Reframing the Prophetic: A Biblical Observation of an Ancient Gift

by Christine Westhoff, Pete Greig (foreword)

Reframing the A Biblical Observation of an Ancient Gift by Christine Westhoff is a compelling exploration of the prophetic gift within the context of the Christian faith. Deeply rooted in scriptural study and personal experience, Westhoff guides readers through a journey of understanding the true essence and purpose of prophecy in today's church. This thought-provoking manuscript delves into the historical and biblical roots of prophecy, examining its evolution from the Old to the New Testament and the crucial shift that occurred after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Westhoff argues for a re-examination and revival of prophetic ministry in contemporary Christian practice, emphasizing the need for a mature, biblically grounded approach. She highlights the importance of distinguishing between genuine prophetic utterances and cultural influences that have distorted the gift's true nature. Through her narrative, Westhoff invites readers, including church leaders and lay Christians, to rediscover the prophetic as a vital part of their spiritual life and witness.
This book is an invitation to engage deeply with the Holy Spirit, to discern the authentic voice of God amidst the cacophony of modern life, and to embrace the prophetic gift as a means of aligning the church with God's eternal purposes. It's a call to journey beyond superficial understandings and to embrace the transformative power of prophecy in personal faith and the collective mission of the church.

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction

178 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 13, 2024

Reviews

[Lars Gunther · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the BEST book on the subject that I have seen. And I have seen a LOT, since this topic is a research interest of mine. The prophetic movement has gone astray and needs a loving sound voice of correction. This is it.

It is also a book for anyone who wants to grow in the prophetic as well as anyone testing prophetic speech. There are literally hundreds of books on the subject that are garbage: Speculative exegesis, questionable practices and a highly exaggerated track record of the author. This is the complete opposite. It sees the problems, but does not throw the baby out with the bath water.

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel very torn about this book. The author seems to have a lot of experience in her prophetic gifting, and seems to be a humble follower of Jesus (someone that would be a great mentor for people wanting to grow in the prophetic), but she's not a skilled writer (at least not a whole book). She makes really good observations of what's happening today in prophetic circles, and asks good questions. But many chapters felt disjointed in how the thoughts moved from one to the next, filled with repetition of the same thought, and/or unfinished in developing a thought. The book definitely needs a lot more work to refine the overall structure of the book and flow of thoughts within each chapter. This all made sense once I got to the end of the book where she recommends any reader who is interested in diving deeper to take an online course where she presents teaching from a diverse group of people and participants get to discuss and wrestle with their personal situations. She seems to be more skilled as a mentor/coach (which I totally relate to, I also would not be able to write a professional level book of my thoughts), rather than a writer/teacher. The book has the feel of the author inviting the reader to consider something (long quotes from the Bible or another writer) but without the ability to hear the reader's specific response, the author doesn't have a lot to say beyond a few questions and observations. The author definitely has some good thoughts, but I think she needs more time to develop them more fully and to communicate them more cohesively in the form of a book where she can't have a dialogue with her reader.

[Jonathan Markham · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really balanced, and thoroughly scriptural examination of what is often a very controversial subject. The content is written with great humility alongside what is clearly a great deal of personal experience. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about the subject and looking for a balanced approach. It is clear I believe that we need the gifts of the Holy Spirit to be more evident in our church, particularly local churches where so often we have seen division. Christine Westhoff book I believe Office us teaching that will help us move past that which divides us

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

The two chapters on The Holy Spirit and Jesus alone are worth the price of the book.

This is a helpful and needed resource for the church today.

We are called to be wise and discerning.

One of the most insightful parts of the book was Westhoff's comparison of prophecy and prophets in the Old Covenant and the New Covenant.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Drinking through a firehose indeed!

A book that has been much need. So important. Well presented and easy to read - yet with such depth that I can imagine spending a very long time truly absorbing the content.
Highly recommended to anyone who attends a Christian faith community.

[Nikkiharsh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just OK from a writing perspective. Lots of decent suggestions for how to wield a gift in the context of Christian community. It didn’t hit me as strongly as it might if I was worshipping in a charismatic church.

[Brad MacPhail · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I have read on the subject of such an important gift God has given the church. Will likely look at engaging the course that goes with this.