Bücher veröffentlicht von ORU Press

Since the beginning of the Assemblies of God, the doctrine of the Second Coming of Christhas featured prominently in their proclamation of the Pentecostal gospel. Many early believerspassionately proclaimed by the Spirit, "Jesus is coming soon!" Yet in many churches today,teaching on the Second Coming of Christ has fallen into a period of neglect. Is the Assemblies ofGod losing its faith in "the Blessed Hope?"Imagining the Future answers this question by exploring the development of Assemblies of Godeschatological doctrines and their role as a central pillar of the fellowship's Pentecostal ethos.Through critical historical assessment, Daniel Isgrigg sheds new light upon existing assumptionsabout its dispensational orientation and the inherent incompatibility of that orientation withPentecostal theology. Drawing from the deep wells of the past, Isgrigg uncovers a hopeful andSpirit-inspired eschatology that imagines the future for a new generation of Pentecostal believers."A thorough, comprehensive and complex analysis of the origin and development of the eschatological thinking in one of the largest and most important Pentecostal denominations in the world, Assemblies of God (AG). Isgrigg offers a fascinating, constructive proposal for a contemporary pneumatological eschatology building on the huge potential of the pneumatological imagination which leads into a consequent eschatological imagination, as the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of the 'last days' and so the eschatological end is conceived as the future work of the Spirit."Corneliu Constantineanu, Ph.D.Professor of Pentecostal Theology, Aurel Vlaicu University of Arad, Romania"This books stimulates much needed thought on eschatology within the AG and Pentecostal communities and be a blessing to both. Isgrigg combines thorough historical analysis with informed and insightful theological reflection. He writes clearly and with an irenic spirit. The result is a wonderful encouragement to the AG community to engage in much needed reflection on the contours, purpose, and impact of our eschatology."Robert P. Menzies, Ph.D.Director, Asia Center for Pentecostal Theology"This fine and multi-layered study of American Assemblies of God shows how it has adjusted fundamental interpretations of its eschatology in the face of a changing world. This is a vigorous and expertly documented account that deserves to be widely read, not least because the church has a pressing need to revisit its expectations of humanity's future."William K Kay, D.D.Emeritus Professor, Wrexham Glyndwr University"Isgrigg's meticulously researched and engagingly written monograph on eschatology in the Assemblies of God provides not only the first comprehensive historical and theological treatment of the development of AG eschatology throughout the movement's entire history, particularly as it relates to dispensationalism, but also makes the important theological contribution of an emphasis on pneumatological imagination, calling for both a renewed focus on and hopeful expectation for the Holy Spirit's work in eschatological signs. I highly recommend this book for ministers, scholars, and all who eagerly await the Blessed Hope."Alicia R. Jackson, Ph.D.Assistant Professor, Vanguard University

The God Who Is Love created man male and female for love.Human sexuality is a gift of Creation. The image of our God who is love isborne by “man” as “male and female,” with no hint of either sex╩╝s imagingthe divine more fully than—or apart from—the other. Through this gift, we maylove and be loved deeply, may enjoy a profound oneness in marriage, and, fromlove╩╝s natural self-giving, may give life to children, the greatest ongoing fruitof such love.Despite all its goodness, many on this planet experience sexuality in brokennessand pain. We know sin and evil spoil and steal from God╩╝s good creation, but wedo not despair. The Good News of Jesus Christ reckons seriously with every enemyof human fl ourishing. His victory has won healing the Holy Spirit applies to thebroken, through loving ministry.These truths of Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Restoration unify the essays in thisbook. Most began at the Scholars╩╝ Consultation of the Empowered21 Asia GlobalCongress in Singapore in 2017. Here they explore God╩╝s intention for our sexuality,ways we misuse and abuse this gift, and ways Spirit-empowered communities helpheal brokenness and restore the divine image. Expressing theological and socialsciencescholarship and front-lines ministry experience from the First and MajorityWorlds, these essays probe gender theory, inequality, and fl uidity and dysphoria;sexual exploitation of children and women and their resilience; homosexuality;fi ghting HIV/AIDS; promoting sexual wholeness; and more. Readers will deepentheir biblical, theoretical, and practical understanding so they may minister healingand restoration with wisdom and compassion in the power of the Holy Spirit.