Encountering God at the Altar

For most Pentecostal churches, the altar call is the central event of the worship service. Sinners are encouraged to come forward to the altar to "pray through" to salvation. Believers are encouraged to come to the altar to pray for sanctification, or to "pray through" to the baptism in the Holy Spirit. During the altar service, those who are sick, or otherwise in need, are encouraged to come to the altar. There the church elders will anoint with oil, lay their hands upon the sick, and pray for healing. The celebration of the sacraments in Pentecostal worship is an opportunity to invite the saints of God once again to the altar to encounter the Holy Spirit in the celebration of water baptism, the Lord's Supper, footwashing, and the laying on of hands. The sacraments are an ongoing altar call in which the believer encounters God in Christ and through the Holy Spirit. This book is an abridged version of Pentecostal Sacraments: Encountering God at the Altar (2015). Pentecostal Sacraments was written as a theological introduction to Pentecostal sacramental worship for an academic audience. The book has been well received, and I am grateful. However, many pastors have suggested that I prepare an edition for the general reader that could be used in the local church as a small group study. With that in mind I have prepared Encountering God at the Altar. This book is much shorter in length. I have excluded the academic footnotes, theological language, and references to Greek words. Also, I have removed the supporting writings of the ancient and medieval theologians. I have kept the writings of early Pentecostals because their words are essential in understanding Pentecostal spirituality. When referencing these writers I have used parenthetical documentation and abbreviated the sources. I have rewritten portions of the manuscript for a general audience. I am hopeful that by providing an edition for the general reader many Pentecostal worshipers will discover a new appreciation for the sacred acts of worship. Chapters: 1 - Encountering God at the Altar 2 - The Spirit of Grace 3 - The Anointed Touch 4 - Water Baptism 5 - The Lord's Supper 6 - Foot Washing 7 - Recovering Lost Treasures