Dr. Scott G. Downing has served in full-time ministry for 30+ years. He is currently serving on the pastoral staff at First Baptist Church Atlanta, GA. Dr. Downing’s passion is to help the church understand biblical prophecy and its impact on culture, business, family and individuals. The first avenue of accomplishing this is through weekly bible studies such as “Engage” on Wednesday nights and Sunday Morning Bible Study at First Atlanta. The second avenue of accomplishing this passion is prayerfully achieved through writing timely discipleship curriculum such as his most recent book: God’s Unfolding Purpose and Unfailing Power. The third avenue is through speaking engagements, where Dr. Downing breaks down potentially complicated prophetic and theological concepts into modern, understandable terms. The fourth and final avenue of pursing this passion comes through the simple commitment to post seasonable and applicable content to this site as well as publishing a bi-monthly email newsletter by the same name, Prophecy In Perspective.
Dr. Downing earned his undergraduate degree in Philosophy and Religion from Florida International University, Miami, Florida; his Master of Divinity degree from Colombia Theological Seminary, Decatur, Georgia; and his Doctorate of Ministry from Luther Rice Seminary, Lithonia, Georgia.
In addition to being a student of God’s Word, communicator and pastor, Dr. Downing is a loving husband, father and grandfather.
If you are interested in ordering books or booking Dr. Downing for an upcoming event, click here. If you would like to subscribe to Dr. Downing’s bi-montly newsletter via email, click the Follow button located on the side bar. To view archived newsletters in your browser, click here.
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Dr. Downing
Just wanted to let you know that I am praying for you to continue in God’s work and I gain much needed wisdom from your newsletters. It relates the scriptures to what is happening in the world today. Thanks for helping me understand God’s truths.
Thanks Rosie
It is a great blessing to know that this is helpful to you
Scott
Marcus:
The fact that someone knows the Lord Jesus Chrst as Savior and thus has become a “new creation” (Galatians 2:20) really means then they would not want to commit murder or adultery. Because they truly love the Lord, their new life and new desire in Him is to honor Jesus Christ in all they do! Christians do sin, although they do not have to! But if we sin then we are encouraged to “confess our sins and God” promises to be “faithful to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness…If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us…And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous…” (1 John 1:9-10; 2:1-4) When someone claims to be a Christian and thus saved, but they are committing murder, and adultery etc. without repentance shows that they do not know the Lord, but are still living in sin and living for themselves. John said: “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for His seed remaineth in him and he cannot sin (that is, habitually, as though it were alright to do so), because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.” (1 John 3:8-10). Being born again is to live forever without fear of ever being lost, and involves a love for Jesus that desires to live-out His life in and through us and to serve Him forever. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.” (John 6:47) “And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which He hath given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.” (John 6:39)**
How do I receive your news letter?
Thanks for your request! We will be blessed to include you on our mailing list for Prophecy in Perspective, prayerfully the next issue will be coming out in two to three weeks. Meanwhile, I will try to submit more articles on my blog in the next few days.
God bless you as you look for the Lord’s return! Scott
Dr. Downing, what do you know about Spiritual Formation? Chris Zimmermann
Thank you for your question Chris!
Spiritual Formation is associated with Contemplative Prayer techniques which encourage Christians to “listen” to God through the practice of different “spiritual disciplines.” These techniques are not taught in the Bible but arise through the current teaching of many today who encourage many of the practices of the ancient desert hermits and medieval monastic contemplative practitioners of the Roman Catholic Church. Another term associated with Spiritual Formation is: “Contemplative Spirituality.” This movement and teaching is part and parcel of the post-modern, and, in my view, post-biblical, Emerging Church movement, which is basically a channel for the dissemination of Spiritual Formation concepts and practices. Much unhealthy New Age teaching is influencing this trend as well.
Often Contemplative/Meditative/Spiritual Formation will involve the practice of setting up and walking through labyrinths where there will be “prayer stations” which might have candles, icons, and pictures where the person may meditate. Meditative prayer is encouraged through repeating a verse or spiritual phrase. “Entering into the Silence,” is a discipline by which the Spiritual Formation practitioner might experience the “presence of God” and actually “hear” God speak. This is very dangerous as it clearly suspends the Bible’s command to “believe not every spirit, but try (test) the spirits, whether they are of God” in 1 John 4:1 and to “prove all things, hold fast that which is good,” in 1 Thessalonians 5:21.
One proponent defines Contemplative Spirituality this way: “To help the mind become quiet, we can follow our breathing. Or we can repeat silently a chosen prayer phrase or a word.” Contemplative Spirituality can be defined as: “A belief system that uses ancient mystical meditation practices to induce altered states of consciousness (the silence).” (Faith Undone, by Roger Oakland, published by Lighthouse Trails, p. 81)
Two years ago I was stunned to witness via live stream, the Contemplative practice of “Lectio Divina,” an ancient Spiritual Formation/mystical technique by which one might be able to hear God “speak,” being taught to the youth at Louie Giglio’s Passion Conference in Atlanta. There, before our eyes were Beth More, John Piper, Louie Giglio, and Francis Chan leading the thousands of impressionable and spiritually vulnerable youth in this classic practice of ancient Contemplative Spirituality. Here a portion of Scripture is read and then the hearer is told to close his eyes and say: “Lord, speak to me!” By the way, seeking direct revelation from God in addition to the writings of the Bible is definitely encouraged in this movement and sought after through the practice of these “Spiritual Disciplines.” But the Bible is clear on the dangers of this kind of practice: seeking God to speak directly to the “Contemplative Listener” beyond the words of Scripture: “Add thou not unto His words, lest He reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.” (Proverbs 30:6)
The Spiritual Formation movement has influenced many authors, publishers, preachers, ministries, theological schools, and even denominations. Here is a short list of some who are currently advancing Spiritual Formation teachings and methods.
Some Spiritual Formation/ Emerging Church authors and books include: Richard Foster, The Celebration of Discipline; Doug Pagitt, Church Re-Imagined, published by Zondervan; Brian McLaren, A Generous Orthodoxy, also published by Zondervan; Leonard Sweet, Postmodern Pilgrims, published by Broadman & Holman; Rob Bell, Velvet Elvis, published by Zondervan; I would also include in this list a caution about Sarah Young’s, Jesus Calling, published by Thomas Nelson, and there are many more! Others involved in their teachings and writings in advancing Contemplative techniques and teachings are: Beth Moore, Bill Hybels, Brennan Manning, Calvin Miller, Dallas Willard, Dan Kimball, Doug Pagitt, Tony Compollo, Eugene Peterson, Henri Nouwen, J.P. Moreland, John Eldredge, Ken Boa, Mark Driscoll, Philip Yancey, Richard Foster, Rick Warren, Rob Bell, Thomas Merton, Walter Brueggemann.
For more information on the unbiblical and dangerous Spiritual Formation movement, please go to the Lighthouse Trails web site: http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com
Is there a possibility that you could put the Follow Blog widget in your site’s sidebar? I seldom read the blogs through the WP Reader but love to receive new postings through my email where they will get timely attention.
May God bless you in all that you do for His Kingdom, by His power and for His glory, amen!~
So excited about all the current events surrounding us! So grateful for your newsletters! Please keep them coming. I forward them on to friends and family and they are very much appreciated!
God bless you, Dr. Downing and for all that you do in keeping us informed. Pray the Lord come
quickly!
Dear Scott and Karen,
As I enjoy our Sunday School Class every single Sunday, feeling more of the Holy Spirit than I ever did at a Catholic Mass, I feel the need to read every one of your books. I am interested in purchasing every one of them. If you could possibly bring them in next Sunday Aug. 23, I would be happy to either give you cash or a check for them, whichever you prefer. Thank you so much for being here for us. You both are such blessings to me. Thanks again, Rosemarie White
Love you Karen and Scott. The Lord put you on my heart to pray for you. Let us know how you are.
Psalm 46.
In Him,
Linda.
Hey Linda!!
Scott and I are in LA visiting our middle daughter and her husband. I’ve lost your contact info :(. If you can, call me at 386-546-2505 …
Sandy and Glenn Rusher would love to hear from Dr. and Mrs. Scott Downing.