Filling a Town with the Truth
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us. Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.”
Acts 5:27–29
The first church in Jerusalem didn’t have a lot of things we consider to be essential to a growing and successful church, but what they did have was a group of people who were committed to taking the truth to those around them. Though the church was led by men who had spent three years with Jesus, learning from Him, it was not just the apostles doing the work. The entire church took responsibility for proclaiming the gospel to Jerusalem. “And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ” (Acts 5:42).
There is no substitute for talking to people about Jesus. I’m grateful for every means of technology that allows us to reach people in different ways, but we must never confuse the tools or the programs with the message. Those must never be allowed to take precedence over the simple and effective means of testifying to others about what we have experienced and learned from the Word of God.
There are churches all over the country that are surrounded by people who have never received a clear presentation of the gospel. We rightly work, pray, and give to send missionaries around the world, but we must not neglect our own responsibility to reach those close to us at home. If we want to change the world, we must do the work of telling those around us the truth. This is the only way to transform a town.
Acts 5:27–29
The first church in Jerusalem didn’t have a lot of things we consider to be essential to a growing and successful church, but what they did have was a group of people who were committed to taking the truth to those around them. Though the church was led by men who had spent three years with Jesus, learning from Him, it was not just the apostles doing the work. The entire church took responsibility for proclaiming the gospel to Jerusalem. “And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ” (Acts 5:42).
There is no substitute for talking to people about Jesus. I’m grateful for every means of technology that allows us to reach people in different ways, but we must never confuse the tools or the programs with the message. Those must never be allowed to take precedence over the simple and effective means of testifying to others about what we have experienced and learned from the Word of God.
There are churches all over the country that are surrounded by people who have never received a clear presentation of the gospel. We rightly work, pray, and give to send missionaries around the world, but we must not neglect our own responsibility to reach those close to us at home. If we want to change the world, we must do the work of telling those around us the truth. This is the only way to transform a town.
Today’s Growth Principle:
The more we tell others about Jesus, the greater an impact we will have on the city in which we live.
No comments:
Post a Comment