Matthias Wenk: Community-Forming Power, reviewed by Amos Yong
Wenk’s book is replete with such insights into the transforming word and work of the Spirit in Luke-Acts. The Spirit-inspired speeches in the infancy narratives (Luke 1-2) herald the new, restoring work of God that is about to transpire through Jesus (Luke) and the believing community (Acts). Jesus’ ministry of reconstituting a liberated community is itself anointed by the Spirit of God (Luke 4:18-19). Luke’s version of what we’ve came to identify as the Lord’s prayer (11:2-4) is the means through which the people of God ask and receive the life transforming and community-forming power of the Spirit of God (11:13). Pentecost (Acts 2) is a liberative event of the Spirit that results in the formation of the new messianic community (2:42-47). Elsewhere in volume two of Luke-Acts, the Spirit’s words and works level out socio-economic, ethnic, and gender differences, even while these same words and works identify, mark, and guide the people of God. Wenk’s exposition of Luke-Acts thus highlights the restoring and reconciling work of the Spirit of God that brings human beings into relationship with God and with each other. It turns out that my listening to what the Spirit is saying includes my being open to being transformed by what is said, and not just myself, but all those claim to be of the Spirit of God and are claimed by that same Spirit.
My listening to what the Spirit is saying includes my being open to being transformed by what is said.
The rhema word of the Spirit of God is formative and transformative for individuals-in-community.
Reviewed by Amos Yong
Category: Ministry, Spring 2001