The Power of God in Acts

Podcast – Pasadena Mennonite Church

We were privileged to share a worship service this week with our host church, Conexión. Juan Pablo Plaza brought the message from this English/Spanish congregation, while Frank Scoffield Nellessen translated for non-Spanish listeners.

In speaking to two communities together, Juan Pablo referenced the wisdom of Acts and the early church. but rather than being the story of the early church, Juan Pablo notes that it is the story of what God was doing in the early church and its transformation through the Spirit, as well as the fulfillment of Old Testament promises. This changes our reading of the book.

Jesus appears to his apostles over a period of 40 days, addressing their questions. They continue to wonder whether Jesus has returned to restore the kingdom of Israel. Jesus instead speaks of power that will come upon them in the form of the Holy Spirit.

The Pentecost, by El Greco

Juan Pablo asks us how we currently think of power in our lives. This was not a dominion over others, but the power of the Spirit of God. What was this power to be for? To interpret scripture? To discern what God is doing amongst the community? To accomplish the mission of the church?

What if instead this is a power that allows us to bypass the offenses of others, that makes it possible for us to live in peace, the power to be able to be patient and kind to others, to trust in God despite adversity, the power to able to control our desires — power that can only be given by the Spirit of God. This is a power so simple, so sweet and profound that it can really only come from God. And it invites us to accompany others.

This is also a power that leads us to differing practices in our faith communities. The coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, Acts 2:4, was not simply to send the church out with a mission, but to lift up the church, and to involve it in different practices — those of sharing, of mission, of prayer, studying the scriptures — those practices that make up a community.

The essence of being a faith community, shown in Acts 2:42-47, is to know what is happening in one another’s lives — to learn the capacity to share in what others are living. And when we can do this within our church communities, it will be easier to do so outside the church as well.

How do we practice these acts of love in our own communities of faith?

Hear these words and more in the audio below.