Christians have struggled to grasp the concept of the Trinity for generations. And the person of the Trinity that we seem to have the most misconceptions about is the Holy Spirit. It seems we waver between two extremes. Either we over-emphasize the Holy Spirit’s role and ascribe theatrical and flamboyant displays to him, or we just don’t talk about it. We stick to God the Father and God the Son, and maybe discuss the fruits of the Spirit or conviction of sin.
Keri Folmar wants us to see the essential work of the Holy Spirit in our lives while thinking of him rightly in the latest volume in the Good Portion series, Delighting in the Doctrine of the Holy Spirit.
My introduction to Keri Folmar’s writing was with her Bible studies. I have taken several women through these studies, and I have always appreciated her scriptural insight. But more than that, the studies allow the reader to delve into the Scripture themselves and let the word speak to them, rather than relying on the author’s interpretation.
This is the Holy Spirit’s work. God sent his Son and, through the Holy Spirit, gave us his Word. The Holy Spirit then illuminates the Word in the believer’s heart. That is astounding! And that is what the Holy Spirit does. He illuminates the Father and the Son. Why would we not want to talk about that? And why do we try to find other ways to hear from God when we already have his Word? As Keri says:
I’m not discounting what the Holy Spirit can do. I know He works in the hearts the way He wills. But the Holy Spirit is the author of the Bible. He’s chosen to work through the Word. If you want the Holy Spirit’s work in your life, go to the Scriptures. Don’t separate the author from His book.
The Good Portion: Delighting in the Doctrine of the Holy Spirit is divided into two parts. In Part One, Keri discusses the person of the Holy Spirit. She first discusses the presence of the Holy Spirit throughout Scripture. I learned a lot in this chapter. She then discusses that the Holy Spirit is a Person, not a power. This is an important distinction that is sometimes misunderstood.
In Part Two, Keri discusses the work of the Holy Spirit. This section is longer, and she explores the work of the Holy Spirit in creation, in individuals, and the church.
Each chapter ends with discussion questions that help you further consider these truths. These questions also make it an ideal book to go through with other women.
In this book, Keri achieved her goal and furthered the overall mission of the Good Portion series: to highlight important doctrines in a way that is accessible and approachable. The Good Portion series is valuable because any believer—from the brand new to the seasoned—can be encouraged and enlightened by these books. We always have something new to learn, and we always need to be reminded of essential truths. But the woman who may be a bit intimidated by the idea of reading a book on doctrine can walk away encouraged and excited by the truths of Christianity.
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I get paid for qualifying purchases.
I’d love to connect with you beyond the blog. You can find me on Youtube, Instagram, and Facebook, where I share more encouragement for women navigating faith and health. You can also sign up for my monthly newsletter.
Free eBook!
Download my free ebook, Hormones, Emotions, and Grace: Making Sense of Midlife Changes.
