Title: The Power of God: Why the Church Needs More Than a Feeling
Speaker: Pastor Sascha Bramao
Date: 22nd February 2026
Location: Wellington, New Zealand
Summary:
“When the power of God comes into someone’s life, it starts to blow things up.” That is the picture at the centre of this episode: real spiritual power is not a nice feeling, it is a force that changes everything it touches.
Using the storms that recently knocked out power across the region as a starting point, this episode draws a comparison between losing electricity and losing spiritual power. Without power, there is no light, no warmth, no way to cook. The same is true spiritually. Many churches today have lost that power and settled for tradition, habit or a watered-down version of Christianity instead. Drawing on John chapter one, Luke chapter twenty four and Acts chapter two, the episode traces how Jesus gave people the power to choose him, and then promised a second, greater power, the Holy Spirit, that would completely disrupt and rebuild a person’s life from the inside out.
Real-life stories from professional rugby league players whose lives were transformed bring this to life, showing what it actually looks like when someone gets “plugged in” to God through repentance, baptism and the Holy Spirit. The episode closes with a simple but challenging question: are you connected to the real power source, or just going through the motions?
Key Points:
- Genuine spiritual power is disruptive. It does not just adjust behaviour, it transforms a person from the inside out.
- Being connected to God works like a three-pin plug: repentance, baptism and receiving the Holy Spirit are all needed for the power to flow.
- Real change is possible for anyone, no matter how tough their life or reputation, as shown through stories of well-known rugby league players whose lives were turned around.
Reference Scriptures:
- John 3
- 2 Timothy 3:5-7
- John 1:6-13
- Luke 24:45-49
- Acts 2
- Ephesians 2:1-6
- Titus 3:3-7
- 2 Corinthians 6:14-18
- Acts 2:37-38