Conservative Evangelicals struggle with the idea of prophecy, particularly if they are non cessationists. It’s not too much of a problem for cessationists. They take the simple approach that the more spectacular gifts, seen as sign gifts ceased with the close of the apostolic age and completion of the canon of Scripture. This means that… Continue reading What prophecy is not … Just Bible study
Tag: Gifts of the Spirit
What prophecy is not …
I appreciate that readers will come here from a variety of positions. Some of you will be from conservative/non charismatic backgrounds, cessationist even. Don’t of you will be more Pentecostal/Charismatic. Personally I come from what might be best described as a charismatic place. This means I believe in prophecy and it is actively encouraged in… Continue reading What prophecy is not …
On the frequency of dreams and visions in the early church
I wanted to pick up on something I saw in a recent article looking at the question of dreams and visions. I’m not going to unpack the whole question of dreams and visions here except to say that I believe that these are available for Christians today. As I’ve mentioned previously, we talk about God… Continue reading On the frequency of dreams and visions in the early church
A prophetic church (1 Corinthians 14)
Paul has argued that the proud, divided church in Corinth needs some crucial things to correct those problems. They need love in all that they do and they need the gifts of the Spirit to be exercised by the whole body. Here he focuses in on one specific gift, prophecy. Especially Prophecy (v1-5) Paul says… Continue reading A prophetic church (1 Corinthians 14)
A receiving church (1 Corinthians 12:4-11)
Having discerned that it is God’s Holy Spirit at work and not an evil Spirit, we can move to see what the Spirit is doing and saying. One of the key things that the Holy Spirit does is to give gifts to the Church. Prioritise the giver (v4-6) We can become focused on the gifts… Continue reading A receiving church (1 Corinthians 12:4-11)
Filled with the Spirit
Paul’s solution to the question of Christian obedience and holiness is not to impose laws and rituals (legalism), nor to say that grace means we can do what we please. Instead, he sees our true hope being the Holy Spirit. In Galatians 5:2-23, he says that the result or fruit of receiving the Holy Spirit… Continue reading Filled with the Spirit
What should (and shouldn’t) the gathered church be like?
Last week I wrote about Sundays and gathered worship. I argued that the whole of life is worship and that means that yes, Sundays are part of our worship, not because the church gathers to worship in a way cut off from our daily lives but exactly because the whole of life is worship and… Continue reading What should (and shouldn’t) the gathered church be like?
Hearing the Holy Spirit
At our Life Group this week, we picked up on the theme of God sending the Holy Spirit from Sunday’s service. We focused in on these words from Acts 2:17-18 where Peter quotes the prophet Joel: ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people.Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and… Continue reading Hearing the Holy Spirit
Gifted and Talented
What does that phrase make you think of? It’s frequently used to describe stand out students at school. The Gifted and talented are to be separated out for special attention at one end of the educational spectrum in order to maximise Grade 9s, A*s and Oxbridge places. Of course at the other end of the… Continue reading Gifted and Talented
Flourish – Valuing women in church life
Here’s the video of our later After Eight which includes a helpful interview with Sophie Killingley based around Aimee Byrd’s book “Recovering From Biblical Manhood and Womanhood.” We want this to be the start, not the end of the conversation.
Faithroots 