I want you to meet my Jesus by Roger Hosking MBE
UNLEASHED: THE ACTS CHURCH TODAY
Gavin and Anne Calver
The early church spread with remarkable speed, impelled by JOY, URGENCY, profound COMPASSION and the day to day experience of working in the power of the Holy Spirit. Despite opposition at all levels, the first Christians expressed their love and wonder in acts of KINDNESS and WORSHIP, and in their eagerness to share the GOOD NEWS of the risen Jesus.
Gavin and Anne Calver explore what this extraordinary historical account means for believers today, including the Holy Spirit in the life of the church; taking risks, living together in the power of the Spirit; works and wonders; hearing from God; responding to the call of God; and miracles then and now.
Book Review
UNLEASHED: THE ACTS CHURCH TODAY
Gavin and Anne Calver
London, England, Inter-varsity press 2020
ISBN 978-1-78974-136-0 | pp 223, £10.99
If you would like an increase of God’s presence and power unleashed into your life and church, then I encourage you to read this highly inspirational and deeply challenging book. Gavin and Anne Calver reveal how taking a fresh look at Acts is helping them, in their personal lives and in their ministries, to be more Holy Spirit led. Through seeking God’s Spirit, they are more able to help others experience the life-transforming presence of God.
There are 5 parts to this book, Unleashed: –Power, –People, –Presence, –Potential, –Participators. While some people consider we are in a ‘post-Christian’ context, Anne and Gavin believe that we are in a ‘pre-Christian’ context; being a Christian is like living as a cultural alien. The more secular the world is, then the more supernatural the church needs to be. In our ‘pre-Christian’ context, God’s Spirit can unleash the church into supernatural gifts and a life-changing mission today, as He did in the early church era. The presence of God’s Spirit makes a transforming difference to our lives, our ministries and our churches.
Peter can remind us of ourselves, prone to failure, yet still powerfully used by the Lord. In the light of this, ‘then who knows what the Lord might choose to do with one of us?’ Peter’s effectiveness was intrinsically linked to him being part of the Spirit-filled Christian community. How can our church communities unleash Spirit-empowered people to do God’s kingdom work? The Advance mentoring programme is currently helping over 1000 people to become more effective witnesses amidst the people they are in contact with day by day. ‘Wherever we find ourselves, that place is where we can make a difference for Christ.’
As well as being optimistic, Gavin and Anne are also realistic; like with the early church and with Nehemiah, we will face opposition. And like them, we need to stand firm and pursue God’s calling, so we need to be braver. Each chapter ends with helpful questions for personal reflection and group discussion, and further reading. It would make a great book for a house group to use as they study the book of Acts. In this twenty-first century, like in the first century, as words, works and wonders come together, lives are wonderfully changed.
Gavin Calver is CEO of the Evangelical Alliance and an ordained evangelist, regular public speaker and author. Anne Calver is a Baptist minister, speaker and author. Together they have two children, and live in Stanmore, Middlesex.
Reviewed by Derek Balsdon – Team member, Stoke-on-Trent HR at Costa & the National Prayer Line.