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So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. --Acts 2:41 Today’s verse of Scripture tells us that on the first day of the church it added three thousand people to the congregation. Isn’t that amazing?   And we also learn that these new Christ-followers did something else that first day. They recorded their names on a roll. You see, they formed a body of believers. They became a family of faith and were accountable to one another. In contrast, there’s something happening in the modern-day church that is disconcerting to me. Rather than becoming committed believers belonging to a local church, many people have turned into consumers. They pick and choose churches like cartons of milk or boxes of cereal. Marketers have even given this group of people a name, “church hoppers,” because they hop around forming no real attachments. They seem to prefer to be without responsibility to a church or its people. But this is a terrible mistake and a tragedy. Christians aren’t like free-range chickens. You weren’t designed to roam alone. You’re called to a family! Experience the true blessings of being a part of a body of believers. Become knit together with them. Share in their joys and burdens. It’s time to really know and love others in the church and to let them know and love you in Christ Jesus. YOU WEREN’T DESIGNED TO ROAM ALONE. YOU’RE CALLED TO A FAMILY!

The Ministry of Reconciliation

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.”
2 Corinthians 5:18–20

Jonathan Dolliver served as United States Senator from Iowa from 1900 to 1910. During much of the time he was in Washington, his elderly father lived with him and his family. When his father passed away, Senator Dolliver was surprised when the Italian Ambassador sent flowers and asked if he could sit with the family at the funeral. When Senator Dolliver asked why he wanted to come, the ambassador replied, “He was the only person who thought enough of me to speak to me about my soul.”
Many, if not most, of the people we meet day after day are living in this world with little, if any, thought or concern of eternity. Our society does its best to ignore and obscure the reality of death. People go to great lengths to extend their lives. Even the product that pays people’s heirs money upon their death is packed and sold as “life insurance.” Yet, no matter how much we try, we cannot escape the reality that death is coming to everyone.
This reality should be at the front of our minds as we meet people in different walks of life. Whether it is neighbors, co-workers, friends or family members, every person we meet has an eternal destiny. And we must try to reach them. “Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences” (2 Corinthians 5:11).
 

Today’s Growth Principle: 

We cannot force anyone to be saved, but we should not let anyone go to Hell unwarned.