This post forms part of a series which reviews materials that I think you will find helpful if you are wanting to find out more about the charismatic. There are a number of fantastic resources out there - both audio and books. In this post I will discuss three very helpful talks available online from members of Sovereign Grace Ministries.

Jeff Purswell is in charge of the movement's theological college and is widely known to be a theological arbiter for the guys in Sovereign Grace. Their Pastors College is widely respected, and men who have got multiple theological degrees have returned there for the year and claimed to have learned more in that one year than they did in all their degree courses combined.

Readers of these reviews will know that I repeatedly make the point that this area of theology is one where there are such wide divergences of views on more minor points that you are unlikely to agree with everything you hear.

Jeff takes up this point in his talk, The Contours of our Charismatic Theology (and in the notes which are available to download). SGM have taken a position that says they will have certain boundaries of teaching within which people can be part of the movement. In essence they are welcoming of both a more traditional charismatic position and a third wave position. As their website puts it:

No aspect of the Holy Spirit’s work is more important than His applying to our lives the salvation Christ purchased for us on the cross. But His other roles also merit careful study.

In this seminar Jeff Purswell, dean of our Pastors College, focuses on pneumatology: the study of the Holy Spirit. He discusses key elements of Sovereign Grace Ministries’ charismatic doctrine and practice, and outlines the range of views on the Holy Spirit that fall within our statement of faith.

There are also two more sermons available on this subject from SGM speakers that I would highly recommend. The first is by Bob Kauflin, who is one of the movement's worship leaders. He argues strongly for a dynamic experience of the Spirit's presence. It is available to download or listen to right here.



The second sermon I want to commend is by C. J. Mahaney, and it is based on 1 Corinthians. This statesman of the church speaks of the gifts and the presence of the Spirit in such a compelling way that I defy you not to be pursuaded! Again, you can download it or listen to it right here.