The Way of Jesus

I couldn't help but think that when I started this blog it was during a time when I had a bit of hope that my baseball team would perhaps compete this year. Now that it is October and my baseball season ended long before most fans end theirs I probably should be writing about suffering - which is the theme for this Sunday.

As you know we have been examining "Gospel Movement." Jesus is on the move and amazingly the movement is continuing. We should be people filled with thanksgiving and praise because this movement of Jesus has made its way to us. Spiritual darkness is vanquished and the Light of the glorious gospel is available to all  who will believe.

As the Apostles preach this message  they are initially well spoken of (that should sound familiar because the same was true of Jesus in Lk. 4). But once the religious establishment gets wind of the movement, they step in and start to bring pressure. The pressure ends up in threats and accusations because they recognize these uneducated men as "having been with Jesus." By the way, no more impressive accusation could be launched against a Christ-follower than for someone to have accused them of being with Jesus. 

The response of the church in Acts 4 is what we should hope for as we suffer for the cause of the gospel:
  *  the church prays and rejoices
  *  the Spirit ignites them again with power
  *  the word of God goes out with authority

As we will learn this Sunday - suffering is not just physical. It is much deeper and more pervasive in our culture than at first glance. But the question we struggle with is this: "How do we respond to suffering?"  Will the suffering we encounter lead us to greater power or cause us to shrink back?

I would encourage you to read Acts 3-4 and familiarize yourself with the story so you too can rejoice to see a mighty and powerful God at work in gospel movement.