In July, I attended the North American Christian Convention (NACC). The NACC is an annual gathering of Christians (primarily from the movement of independent Christian churches/churches of Christ of which Westwood is a part) from all across North America and the world. It is a gathering for preaching, teaching, retooling for ministers and leaders, connecting with old and new friends, and challenging the church to live out its mission.

Christine and I both attended our first NACC in 1973, just a few months before we were married. Our daughter grew up going to the NACC, and still attends on occasion, especially when it meets in a location within driving distance of her home, as happened this summer and last summer. This summer it met in Cincinnati where she lives, so she attended several sessions with me.

The NACC has been a rich blessing to our family and to me personally. Each convention offers new blessings. This fall, I hope to bring some of the blessings from this year’s NACC to our congregation through a series of messages based on this year’s theme.

The theme this year was “Unleashed — The Church Turning the World Upside Down.” This theme was developed through a series of messages to the adult convention based on the book of Acts. The theme comes from the promise by Jesus in Acts 1 that his followers would have the Holy Spirit poured out on them — that the church would be immersed in the Holy Spirit. That promise was fulfilled in Acts 2. How does the church live when the Spirit is unleashed? Through these messages, we will find how we can emulate the powerful ministry of the church in the book of Acts. Here are the themes we will examine:

• We become a kaleidoscope that attracts the whole world to the church’s welcoming beauty and diversity (Acts 1:8; 10:1-48).
• We see innumerable souls won for the kingdom of God (Acts 2:41-47; 4:4).
• We see pandemonium ensue as others take notice of the excitement and commotion of God’s church working in their midst (Acts 4:13-22).
• We are shaken by the power of God’s Spirit and preach fearlessly and without restraint (Acts 4:23-31).
• We demonstrate lavishness when we see the needs of those around us and give sacrificially (Acts 4:32-37).
• We display a hazardous faith (Acts 5:17-42).
• We are open to the kinetic power of the gospel (Acts 13:41-52).
• We take hold of the unequivocal calling to go into the whole world (Acts 20:22-24).

I am praying that these messages will challenge my life and our congregation to let the Spirit be unleashed in our lives.