Word, Power and Deed in Balance

with Bob & Gracie Ekblad

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Session 1 — Reading the Bible in Spirit and Truth
Wednesday July 21, 10:30-12:30

Mark’s Gospel describes the disciples going out and preaching everywhere, and the Lord “worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it” (Mk 16:20).  Paul writes that his “message was not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power (1 Cor 2:4).

What does this look like and how do we step into greater empowerment in our ministries of the Word today? What importance does receiving Jesus’ baptism in the Spirit have for moving in the power of the Spirit? The use of the Bible for personal devotion and ministry can be a fruitful adventure of discovery and mission that transforms lives.

This session will explore what it looks like to prepare and deliver Bible studies, preaching and teaching in the flow of the Holy Spirit both with the poor and in mainstream settings.

Session 2 — Lift up Your Voice: The gift of prophesy for self, ministry & society
Thursday July 22, 10:30-12:30

The prophet Joel’s famous oracle announcing God’s eventual pouring out of the Spirit on all flesh to empower a universal prophetic movement is quoted by Peter to explain Pentecost. Paul admonishes believers to “earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you might prophesy.”  And yet Christians are seriously divided between those who emphasize the prophetic calls to “do justice and love mercy,” charismatic Christians who listen for God in order to “strengthen, encourage, and comfort” the body of Christ (1 Cor 14:3) and “end times”– focused people intent on identifying predictive prophesy for Jesus’ return.

This seminar is a practical workshop on hearing the voice of God set in a holistic presentation of Biblical and contemporary prophesy.  Participants will be helped to develop an understanding of the prophetic which includes “social prophetic” concerns like social advocacy on behalf of the marginalized and oppressed, resistance to the powers, and “charismatic prophetic” practices like hearing and communicating words of knowledge for encouragement and healing, “prophetic evangelism” and spiritual warfare.

Session 3 — Word, Spirit and Street:
Stepping deeper into the multidimensional ministry of Jesus
Friday July 23, 10:30 – 12:30

The Apostle Paul writes that he is “not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes” (Rom 1:16). Yet many of us in ministry find ourselves not seeing the kind of personal and ministry breakthroughs inspired by accounts in the Gospels and Acts. We long to see greater transformation and are desperate enough to see God’s Kingdom come that we will open ourselves to unfamiliar teaching and practices witnessed by Scripture and today’s body of Christ.

This session will focus on the ministry of Jesus, seeking to bring together word-focused proclamation of Good News with healing, deliverance, ministry of presence, social justice and advocacy.