I have been extensively studying the book of Acts for a class I am participating in and one of our assignments was to identify “keys” to the establishment and expansion of the first-century church. That is, what recurring themes do we find in the book of Acts that helped the church become grounded and grow “to the ends of the earth”? And what of those things that occurred in the first century church a few thousand years ago are still applicable today? Over the next six weeks I would like to share some of the things I found in my study of Acts that if we were to take seriously and adopt as a church we may see the amazing power of God unfold in our lives and ministries.
Common patterns that seemed to arise in the book of Acts that contributed to the establishment and expansion of the First-Century Church are centered around the following themes: Leadership, Prayer, Witnessing, Unity, Holy Spirit Empowerment, and Persecution. Many of these areas overlap (i.e., praying in one accord is both prayer/unity) but it was helpful for me to compartmentalize the keys into these general categories.
Today we’ll talk about PERSECUTION
Whether we like to acknowledge it or not, persecution is a strong factor in growth and expansion of the church, both maturing lives of individuals and the corporate body of Christ. When we experience opposition and suffering at the hands of those who would oppose God, it unites, strengthens, gives us something to fight for, and allows us to experience joy and God’s presence and comfort amid suffering.
I invite you to check out some (by no means a full list!) of these keys pertaining to persecution I identified, along with their scripture references from the book of Acts. As you read through these, decide what of these we can apply to our lives today to be in alignment with God’s design for His church.
Religious leaders imprisoned Peter and John for their boldness and proclamation of Jesus and threatened them against further teaching and preaching of this word which presented an opportunity for boldness, revelation of truth, and preaching of Jesus to the leaders (4:1-21)
Religious leaders imprisoned the apostles, put them on trial, threatened and beat them; the result of which allowed the apostles to find the joy of suffering for the cause of the Lord and did not deter them from boldly and constantly teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ (5:17-42)
Stephen was seized, falsely accused, brought to trial for his words and works and ultimately put to death by stoning for His steadfast dedication to Jesus (6:8-7:60)
The church in Jerusalem was scattered to Judea and Samaria due to intense persecution (some at Saul’s hand) but as a result those scattered took the opportunity to preach the word everywhere they went (8:1-4)
God used His own persecution by Saul to encounter him on the road to Damascus and reveal Himself to Saul (9:1-7)
Saul was sought out by the Jews of Damascus and Jerusalem for his bold preaching of Jesus Christ so that he was forced to flee (9:23-30)
King Herod persecuted the church, killing James and throwing Peter into prison giving the church an opportunity to intercede for him. The church learns to rally around crisis (12:1-5)
Envy drove some of the Jews to persecute Paul and Barnabas by contradicting, opposing and and expelling them from the region, causing them to move on to other areas and to focus their attention to the Gentiles (13:45-46, 50)
Jews from Antioch and Iconium stoned Paul in Lystra and left him for dead, but he got up and continued on his way (14:19-20)
In response to Paul casting a spirit of divination out of a slave girl, the masters who profited from her had them beaten and jailed (16:16-24)
Jason and his household were persecuted for harboring and supporting Paul (17:5-9)
Paul and his companions suffered opposition in Ephesus from those who stood to lose their livelihood from making idols to false gods (19:23-41)
Paul was falsely accused, seized, beaten and bound with chains as he attempted to observe the jewish custom of purification (21:27-36)
As I reflect upon how we do ministry today, I am encouraged that when we as disciples employ these same principles within the context of our lives and ministries we should hope to see the same power, signs and wonders the apostles experienced. After all, the same Spirit that worked in each of the men and women during the establishment and expansion of the First-Century Church is the same Spirit that was in Jesus, and continues to dwell in us today. As we seek to turn our ministries to become realigned with the Way of Christ and His Apostles I am confident we shall continually move to see the Church unfold in power and in great works in the world, as well as transform the hearts and lives of His people to a greater degree.