The Familiar Stranger - by Tyler Staton (Hardcover)

About the Book

Christians today are hungry for authentic spiritual experiences, yet all too often they don't have the knowledge of or relationship with the Holy Spirit to obtain a fully alive spirituality. In The Familiar Stranger, Staton draws on Scripture, tradition, and spiritual practices to help you step into a genuine relationship with the Holy Spirit.

Book Synopsis

Christians today are hungry for authentic spiritual experiences, yet all too often they don't have the knowledge of or relationship with the Holy Spirit that is the key to a fully alive spirituality. In The Familiar Stranger, pastor and author Tyler Staton draws on Scripture, tradition, and spiritual practices to help you step into a genuine relationship with the Holy Spirit.

For a generation searching desperately for an experiential spirituality, there's good news: the Holy Spirit's indwelling presence to empower and transform is freely available. Unfortunately, confusion and unfamiliarity surround the Person of the Holy Spirit, leading too many Christians either to sideline him or misunderstand what he means for their spiritual lives.

In The Familiar Stranger, Staton reintroduces this oft-neglected Person of the Trinity, tracing the story of the Holy Spirit as it unfolds throughout the Bible, and inviting believers to close the gap between what Scripture reveals about the Holy Spirit and their lived experience. Along the way, readers will:

• Dig into key biblical images and metaphors that reveal the Holy Spirit's nature, roles, and personality
• Learn about common misperceptions that keep believers and churches from experiencing the fullness of the Holy Spirit's power and presence
• Discover how the Spirit brings discernment and access to miraculous power to partner with God in the work he's doing in the world
• Reckon with the indispensable role of spiritual experience for walking with God
• Understand how both Word and Spirit (too often separated in some church traditions) work together to draw people into a vibrant, intimate knowledge of God

The Familiar Stranger will challenge, inform, and encourage believers from every background to become more deeply acquainted with the Person and work of the Holy Spirit--and experience his transformative, life-giving power in their lives.

Review Quotes

A beautiful new book from an even more beautiful old soul. Tyler's life and ministry were transformed by discovering the person and work of the Holy Spirit, as was mine. Yours can be too. By calling the Spirit the 'familiar stranger, ' this book is naming the ache we all have for a deeper experience of God. There are no maps for this sacred journey, but if you are ready for more, Tyler is a trustworthy guide. This book could be your next step.--John Mark Comer, author of Practicing the Way, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, and God Has a Name

I've read many books on the Holy Spirit, and most of them are like viewing the Grand Canyon on an airplane as the pilot directs us to look out the window: beautiful and majestic. But there's a world of difference between looking at something from tens of thousands of feet in the air and actually standing in the middle of it. What Tyler gives us is more than an aerial tour of the doctrine of the Holy Spirit. I can't quite explain it, but reading The Familiar Stranger felt like standing in the middle of the 'Grand Canyon' of the Holy Spirit, leaving me in wonder and drawn to experience more of His presence in my life.--Bryan Loritts, DMin, teaching pastor at The Summit Church

The greatest need in the Western church is a fresh revelation of and empowerment of the Holy Spirit. We have seen the best kind of churches that we can build, and it's been insufficient for the needs of this generation. I am so grateful Tyler has written a beautiful and compelling book highlighting the person and work of the Holy Spirit and also the need to depend on His presence and power in our churches again. This book will serve both a hunger and humility for a deeper intimacy and filling of the Spirit in our churches and lives.--Jon Tyson, author and pastor at Church of the City New York

There are certain areas of faith that require ongoing reflection and fresh writing. A theology of the Holy Spirit is one such area. Gaining a better understanding of the person and work of the Holy Spirit is needed for every generation who wants to be faithful to Jesus. Thankfully, Tyler Staton has given us a great gift in The Familiar Stranger. Tyler writes with an urgency I greatly admire. He offers us accessible language to help us live into the accessibility of the Spirit's presence. What I appreciate most about this work is that you're getting far more than abstract theology. You're learning from someone who has wrestled deeply with the Spirit and has led many others to do the same. Pick up this book. It will do your life and the world good.--Rich Villodas, lead pastor of New Life Fellowship and author of The Narrow Path

This book has the potential to change your life. I know that's a big statement, but I believe it to be true. In The Familiar Stranger Tyler has given us a rare gift by combining profound theology with practical, everyday examples of the purpose and power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. With his masterful writing and vulnerability, Tyler not only identifies our misconceptions but also invites us into a deeper relationship with the Holy Spirit. He names and calls out the excesses that have understandably turned many people off, while simultaneously stirring us to earnestly desire the spiritual gifts. If we are going to endure and flourish in these chaotic and unstable times, we cannot relegate the Holy Spirit to a mere doctrine we hold. We must experience the fullness of who he is and walk in his power on this earth.--Christine Caine, founder of Propel Women and The A21 Campaign

Tyler makes God so lovely that you want to walk more closely with Him. This book is no exception. Enjoy getting to know the Holy Spirit better in these pages.--Jennie Allen, founder and visionary of IF: Gathering and Gather25 and NYT bestselling author