SUMMONED

Stepping Up to Live and
Lead with Jesus

DANIEL ALLEN JR.

Foreword by HUGH HALTER


www.IVPress.com/books

InterVarsity Press
P.O. Box 1400,
Downers Grove, IL 60515-1426
ivpress.com
email@ivpress.com

©2014 by Daniel Allen Jr.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from InterVarsity Press.

InterVarsity Press® is the book-publishing division of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA®, a movement of students and faculty active on campus at hundreds of universities, colleges and schools of nursing in the United States of America, and a member movement of the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students. For information about local and regional activities, visit intervarsity.org.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Published in association with the literary agency of WordServe Literary Group, Ltd., www.wordserveliterary.com.

While any stories in this book are true, some names and identifying information may have been changed to protect the privacy of individuals.

Cover design: Cindy Kiple
Images: e+/Getty Images

ISBN 978-0-8308-9703-2 (digital)
ISBN 978-0-8308-3687-1 (print)

To

Lainie

Bobby

Tom

Lana

Terry

Hugh and Matt

Austin

and Trey

who encouraged me

to write.

CONTENTS

Foreword by Hugh Halter

Introduction

PART ONE
Summoned: Discovering God's Call and Our Life Direction

1 Wake-up Call

You’ve Been Summoned

2 Surrender

Lay Down the Stuff That Gets in the Way

PART TWO
Shaped: Cultivating Integrity and Influence

3 Finding It

Focus Where You Are Until God Leads You to What’s Next

4 Porn

It’s Time to Come Clean; No More Hiding and Pretending

5 Relationships

Do the Hard Work, Like Forgiveness

6 Baggage

Get the Help You Need to Deal with Your Stuff

7 Bosses

Respect Those in Authority and Use Your Authority to Serve

8 Blind Spots

Find Out What You’re Not Seeing

9 Lost in Transition

Lean into Jesus in the In-Between Times

PART THREE
Sent: Stepping Up to Lead and Serve Others

10 Getting Direction

Seek God’s Guidance

11 Making Meaning

Help Them See Why It Matters

12 Plugging In

Cry Out to God for Help

13 Fighting Back

War Is at Your Door; Stand Up and Fight

14 Teaming Up

Work With and on Behalf of the Women in Your Life

PART FOUR
Supported: Connecting with Those Who Help Us

15 Mentors

Seek and Share Wisdom

16 Other Men

Connect with Spiritual Fathers and Brothers

Conclusion

Discussion Guide

Acknowledgments

Notes

Praise for Summoned

About the Author

More Titles from InterVarsity Press

FOREWORD

I’m forty-seven now. Not too old yet, but not a young man either. Just the right age to know that the most important things in a man’s life are what he believes about himself and what he believes about Jesus.

At the age of sixteen I was forced to work a full-time job. My sister was in and out of state mental ...

Content not shown in limited preview…
S:SULLJ

About Summoned: Stepping Up to Live and Lead with Jesus

You have been summoned.

Life is complicated, and sometimes we feel stuck or adrift. But God has been at work in your life, and he's still working in you. God is calling men to a deeper life of faith, surrender and commitment. You can learn to recognize where he's leading you and what he's calling you to become.

Leadership coach Daniel Allen knows what it's like to be summoned by God. He shares how he heard God's wake-up call on his life and what it takes to find a life of fulfillment, passion and purpose. This honest guide gives practical, real-life advice for shaping a godly view of manhood, building character and growing in spiritual practices and leadership. From his own experience, Allen addresses common pitfalls that trip men up and shows how you can thrive in your faith, vocation and relationships. Including a four-session study guide for men, this book shows how God is shaping you into a leader, and that he is sending you out to serve others around you.

There's more to this life. Step up and answer the call to deeper discipleship.

Support Info

9780830897032

Table of Contents