Rating: 
Summary: Life changing
Review: If you have been raised with legalism, this book will change your life. I consider it to be my my first step to spiritual freedom. My wife and I have literally given away cases of this book to friends. They were also blown away by the power of God released through this book. This is a must read. Blessings in Jesus.
Rating: 
Summary: Surprised by Jack Deere's flawed logic
Review: It only took a few pages of this book to realize that Jack Deere is influenced less by God's Word and more by a psychologist/speaker that He wanted to speak at a conference. He says, regarding the gift of healing, that this man convinced him that just because the Bible doesn't contain every example of the apostles or Jesus healing ministry that we must conclude that some of them did FAIL or only heal temporarily, which give validity to modern "healing" ministries. This was all I needed to make me stop reading this book. In this small portion Deere blatantly discounts God's Word. If God felt it was important for us to know that some healings weren't complete or failed, don't you think He would have put it in His word? Of course He would have. Deere is essentially saying that God forgot to include something of importance in the scriptures. This is not true! God included everything in His Word that is necessary for us to live as His people, holy and righteous, set-apart for Him. I do not recommend this book unless you need an example of bad logic and flawed arguments.
Rating:
Summary: Surprised by Jack Deere's flawed logic
Review: It only took a few pages of this book to realize that Jack Deere is influenced less by God's Word and more by a psychologist/speaker that He wanted to speak at a conference. He says, regarding the gift of healing, that this man convinced him that just because the Bible doesn't contain every example of the apostles or Jesus healing ministry that we must conclude that some of them did FAIL or only heal temporarily, which give validity to modern "healing" ministries. This was all I needed to make me stop reading this book. In this small portion Deere blatantly discounts God's Word. If God felt it was important for us to know that some healings weren't complete or failed, don't you think He would have put it in His word? Of course He would have. Deere is essentially saying that God forgot to include something of importance in the scriptures. This is not true! God included everything in His Word that is necessary for us to live as His people, holy and righteous, set-apart for Him. I do not recommend this book unless you need an example of bad logic and flawed arguments.
Rating:
Summary: Compelling and Enjoyable Defense of Signs and Wonders
Review: Jack Deere has written a compelling and enjoyable apologetic in defense of modern day signs and wonders. As a former Dallas Seminary professor, Deere is uniquely qualified to argue his cause with a thorough knowledge of, and sincere empathy for, the cessationist view. I particularly appreciated his adept handling of B.B. Warfield's cessationist arguments. Deere also brings Scriptural insight and Biblical balance to Pentecostal and Charismatic views. His blend of confessional storytelling, along with sound theology, is a wonderful mix resulting in a great literary contribution.
Rating:
Summary: The most balanced book I have read on "charismatic" gifts
Review: Jack Deere's book was recommended to me in June 1995. A few days later I saw it on a bookstore's bookshelf and bought it for mine - but there it remained for over a year. That was my loss! This book is one of the most balanced theological books I have ever read, on any issue. Using a wonderful blend of narrative testimony and theological explanation, Deere recounts his shift from a theological professor who believed that the so-called charismatic gifts (such as tongues, healings, miracles, prophecy) had ceased with the deaths of the first-century apostles, to someone who now believes that these gifts are not only available to the church today, but should be actively encouraged and used. The book takes the reader through the same process of experience and Biblical investigation that Deere went through as he grappled with the issues of charismatic experiences and spiritual gifts. It is an insightful book, Biblically based, clearly reasoned, humbly written, and worth every penny. It should be read by every Christian.
Rating:
Summary: A great book on the workings of the Holy Spirit today.
Review: Like Jack, I was raised in a denomination that does not believe that the gifts of the Spirit are still present. As I read Jack's story, it affirmed the experiences I had that lead me to believe that the Holy Spirit is just as active today as in the first century. I gave the book to my mom and now my prayer is that my dad will read it. It will strengthen your faith in what God does for His children through the working of His Spirit.
Rating: 
Summary: Not All that Convincing
Review: Like most book reviews, the number of stars given by the reviewer corrolate with whether or not they agree with the premise of the book. I am an open, but skeptical about the modern day charismatic movement, and found this book to be lacking in sound bibical exegesis in order to persaude the skeptic. I was required to read this book in seminary and most of my classmates were persuaded by Jack Deere's arguments based on feeling and experience. My desire is not to bore anyone with my theological persuasion, however, there is one glaring point to be made that anyone who reads this book will agree. The fact of the mattter is, Jack Deere wanted more than a simple faith in Jesus and desire to be obediant to His word. In the beginning of the book he tries to deny that his conversion was because he wanted more, then he spends the rest of the book talking about how dry he was in his faith, and how his wife was praying that God would turn him on to the Charasmatic Movement. Like many Christians, Jack Deere became bored with his faith and dry in his relationship with God (It happens to the best of us). The mystical aspect of the Pentecostal movement breathed life into his desolate and depleted faith with the excitment of a rock concert or magic show. At the end of the day this book is about a man who was dry in this faith and needed a "jump start" to his religion so he turned to a psychologist who converted him to pentecostalism. Let's face it, the Charismatic/Pentecostal movement is attractive and "action-packed". We can all agree on that, but are you saying that God was doing nothing between the first century AD unti 1901 on Azusa Street? Believe me, God is alive and active in the all churches who have been born-again by the will of God, follow and love His Word, and preach His gospel to every living creature. If you are bored with that, I suggest you re-examine your relationship with the Lord before you hastily turn to the P/C movement.
Rating:
Summary: Not All that Convincing
Review: Like most book reviews, the number of stars given by the reviewer corrolate with whether or not they agree with the premise of the book. I am an open, but skeptical about the modern day charismatic movement, and found this book to be lacking in sound bibical exegesis in order to persaude the skeptic. I was required to read this book in seminary and most of my classmates were persuaded by Jack Deere's arguments based on feeling and experience. My desire is not to bore anyone with my theological persuasion, however, there is one glaring point to be made that anyone who reads this book will agree. The fact of the mattter is, Jack Deere wanted more than a simple faith in Jesus and desire to be obediant to His word. In the beginning of the book he tries to deny that his conversion was because he wanted more, then he spends the rest of the book talking about how dry he was in his faith, and how his wife was praying that God would turn him on to the Charasmatic Movement. Like many Christians, Jack Deere became bored with his faith and dry in his relationship with God (It happens to the best of us). The mystical aspect of the Pentecostal movement breathed life into his desolate and depleted faith with the excitment of a rock concert or magic show. At the end of the day this book is about a man who was dry in this faith and needed a "jump start" to his religion so he turned to a psychologist who converted him to pentecostalism. Let's face it, the Charismatic/Pentecostal movement is attractive and "action-packed". We can all agree on that, but are you saying that God was doing nothing between the first century AD unti 1901 on Azusa Street? Believe me, God is alive and active in the all churches who have been born-again by the will of God, follow and love His Word, and preach His gospel to every living creature. If you are bored with that, I suggest you re-examine your relationship with the Lord before you hastily turn to the P/C movement.
Rating:
Summary: If you are an evangelical, read this book
Review: No one can surpass Jack Deere in his exegesis of biblical text. Written in a highly readable style Surprised by the Power of the Spirit is investigation of how God speaks and heals today. Unlike many charismatic writers, Deere rejects the anecdotal approach to proving the power of God. Although Deere punctuates his book with anecdotal stories, he pursues a relentless investigation of the Scripture and with lawyer like skill, deals with objections with a keen wit. Case in point: When Deere talks about establishment of a healing ministry within the local church, he points out that the most common objection is not theological, but emotional- people worry how they will look if they pray for the sick and those prayers are unanswered. Deere retorts: Worrying about how we look when we pray for the sick is not a very effective way of getting our prayers answered. Then, he follows up with an exposition of Scripture, followed by his personal experience. It is a very effective way of communication. I would be hard pressed to find fault with this book without resorting to theological nit picking; it is simply that good. If you have serious questions about the efficacious of gifts of healing in the contemporary church, read this book. Deere has a way of dealing with the questions, fears and misunderstandings we may have about the power of the Holy Spirit. His humor and ability to laugh at himself is appealing. If you are a serious Bible student who has not been presented a serious case for discovering how God speaks and heals to day, this is the book for you.
Rating:
Summary: If you are an evangelical, read this book
Review: No one can surpass Jack Deere in his exegesis of biblical text. Written in a highly readable style Surprised by the Power of the Spirit is investigation of how God speaks and heals today. Unlike many charismatic writers, Deere rejects the anecdotal approach to proving the power of God. Although Deere punctuates his book with anecdotal stories, he pursues a relentless investigation of the Scripture and with lawyer like skill, deals with objections with a keen wit. Case in point: When Deere talks about establishment of a healing ministry within the local church, he points out that the most common objection is not theological, but emotional- people worry how they will look if they pray for the sick and those prayers are unanswered. Deere retorts: Worrying about how we look when we pray for the sick is not a very effective way of getting our prayers answered. Then, he follows up with an exposition of Scripture, followed by his personal experience. It is a very effective way of communication. I would be hard pressed to find fault with this book without resorting to theological nit picking; it is simply that good. If you have serious questions about the efficacious of gifts of healing in the contemporary church, read this book. Deere has a way of dealing with the questions, fears and misunderstandings we may have about the power of the Holy Spirit. His humor and ability to laugh at himself is appealing. If you are a serious Bible student who has not been presented a serious case for discovering how God speaks and heals to day, this is the book for you.
|
