Please Don't Go!!

1/23/2010 6:52:32 AM #

Pastor Rick -

Here's my thoughts on Acts 21.

1 - What ingredients are necessary for spiritual transformation?
- V. 19, 20 – They were glorifying God after hearing the words of Paul and what had been accomplished on his missionary journey.  More Christian fellowship…

2 - How were followers of Christ engaged?
- As Pastor Rick mentioned, Paul was focused on following God’s Will, even though it meant personal danger.  And he pushed hard to get to Jerusalem on time.  Many verses in this chapter detail the continuous traveling.

3 - What is God saying to our church and me?
- Paul will still be able to minister and evangelize, even through the coming imprisonment and travel to Rome.  When going through difficult times, our testimony can be even more powerful.

- Brett

Brett H |

1/25/2010 9:59:46 AM #

Great Series!  But I'm getting behind on my reading.  I better catch up.   This is a Facebook Notes comment.

775323719 |

1/25/2010 3:45:33 PM #

Rick,
Very challenging question: At what point are you 'unwilling' to follow Christ. The zeal of early Christians is very apparent and largely contributed to the success of the church. One thing that strikes me is that those that were willing to 'put their lives on the line' for Christ lived very much in a world that made that decision possible.

What do we know about the persecution they faced as middle-class 21st century Americans. We allow so much to get in the way of our discipleship because there is much more to get in the way. The early church very much lived day to day. They worked hard enough to be sustained for one day. Every day they did this. How far removed am I from that experience? In a world with savings accounts, insurance policies, and expansive affluent social networks. I have no concept of what it means to ask God for my daily bread.

not to minimize their sacrifice for the gospel, but rather put our circumstances (as affluent Americans) in perspective. We stand to loose a whole lot more just as individuals within the church than the early church ever had to deal with (financially, socially, etc.)

From the perspective it seems that our temptations are much more exacerbated by our social circumstances. For Jesus to ask Fishermen to drop their nets and follow Him in first century Palestine is far different from asking Steve Jobs to regign from Apple.

The question for us still stands, What is 'too much' for us? And to what point will we say, "No, God." We know what scripture says, but following up on the call of obedience is another issue altogether.

Tait Norman Hoglund |