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Fresh Encounter: God's Plan for Your Spiritual Awakening
From the multi-million bestselling authors of Experiencing God comes Fresh Encounter , a book for church laypersons and leaders that illuminates God’s pattern and plan for personal revival and spiritual awakening. Greatly revised from the original 1996 edition with forty percent new material, Fresh Encounter looks to examples of revival throughout the Bible to better understand what it will take to bring about true and lasting spiritual renewal in the world today. Among the new topics here that were not covered in the first edition * Why does revival tarry? * Corporate hindrances to revival * The role of prayer in revival * Maintaining revival
336 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1993
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
December 31, 2020
This is not a book to be read quickly. If you do, you will miss something very important, something God has for you. Henry and Richard Blackaby have shared with us a very timely reminder that God is still alive and has a deep desire for us to know Him better. The subtitle is "God's Pattern for Spiritual Awakening," which is something God's people really need right now. In fact, America needs it--the entire world needs it.
But fair warning: you will be challenged. At times you may even feel uncomfortable. Here is an example: "In many churches today the number of people attending a church meeting is the defining measure of success, not what happens to the people when they show up." Another: "The problem today is that churches are striving to win their world to Christ without having first been revived themselves. The result is spiritually comatose church members going door-to-door asking unbelievers if they would like to have what they have--spiritual anemia! Such an invitation is patently unappealing." Or this one: "The busyness of church activity can short-circuit a special visitation of God." You will find many such examples throughout.
But fair warning: you will be challenged. At times you may even feel uncomfortable. Here is an example: "In many churches today the number of people attending a church meeting is the defining measure of success, not what happens to the people when they show up." Another: "The problem today is that churches are striving to win their world to Christ without having first been revived themselves. The result is spiritually comatose church members going door-to-door asking unbelievers if they would like to have what they have--spiritual anemia! Such an invitation is patently unappealing." Or this one: "The busyness of church activity can short-circuit a special visitation of God." You will find many such examples throughout.
January 19, 2019
The book has some very good points and some stories about more recent revivals that few people may know ever happened.
So why only a neutral rating? Because Blackaby contradicts himself repeatedly in a key area, by making one statement, then giving examples which contradict it.
Throughout the book Blackaby states that "experience-centered revivals" (led by laypeople) are more prone to excess than "Word-centered revivals" (led by pastors). But repeatedly throughout the book he gives examples of where pastors actually quenched the work of the Spirit.
Example: page 206 he makes the statement above. Yet three pages earlier (203) Blackaby gives an account of where, after a sermon (given by his son Richard) where the Spirit was clearly working, when Richard turned the microphone over to the pastor, the pastor announced that there was an ice cream festival that night, closed the service in prayer, and the staff went over for food.
So why only a neutral rating? Because Blackaby contradicts himself repeatedly in a key area, by making one statement, then giving examples which contradict it.
Throughout the book Blackaby states that "experience-centered revivals" (led by laypeople) are more prone to excess than "Word-centered revivals" (led by pastors). But repeatedly throughout the book he gives examples of where pastors actually quenched the work of the Spirit.
Example: page 206 he makes the statement above. Yet three pages earlier (203) Blackaby gives an account of where, after a sermon (given by his son Richard) where the Spirit was clearly working, when Richard turned the microphone over to the pastor, the pastor announced that there was an ice cream festival that night, closed the service in prayer, and the staff went over for food.
December 4, 2024
A mixture of what you need to do and the realization that only God can bring revival. Mostly the book came across that if you did the right thing you could get revival.
I expected there should be a section on forgiving others but nothing in detail was gone into. It felt like yes you need to get over things rather than you need to forgive those who have done you wrong.
Ultimately I would say the book is more than three stars but less than four but I gave it four. I will reread it because the information and plethora of scriptural references was good.
I expected there should be a section on forgiving others but nothing in detail was gone into. It felt like yes you need to get over things rather than you need to forgive those who have done you wrong.
Ultimately I would say the book is more than three stars but less than four but I gave it four. I will reread it because the information and plethora of scriptural references was good.
May 27, 2021
Read this book for our small group, women's bible study, and we throughly enjoyed it! Learning about revival, desiring an intimate relationship with God and returning back to Him in repentance. It was beautiful. There's also historical events about multiple revivals happening throughout the years we learned. Blackaby points to the Bible and encourages to go to the Word (Bible).
July 22, 2018
I don’t agree with all the teachings in this book as I think some of it is legalistic. However, there are some good truths that can be gleaned from this text if you can get over the dry writing style and redundancies.
April 11, 2019
If you want to learn how to long for God, to "wake up" your spiritual life, this is the book for you. The first time I tried to read it a decade ago, I couldn't handle the truth! I ran from this book. But glory to God, it makes sense now. Read it if you want to long for the Lord.
April 12, 2020
An excellent book on revival.
December 4, 2022
We used this book (and workbook) in our small group discipleship and bible studies. Personally, I find it refreshing. Reading it alone does not suffice the spiritual awakening that it offers. The facilitators and leaders ought to create avenues for spiritual restoration, such as prayer nights, corporate repentance, sharing testimonies, and other spiritual activities. The accompanying video sessions are somehow outdated and need to be re-run.
December 17, 2010
Blackaby(s) and King emphasize that revival is for the church and awakening is for the world. This book is about both but primarily focuses on the aspects of revival.
There is much about the Biblical record, pattern, and foundations for revival.
Overall, it is a good reference to review in regards to a church or personal revival. Lots of "how-to-" ideas in the appendix about how God could work in a church or group.
This is a good book for a pastor, elder or leader to read and consider in reference personally or corporately.
There is much about the Biblical record, pattern, and foundations for revival.
Overall, it is a good reference to review in regards to a church or personal revival. Lots of "how-to-" ideas in the appendix about how God could work in a church or group.
This is a good book for a pastor, elder or leader to read and consider in reference personally or corporately.
April 21, 2016
Excellent analysis of the Great Awakenings and other movements of God.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews