Dunamis: God Shows No Partiality

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Acts 10:34-48

Dunamis. An ancient word meaning power…strength…ability.  A word used by early Christians to describe things beyond description. The power to heal and make whole. Strength to sustain those exposed to withering oppression and persecution. Ability to reach across cultural and religious barriers, bringing the gospel of God to whoever is hungry for it. In the end, it was also the power to foster new power in others.

A central, defining characteristic of Christ’s church is the explosive growth that occurs whenever we experience the power of the Holy Spirit. There is freedom from fear, a new boldness, an honest sharing of Christ’s love, transformational power and healing for the nations. These manifestations are not mere magic tricks or the product of social and political calculations, nor can they be sold for personal gain or glory. They are God’s expression of love, unleashed upon and through his church. This power causes ordinary people to become the conduit of God’s extraordinary grace.

Over these 5 weeks we will be sharing a glimpse of God’s power poured out upon the early church.  Easter has pointed the way. The tomb was opened. The scriptures were opened. Bread was broken and their eyes were opened. A whole new world was opened to them, and to us. A world of resurrection power…a whole people filled with Dunamis.

Dunamis: With One to Guide Me

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Acts 8:26-40

Dunamis. An ancient word meaning power…strength…ability.  A word used by early Christians to describe things beyond description. The power to heal and make whole. Strength to sustain those exposed to withering oppression and persecution. Ability to reach across cultural and religious barriers, bringing the gospel of God to whoever is hungry for it. In the end, it was also the power to foster new power in others.

A central, defining characteristic of Christ’s church is the explosive growth that occurs whenever we experience the power of the Holy Spirit. There is freedom from fear, a new boldness, an honest sharing of Christ’s love, transformational power and healing for the nations. These manifestations are not mere magic tricks or the product of social and political calculations, nor can they be sold for personal gain or glory. They are God’s expression of love, unleashed upon and through his church. This power causes ordinary people to become the conduit of God’s extraordinary grace.

Over these 5 weeks we will be sharing a glimpse of God’s power poured out upon the early church.  Easter has pointed the way. The tomb was opened. The scriptures were opened. Bread was broken and their eyes were opened. A whole new world was opened to them, and to us. A world of resurrection power…a whole people filled with Dunamis.

Dunamis: They Were All Filled With the Holy Spirit

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Acts 4:23-37

Dunamis. An ancient word meaning power…strength…ability.  A word used by early Christians to describe things beyond description. The power to heal and make whole. Strength to sustain those exposed to withering oppression and persecution. Ability to reach across cultural and religious barriers, bringing the gospel of God to whoever is hungry for it. In the end, it was also the power to foster new power in others.

A central, defining characteristic of Christ’s church is the explosive growth that occurs whenever we experience the power of the Holy Spirit. There is freedom from fear, a new boldness, an honest sharing of Christ’s love, transformational power and healing for the nations. These manifestations are not mere magic tricks or the product of social and political calculations, nor can they be sold for personal gain or glory. They are God’s expression of love, unleashed upon and through his church. This power causes ordinary people to become the conduit of God’s extraordinary grace.

Over these 5 weeks we will be sharing a glimpse of God’s power poured out upon the early church.  Easter has pointed the way. The tomb was opened. The scriptures were opened. Bread was broken and their eyes were opened. A whole new world was opened to them, and to us. A world of resurrection power…a whole people filled with Dunamis.

Dunamis: Holy Boldness

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Acts 4:1-22

Dunamis. An ancient word meaning power…strength…ability.  A word used by early Christians to describe things beyond description. The power to heal and make whole. Strength to sustain those exposed to withering oppression and persecution. Ability to reach across cultural and religious barriers, bringing the gospel of God to whoever is hungry for it. In the end, it was also the power to foster new power in others.

A central, defining characteristic of Christ’s church is the explosive growth that occurs whenever we experience the power of the Holy Spirit. There is freedom from fear, a new boldness, an honest sharing of Christ’s love, transformational power and healing for the nations. These manifestations are not mere magic tricks or the product of social and political calculations, nor can they be sold for personal gain or glory. They are God’s expression of love, unleashed upon and through his church. This power causes ordinary people to become the conduit of God’s extraordinary grace.

Over these 5 weeks we will be sharing a glimpse of God’s power poured out upon the early church.  Easter has pointed the way. The tomb was opened. The scriptures were opened. Bread was broken and their eyes were opened. A whole new world was opened to them, and to us. A world of resurrection power…a whole people filled with Dunamis.

Dunamis: Healing and Wholeness

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Acts 3:1-16

Dunamis. An ancient word meaning power…strength…ability.  A word used by early Christians to describe things beyond description. The power to heal and make whole. Strength to sustain those exposed to withering oppression and persecution. Ability to reach across cultural and religious barriers, bringing the gospel of God to whoever is hungry for it. In the end, it was also the power to foster new power in others.

A central, defining characteristic of Christ’s church is the explosive growth that occurs whenever we experience the power of the Holy Spirit. There is freedom from fear, a new boldness, an honest sharing of Christ’s love, transformational power and healing for the nations. These manifestations are not mere magic tricks or the product of social and political calculations, nor can they be sold for personal gain or glory. They are God’s expression of love, unleashed upon and through his church. This power causes ordinary people to become the conduit of God’s extraordinary grace.

Over these 5 weeks we will be sharing a glimpse of God’s power poured out upon the early church.  Easter has pointed the way. The tomb was opened. The scriptures were opened. Bread was broken and their eyes were opened. A whole new world was opened to them, and to us. A world of resurrection power…a whole people filled with Dunamis.

Covenant: God's People

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Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16

The season of Lent is a time of spiritual preparation—a time to ready ourselves to hear again the story of our redemption and salvation through the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Of the many things remembered during Holy Week, we recall Jesus gathering for a holiday meal with his friends, and after supper taking a cup and saying “drink from this, all of you, this cup is a new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for many.” These words are familiar to Christians because they are at the center of the ritual we share whenever we celebrate Holy Communion. However, the covenant can only be understood as “new” if we understand there have been other covenants…other expressions of divine love and grace.

In fact, the origin of gospel (good news) we tell today is rooted in God’s work in Genesis, and threaded through story after story and episode after episode of what is sometimes called the “Old Testament.”  The whole length of scripture reveals a portrait of the way God speaks, thinks, and acts in all manners of circumstance; it is a portrait of the utter faithfulness and love of Creator for the creature. One aspect of that portrait reveals that the God of scriptures is a God who makes covenant with creation, and with nations, and with people.  It is a gospel story of God’s relentless pursuit of us…a story that begins in Genesis and is still unfolding today.