Paul Name
Do the programs crowding the typical church’s weekly schedule today lack an essential element, one that is fundamental to their having the greatest spiritual impact? This book explores the necessary precondition of discerning and cooperating with the empowering will of the Holy Spirit before putting plans into action.
Growing the Church in the Power of the Holy Spirit is a practical guide for nurturing relations between believers and the Holy Spirit, a process facilitated by seven dynamics:
• Divine love that draws us into engagement • Faith clothed in obedience • Receiving divine guidance • Exercising spiritual discernment • Welcoming the gifts and manifestations of the Holy Spirit • Intercessory prayer that shapes the future • Seeing and responding to kairos moments.
A look the essential role that the Holy Spirit has to play in enabling the Church’s mission and evangelism. Beginning with Jesus’ imperative that we should be engaged in evangelism, it then looks at his teaching on the Kingdom of God, his promise to send the Holy Spirit, and then activity of the Holy Spirit in the Early Church and in the Church today.
The booklet concludes with some helpful appendices. One offers a ‘walk of preparation’ which allows time and space for the Holy Spirit to lead. Another tackles what has been for some the contentious question of whether Christians are to be ‘baptised’ or ‘filled’ with the Holy Spirit.
This booklet from GEAR aims to provoke conversation and experimentation, helping local churches to engage with some aspects of the Evangelism statement as presented to the 2010 General Assembly:
“We will be more confident to engage in evangelism, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God with friends, families and strangers, through story and action.”
This booklet from GEAR aims to provoke conversation and experimentation, helping local churches to engage with some aspects of the Evangelism statement as presented to the 2010 General Assembly:
“We will grow in our practice of prayer and spirituality, nurturing strength for our witness to Jesus Christ, and developing our discernment of where God is and what God is calling us to do by reading and studying the Bible and through the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Prayer is an adventure in which we explore a relationship. It is not a set of problems to be navigated. For any Christians wanting to grow their prayer life, this Spring Harvest guide features interactive elements, this manual uses Jesus’ teaching on prayer in Matthew 6 to help you pray.
Pray for the first time, pray for the gazillionth time. Pray in a new way or an old way, pray alone or with others. Just pray.
NB – for transparency, I simply contributed two of the sections within the book, alongside many other authors!
