Preached by Rev. Erik Kindem.
Scripture: Acts 2:1-21; Ezekiel 37:1-14; Romans 8:22-27; John 15:26-27
Summary
In the second chapter of Acts, Luke describes the outpouring of God’s Spirit on Pentecost as the “rush of a violent wind.” But instead of a tornado bent on destruction, this wind, this Spirit, unhinges God’s fledgling community from a past that no longer works and pulls them in the open air of a surprising, boundless future. The sacred wind that blew so powerfully that day sent them careening out of the house where they’d been holed up waiting and into the public square. And it’s in the midst of that public place, in that moment, where the real action begins to unfold.
Take a survey of the stories cataloging the gospel’s trajectory in ACTS, and you’ll find that most of the key scenes—beginning right here—unfold in public places, not in private domains. It’s as if the Spirit were putting us on notice: this power, this message, this experience, is designed by God to move you as witnesses into all the public spheres of your lives—don’t keep it private, don’t hide it under a bushel, take it out and let it shine!
Public action includes standing up against public initiatives like those currently being considered in Congress that would make huge cuts to the SNAP program.