Acts (The Way Forward): Power Behind the Name

Robyn Elliott - August 31, 2025

The name of Jesus carries real power, but only in relationship with the person of Jesus. In this message from Robyn Elliott, we walk through Acts 19 and see Paul in Ephesus, a city ruled by spiritual power, and we see a dramatic showdown between borrowed faith and authentic transformation. This message explores the potency of Jesus’ name, the battle against evil, and what it means to truly follow Jesus in a resistant world.

Discussion Questions:

What is your understanding of and/or experience with the spiritual realm? Either the divine or the demonic?
Have we allowed spiritual mystery to be dismissed in favour of intellectual certainty? What would it look like to reawaken my imagination and openness to the Spirit’s presence and power?
Are we living in the power of Jesus’ name, or just borrowing it when it’s convenient? How do we use the name of Jesus in our everyday lives? Do we invoke it from relationship or routine?
Have we unknowingly attempted to do the work of Jesus without being shaped by Jesus’ love? Where in your life have good intentions been undermined by a lack of true spiritual transformation?
What does our response to evil say about who we believe Jesus is? Do we confront evil with humility, truth, and community or avoidance, fear, or performance?
Where might we be complicit in systems or habits that work against the flourishing of creation? How does our faith push back against oppression, cynicism, or spiritual apathy?
When was the last time the name of Jesus stopped you in your tracks? Do you have any personal experiences that testify to the spiritual realm and Jesus’ authority over it?
How would someone who watches your life describe the power and presence of Jesus?