Why is it that the disciples were so successful in getting the word out after Jesus left earth? You have had this thought before. Make your way through the pages of the history books called Acts in your Bible. The church grew and grew. There was no stopping it.
There are some big things that made them powerful.
"They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple followed by meals at home, every meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful, as they praised God. People in general liked what they saw. Every day their number grew as God added those who were saved." Acts 2:46-47 (MSG)
Those verses are not a guide book for Christian living, yet they are a testimony of why the church, the first church, was successful. How about a little reflection on there action and commitment?
1 - spiritual disciplines began early
That means that they devoted themselves to what Jesus said and spent time with it. They thought about it, talked about it and lived with it. Church didn't just happen one day each week.
2 - people spent lots of time together
Yes, they did the Temple thing, but they added to it time together at home in the community. They let people see them living different and being together. It wasn't just families meeting. It was groups of Christians living the life Jesus talked about so others could see.
3 - the world took note
How do we know that? The verses above say that people liked what they saw and joined in. They were encouraged. The church grew because God's people were doing what God called them to do.
So why aren't we so successful today? I will let you answer that one, and I leave you with this final thought from Scripture:
"Let the Word of Christ— the Message— have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives— words, actions, whatever— be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way." Colossians 3:16-17 (MSG)
There are some big things that made them powerful.
"They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple followed by meals at home, every meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful, as they praised God. People in general liked what they saw. Every day their number grew as God added those who were saved." Acts 2:46-47 (MSG)
Those verses are not a guide book for Christian living, yet they are a testimony of why the church, the first church, was successful. How about a little reflection on there action and commitment?
1 - spiritual disciplines began early
That means that they devoted themselves to what Jesus said and spent time with it. They thought about it, talked about it and lived with it. Church didn't just happen one day each week.
2 - people spent lots of time together
Yes, they did the Temple thing, but they added to it time together at home in the community. They let people see them living different and being together. It wasn't just families meeting. It was groups of Christians living the life Jesus talked about so others could see.
3 - the world took note
How do we know that? The verses above say that people liked what they saw and joined in. They were encouraged. The church grew because God's people were doing what God called them to do.
So why aren't we so successful today? I will let you answer that one, and I leave you with this final thought from Scripture:
"Let the Word of Christ— the Message— have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives— words, actions, whatever— be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way." Colossians 3:16-17 (MSG)
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