Spirit + Bride
Dallas Willard suggests that "we live at the mercy of our ideas." As followers of Jesus, have we stopped to ask ourselves—what does it really mean to be the Church? Are we living as the people God has called us to be, or have we settled for a diluted version? Do we truly understand who we are and whose we are?
John G. Stackhouse says, "When we, the church, are confused about who we are and whose we are, we can become anything and anyone's… When the church is confused about who it is and whose it is, it can become just another institution, just another collective, just another voluntary society. So we need ecclesiology—the doctrine of the church—to clarify our minds, motivate our hearts, and direct our hands. We need ecclesiology so that we can be who and whose we truly are."
Throughout Scripture, the Greek word for church is ecclesia—the called-out people of God. The church was birthed on the day of Pentecost, marking the explosive beginning of a new era. Acts 2 records the day of Pentecost, where the Holy Spirit descended on 120 believers gathered in an upper room. Suddenly, what Jesus promised in John 14 became reality—the Spirit would come, dwell in them, and empower them to be His witnesses “to the ends of the earth.” The church was not born to exist as an institution, but as a Spirit-empowered movement set apart for mission.
From the beginning, Christ has been calling a Bride to Himself—a people set apart and prepared for a holy union. Revelation gives us a powerful vision of what’s to come—the Church, as the Bride, finally united with Jesus, the Groom, attending the wedding supper of the Lamb. It’s not just about reaching heaven—it’s about being formed into the image of Christ along the way.
Right now, we’re in a process of preparation, being shaped into who God created us to be. This is a process directed by and empowered by Holy Spirit, but it isn't a passive process; it’s about actively becoming more like Jesus—in our character, our actions, and our love for others. The Church is more than just going through the motions—we are being formed for glory, shaped to reflect Christ’s love and purpose. May we, as the Bride, empowered by Holy Spirit, know who we are and whose we are as we continue to prepare for the Groom.
This series will explore what it means to be the church, the current cultural challenges facing the church, and the vision for the church.
Nartarsha Wisewould — The Day of Pentecost in Acts 2 marks the powerful moment when the Holy Spirit was poured out on all believers, rather than only coming upon a few select people at a specific time for a specific purpose.
To experience a deep and intimate communion with the Holy Spirit, we must hunger for His presence and surrender to Him. The evidence of the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives is His fruit & His power at work in and through us.
Nartarsha Wisewould — The Day of Pentecost in Acts 2 marks the powerful moment when the Holy Spirit was poured out on all believers, rather than only coming upon a few select people at a specific time for a specific purpose, as He had previously done. In this great outpouring the Holy Spirit came upon all believers from that moment on.
To experience a deep and intimate communion with the Holy Spirit, we must hunger for His presence and surrender to Him. The evidence of the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives is His fruit & His power at work in and through us.
Resources — Study Guide