-absorption we are able to 'go forth' being led by the Holy Spirit in all our activities to help 'nourish others knowledge' of Jesus.

[Vicki Gooding · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book took me a long time to read. Not because it's a big book, it's not. Not because of negative reasons but just the opposite. This book captured the way I personally think and feel about God. Frustrated feelings of loving others. This book is amazing. I kept stopping to digest, think about it, desiring to change. Yes, it's targeting evangelism, making disciples, and character change without excuse, but the most prominent message is a deep intimacy knowing the very nature of God, and His drawing us into a life of service. This is an amazing book and should be a must read for anyone who doesn't want to play games with their relationship with Christ.

[W. Austin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I believe every believer ought to read this book. it will touch your heart to love Jesus more.

[Shana D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Convicting, genius, and simply true.

[Cait · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what an incredible book. This book is about more than just a call to missions; it is about what it means to be a true disciple of Jesus Christ and, in turn, how we go about working with souls. According to Chambers, it is all about centering in on a relationship with Jesus, trusting Him to save souls, and discipling those who are in Christ. I highly recommend it to every single Christian who needs encouragement, empowerment, and Truth to guide their way.

[Andy]

0110

[Monica · Rating 3 out of 5]

It convicted me of running away from God's destiny for my life.

[Eben · Rating 5 out of 5]

SARAH IS READING THIS RIGHT NOW>> SHE LOVES IT!