Three Simple Questions: Knowing the God of Love, Hope, and Purpose

By Bishop Rueben P. Job

Rueben P. Job, author of Three Simple Rules, brings us a new insight on how to live a Christ-like life and explores the three most basic and profound questions at the center of our faith—questions that all major religions try to answer and around which there seems to be much confusion:

Who is God?
Who am I?
Who are we together?

In three brief and engaging chapters, readers will explore these questions and gain new understanding of the answers:

Know that God is greater than you can imagine
Believe that you are God's beloved child
Be the love of Christ in the world

They will also discover the greatness and goodness of God, the value of every beloved child of God, and the impact we can have in the world when we live as Jesus lived.

Each chapter concludes with a simple spiritual practice to help readers remember and respond to what they have read, followed by a prayer.

Now it is time for you to know, believe and become the answers.

In its first paragraphs, Three Simple Questions triggered my hunger for hope. I hung on each word thereafter. By the time I finished my reading, I was filled to overflowing. I was drawn deeper by the notion of a God too small. Prayer as the place where we receive our identity was profound. I cheered with the truth that God loves all. I was intrigued by the imagery of my being a “holy chalice.” The three daily practices are refreshing and engaging. In short, the read filled me with grace. —Bishop Sharon Brown Christopher

• Language: English
• Publisher: Abingdon Press
• Release date: Nov 1, 2011
• ISBN: 9781426753534

Bishop Rueben P. Job

Rueben P. Job was a United Methodist bishop, pastor and acclaimed author and served as World Editor of The Upper Room publishing program. Best-known for the classic book, Three Simple Rules: A Wesleyan Way of Living, he also authored or co-authored A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and Other Servants, A Wesleyan Spiritual Reader, Living Fully, Dying Well, Listen, and co-edited Finding Our Way: Love and Law in The United Methodist Church. Bishop Job also chaired the Hymnal Revision Committee that developed the 1989 United Methodist Hymnal.

Book preview

Three

Simple Questions

Image1

KNOWING THE GOD

OF LOVE, HOPE,

AND PURPOSE

Rueben P. Job

Three Simple Questions

Three

Simple Questions

Image1

KNOWING THE GOD

OF LOVE, HOPE,

AND PURPOSE

Rueben P. Job

Abingdon Press

    Nashville

THREE SIMPLE QUESTIONS

Copyright © 2011 by Abingdon Press

All rights reserved.

No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, except as may be expressly permitted by the 1976 Copyright Act or in writing from the publisher. Requests for permission should be addressed in writing to Permissions Office, 201 Eighth Avenue, South, P. O. Box 801, Nashville, Tennessee 37202-0801, faxed to 615-749-6128, or e-mailed to [e-mail].

Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from the Common English Bible, © Copyright 2010 by Common English Bible, and are used by permission.

Scriptures marked NRSV are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Job, Rueben P.

Three simple questions / Rueben P. Job.

    p. cm.

ISBN 978-1-4267-4154-8 (alk. paper)

1. Christian life--Methodist authors. I. Title.

BV4501.3.J6316 2011

248.4'87--dc23

2011031492.

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20––10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Manufactured in the United States of America

With gratitude for all

who seek to live as Jesus lived

Contents

Preface

Who Is God?

Who Am I?

Who Are We Together?

Epilogue

A Guide for Daily Prayer

A Pattern for Daily Prayer

Notes and Acknowledgments

Preface

Our identity is found and formed by the God we worship and serve. Our life together as Christians is discovered, held together, and lived out based on our understanding of the God we have come to know and seek to follow.

Reflecting on the three simple questions that follow can lead us to a new and fuller understanding about who God is, who we are as individuals, and who we are together as Christians and as God's human family.

We cannot escape the divisions, anger, hatred, and violence that are tearing apart the world that God so loved. Neither can we avoid the truth that so much of the anger, hatred, distrust, and division prevalent in the world has invaded the church.

In our honest moments, we know that this is not the way we want to live, should live, or are called to live by the God we have come to know through Jesus Christ. Thoughtful reflection brings the realization that the path we are on is not a path of fidelity or faithfulness to Jesus Christ. Rather, it is a path that leads us away from the very One we seek to follow. But what are we to do? It seems that the division, anger, hateful language, and even violence that are sweeping across the world have become contagious and the church has caught the disease.

Because I believe most of us do want to live a life of faithfulness and fidelity, I also believe that we are ready to once again get serious about our understanding of who God is, who we are, who we are together, and how we should live as creatures of the Creator God who

Reviews for Three Simple Questions

[jfe16 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Combining both scripture and narrative, the author raises thought-provoking questions on the nature of God, on knowing ourselves, and on why we are together. Readers begin by considering what they know about God: the naming of God, the image of the true God, the God of love revealed to all. A simple practice and a prayer conclude the section.In Knowing Ourselves, the author examines a world that was once in darkness, the beloved children of God, remembering ourselves through prayer. Here, too, a simple practice and a prayer conclude the section.Putting God and Ourselves together, readers examine Who We Are Together: the way of love, the human family, a family of faith, becoming faithful followers of Jesus. Here, too, readers find a simple practice and a prayer to finish the section.An Epilogue offers a concise summary, a guide for daily prayer, and a pattern for daily prayer. Notes and acknowledgments follow, providing a reference for readers. A small, inspiring volume that is sure to strengthen the reader’s understanding.Recommended.