the gospel spreads because the Holy Spirit uses puny human efforts as the conduit for the force of his own Word. By the blessing of God’s Spirit, the Word yet transforms (i.e., causes our hearts to love God and our wills to seek his will). Each year I recount for new seminary students a time when the reality of the Word’s power struck me with exceptional force. The Lord’s work overwhelmed me when I walked into a new members’ class of our church. Sitting together on the front row were three young