Rating: 
Summary: Excellent Book by an inspiring teacher
Review: I have read this book and had the opportunity to sit under the teaching of Dr. Deere. He has greatly impacted my life and my thirst for God. If you're interested in growing in Christ this will be an excellent text on how to know if you're hearing from God.
Rating:
Summary: Thoroughly balanced yet exciting
Review: I highly recommend this book for all serious Christians, from priests and pastors to laymen. We need more honest work of this nature, both in writing and in our lives.
Rating:
Summary: *****A book you'll read over and over*****
Review: I just finished reading Surprised by the Voice of God for the second time and it won't be the last! As someone coming from a similar church background as Jack Deere, I found it extemely helpful that this was foremost a biblical treatment of the topic and THEN the author's opinion and experience. I also appreciated the balance of instruction on how God speaks and the warnings of possible "Prophetic Pitfalls." I consider this an essential book for anyone who desires to hear from God.
Rating: 
Summary: Mostly Good, Some stories are flaky though
Review: I personally enjoyed this book. I am surprised by the reaction to this book by so many Christians who want to dismiss the message as unscriptural cult nonsense. Jack Deere does an excellent job of supporting his position through scriptures and makes a convincing argument that God can and will speak to those who make an effort to hear him. If this were really the writings of a cult, I don't think Mr. Deere would put such an effort into making sure people aren't taken advantage of by charasmatics who claim to hear the voice of God. He highly questions anyone who uses the voice of God to control other people, and warns his readers to always go back to the word of God through scriptures to verify that any alleged message from God is in accordance with what is written. Just reading the book and hearing his message makes me confident that he is not some heretic who is out to lead people astray. Just the opposite, everything he writes serves to move people closer to God and into a more intimate relationship with him. There are a lot of churches who believe they hold the only right answer, and that there views are the correct views, the good views. When you hold that belief, anything that is different from your views by definition is not good, and if it's not good it must be evil. I believe it is reasoning along these lines that is leading people to say accusatory things about this book and its author.
That being said, my only complaint about this book is that some of the stories aren't very well supported or documented and the seem to be almost anecdotal in nature. In particular the last story in the book sounds like a Christian legend. Aside from that I found this book entertaining, useful, and edifying.
Rating: 
Summary: Perversion!
Review: I was taught that God only speaks through his Word. Period. It was up to us, as reasonable beings to read, understand and discern the will of God. Thus, God's will was reduced to Scriptural principles to follow. It was a safe way to live the Christian life. It was all so reasonable. It was all up to me to read. It was up to me to understand. It was up to me to discern Gods will. Evidently, those who hear God's voice were to be locked up in rooms with padded walls where men in white coat would take care of them. Then I read Surprised by the Voice of God and my theological world was turned on its head. Subtitled, How God Speaks Today Though Prophecies, Dreams, and Visions, this is a thoughtful analysis of how God speaks to us today. Now, I know that some of you reading this review are saying: That Pastor Bob has just went over the deep end. Perhaps I have. But if going over the deep end means having a closer more intimate relationship with my God, so be it. But before you slam this review, go to your local Christian bookstore and speak a peek at Chapter 17, Confessions of a Bible Deist. Go ahead, the clerk will not mind. It is Deeres contention in that chapter that much of evangelical thought (his included) has more incoming with deism than Biblical Christianity. The deists worshiped human reason, the Bible deists of today worship the Bible. With a lawyers wit, Deere thoroughly examines evangelical theology and presuppositions in light of the Word of God. It is a delightful, life-changing read. Put this one on you A-list.
Rating:
Summary: Put This On You A-List
Review: I was taught that God only speaks through his Word. Period. It was up to us, as reasonable beings to read, understand and discern the will of God. Thus, God's will was reduced to Scriptural principles to follow. It was a safe way to live the Christian life. It was all so reasonable. It was all up to me to read. It was up to me to understand. It was up to me to discern Gods will. Evidently, those who hear God's voice were to be locked up in rooms with padded walls where men in white coat would take care of them. Then I read Surprised by the Voice of God and my theological world was turned on its head. Subtitled, How God Speaks Today Though Prophecies, Dreams, and Visions, this is a thoughtful analysis of how God speaks to us today. Now, I know that some of you reading this review are saying: That Pastor Bob has just went over the deep end. Perhaps I have. But if going over the deep end means having a closer more intimate relationship with my God, so be it. But before you slam this review, go to your local Christian bookstore and speak a peek at Chapter 17, Confessions of a Bible Deist. Go ahead, the clerk will not mind. It is Deeres contention in that chapter that much of evangelical thought (his included) has more incoming with deism than Biblical Christianity. The deists worshiped human reason, the Bible deists of today worship the Bible. With a lawyers wit, Deere thoroughly examines evangelical theology and presuppositions in light of the Word of God. It is a delightful, life-changing read. Put this one on you A-list.
Rating:
Summary: A needed perspective in a time of intellectual faith
Review: I've read both this book and his previous one, and find in them a well researched, well balanced, and well reasoned approach to the impact of the Spirit in the modern church. I approached this study with a great deal of skepticism, and was impressed by his depth of research, as well as balanced criticism of the traditional biblical research which denied that any of the Spirit's supernatural influences have a place in the church. I've found most of the criticism I found of his books online to be either out-of-context quotes or biblical quotes, or from people who seem to have strong prejudices against even attempting to examine this issue to see if there is truth. Overall, Deere strongly emphasizes - repeatedly - the pre-eminence of scripture over revelation and prophecy, and that the Gifts should all lead to the building up of the body or the reaching of the Lost for Christ's glory. To be honest, it is hard to discount his arguments, in that his main point is that the Spirit can and does have a real work in the life of the Body - and isn't simply a vague "doesn't really have any impact in a Xian's life" force. It is obvious from any in-depth research of scripture and historical Xianity, that Christ and the apostles all supported and believed in an active role for the Spirit in the Church. I myself am going to seek that role in my own life.
Rating:
Summary: Faithful to Scripture and Relevant to Ministry
Review: In keeping with Deere's usual style, here he is faithful to Scripture and relevant to ministry. Rather than deal with technique, Deere focuses on developing a relationship with the Lord and knowing His voice in that relationship. The book offers a biblical and historical survey of the voice of God and notes the means by which God speaks: i.e., the Bible, experience, supernatural means, and natural means. Topics covered include (1) "Learning the Language of the Holy Spirit", (2) "Facilitating Prophetic Ministry", (3) "Prophetic Pitfalls", (4) "Dream and Visions" and (5) recognizing the voice of God. This book contains many good practical guidelines for facilitating prophetic ministry.
Rating:
Summary: A must for mainline protestants
Review: In this book Dr. Deere explores the bias that the church itself has against the supernatural and argues convincingly, through logical as well as anecdotal evidence, that God has more for us-- that he is much more personal and involved with us that we have thought him to be. He also discusses how to recognize when God is telling you something. I challenge you to put down the biases we've been given by the secular world, and let the Love of Christ move.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent! provides a map to lead one to the truth
Review: Jack has captured the essence of the true power Jesus intended for us as believers to use to His glory. So often Christians live a life of defeat. Willing to allow Satan to decieve them into the lie that God doesn't speak and that only the Apostles had power from on high. Jesus promised us that we would do greater things than He and through the voice of God and the power of the Spirit it is done. Thanks to Jack for his boldness to declare the marvelous promises of God.
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