• 9. The Spirit in the Black Church

  The traditional dispute cessationists have with the charismatics usually ends in a sharp separation, but not so with all evangelicals who are cessationists. Some evangelicals firmly hold to a cessationist position, disallowing the operation of sign gifts for today, but they also fellowship with evangelicals who are charismatics and who argue for the continuation of the sign gifts. This essay presents a plausible understanding of evangelicals who, although cessationists, embrace evangelicals who are charismatics.

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  Pneumatology (The Holy Spirit)

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  Willie O. Peterson

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• 8. The Holy Spirit and the Arts

  This essay examines the Christian’s interaction with the Holy Spirit in the creation of art. We reflect on our shared doxological goal, then consider the difficult question of process, how we are to depend on the Holy Spirit to guide us from concept through production, to help us reach that goal. We consider two utilitarian approaches to dependence before endorsing an organic approach that emphasizes union with the Savior as the source and sustaining influence of our creative work.

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  Pneumatology (The Holy Spirit)

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  Reg Grant

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• 7. God, People, and the Bible: The Relationship between Illumination and Biblical Scholarship

  As a canonical text, the Bible has two horizons: first, the ancient authors (divine and human) intention in the text itself and, second, the modern reader as he or she engages in the study of the text. The authorial intention in the text itself carries the Holy Spirit’s intended “meaning.” Therefore, on the one hand, the “meaning” of the text shines forth from the author/text horizon. “Understanding,” on the other hand, derives from the Holy Spirit’s work of “illumination” on the horizon of the reader.

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  Pneumatology (The Holy Spirit)

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  Richard E. Averbeck

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• 6. The Spirit's Role in Corporate Worship

  The Holy Spirit assumes a vital role in Christian worship as the sign of God’s work through Christ. The Spirit confirms God’s covenant relationship, a prerequisite for acceptable worship. His presence creates the worship sanctuary, forming the bounds of its community and unifying its members. By convicting of sin, he ensures the integrity of the covenant worshipers and with his gifts he strengthens them to serve one another.

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  Pneumatology (The Holy Spirit)

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  Timothy J. Ralston

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• 5. The Ministry of the Spirit in Discerning the Will of God

  The Holy Spirit is given to all Christians to transform them by his teaching, making them into God-focused thinkers and equipping them to discern his will and make decisions accordingly. They do this by rational reflection on their life-situation, helped by wise and godly advice, within the parameters that the Word of God establishes. The idea that the superior path in matters of guidance is to wait passively before God for direct promptings to action to come into one’s mind is a mistake.

  Biblical Topics: 

  Pneumatology (The Holy Spirit)

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  James I. Packer

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• 4. The Witness of the Spirit in the Protestant Tradition

  This essay traces the historical articulation of the Protestant doctrine of the Witness of the Spirit as an immediate pre-reflective personal experience in the heart of the believer from its initial articulation by John Calvin to the present day. Include in this survey are the doctrine’s reconceptualization by the Puritans, the return to Calvin’s emphasis in the teaching of Wesley and Edwards followed by a survey of the nineteenth century debate over the doctrine between the Princetonians on the one hand and Charles Briggs and Abraham Kuyper on the other.

  Biblical Topics: 

  Pneumatology (The Holy Spirit)

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  M. James Sawyer

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• 3. The Spirit and Community: A Historical Perspective

  This essay surveys the ways in which Spirit-led community has been understood at different times in Christian history. After explaining the basic principles of medieval Christendom, it examines the ways in which Protestantism has developed a doctrine of the invisible church, which is manifested in visible ecclesiastical institutions to varying degrees.

  Biblical Topics: 

  Pneumatology (The Holy Spirit)

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  Gerald Bray

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• 2. The Witness of the Spirit in Romans 8:16: Interpretation and Implications

  A comprehensive examination of the usage of summarturevw in Greek literature, as well as other exegetical evidence, leads to the conclusion that this verb means “bear witness to” in Rom 8:16. The passage thus is affirming that the Holy Spirit has an ongoing witness to our inner being. One implication of this is that we have assurance of salvation not just because of the word of God but also because of the testimony of the Spirit to our hearts.

  Biblical Topics: 

  Pneumatology (The Holy Spirit)

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  Daniel B. Wallace

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• 1. The Holy Spirit in the Hebrew Bible and Its Connections to the New Testament

  Understanding the OT terms “Holy Spirit” and “the Spirit of God (or the LORD)” and the theology associated with them depends on grasping the significance of the fact that, in about 40% of its occurrences, the Hebrew word “spirit” (ruakh) basically means “wind or breath,” not “spirit.” The NT word (pneuma) is also used in this way on occasion.

  Biblical Topics: 

  Pneumatology (The Holy Spirit)

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  Richard E. Averbeck

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• Global Pastors Network

  GOAL:  PLANTING 5 MILLION CHURCHES...REACHING 1 BILLION SOULS FOR CHRIST

  The Billion Soul Campaign (sponsored by the Global Pastors Network) is a coalition of more than 80 denominations, fellowships and ministries who are synergizing their efforts for the fulfillment of the Great Commission.

  Dr.

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