Kingdom and Spirit

Course Summary

This unit explores the relationship between the Kingdom of God and the work of the Holy Spirit within the Vineyard tradition, using Douglas Erickson’s Living the Future as its core text. Students trace the formation of John Wimber’s theology and the influence of George Eldon Ladd, examine inaugurated and enacted eschatology, and compare Protestant understandings of the Holy Spirit. The unit considers baptism and empowerment in the Spirit, charismatic experience, spiritual gifts and discernment, and looks honestly at the pastoral risks of excess. Students evaluate Vineyard theology alongside other perspectives and develop a thoughtful, accountable approach to Kingdom-and-Spirit ministry.

Course Content

1. John Wimber, the Vineyard and a Kingdom-and-Spirit Theology
2. Friends, Evangelical and Pentecostal Influences
3. The Kingdom of God in Twentieth-Century Theology
4. Competing Protestant Eschatologies
5. The Beginnings of Wimber’s Kingdom Theology
6. Inaugurated and Enacted Eschatology
7. Contemporary Pneumatologies
8. Baptism and Empowerment in the Holy Spirit
9. Charismatic Experience in the Vineyard
10. Evidence, Discernment and Theological Evaluation
11. Idolatry, Excess and Safeguarding in Charismatic Ministry
12. Extending Vineyard Kingdom Theology and ‘Living the Future’

Learning Outcomes

At the end of this unit students will be able to:

1. Analyse the biblical, historical and theological foundations of Vineyard Kingdom theology, including the development and implications of inaugurated and enacted eschatology.
2. Evaluate Vineyard pneumatology and charismatic practice in comparison with selected Christian perspectives, with attention to evidence, discernment, ethics, accountability and safeguarding.
3. Integrate Kingdom and Spirit theology to develop and justify a contextually appropriate framework for Spirit-empowered church or ministry practice.

How the Course Works

The core lectures are given by Dr Douglas Erickson, whose doctoral research at Marquette University was the first formal study of John Wimber’s theology and became the prescribed text, Living the Future. Each of the twelve sessions includes lecture videos and transcripts, readings, further viewing from Vineyard and other scholars and practitioners, study notes, reflection questions and a self-check quiz. Postgraduate students engage the critical and academic literature more fully.

Recommended Texts

• Erickson, D. Living the Future: The Kingdom of God & the Holy Spirit in the Vineyard Movement. 2016. (Prescribed)
• Allison, G. R. & Köstenberger, A. The Holy Spirit. B&H Academic, 2020.
• Gaffin, R. B. et al.; Grudem, W. A. (ed.) Are Miraculous Gifts for Today? Four Views. Zondervan, 1996.
• Hopping, J. S. The Here and Not Yet. Vineyard International Publishing, 2017.
• Keener, C. S. Gift and Giver: The Holy Spirit for Today. Baker Academic, 2001.
• Ladd, G. E. A Theology of the New Testament, rev. edn. Eerdmans, 1993.
• Morphew, D. Demonstrating the Kingdom. Vineyard International Publishing, 2019.
• Peterson, C. M. The Holy Spirit in the Christian Life. Baker Academic, 2024.
• Wimber, J. & Springer, K. Power Evangelism. Harper & Row, 1986.

Course materials for students →

Enrolled students receive the password by email.