It Seemed Good to the Holy Spirit and to Us
Acts, Discernment, and the Mission of God
- Biblical Studies & Commentaries
- Church Leadership & Ministry
- Publisher: Wipf and Stock
- Published: 2023
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Publisher's Description
The letter sent at the conclusion of the Jerusalem council to gentile Christians includes the line, "It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us . . ." (Acts 15:28). Contemporary congregations desire similar moments but are simply not built for them, lacking the discernment postures and practices that would make such a moment possible. This work undertakes a deep reading of Acts 1-15, asking the questions, "What led to this pivotal moment in Acts?" and "What can we learn about discernment for churches today?" Along the way we learn that discernment is not simply a process that conjures the Holy Spirit but the byproduct of a way of life shaped by participation in the mission of God.
Endorsements (3)
“With insight, clarity, and passion, Mark Love boldly invites us to imagine the possibility of an Acts 15:28 church. He carefully reads Acts in light of its relevance for how the church might embody—in its actual life and ministry—the reign of God in the power of the Holy Spirit. I highly recommend this book for anyone seeking to discern how God might be leading the church today as a community of the Spirit.”
“Our churches are in crisis. Desperate to stave off decline, congregations worship at the idol of ‘growth.’ In providing religious goods and services to discriminating consumers in a competitive religious marketplace, churches have hollowed out the mission of God. Mark Love shows us a better way, calling us to become an Acts 15:28 church, a people able to discern and join God’s mission in the world. This is a bold, necessary, and urgent book.”
“Few authors are able to wed such abundance of biblical and theological insight with clear, practical application as Mark Love does here. The practices of the church in Acts developed in this book, such as gathering strange sounding names around a common table and trusting ‘all flesh’ to be a potential source for discernment of the Holy Spirit, have transformed my pastoral ministry and breathed new life into my congregation. As enjoyable as this book is to read, putting it into practice is even better.”
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