Word and Power Church - Chapter 6

I read chapter 6 of The Word and Power Church before I slept last night and finished holding a sick baby early this morning.

Chapter 6 is called "The Legacy of Charismatics." It is a very conservative coverage.

1. The emphasis on prayer. He named four areas of emphasis: a) We need to give people a good hands-on, practical theology of prayer. b) We need to identify and mobilize prayer intercessors. c) We need to free up pastors to make prayer a priority in their lives. d) We need to sensitively and appropriately create an openness to spiritual language in the congregation.

2. The Kingdom of God is here in part. In other words, miracles can occur.

3. God speaks today. He gives fair definitions of "message of wisdom and knowledge" and "prophesy." Prophesy is "telling something that God has spontaneously brought to mind." Also "tongues and interpretation of tongues."

He says on page 83, No charismatic leader I know of believes that these revelatory gifts speak with the same authority as Scripture. Rather, these gifts are "divinely prompted guidance or direction" that needs to be tested and weighed against Scripture."

4. Worship is participatory.

5. The Spirits Charismatic Gifts Can Be Best Experienced in the Context of Relationships

He says on p 88-89, Small groups provide an excellent training ground for exploring the treasures brought to us by the charismatic movement. ... A small group is a safe place to make mistakes. ... This assumes an environment where people are in community together. They know each other well enough to say, "That doesn't sound right to me," or to have questions about the character of the one ministering.

There was nothing here that was difficult to agree with. The farthest one from us was 1. d) We need to sensitively and appropriately create an openness to spiritual language in the congregation. I am basically clueless in this area.