Description
Book SynopsisIn Gift and Giver, leading New Testament scholar Craig Keener takes a probing look at the various evangelical understandings of the role of the Holy Spirit in the church. He explores topics such as spiritual gifts, the fruit of the Spirit, the Spirit's power for evangelism, and hearing God's voice. His desire is for Christians to "work for consensus, or at least for unity in God's work despite our differences on secondary matters." Employing a helpful narrative approach and an ample number of stories, Keener enters into constructive dialogue with Pentecostals, moderates, and cessationists, all the while attempting to learn from each viewpoint. He seeks to bridge the gap between cessationists and Pentecostals/charismatics by urging all Christians to seek the Holy Spirit's empowerment. His irenic approach to this controversial issue has been endorsed by charismatics and non-charismatics alike. Sure to provoke helpful dialogue on a topic that has caused unfortunate divisions within the church, Gift and Giver will be a valuable addition to college and seminary courses on pneumatology. It will also be helpful to lay readers interested in a balanced discussion of spiritual gifts. This repackaged edition includes an updated preface and a substantive new afterword.
Table of ContentsContents
Introduction
1. Recognizing the Spirit's Voice
2. Learning to Hear God's Heart by the Spirit
3. The Spirit Empowers Us for Evangelism
4. The Spirit and How We Live
5. Are Spiritual Gifts for Today?
6. A Closer Look at Some Spiritual Gifts
7. The Spirit and Salvation
8. When Are We Baptized in the Spirit?
9. Tongues and the Spirit
10. Why Discern the Spirit?
Conclusion
Afterword:
Looking Back on Twenty YearsAppendix:
What Can Bible Stories Teach Us?
