Growing the Church in the Power of the Holy Spirit : Seven Principles of Dynamic Cooperation

by Brad Long, Paul Stokes, Cindy Strickler

• ISBN13: 9780310292098
• ISBN10: 0310292093
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-10-16
• Publisher: Zondervan

Summary

Is something crucial missing from your congregationÆs programs?Beneath the surface of churchesÆ programs and activities lies the more fundamental question of how leaders and churches can be enabled to discern and obediently cooperate with the guidance and empowering of the Holy Spirit.Since the Kingdom of God is an active expression of His reign on earth, it is extended and realized as individuals and churches seek and submit to His will and purposes.Growing the Church in the Power of the Holy Spirit offers a practical guide for nurturing with churches the dynamic cooperative process, drawing on a breadth of experience from around the world.Many leaders overlook the necessary precondition of discerning and cooperating with the empowering will of the Holy Spirit before putting their plans into action. But how is this to be accomplished?Seven dynamics facilitate this process.These factors, advanced by the church leadership and brought into being by the Holy Spirit, help congregations undertake such crucial tasks as preaching/teaching, worship, healing, governance, making disciples of converts, and evangelism.As believers actively cooperate with the Holy Spirit, the church is strengthened in its role of being a foretaste of the Kingdom of God.

Table of Contents

The Holy Spirit Growing the Church	p. 11
The Divine-Human Dance of Cooperation	p. 19
The Two Foundations
The First Foundation - Leaders
Leaders Embodying the Kingdom of God	p. 37
Jesus' Four Requirements for Growing Leaders Who Will Grow the Church	p. 47
Receiving the Empowerment of the Holy Spirit	p. 65
The Second Foundation-Congregations
Growing Congregations that Embody the Kingdom of God	p. 79
Gateways for Congregations	p. 91
The Seven Dynamics
Steps in the Dance of Divine-Human Cooperation	p. 107
Dynamic 1: Divine Love Drawing Us into Participation	p. 119
Dynamic 2: Intercessory Prayer: Inviting God's Engagement	p. 129
Dynamic 3: Faith Clothed in Obedience: Opening the Door to God's Activity	p. 147
Dynamic 4: Receiving Divine Guidance for Cooperating with the Holy Spirit	p. 159
Dynamic 5: Spiritual Discernment: Making Listening and Obedience Safe	p. 173
Dynamic 6: Welcoming the Gifts and Manifestations of the Holy Spirit	p. 187
Dynamic 7: Seeing and Responding to Kairos Moments	p. 203
Obstacles to the Dance	p. 215
The Synergy of the Dance	p. 229
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