Well I just finished Surprised by the Power of the Spirit. My good friend, Steve Evans, let me borrow it, I think knowing it would open my eyes a little. The whole premise of the book is that Jack Deere used to be an OT prof at Dallas Theological Seminary. If you don't know, DTS was one of the main proponents of dispensationalism but is now leaning more towards covenant theology. It is also the seminary of choice for most Philadelphia Biblical University students and faculty. Again, if you don't know, PBU is where I did my undergrad studies. All this to say, that I whole heartedly can see where the author is coming from and the underpinnings of his theology and practice.
Prior to some significant happenings in his life, and his eventual dismissal from DTS, Deere was a cessationist. This simply means that he thought the works of the Holy Spirit, i.e. tongues, miracles, and healing, had stopped after the apostles died. Thus, the beginning of this book starts out as his theology is challenged again and again by God. Without going into great detail, he lays out a biblical foundation for the relevance and need for the work of the Spirit today. There are a few things that I took away, besides the work of the Spirit, which I think are paramount for many Christians today. But I'll just mention one.
Deere discusses how his theology came about from study but mainly from "good" Christian teachers telling him what the Bible says. He gives a story of a doctoral candidate at DTS who couldn't give one Scriptural reference for his beliefs. From this it began to dawn on him the probability that the majority of Christians, and seminarians/pastors, could not give a valid biblical account for their beliefs. Rather, they were simply taught that the Bible teaches this and therefore you must believe it as well. The point is do not take a "good" teacher's word for the Word. I can't tell you how many things I was told/taught at PBU that I wouldn't hold to now. I truly enjoyed my PBU experience but their one downfall was their lack of objective teaching. Now I know that they are entitled to their position and all that. But when professors are telling students to put their hands down when they have an opposing view there has to be something said. How can we honestly expect well-rounded students who have weighed all the biblical interpretations and have earnestly looked to God for guidance when they aren't allowed to voice their questions? Are certain profs to afraid to allow questions to be heard? Don't they know their own arguments well enough to face a 20 year old? OK now I'm ranting. I hope and pray that there aren't more schools and situations like this where there is no flexibility or openness to other faith traditions. Jesus is a person not a philosophy who works in the lives of every believer not just one's with him in a box.