For many years, Kevin Conner (author of the best-selling Foundations of Christian Doctrine) had the conviction that there was a great need for a book on this subject. Many believers are easily confused when it comes to understanding the distinction between being "born of the Spirit" and "baptized in the Spirit".Over the years, the pendulum has swung back and forth between extremes of teaching on these vital truths. Most "Evangelicals" believe that "new birth" and "Holy Spirit baptism" take place' at one and the same time, whereas most "Pentecostals" believe that they are two distinct and separate experiences.The writer has endeavored to present a clear and balanced case study to show the difference and distinction between these two major operations of the Holy Spirit. It is hoped that this book will be of help to both groups of God's people, that all may know the glorious work of the Holy Spirit - that is, being BORN OF THE SPIRIT and BAPTIZED IN THE SPIRIT!

The New You It's important to understand what happened when you received Jesus as your Savior. That knowledge and understanding will keep the Word that was sown in your heart from being stolen by Satan. There is more to salvation than you have ever imagined. The forgiveness of sin was not the only thing included in your salvation. From God's perspective, it is just the beginning, a means to an end. Fellowship is the real goal. Now, become a disciple (learner and follower) of Jesus. Learn what separates Christianity from every other religion; how God sees past, present, and future sins; and much more. The Holy Spirit Living the abundant life that Jesus provided is impossible without the Holy Spirit. Before Jesus disciples received Him, they were weak and fearful. After receiving, each one became a powerhouse of God's miraculous power, and that's available to you. If you believe the Bible is true, then you must also believe the baptism in the Holy Spirit is God's will for everyone. In this book, Andrew establishes the validity of speaking in tongues, talks about the many gifts that accompany it, shares other little-known benefits, and explains how to begin speaking in tongues.

When Jesus said to the Jewish leader Nicodemus, "You must be born again," Nicodemus asked in astonishment, "How can these things be?" Some two thousand years later, people are still confused about the term "born again," though more people than ever claim to have had the experience. In this booklet, Dr. R.C. Sproul cuts through the confusion and carefully explains what it means to be born again. Dr. Sproul affirms that the new birth is essential for salvation and goes on to show that this regeneration is a sovereign work of God in our hearts. The Crucial Questions booklet series by Dr. R.C. Sproul offers succinct answers to important questions often asked by Christians and thoughtful inquirers.

Hank Hanegraaff documents the danger of looking for God in all the wrong places and goes behind the scenes into the wildly popular and bizarre world of contemporary revivalism. Hanegraaff masterfully exposes the stark contrast between these deeds of the flesh and a genuine work of the Spirit by contrasting modern "revivals" with the scriptural examples of God's movement among His people.

Eleven profound prayers teach you the essence of faith and petition. If you're like many believers, you long to pray better, to shake off your dullness of spirit and encounter God more intimately. You want to pray with the courage of Abraham, to beseech God with the courage Moses, but.... There are many examples in the Bible of men and women who prayed fervent, effective prayers that God answered. That's the question: What kinds of prayers does God answer? What kind of faith does God respond to? This book examines in considerable depth eleven amazing prayers. Some are short, others lengthy, but each has something important to teach us. You'll study key prayers of Jesus, Paul, Moses, Abraham, David, Hezekiah, Daniel, and Nehemiah. The aim of this study is to help you develop in prayer, increase your faith, and move you into a new plane of communication with your Father in heaven. However, this is not a course in learning to manipulate God to get your way. It is a study of who God is and how He responds to his children's petitions. Thus it will help you adopt His own heart as you petition your Father. As you model your prayers and your faith after the exemplars put before you in God's holy Word, you'll gradually learn to take your place as one of Jesus' disciples whose prayers move heaven and earth. The book contains 11 lessons that can be used for personal enrichment and by small groups and classes. Preachers and teachers will also find a lot of their word study research done for them, with a number of illustrations and insights for lessons and sermons.

The writings of Luke (Luke-Acts) comprise over 28% of the whole New Testament -- even more than the extensive writings of his friend and companion, Paul, whose letters account for almost exactly a further 25%. This fact alone emphasizes the vital importance of the Lucan corpus to a true understanding of the doctrine as well as the history of apostolic times. There has been a growing awareness of the qualities of Luke as a historian, and in this book Dr. Marshall demonstrates that Luke's theology, which he summarizes as "the theology of salvation," is at least of equal stature and importance with his carefully compiled history. - Back cover

Jesus' teaching on the Kingdom of God is the core of his message. But do you understand it? We are so used to nicely crafted sermons and tidy Christian platitudes, that we are shocked when we encounter the radical Jesus. And radical he was! With his cousin, John the Baptist, he came onto the scene and began to preach that the Kingdom of God was at hand. The Reign of God had come to first century Palestine in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. What is this Kingdom of God? Why is it Good News? Why does it demand so much from you? How does it relate to your own life? As you come to grips with the raw truths that Jesus taught, without the sugarcoating of modern religion, your life will be changed! This book explores the Kingdom of God in 10 lessons that can be used for personal enrichment, by small groups and classes, and by teachers and preachers for sermon preparation.

You've heard of Jesus as Messiah, Prince of Peace, Lamb of God - but you probably haven't spent much time digging into the truths these titles reveal about Jesus. This book is designed to help you focus on the various facets of Jesus' person, life, and mission so that your spirit will be transformed by an enriched prayer life, new momentum in your worship, and new confidence in Jesus, that is, increased faith. The study delves deep into the rich messianic prophecies of the Old Testament, and examines all the names, titles, descriptors, and metaphors in the Bible that refer to Jesus, grouping them by topic. A name would be Jesus, son of Joseph. Titles would include Rabbi, Messiah, Lord, King of kings, Son of Man, Son of God. Descriptors are functional, such as Savior and Redeemer. Metaphors are plentiful - Lion, Lamb, Shepherd, Cornerstone, Physician, Bread, Vine, the I Am. You'll examine dozens of core titles, with literally hundreds of variations. At the close of each lesson you'll find songs to sing and prayers to pray. You'll be encouraged to embark on weekly exercises to put into practice actions suggested by the names and titles. By the end the study, you'll not only know more about Jesus, but, hopefully, know Him better experientially. This book is intended for study as well as instruction, presented in 10 lessons. Helpful thought and discussion questions make it useful for personal enrichment and by small groups and classes. Extensive research contained in the footnotes makes it a goldmine for teachers and a boon to preachers involved in sermon preparation.

Series of 11 lessons designed to help Christian disciples understand the basic Bible teaching about the Holy Spirit, to encounter Him, and to learn to walk with him. Includes discussion questions and a weekly growth assignment.