This week’s book of the week is by Francis Chan entitled Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit. Chan has been a mentor of mine from events, sermons, and writings. Â I believe he has been placed by God in this generation to wake the church up and invite us back to walking intimately with God.
In this book, he talks about the forgotten member of the Trinity: the Holy Spirit. Â He rightfully asserts that differing beliefs concerning the Holy Spirit has caused some just not to teach on Him or strive to experience His presence in their lives today. Â This book is a great wake up call to the fact that the Holy Spirit is a He not an it. Â He is alive and waiting to be more apparent in our lives. Â Highly recommend!
Top 5 Lines:
- “Having read the Scriptures outside the context of contemporary church culture, you would be convinced that the Holy Spirit is as essential to a believer’s existence as air is to staying alive…There is a big gap between what we read in Scripture about the Holy Spirit and how most believers and churches operate today” (16).
- “If you combine a charismatic speaker, a talented worship band, and some hip, creative events, people will attend your church. Â Yet this does not mean that the Holy Spirit of God is actively working and moving in the lives of the people who are coming” (31).
- “For example, how would you be missed if you left this place?…My purpose is these questions is to get you to take 1 Corinthians 12 seriously, to believe that you have been given a manifestation of the Spirit and that your church, the worldwide body of Christ, and the world are crippled without your involvement” (91).
- “Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit as the ‘Helper’ or ‘Comforter.’ Â Let me ask you a simple question: Why would we need to experience the Comforter if our lives are already comfortable…if we are never alone or feeling like we need Him, how much do we care or need to know that God is with us?” (107).
- “I think a lot of us need to forget about God’s will for my life. Â God cares more about our response to His Spirit’s leading today, in this moment, than about what we intend to do next year” (120).
Travis Agnew serves as the Lead Pastor of Rocky Creek Church in Greenville, SC. His most recent book is Just (About) Married.
I especially like your fifth quote. Too many of us, Americans in particular, are so comfortable with life that we don't sense a true need of God, much less a Comf
I especially like your fifth quote. Too many of us, Americans in particular, are so comfortable with life that we don't sense a true need of God, much less a Comforter.
I especially like your fifth quote. Too many of us, Americans in particular, are so comfortable with life that we don't sense a true need of God, much less a Comforter.
i started this book a week or so ago and it really is outstanding. quote 3 has been hitting me a lot lately.