What does the Holy Spirit have to do with Christian worldview? Read evangelical books on the topic, and the answer seems to be, “Not much.” The index to one bestselling textbook, now in its sixth edition, lacks any reference to … Continue reading Beauty, Goodness, Truth and Pentecost
Assemblies of God scholars Jerry Ireland, Paul Lewis, and Frank Macchia are editors of a new series of textbooks from Baker Academic. Titled “Foundations for Spirit-Filled Christianity” and written for use in the global Pentecostal/charismatic movement, the series explores … Continue reading Foundations for Spirit-Filled Christianity
Dean Merrill is the author, co-author, or editor of more than 30 books. His newest is 50 Pentecostal and Charismatic Leaders Every Christian Should Know (Chosen Books), forthcoming in March. Merrill recently talked with Influence Executive Editor George P. Wood … Continue reading Spirit-Filled Trailblazers: An Interview with Dean Merrill
Dr. Siang-Yang Tan is professor of psychology at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California, and senior pastor of First Evangelical Church in nearby Glendale. In Shepherding God’s People, he examines “biblical and theological foundations for pastoral ministry” (Part 1) and … Continue reading Shepherding God’s People | Book Review
Readers of a certain age remember Kathryn Kuhlman (1907–1976). She was “the miracle lady,” whose catchphrase, “I believe in miracles because I believe in God,” inspired millions to seek faith in Jesus Christ and the life-changing power of the Holy Spirit. The New International Dictionary of Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements even described her as the “world’s most widely known female evangelist.” Younger readers are likely unfamiliar with Kuhlman, however. Her miracle services, radio ministry, and syndicated television show, though well attended and widely consumed in her day, lost influence after her death. This decline was not unexpected. The ministries of … Continue reading The Miracle Lady | Book Review
American Christianity is in a parlous state. It constitutes a shrinking share of the population. And in terms of worship service attendance, most of its churches are shrinking too. Regarding share of the population, most Americans continue to identify as … Continue reading The Pietist Option | Book Review
In today’s Influence Podcast, I interview Jeff Leake about why every believer needs to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. Jeff is pastor of Allison Park Church, a multisite church near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and author of Power for Life (GPW). Continue reading Influence Podcast with Jeff Leake
Gordon T. Smith, Evangelical, Sacramental, and Pentecostal: Why the Church Should Be All Three (Downers Grove, Illinois: IVP Academic, 2017). A few years back, I made friends with some young men who were leaving the Assemblies of God (my denomination) … Continue reading Review of ‘Evangelical, Sacramental, and Pentecostal’ by Gordon T. Smith
Eugene H. Peterson, The Pastor: A Memoir (New York: HarperOne, 2011). $25.99, 336 pages. In The Pastor, Eugene H. Peterson tells “the story of my formation as a pastor and how the vocation of pastor formed me.” Peterson is best known as author of The Message, his “translation” of the Bible into “American words and metaphors and syntax.” He recently completed a five-volume series—“conversations”—about spiritual theology. And he has written numerous books about the pastoral vocation, the seedbed out of which all his other books has grown. This memoir narrates the journey of a Pentecostal kid from Montana becoming a … Continue reading “The Pastor: A Memoir” by Eugene H. Peterson
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