More of the Story: Where do we go from here?

After some time had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him, but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night so that they might kill him; but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket.
When he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples; and they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him, brought him to the apostles, and described for them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken boldly in the name of Jesus. So he went in and out among them in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. He spoke and argued with the Hellenists; but they were attempting to kill him. When the believers learned of it, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
Meanwhile the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and was built up. Living in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers. ~ Acts 9:23-31

To transform home is to transform the world. ~ Diana Butler Bass, Grounded



 The early church began in this small backwater place in the world and look where it is today.

 Look how Christianity has turned the world up on its head!

 But it started from home. It started with a group of followers of an executed criminal who got to spread the good news of his resurrection.

 It opened up from there.

 It included the expected sorts of people and the unexpected sorts of people.

 And everyone got their job to do.

 What would it be like for a church today - a group of Jesus followers - to look around at their little corner of the world and ask themselves what needs to be transformed? To begin to follow Jesus first from the place of home?

 To begin even when it feels like everything is stacked against us?

 Saul would become Paul and end up for all intents and purposes defining what Christianity was and is.

 But his first step out was a small one. And it was one that got people pissed at him and nearly got him killed.

 But he kept on. He spread out. He moved and grew and changed as he needed to.

 The story of the early Christians is our story. We are part of the story. It is still unfolding; still more to tell.

 And if we look around, we'll see probably just where we should begin to tell it.
Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for letting me be part of your story. Help me to never stop telling it to a world who needs to hear it. Amen

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