To say that the day of Pentecost was a surprise is an understatement. The disciples heard the roaring sound of rushing wind. They saw what looked like tongues of fire resting on one another. Then they all began to speak in other languages — without the benefit of Rosetta Stone! Jesus had told the disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they received the gift he promised, but no one expected a gift like the Holy Spirit.
Although we celebrated Pentecost a couple weeks ago, for Christian leaders, the surprising nature of Pentecost is worth noticing. Christian leadership learns to thrive in the tension between the certainty of our strategic plans and the undomesticated power of the Spirit. According to Peter’s Pentecost sermon in Acts 2, when the Spirit of God is at work, we will dream dreams and see visions. What are you and your congregation dreaming about? Do you sense that a compelling vision is guiding the church’s ministry? When the Spirit is working, people from all walks of life will experience the presence of God.
Human effort alone cannot carry out the work of ministry and the mission to embody the reign of God. Through the Holy Spirit, God works in us and through us to “accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20). Spiritually discerning leaders make room for the Spirit beyond the prayers and petitions we offer in worship. Seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance in meetings through silence and Scripture. Talk about the significance of the Spirit and the work of the Spirit beyond the Pentecost Sunday sermon. Share with others the ways in which God surprises you personally, and be prepared to name the moments God might be trying to surprise the church collectively. All these are glimpses of how you make room for the Spirit.
