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/S-cover/without%20spine/9780802423948.jpg "The 6 Seasons of Calling: Discovering Your Purpose in Each Stage of Life")
What if you don't have a calling from God . . . but callings?
Often we think of our calling as a singular moment of divine purpose revealed to us in young adulthood and static for the rest of our lives. But consider how God usually works. He created the cosmos in six successive days. Might He not also have six seasons of calling for the lives of His people?
In The 6 Seasons of Calling, Brian Sanders helps you view your calling as something ongoing and dynamic. Because your calling is rooted in your relationship with God and your perception of His voice, it isn't a static or one-time experience. Of course, your calling doesn't constantly shift and change. Yet God has ordained six basic seasons as your life unfolds:
Instead of wandering aimlessly through life, let the six seasons of calling provide structure for your development. Locate yourself in this sequence. Live mindfully in each season. Learn from its lessons. Look for what might be next. And remember . . . only at the end of your life will you see why each season was valuable and not to be rushed.
Articles
Praise for The 6 Seasons of Calling
Once in a great while, a book comes along that speaks deeply into my soul, that gives me insight, encouragement, and perspective on my lifelong desire to be the person God created me to be. This is that book. Brian Saunders created a masterpiece that should be reviewed every ten years or so. This is deep, spiritual truth that speaks to how God grows us and calls us through all seasons of life, from childhood to senior years.
—DAVE HATAJ
Author of Good Work; CEO of Edgerton Gear, Inc.
This book was a journey in self-reflection. It was a chance for finding where I am along the path, where I might be headed, and how God has shaped the road on which I find myself. Leadership is often about seeing the bigger picture. Self-leadership, a skill we all need to practice, relies on getting above the fray to see this more expansive view. Brian's book helped me to do this.
—TED ESLER
President, Missio Nexus, author of The Innovation Crisis
God has planted within us the seeds of growth that are designed to bear fruit throughout our lives. Brian Sanders has written a clear, engaging tutorial describing the developmental tasks, invitations, and challenges to growth at every stage of faith formation. The 6 Seasons of Calling offers readers an indispensable companion as they seek to live into a healthy, generative discipleship process every step of the journey. Highly recommended!
—MICHELLE VAN LOON
Author of Becoming Sage: Cultivating Maturity, Purpose, and Spirituality in Midlife
We have all faced a painful challenge or change that stops our forward movement like a brick wall. At that moment we wonder, can anything good come from this? What if I'm finished? With sage wisdom, The 6 Seasons of Calling dismantles the brick wall we're facing. Brian Sanders creates a liberating pathway for seeing and discerning how God is present amidst our bewilderment. God's spirit is not only working in our best days but in all our days! This book might be the most accessible and actionable resource I've seen on navigating life's surprising journey of beauty and brokenness. I want to give a copy of this potent book to everyone I know that is experiencing a crisis of calling and passion!
—DAN WHITE JR.
Author of Love Over Fear, coauthor of The Church as Movement, and cofounder of The Kineo Center in Puerto Rico
Brian's previous books charged my conscience and challenged my imagination for the church. His same prophetic voice comes through in The 6 Seasons of Calling. The framework he proposes here comes from deep reflection on his own life and ministry. This book will help you gain perspective for your current moment so that instead of feeling hurried or like you're trailing behind, you'll have the courage to be present and to live into it as God intends.
—DANIEL YANG
Director of the Send Institute
Most of us wish we'd had a road map to navigate the stages of our own development in our personal calling. Brian Sanders provides a road map of the six stages using Scripture, psychology, and a width of personal experience from leading one of the most innovative ministries in the West. Sanders is one of the best-read leaders the church has, and his depth of insight and ability to analyze come to bear in this seminal work that we all wish we'd had starting out. Fortunately, it's just in time for wherever you are on the journey of your own calling.
—PEYTON JONES
Author of Church Plantology: The Art and Science of Planting Churches; founder of newbreednetwork.org
I had such deep resonance with The 6 Seasons of Calling that I couldn't stop talking about it. I wanted everyone to share in the wisdom gleaned in this gem. Brian has gifted us with a seminal book on the stages of calling common to all of our lives. It is as inspiring as it is insightful. An outstanding book! Highly recommended!
—DEB HIRSCH
Missional leader, pastor, and author of Redeeming Sex: Naked Conversations about Sexuality and Spirituality
I loved Brian's book! The clarification that calling is more relational and dynamic was so helpful. The focus on conceptual language to understand and describe my own journey created a strong framework for my ongoing development and my coaching of others. I have already started to pass on what I learned from Brian's work to those I mentor, and look forward to getting this book in their hands. Brian's Day 5 calling to give away what he has been given is clearly demonstrated in his book. It truly is a gift of his own experience and wisdom that will in turn bless many!
—JEFF VANDERSTELT
Author and visionary leader of Soma Family of Churches and Saturate
A renewed clarity on calling may be the most pressing need for every leader in any discipline of life. Brian has put in the hard work, and this book is a treasure for any person looking to make a legitimate contribution to the world.
—HUGH HALTER
Author of The Tangible Kingdom
