Brian Carraway, Spiritual Gifts: Their Purpose and Power. Winepress Publishing, 2005.
Referenced in: Spiritual Gifts
LifeandLeadership.com Summary
Carraway provides what is probably the best popular-level overview of spiritual gifts. He surveys the full range of views from charismatics to cessationists. He offers his own centrist view that tries to capture the best of the gift-discovery movement while avoiding its excessive self-focus. He also provides lists and definitions of the 30 gifts as he perceives them from Old and New Testaments.
The book includes the 150-question Carraway Spiritual Gifts Inventory with its informational component that helps users understand basic tendencies, and the formational component that helps them assess where the Spirit may be leading them. Carraway gives a thoughtful classification based on profile scores: “this is probably one of your spiritual gifts,” “this may be one of your spiritual gifts, further confirmation is needed,” or “this is probably not one of your spiritual gifts.” The questions for group study and reflection are excellent.
One may not agree with Carraway on every turn, but it would be hard to find a more balanced overview of the subject. Those who preach, teach Bible classes, or conduct small groups on spiritual gifts will benefit this book.
From the Publisher
Spiritual Gifts: Their Purpose & Power is a balanced, popular treatment of the gifts of the Spirit. The work includes teaching on thirty spiritual gifts from the Old and New Testaments. A biblically-grounded presentation that includes a clear understanding and respect for the various approaches to modern-day spiritual gifts.
About the Author
Bryan Carraway holds a master’s degree in Practical Theology from Regent University. Over the last ten years he has served churches in Texas, Oklahoma, and Virginia. He ministers in churches today via his teaching/preaching ministry with his message of sanctification and the fuller life in Christ.
***For additional information on this resource, including reviews, click the bookstore links. Check the reference at page top or the links below for resource guides on related topics.***
See Resources on Over 100 Areas of Ministry Leadership: