Signs of the Spirit: How God Reshapes the Church

by Howard A. Snyder

In "Signs of the Spirit" the author analyzes church renewal from a historical perspective, focusing especially on the Montanist, Pietist, Methodist, and Moravian movements. Professor Snyder then synthesizes the lessons of church renewal in history and applies them in such a way that inspires a renewal strategy for the local church today.

Genres: Theology

Paperback

First published April 1, 1989

About the author

Howard A. Snyder serves as Professor of Wesley Studies, at Tyndale Seminary in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Previously he was Professor of the History and Theology of Mission in the E. Stanley Jones School of World Mission and Evangelism at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky, 1996-2006. He has also taught at United Theological Seminary, Dayton, Ohio, and pastored in Chicago, Detroit, and São Paulo, Brazil.

Reviews

[Matthew Prydden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Has a few flaws but this is enjoyable, well thought out and puts forward many good considerations relating to seeking then cultivating church renewal. Also offers as a bonus nice introductions to Pietism, Moravianism and Methodism, although I have a few issues with such a positive portrayal of Montanism.

[Josh Sweeney]

Probably did well during it's time, but not much one can learn for today or even use as a starting block for today's ministry setting.

[Jeremy Garber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Snyder provides a well-organized, concise, and relevant study of three historical renewal movements within the Christian church and their implications for modern communities. Snyder begins with an overview of the Montanist movement as the earliest renewal impulse within Christianity. He then offers several frameworks for understanding renewal that can be usefully combined in examining both historical and current movements. The historical sections look at European Pietism, the Moravians, and early Methodism. Finally, a second bloc of chapters looks at common traits of renewal movements, noticing particularly the use of small groups to foster community, connection to the poor, and the role of education and media in connecting the beliefs of the church to the broader world. My main critique might be a wavering between trying to universalize characteristics of renewal and a careful awareness of the particularity of each community (Snyder humorously observes the “Great Seminar Fallacy,” the illusion that you can apply a seminar finding to your own particular situation.) But overall a useful resource for historians of renewal, theologians of ecclesiology, and local pastors or church leaders looking for a theoretical background for instituting renewal in their own situations.

[Matt Friedman]

The description of the continuum from Pietism to Moravianism to Wesley was of great value to me.