NT Wright’s new book, The Challenge of Acts, is a needed word for our time. In a day when we, as segments of American Christianity, are striving for “cultural order” (and calling it “kingdom”), we need our lives centered on Kingdom order.

Wright’s focus in Acts 2-4 is the narrative of what happens when the Kingdom of God is truly lived out, even in small ways. We need to be brave and create small working models of what we see in these chapters. We proclaim the gospel. We bring Kingdom power and healing where needed. We teach and disciple. We fellowship. We take care of the needs among us with extraordinary hospitality.

Opposition comes. Pressure mounts. Even in our day, there are times when a local church tries to do something to help folks in need and they get pushback from zoning regulators, cranky neighbors, city councils, etc. Our call is to pray, ask the Spirit for more boldness (NOT a good lawyer) and get back to work.

While we’re in an era of segments of Christianity being out for power… we need to grasp what Acts is saying: Generate the goodness of the Kingdom where you are. It won’t be by power, regulation, legislation, or manipulation. It will be genuine goodness coming to a place because a group of people, filled with the Spirit, want to see goodness come.

This is where we should be living.