Keep in Step with the Spirit: Finding Fullness in Our Walk with God [Paperback]

J. I. Packer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2005

From the best-selling author of Knowing God comes this practical and inspiring look at the Holy Spirit. Discover how he can minister to you as you seek a deeper spiritual walk.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

"If we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit."-Galatians 5:25


The Holy Spirit empowers us, guides us, and enables us to grow and endure in our relationship with the Father through Jesus Christ. Often the most misunderstood member of the Trinity, the Spirit is someone of great focus and attention today amid church revivals and renewals.

In this new edition of his classic Keep in Step with the Spirit, J. I. Packer seeks to help Christians reaffirm the biblical call to holiness and the Spirit's role in keeping our covenant with God. Packer discusses both the merits and shortcomings of the current charismatic movement and how Christ must always be at the center of true Spirit-led ministry.

Packer encourages believers to implement the Spirit's directives and discusses how to map the Spirit's path in your life. If you want to understand and experience more of life in the Spirit, you will cherish this latest offering from one of Christianity's most respected scholars.

J. I. Packer is recognized as one of today's leading evangelical theologians. He is Board of Governors' Professor of Theology at Regent College in Vancouver, British Columbia, and the best-selling author of Knowing God.

About the Author

J. I. Packer is Board of Governors' Professor of Theology at Regent College in Vancouver, British Columbia, and an executive editor for Christianity Today. Best known for his best-selling classic Knowing God, he is the author or editor of over thirty books.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Baker Books; 2 Rev Enl edition (May 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0801065585
• ISBN-13: 978-0801065583
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #65,575 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

J.I. Packer currently serves as the Board of Governors' Professor of Theology at Regent College in Vancouver, British Columbia. An ordained Anglican minister, he hold a D.Phil. from Oxford University. Dr. Packer's many published works include "Rediscovering Holiness, Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God," and the best-selling "Knowing God."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book means freedom, August 4, 2006

By 

Robert B. Newman (Durham, NC USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Keep in Step with the Spirit: Finding Fullness in Our Walk with God (Paperback)

I was in the charismatic church back in the 80's. But, because of certain experiences I had while there, I began to have misgivings about the constant emphasis (not bad in itself but it left out many things it should not have) on the Holy Spirit and the way it was being taught. When I tried to speak with people (leadership) about my feelings I found that I started getting the cold shoulder treatment. I would have appreciated even an honest "I don't know". I was starting to think something might be wrong with me.

Then I ran across Packer's Keep In Step With the Spirit. I can't tell you how greatly this book helped me. It let me know there was nothing wrong with me and that I was not the first person to feel the way I did. Packer even related in the book how, because he was a bookworm (as I've always been) God threw him a lifeline in the form of a volume or two of the works of John Owen (Owen wrote about 18 or more books if I remember correctly) which helped free him from the mental shackles of Keswick teaching.

I am here to say that Keep In Step With the Spirit did the same for me with hyperventilating charismatic/pentecostal teaching on the Holy Spirit. I even bought and gave away a copy to anyone who let on that they were going through what I did. And I also went on to read a number of John Owen's books which helped me to totally remake my spiritual and theological outlook into something with a lot more substance to it than I ever had based solely on what I'd gotten from church.
Sad to say but it's the truth.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Drink Deeply, January 29, 2006

By 

Jeffrey A. Thompson (Iowa City, IA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Keep in Step with the Spirit: Finding Fullness in Our Walk with God (Paperback)

This book is more systematic than "Knowing God", but it cuts as deep. He addresses two major views of holiness: "Keswick Teaching" and Pentacostalism. He carefully shows the strengths and weaknesses of each movement. He then shows scripturally what is the correct view of the Holy Spirit work in our lives. Packer likes to call himself a "Packer of Theology" and this book takes careful reading. He often lists several scriptural references to make his point and then he is off to the next point. He carefully states his argument and tries to make sure the reader does take his point any further than it should go. The style seems dry at times, but when you read and meditate on what he is writing, the book is an incredible motivator to live in holiness.

Although this book is a harder read than either "Knowing God" or "Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God", the book is more challenging spiritually. Once again he uses the Puritan writers to good effect. Read and enjoy. Drink deeply of the scriptural truths detailed in the pages of this book.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Helpful guide to understanding the Holy Spirit, May 27, 2005

By 

Gontroppo "Music and Theology Lover" (Bathurst, NSW Australia) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Keep in Step with the Spirit: Finding Fullness in Our Walk with God (Paperback)

This is a terrific book. If you are puzzled by the Holy Spirit, or by all the different slants in various Christian circles on his ministry, you will find this book enlightening.
Packer writes in a forthright, yet fair way. He does not seek to knock other views for the sake of it, but often shows how they have valuable insights, though they may be emphasising some things too greatly, or omitting other essentials.

His book is not only about the Holy Spirit, and also features important teaching on the trinity, holiness, Christian living and bible reading.

I think this book is every bit as good as Knowing God. I'm sorry that I have only just discovered it.

The new edition includes a 2005 "Preface to the Preface" and a short chapter on assurance, entitled "Heaven on Earth -a Pentecost Exposition." They are worth reading, but maybe not worth the cost of a new book if your copy is still in good nick.



Highly recommended.