Signs & Wonders Pt.1 | Pastor Chris Tafoya

The book of Acts opens with a clear blueprint: power, purpose, and plan rooted in the promised Holy Spirit. The narrative insists that God never intended the church to operate by human strength alone; instead, dunamis—explosive, supernatural power—will come to empower ordinary people for extraordinary witness. That power produces inward transformation marked by the fruit of the Spirit and outward boldness to testify, not by winning arguments but by revealing a changed life. The Spirit’s activity resists domestication; theology without experience leaves faith tepid, while repeated fillings awaken believers to a present, active Helper who convicts, teaches, comforts, and points incessantly to Jesus.

Acts reframes baptismal encounters as a threefold sequence: salvation unites believers to Christ and indwells them with the Spirit; water baptism publicly identifies them with Christ’s death and resurrection; Spirit baptism equips them with power for mission. Scripture affirms both the Spirit’s initial indwelling at conversion and subsequent outpourings that believers should seek continually. The life called for is not a single event but a sustained posture of dependence—being filled and filled again—so that character, speech, and action reflect Christ.

Witnessing forms the practical axis of Spirit-empowered life. The mandate in Acts 1:8 assigns a localized-to-global strategy: start at home (the Jerusalem of daily life), expand into surrounding communities (Judea and Samaria), and extend to the ends of the earth. Witnessing does not require mastery of apologetics; it requires honesty about what has been experienced—“I was blind and now I see”—and a willingness to let personal testimony reveal Christ. A Spirit-led community prioritizes mission over comfort, invites the Spirit to revive ordinary seats of church life, and measures success by transformed people rather than polished programs.

The present calling, then, is clear: pursue the Spirit, expect power, practice witness, and move outward with the heart of God. A church that treasures fruit and boldness, that seeks repeated filling, and that sends ordinary witnesses from neighborhood to nations will more faithfully reflect the purpose of Acts and the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit.

Key Takeaways

• 1. The Spirit supplies supernatural power The Spirit provides dunamis—power beyond natural ability—to accomplish God’s purposes. That power does not elevate personalities but mobilizes ordinary people to perform supernatural deeds and sustain kingdom work when human strength runs out. Expectation of the Spirit’s intervention reshapes risk, courage, and obedience in daily discipleship. [13:51]
• 2. Evidence: transformed life and boldness The primary sign of Spirit-filling appears as inward fruit and outward witness. True filling produces character change—love, joy, peace—and removes paralytic fear so believers speak boldly of what God has done. Both tender character and courageous testimony authenticate the Spirit’s presence more than dramatic displays. [11:29]
• 3. Repeated filling, not one-time event Reception of the Spirit at salvation does not negate the need for ongoing fillings; the Christian life requires continual renewal. Scripture models repeated encounters that invigorate mission, sanctify affections, and sustain growth through valleys and mountaintops alike. A posture of daily dependence invites fresh anointing for new seasons and trials. [21:00]
• 4. Witnessing: share experience, not arguments Witnessing centers on testimony—what God has done—more than on constructing perfect theological defenses. A witness simply reports transformation: before, during, and after Jesus; that humility opens hearts more readily than debate. Embracing testimony frees the hesitant to participate in mission without expert credentials. [24:56]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:29] - Opening prayer & worship
• [02:50] - Introducing the Acts series
• [05:44] - Acts 1:8: power, purpose, plan
• [06:20] - The Holy Spirit: promised power
• [11:29] - How to recognize Spirit filling
• [13:51] - "Dunamis": supernatural explosive power
• [16:55] - Three baptisms: salvation, water, Spirit
• [24:56] - Purpose: be witnesses, not defenders
• [30:16] - Plan: Jerusalem to the ends of earth
• [36:49] - Invitation: receive the Spirit & prayer

1. According to Acts 1:8, what three things does Jesus connect to the Holy Spirit’s power (power, purpose, plan)?
2. What two types of evidence does the sermon highlight as signs of being filled with the Holy Spirit (inward and outward)? [11:29]
3. How does Ephesians 5:18 describe the ongoing nature of being filled with the Spirit?
4. What example from John 9 does the sermon use to illustrate the simplicity of witnessing? [28:03]

1. Why is the Holy Spirit’s power described as essential for the mission of the church, rather than human effort alone?
2. How does the distinction between being a “witness” and a “defense attorney” (Acts 1:8) change the way believers approach sharing their faith? [26:31]
3. What might it look like for believers to experience the “three baptisms” (salvation, water baptism, Spirit baptism) in their own spiritual journey? [16:55]
4. Why does the sermon emphasize starting with “Jerusalem” (local context) in witnessing? How might this strategy address fear or hesitation?

1. When have you felt hesitant to share your faith because you didn’t feel “qualified”? How could focusing on your personal story (like the man in John 9) shift your approach? [28:39]
2. What practical step could you take this week to cultivate a daily “posture of dependence” on the Holy Spirit (e.g., prayer, Scripture, worship)? [21:00]
3. Identify one person in your “Jerusalem” (daily life) who needs to experience God’s love. How could you intentionally pray for or serve them this month?
4. Reflect on a time when the Holy Spirit’s fruit (love, joy, peace, etc.) was evident in your life during a difficult situation. How did that transformation point others to Jesus?
5. Are there areas where you’ve prioritized “studying” the Holy Spirit over actually inviting Him to move in your life? What would it look like to take a step toward experiencing Him more deeply? [10:26]
6. How can your small group create space to celebrate and share stories of the Holy Spirit’s work in your lives, both big and small?