The Ministry of the Spirit

We've been talking a lot about the role of the Holy Spirit recently in terms of leading worship and creativity. I'd love to highlight 2 amazing events that hopefully will challenge, inform, inspire and equip.

PENTECOST: LIFE IN THE SPIRIT

Pentecost - Sat, June 11, London at the O2 Arena

A night together to celebrate Pentecost - featuring Gary Clarke, Peter Wilson & Joel Houston (Hillsong), Agu Irukwu & Tribe of Judah (Jesus House), and Nicky Gumbel & Tim Hughes (HTB). Come join with 17,000 Christians from all over the UK at London's premier venue in worship and prayer! For anyone passionate about seeing more of God's Spirit at work in this nation join us as we pray for the nation and call out for a move of the Holy Spirit!

For more information click here.

HOLY SPIRIT IN THE WORLD TODAY

Another conference worth checking out is "Holy Spirit in the World today." 

This is one conference you don't want to miss...a gathering of some exceptional theologians.

If the church in Europe is to rise from its lethargy, it desperately needs the power of the Spirit to bring it to life. If the world is to find healing from the ravages of climate change and environmental destruction, it will need the life of the Spirit to flow through it. If you and I are to fulfill our true potential as human beings, we will need to be filled with the Spirit so that we can be brought to the full stature of Christ-like people. For those reasons, I can't think of many more important things for the church to think about right now than how the Holy Spirit is at work in the world (and the church) today, and thus to long and cry out for the Spirit's coming with conviction and passion.

On Friday June 3rd, we are holding our next 'Holy Spirit in the World Today' conference. Last year's was a special event, with some fantastic speakers including Jurgen Moltmann and the Archbishop of Canterbury. This year's will take the discussion to another level, focussing on some key biblical texts about the Spirit, with some brilliant speakers.

Professor David Ford from Cambridge University has been working on a commentary on John's gospel for a long time, and he'll be offering the fruit of all those years of reflection on John 14-16 and what it says about the Holy Spirit and life.

Dr Wonsuk Ma is a Pentecostal theologian, missionary and Biblical specialist who will be speaking about the Spirit in the Old Testament, especially Isaiah, and providing an important perspective from a Pentecostal background - Pentecostals do tend to know a thing or two about the Spirit!

Professor Tom Greggs, soon to be Professor of Theology at Aberdeen, is the youngest theology professor in the UK, and one of the up-and-coming stars in the world of theological studies. He's going to be speaking on what it means to do theology 'in the Spirit' - how theology can avoid being dry and faith-sapping, and instead full of life and spiritual wisdom.

Dr Jane Williams, known to many of us, will be taking another key passage on the Spirit and exploring it in her own inimitable style.

Ken Costa, City banker, recently Chairman of Lazards Invstment Bank, will be sharing his thoughts on what he sees as a global awakening to the Spirit, shown in all kinds of unlikely places.

Along with those, there will be all kinds of seminars on subjects like the Holy Spirit and the Church, Culture, Ethics, Mission, Experience, all introduced by people working in the theology of these areas, people like Julie Canlis (author of a recent excellent book on Calvin),

Graham Tomlin Mark Knight David Hilborn (who's just been doing some really important work on Anglican-Pentocostal relations) Lincoln Harvey Chris Tilling Stephen Backhouse Simeon Zahl (also author of an excellent recent book on Charismatic and Lutheran theology), Sara Snyder   

For more information click here.