Re:Verse passage –Mark 1:1-4; Luke 4:42-44; Acts 5:42; 11:19-21 (day seven)
[…] they flogged them and ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus […] every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ. Acts 5:40-42
Could you imagine if one of these first century Christians got to look into the future at our churches today? What would they say?
“Look at how many people are gathering! It must be so amazing to go out and spread the gospel with a group this size.”
“You mean the government will actually encourage you to serve the community? What is stopping you?”
I think they would be flabbergasted that people could come to church for forty-five minutes once or twice a month and believe that is the definition of discipleship. If we went through what they went through, what would happen in our congregations? If the threat of flogging, prison, and even death were on the table as consequences for attending church, how many people would continue to show up, let alone evangelize? I would argue that though attendance may drop, our churches would become stronger than ever because everyone that would be left would be just like you. How can you motivate and encourage the people around you today to be as committed to Jesus as you are?
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