Stronger Disciples

July 14

(Acts 14:21-22a NIV) “Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, {22} strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith.” 

(Matthew 28:18-20 NIV) ““Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. {19} Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, {20} and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.””

(Revelation 3:1-3 NIV) “To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. {2} Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. {3} Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.”

Paul and Barnabas knew it was important to disciple those that they had evangelized. They went back to the cities where they had preached the gospel, and taught them Christian basics. Jesus said, “Go into all the world and make disciples.”, and so Paul and Barnabas discipled. Being a Christian is about more than just being saved -- it’s about becoming more like Jesus every day, and growing progressively stronger in the faith. Any Christian who is not growing and strengthening their spiritual “legs” on a continual basis is not following the biblical pattern. Too many believers today think they have arrived. They think they’ve learned everything they need to know, but no one can ever reach that state on this side of heaven. Get back to learning in some way. Take a class. Read a book. Watch a good video series. Stretch, grow, and be strengthened. Become a genuine disciple. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day 

Continue to Evangelize

July 13

(Acts 14:21 NIV) "They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples.”

(Acts 6:7 NIV) "So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith."

(Acts 9:42 NIV) "This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord."

Wherever Paul and Barnabas went, they preached the Good News. They never stopped sharing the gospel. They never stopped witnessing and evangelizing. Many Christians today assume that most of those living and working around them have heard the gospel. That assumption is wrong. Reliable sources estimate that the un-churched population in the USA is near 150 million. The percentage of adults who do not regularly attend church continues to rise yearly. Statistics are even worse in many other nations around the globe. Believers, we have work to do. We must follow Jesus in a way that attracts people. Our witness must be consistent. We must find ways to lovingly share the gospel. Evangelism is more than an altar call. It is a life lived for Christ that shines like a light in the darkness. It is a loving and caring community. Never stop evangelizing. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

He Got Up and Went Back

July 12

(Acts 14:19-20 NIV) "Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. {20} But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe."

(2 Corinthians 1:8-11 NIV) "We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. {9} Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. {10} He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, {11} as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many."

As Paul preached in Lystra, religionists from Antioch and Iconium came and spoke against him. Convinced that Paul was a threat to their way of life, the crowd decided to stone Paul. When they finished, they dragged him out of the city and left him for dead. Being a disciple is not all fun and games. But the faithful gathered around him, and it would be foolish to think they weren’t praying. Miraculously, Paul got up, and walked right back into the city where he had been attacked. He seemed to have no fear. Don’t miss the importance of the community of faith praying here. We can do things we couldn’t ordinarily do when we have the support and prayers of a community. That’s why “lone ranger” Christianity is such a bad idea. But also don’t miss the power of a life fully surrendered to God’s sovereign will. Paul got up and went right back. That’s courage! That’s faith! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day 

Glory Thieves

July 11

(Acts 14:11-18 NIV) ““When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, "The gods have come down to us in human form!" {12} Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker. {13} The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates because he and the crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to them. {14} But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting: {15} "Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them. {16} In the past, he let all nations go their own way. {17} Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy." {18} Even with these words, they had difficulty keeping the crowd from sacrificing to them.””

(Acts 12:21-23 NIV) ““On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. {22} They shouted, "This is the voice of a god, not of a man." {23} Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.””

At Lystra, Paul and Barnabas spoke God’s healing over a man who had never walked, and the man jumped up and began walking. The crowd went wild and began to declare that “the gods” had come down to Earth. The glory that belongs to God alone was coming to Paul and Barnabas, but they would have none of it. We should be so wise. When your ministry becomes effective some may begin to praise you. Some may even begin to idolize you. It feels good to be treated like a rock star, but don’t go there -- not even in your head. One of the worst things that can happen to Christians is for us to begin to feel like we deserve the accolades and the credit that come our way for being good people. We can begin to soak up the praise, but if we don’t pass it on to the Lord, we become glory thieves, stealing what really belongs to God. Resist the temptation to become little gods. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day