Speaking in tongues, the sick being healed, the dead raised to life, the soon coming apocalypse … in 1709.

Read the article online at: www.christianitytoday.com/ch/bytopic/movementsdenominationstraditions/unenthusiasticabout.html

Bruce Hindmarsh, “And Can It Be?: Charles Wesley gets his turn” Books & Culture (May/June 2009).

Charles’ later ecclesial and theological differences with his brother John and John’s disciples led to Charles’ monumental contributions to early Methodism being downplayed and forgotten.

Find the full article online at: www.christianitytoday.com/bc/2009/mayjun/andcanitbe.html

Francis MacNutt, “God has the power to Heal” Charisma (May 2009), pages 40-43.

At the time of printing, the full May issue was available at: http://mydigitalpublication.com/publication/?i=14861

Chris Armstrong, “When Details Get You Down: Maintaining a spiritual life amid war, famine, and plague is what made Gregory the Great” Leadership Journal (Feb 2009).

What can we learn from the monk-pope that faced so many crises and yet made choices that led to such lasting change? “Pastors, insisted Gregory, must live a higher life, one that combines both action and contemplation.”

www.christianitytoday.com/le/thepastor/soulspirit/whendetailsgetyoudown.html

The Kingdom and the Power. The Pneuma Review has received permission to reprint chapters from this important work that asks: “Are Healing and the Spiritual Gifts Used by Jesus and the Early Church Meant for the Church Today?” The Fall 2009 issue will continue this series with Part 2 of “Power Evangelism and the New Testament Evidence.”

Cedarville Music Professor, John Mortensen, shares practical insights into “Forming the Life of the Congregation Through Music.”

Daniel D. Isgrigg tells us about a “Pilgrimage Into Pentecost: The Pneumatological Legacy of Howard M. Ervin.”

Some reviews to look for in the Fall 2009 issue:

Henry I. Lederle reviews one of Paul King’s newest books, Only Believe: Examining the Origin and Development of Classic and Contemporary Word of Faith Theologies (Word & Spirit Press, 2009).

Tony Richie reviews Laurie Guy, Introducing Early Christianity: A Topical Survey of Its Life, Beliefs & Practices (InterVarsity Press, 2004).

Collin Hansen, “Cult Watchers Reconsider: Former detractors of Nee and Lee now endorse ‘local churches’” Christianity Today (March 2009), page 15.

Hank Hanegraaff, president of the Christian Research Institute, and Gretchen Passantino Coburn, director of Answers in Action, have changed their minds about the controversial “local churches” movement that follow the teachings of Watchman Nee and Witness Lee.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2009/januaryweb-only/104-11.0.html

Jason Fawcett, “Is Theophostics a Valid Christian Counseling Methodology?” African Journal of Pentecostal Studies (Dec 2007), pages 4-16.

J. Lee Grady, “God’s Moment for India: Christianity is growing rapidly in the world’s largest Hindu nation. Charisma looks at how the Holy Spirit is changing lives in India and why persecution of Christians has increased” Charisma (February 2009), pages 26-33, 58, 60.

Charisma editor, J. Lee Grady, gives an overview of the miracles, the thousands coming to Jesus, and the persecution the church endures in India. At the time of printing, the article was available at: http://www.charismamag.com/index.php/features/2009/february/18372-gods-moment-for-india [link unavailable as of April 30, 2014]

“Getting Out of the Insecurity Trap” Cutting Edge 11:3 (Fall 2008), pages 10-12.

Cutting Edge editor, Jeff Heidkamp, interviews his former ministry coaches Michael and Brenda Gatlin about the dangers of insecurity. Michael, who pastors Duluth Vineyard with Brenda, says, “Insecure leaders constantly come to me and say, ‘What do you think of me?’ And the secure leaders are coming to me saying, ‘How do I reach these people? How do I do ministry better?’” (page 11). Michael also says, “When I’m feeling insecure, I find myself bailing on things that God has said to do. In the midst of the meeting, in a one-on-one confrontation or while presenting vision, I undersell or soft-sell it. I find myself searching for different language and a different way to do it that isn’t so strong” (page 11).

At the time of printing, the full issue was available at: http://www.vineyardusa.org/site/files/cutting-edge/08-Fall-Thriving-in-Ministry.pdf

The Kingdom and the Power. The Pneuma Review has received permission to reprint chapters from this important work that asks: “Are Healing and the Spiritual Gifts Used by Jesus and the Early Church Meant for the Church Today?” The Summer 2009 issue will continue this series with “Power Evangelism and the New Testament Evidence.”

Eddie Hyatt gives us a look into “Luther and Revivalism” in a chapter from his upcoming book, Thinking Biblically About Revival: How You Can Be Prepared For Spiritual Awakening.

Professor Roger Cotton says that we can find relevant principles for our life and ministry in the biblical narrative. He leads the way by showing how to do this in “Numbers 11 and a Pentecostal Theology of Church Leadership.”

Are you using the right Bible translation? Professional translator, Jonathan Downie, gives us insight into how to choose the best translation.

Some reviews to look for in the Summer 2009 issue:

John Poirier reviews Donald K. McKim, ed., Dictionary of Major Biblical Interpreters (InterVarsity, 2007).

Trevor Martindale finds pressing issues about church leadership in Stephen W. Hill, “Would the Real Apostles Please Stand Up?: The truth about apostles, authority and the kingdom of God” in Ministry Today (Jan 2009).

H. Murray Hohns reflects on his friendship with Pastor Wayne Cordeiro as he reviews his book, Leading on Empty: Refilling Your Tank and Renewing Your Passion (Bethany House, 2009).

A Dallas Theological Seminary professor says that there has been a gradual change leading to wider acceptance of women as pastor-teachers. He offers historical background for this change including distinguishing, or the failure to distinguish, between the office and the gift. He concludes, “A woman, then, may have the gift of pastor-teacher, apostle, evangelist, and prophetess (as Philip’s four daughters—Acts 21:9), while, scripturally speaking, she cannot hold the office of an elder or bishop” and gives a brief but technical explanation of this conclusion.

Also find articles in the December 2007 issue of JETS by writers that have contributed to The Pneuma Review: Craig Keener, “Women’s Education and Public Speech in Antiquity.” Gene L. Green, “Lexical Pragmatics and Biblical Interpretation.”

Chris Armstrong, “Signs and Wonders: The Charismatic Power of Early Christianity” (Christian History Blog).

Christian History professor, Chris Armstrong says that when church history is taught, the story of spiritual gifts is often left out. “The church has rarely lacked for witnesses … who have proclaimed that the Holy Spirit is alive, well, and gifting believers in his church.”

Originally available here: http://www.christianitytodayblogs.com/history/2009/01/signs_and_wonders_the_charisma_1.html. Unavailable as of March 15, 2014.

Editor Introduction: Postmodernism, The Church, and The Future  

Postmodernism, The Church, and The Future
A Pneuma Review discussion about how the church should respond to postmodernism

Suggestions for Further Reading

Ed Stetzer, “Writing on the Wall: The Future of the Church and Its Mission” Enrichment (Spring 2008), pages 36-41.

http://enrichmentjournal.ag.org/200802/200802_036_Writing.cfm  

Scot McKnight, “The Ironic Faith of Emergents: McLaren shows us not only where ‘post-evangelicals’ are going, but also how they get there.” Christianity Today (September 2008).

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2008/september/39.62.html  

Scot McKnight, “McLaren Emerging: In his last two books, Brian McLaren presents more clearly than ever his vision of the gospel” Christianity Today (September 2008).

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2008/september/38.59.html
 

Pneuma: The Journal of the Society for Pentecostal Studies 30:2 (2008).

An encounter between Trinitarian and Oneness Pentecostal theologians in dialogue produced a six-year study and report on commonalities and differences. Read the report and responses from both sides of the aisle. Some content from this issue is available online without a subscription at www.brill.nl/pneu.

Peter L. Berger, “‘You Can Do It!’: Two cheers for the prosperity gospel” Books & Culture (Sep/Oct 2008), page 14.

Across the theological spectrum, almost everyone thinks the “prosperity gospel” is a distortion of the good news of Jesus Christ, including Peter Berger. But before going along with the near-universal consensus, he points out that such consensuses are themselves usually dangerous to the truth. And, he says, the message of prosperity has brought two important teachings back to many congregations around the world: God doesn’t want you to be poor and you can do something about it. Read the article online at:

www.booksandculture.com/articles/2008/sepoct/10.14.html [link revised June 4, 2014]

Ajith Fernando, “Getting Back on Course: It’s time to return to the priority of evangelism” Christianity Today (Nov 2007).

Recent increased attention to global justice issues is good, but let us not forget our greater commission in the process. Replacing evangelism with more palatable social justice agendas is something we must not do. http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/november/16.40.html

Also in the previous issue, see John Rowell, “The Dread Cancer of Stinginess: When it comes to missions giving, donor dependency may not be the greatest problem” Christianity Today (October 2007). Does emphasizing financial independence for majority-world ministries unnecessarily limit global giving? Find this article online at: http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/october/17.42.html

Eddie and Alice Smith, “Picking Up the Prophetic Pieces: A Pastor’s Role When Prophecies Go Amiss” Ministry Today (Nov/Dec 2007), pages 32-33, 35-36.

The Smiths give practical advice about how to shepherd your congregation through prophecy-gone-wrong incidents in this brief article.

http://ministrytodaymag.com/display.php?id=16152

Also see in this issue, Dan Kimball, “Defining the Emerging Church: Making Sense of What’s Emerging, Emergent and Already Emerged” pages 82-85. A brief introduction to the emergent church by one of its practitioners.

Harold W. Hoehner, “Can a Woman Be a Pastor-Teacher?” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 50:4 (Dec 2007), pages 761-771.

A Dallas Theological Seminary professor says that there has been a gradual change leading to wider acceptance of women as pastor-teachers. He offers historical background for this change including the distinguishing or failure to distinguish between the office and the gift. He concludes, “A woman, then, may have the gift of pastor-teacher, apostle, evangelist, and prophetess (as Philip’s four daughters—Acts 21:9), while, scripturally speaking, she cannot hold the office of an elder or bishop. The aforementioned gifts are sovereignly bestowed on her, and it is her duty and privilege to exercise them. This is completely different from appointment to the office of elder, which the Scriptures specify only for men who meet the qualifications for that office” (769) and offers a brief but technical explanation of this conclusion.

Also find articles in the December 2007 issue of JETS by writers that have contributed to The Pneuma Review in the past: Craig S. Keener, “Women’s Education and Public Speech in Antiquity.” Gene L. Green, “Lexical Pragmatics and Biblical Interpretation.”

Darrell Bock, “When the Media Becomes a Nuisance: How to respond to the next blockbuster book/documentary/movie that questions traditional Christianity” Christianity Today (Dec 2007), pages 40-43.

NT professor Darrell Bock tells us that the public discourse of Christianity has permanently changed and offers advice about how to engage our culture with historical truth while challenging us to embrace the new opportunities we have to present the biblical Jesus.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/december/22.40.html

Louis F. Morgan, “The Flame Still Burns” Charisma (Nov 2007), pages 42-48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58.

The cover story subtitle reads, “One hundred years ago a son of slaves brought the Pentecostal message to African Americans in the South. Today, the Church of God in Christ is poised to spread the gospel worldwide.” Celebrating 100 years of what God has done in and through the Church of God in Christ.

http://www.charismamag.com/site-archives/146-covers/cover-story/2399-the-flame-still-burns [link updated June 1, 2014]