Released in the UK July 2015
Released in the US September 2015
Large trade paperback | 144 Pages
9781781916018 • £9.99 $15.99
BISAC – REL080000
Preaching With Spiritual Power
Calvin’s Understanding of Word and Spirit in Preaching
Ralph Cunnington
Is the Spirit present wherever and whenever the Word is preached?
Explores this question in relation to Calvin’s understanding
A book sure to cause debate!
The nature of the relationship between the Spirit of God and the Word of God has been debated among believers for centuries. Is the Spirit present wherever and whenever the Word is preached?
Ralph Cunnington explores this and in particular the narrow historical theological question of what the Protestant Reformers, in particular John Calvin, actually taught on this topic. With careful and incisive scholarship, and writing that is both clear and cogent, we travel through this question.
Ralph Cunnington
Ralph Cunnington is co-pastor of City Church Manchester. He is a member of the Theological Teams of FIEC and Affinity and editor of Affinity?s theological journal Foundations.
Related Titles
9781781910603 |
9781527103825 |
9781845504649 |
9781845501426 |
Mentor
... the first book-length treatment of an important issue that has been simmering just under the surface of British Evangelicalism for a number of years... I hope this will not lead to a full-blown controversy, but to a closer examination of the Scriptures.
Sinclair B. Ferguson
Chancellor’s Professor of Systematic Theology, Reformed Theological Seminary, Jackson, Mississippi
... provides a most careful analysis in some depth of the historical data concerning Lutheran and Reformed views of the subject and thereby takes the debate forwards in a very helpful manner.
Robert Strivens
Pastor, Bradford–on–Avon Baptist Church, Wiltshire, UK & former Principal, London Seminary
... brings to this helpful study a clear mind, scholarly thoroughness and deep pastoral concern... the implications for our understanding of Calvin and also for our practice of preaching are significant.
David McKay
Professor of Systematic Theology, Ethics and Apologetics, Reformed Theological College, Belfast, Northern Ireland
A controversy has been going on for some time among generally Reformed churches in the United Kingdom (and regions beyond) regarding the presence and activity of the Holy Spirit in the public proclamation of the Word of God. Much of this kerfuffle surrounds the influence of Moore Theological College in Australia. Can the Word of God ever be preached without the blessing of the Holy Spirit? Do we need to wrestle with the Lord in anxious prayer like Jacob with the angel at Peniel? Is it possible to presume on the Holy Spirit's presence and activity? Ralph Cunnington, pastor of City Church Manchester, enters into this discussion by seeking wisdom from John Calvin's approach to the relationship of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God in this concise but significant book Preaching With Spiritual Power.