In The Name of Jesus
Following is a study guide designed to generate thought and discussion around the book In The Name of Jesus by Henri Nouwen. The book contains reflections on what Nouwen considers to be the essential characteristics of Christian leadership for the 21st century. His thoughts are rooted in:
A. His own experience of leaving Harvard and working at the Daybreak community for mentally handicapped persons in Toronto.
B. The temptation of Jesus in the desert
and
C. The call of Peter to ministry by Jesus.
The book is divided in three major parts, with a prologue and epilogue. For each part, Nouwen identifies a temptation that could potentially derail Christian leaders in the 21st century, shows how that temptation is the same as what Jesus faced in the desert, and suggests a spiritual discipline we need to adopt to help overcome that temptation. The spiritual discipline he suggests is rooted in the passage in John where Jesus commissions Peter.
