Life in the Spirit Conference

Where Reformed theology meets Charismatic experience

 

ANNOTATIONS:

 

R          -definitely Reformed

C         -definitely charismatic

R/C      -both Reformed & charismatic

 

1          -easy reading

2          -average reading

3          -stretching reading

 

Word & Spirit balance:

 

Donald G Bloesch: “Theology of Word and Spirit” (Paternoster 1992) 3

Paul Cain & R T Kendall: “The Word and the Spirit” (Kingsway 1996) R/C & 1

Jack Deere: “Surprised by the power of the Spirit” (Kingsway 1993) & “Surprised by the voice of God” (Kingsway 1996) C & 2

Rick M Nanez: “Full Gospel, Fractured Minds?” (Zondervan 2005) C & 2/3

Rich Nathan & Ken Wilson: “Empowered Evangelicals” (Servant Publications 1995) C & 2

David Pawson: “Fourth Wave” (Hodder & Stoughton 1993) C & 2

David Pawson: “Word and Spirit together” (Hodder & Stoughton 1993) C & 2

Ian Stackhouse: “The Gospel-Driven Church” (Paternoster 2004) C & 3

Sam Storms: “Convergence – spiritual journeys of a charismatic Calvinist” (Kingsway 2006) R/C & 2

Jean-Jacques Surmond: “Word and Spirit at Play” (SCM 1994) 3

 

Systematic Theology:

 

Guy P Duffield & Nathaniel M Van Cleave: “Foundations of Pentecostal Theology” (L.I.F.E. Bible College 1983) C & 2

Millard J Erickson: “Christian Theology” (Baker 1998 2nd edition) 3

Millard J Erickson: “Introducing Christian Doctrine” (Baker 1992) 2

Wayne Grudem: “Systematic Theology” (Inter-Varsity Press 1994) R/C & 2/3

Bruce Milne: “Know the truth” (Inter-Varsity Press  1998 2nd edition) R & 2

J Rodman Williams: “Renewal Theology” – 3 volumes (Zondervan 1988; 1990; 1992) R/C & 2

R T Kendall: “Understanding theology” – 3 volumes (Christian Focus Publications 1996; 2000; 2001) R/C & 2

 

Holy Spirit baptism:

 

James D G Dunn: “Baptism in the Holy Spirit” (SCM Press 1970) 3

Michael A Eaton: “Baptism with the Spirit – the teaching of Martyn Lloyd-Jones” (Inter-Varsity Press 1989) R/C & 3

Stanley Jebb: “The Baptism in the Holy Spirit” (West Street Christian Fellowship 1977 4th edition) 1

D Martyn Lloyd-Jones: “Joy Unspeakable” (Kingsway 1984) R & 2

David Pawson: “Jesus baptises in one Holy Spirit” (Hodder & Stoughton 1997) C & 2

Max Turner: “Baptism in the Holy Spirit” (Grove Books Ltd. – Renewal Series R2 2000) C & 2

 

Holy Spirit gifts:

 

Donald Bridge & David Phyphers: “Spiritual gifts and the church” (Christian Focus Publications 1995) R/C & 2

Wayne Grudem: “Are miraculous gifts for today? – four views” (Inter-Varsity Press 1996) R/C & 2/3

D Martyn Lloyd-Jones: “Prove all things” (Kingsway 1985) R & 2

Sam Storms: “The Beginner’s Guide to Spiritual Gifts” (Vine Books 2002) R/C & 2

Max Turner: “The Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts – then and now” (Paternoster 1996) C & 3

 

Church:

 

Chuck Colson: “The body” (Word Books 1992) 2

Dave Devenish: “What on earth is the church for?” (Authentic 2005) R/C & 2

Michael Eaton: “How to enjoy God’s worldwide church” (Sovereign World International 1995) R/C & 1/2

Gordon Fee: “Paul, the Spirit, and the people of God" (Hendrickson 1996) C & 2

John Hosier: “God’s radiant church” R/C & 2

E. Kevan: “The Lords’ Supper” (Evangelical Press 1966) R & 2

R B Kuiper: “The glorious body of Christ” (Banner of Truth Trust 1983) R & 2

Terry Virgo: “Restoration in the church” (Kingsway 1985) & “A people prepared” (Kingsway 1996) R/C & 2

Nigel Wright: “The radical kingdom” (Kingsway 1986) & “Challenge to change” (Kingsway 1991) C & 2

 

 

Preaching:

 

Arturo G Azurdia: “Spirit Empowered Preaching” (Mentor/Christian Focus 1998) R & 2

Greg Haslam: “Preach the Word!” (Sovereign World 2006) R/C (but a variety of contributors) & 2

D Martyn Lloyd-Jones: “Preaching and preachers” (Hodder & Stoughton 1971) R & 2

John Piper: “The supremacy of God in preaching” (Inter-Varsity Press 1990) R & 2

Tony Sargent: “The sacred anointing – the preaching of Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones” (Hodder & Stoughton 1994) R/C & 2/3

 

 

Spiritual Warfare:

 

Dave Devenish: “Demolishing strongholds” (Word Publishing 2000) R/C & 2

Frederick S Leahy: “Satan cast out” (Banner of Truth Trust 1975) R & 2

Chuck Lowe: “Territorial spirits and world evangelisation?” (Mentor/OMF 1998) 2

 

Revival:

 

Patrick Dixon: “Signs of revival” (Kingsway 1994) C & 2

Brian Edwards: “Revival! A people saturated with God” (Evangelical Press1990) R & 2

Jonathan Edwards: “Jonathan Edwards on Revival” (Banner of Truth Trust 1984) R & 2/3

D Martyn Lloyd-Jones: “Revival – can we make it happen?” (Marshall Pickering 1986) R & 2

Iain H Murray: “Pentecost today? – the Biblical basis for understanding revival” (Banner of Truth 1998) R & 2/3

Mark Stibbe: “Revival” (Monarch Books 1998) C & 2

Arthur Wallis: “In the Day of Thy Power” (Christian Literature Crusade 1989) C & 2

Ben White: “A taste of revival” (Sovereign World 1997) R/C & 2. May be currently out of print……

 

 

More AUTHORS & BOOKS to look out for:

 

USA:

 

Donald A Carson (especially his “Showing the Spirit” – Baker 1987 & “Divine sovereignty and human responsibility” – Baker 1981) R & 2/3

Chuck Colson (see under ‘Church’) 2

Jack Deere (see under ‘Word and Spirit balance’) C & 2

Jonathan Edwards (especially “The Religious Affections” – Banner of Truth 1986 paperback) R & 2/3

Gordon Fee (especially his study of Paul’s teaching on the Spirit in “God’s Empowering Presence” – Hendrickson 1994: popularised in “Paul, the Spirit, and the people of God” – Hendrickson 1996) C & 3

Wayne Grudem (especially his thesis on NT prophecy in “The gift of prophecy” – Crossway 2001) R/C & 2

R T Kendall (especially his books “The Anointing” – Hodder & Stoughton 1998 & “The sensitivity of the Spirit” – Hodder & Stoughton 2000) R/C & 2

C J Mahaney (for example “Christ our mediator” Multnomah Press 2004) R/C & 2

John Piper (especially his central theme as expounded in “Desiring God” – Inter-Varsity Press 1996 & seriously abbreviated in “The dangerous duty of delight” – Multnomah 2001) R & 2/3

Sam Storms (especially his popularisation of Piper in “Pleasures Forevermore” – NavPress 2000 & “One Thing: developing a passion for the beauty of God” – Christian Focus 2004) R/C & 2

David F Wells (“No place for truth” – Eerdmans 1993; “God in the wasteland” – Inter-Varsity Press 1994; “Losing our virtue” – Inter-Varsity Press 1998; “Above all earthly pow’rs” – Inter-Varsity Press 2005) R & 3

John White (especially his “When the Spirit comes with power” Hodder & Stoughton 1988) C & 2

John Wimber (especially his key books “Power Evangelism” – Hodder & Stoughton 1985 & “Power Healing” – Hodder & Stoughton 1986) C & 2

 

UK:

 

Dave Devenish (See under ‘Church’ & ‘Spiritual Warfare’) R/C & 2

Michael Eaton (especially his “Preaching through the Bible” series – Sovereign World International) R/C & 1/2

Jim Graham (especially his “The giant awakes” Marshalls 1982) C & 2

John Hosier (See under ‘Church’) R/C & 2

Peter Lewis (especially “Chosen for good” edited by Robert Horn – Kingsway 1986/1988 & his own “The glory of Christ” – Hodder & Stoughton 1992) R & 2

Martyn Lloyd-Jones (***everything he’s written!) R & 2

Douglas McBain (especially “Discerning the spirits” MarshallPickering 1986) C & 2

Jim Packer (especially his “Keep in step with the Spirit” – Baker 2005 Revised edition) R & 2/3

David Pawson (see volumes listed above & “The normal Christian birth” Hodder & Stoughton 1989 and “Unlocking the Bible Omnibus” Collins 1999) C & 2

Mark Stibbe (especially his “From orphans to heirs” – Bible Reading Fellowship 1999 & “Prophetic evangelism” – Authentic 2004) C & 2

Terry Virgo (especially his emphasis on grace in “God’s lavish grace”) R/C & 2

Andrew Walker (See church history section at the end!) 2

Keith Warrington (especially “Discovering the Holy Spirit in the New Testament” Hendrickson Publishers 2005 & “Pentecostal Perspectives” Paternoster 1998) C & 2

Nigel Wright (See under ‘Church’) C & 2

 

& “Explaning” booklets on various themes by ‘Sovereign World International’

 

 

 

APPENDIX: Church history (by Roger Welch & friends)

 

Labels like ‘Reformed’ and ‘ charismatic’ work less well in the area of church history. The real issues are:

 

  1. the author has done his/her research well
  2. he/she has a good grasp of the work of the Spirit in mission & revival
  3. he/she avoids undue hagiography, and is fair to traditions other than evangelical, charismatic or Reformed

 

Nick Needham: “2000 years of Christ’s power” (3 volumes: Vol 1 – Grace Pblications 1998; Vol 2 – Evangelical Press 2000; Vol 3 – Evangelical Press 2003) – a dependable Reformed interpretation of the whole history of the church.

 

David Bebbington: “Evangelicalism in modern Britain 1730’s to 1980’s” (Routledge 1988) – for more detail on modern evangelicalism.

Ian Randall: “What a friend we have in Jesus: The Evangelical Tradition” (DLT 2005) – a good read too!

 

Stirring biography is a good way into history too:

 

John Piper’s biographical sketches delivered at Bethlehem Pastor’s Conferences:

“The legacy of sovereign joy” (IVP 2000)

“Tested by fire” (IVP 2001)

“Roots of endurance” (IVP 2002)

“Contending for our all” (IVP 2006)

 

Dr M Lloyd-Jones: “The Puritans” (Banner of Truth Trust 1987)

 

Arnold Dallimore: “George Whitfield” (2 Vols. Banner of Truth Trust)

Lewis Drummond: “Spurgeon: Prince of Preachers” (Kregel 1992)

Andrew Bonar: “Memoirs and remains of R. M. McCheyne” (Banner of Truth Trust)

 

You need a wider perspective so:

Mark Noll: “Turning Points” (IVP 1998/Baker 2001) – serves a good purpose by highlighting 13 decisive moments in church history.

 

And what about the history of mission?:

 

Read about the real trailblazers like William Carey, Hudson Taylor, Cameron Townsend………….

 

Specifically about the Pentecostal/charismatic movement (in addition to sections in some of the above books):

Eddie L Hyatt: “200 years of charismatic Christianity” (Hyatt International Ministries Inc. 1996)

David Allen: “The Unfailing Stream” (Sovereign World international 1994)

Vinson Synan: “The century of the Holy Spirit” (Zondervan 2006)

Smail, Walker & Wright: “Charismatic Renewal” (SPCK – revised in 1995 to include “Toronto Blessing”)

Peter Hocken: Roman Catholic author on “The strategy of the Spirit” (Eagle 1966) & “Streams of renewal” (Paternoster 1986)

Douglas McBain: on Baptist renewal from 1960’s to 1990’s - “Fire over the waters” (DLT 1997)

Andrew Walker: on house churches/new churches – “Restoring the kingdom” (Eagle 1998 Revised edition)

 

Stanley M Burgess & E M Van Der Mass : “The New International Dictionary of Pentecostal and Charismatic movements” (Zondervan 2002)

 

Toronto Blessing? – far too many volumes to list!

But!: see the important Evangelical Alliance reflection in David Hilborn’s “Toronto in perspective” (Paternoster 2001)

 

"How about keeping in touch with current world mission trends?":


Let the nations be glad (Revised edition) - John Piper (IVP 2004)
The Mission of God - Chris Wright (IVP 2006)
Revolution in world missions - K P Yahannan (Charisma 1995)
The next Christendom - Philip Jenkins (Oxford 2002)
The new faces of Christianity - Philip Jenkins (Oxford 2006)
Pentecost and missions - Harry Boer (Eerdmans 1961)

 

To look at some “now” controversies have a look at:

Stuart Murray: “Post Christendom: church and mission in a strange new world” (Authentic Media 2004)

 

And if it all gets too much grab a bunch of Day One’s “Travel With…” series, and follow your heroes, from the Marian martyrs to Martyn Lloyd-Jones!

 

Many thanks to Andrew Whitman and Roger Welch for preparing this list