Microchurch Minute
When you’re ready to declare your faith to the world, you get to be baptized. What an opportunity to accept the perfect gift that God designed for us to die to our earthly-selves and be raised again with the power of the Holy Spirit alive in us! How many believers don’t really get that? The same power that defeated death as Jesus rose from the grave abides in those that choose Christ. It’s the divine power that we are blessed with when we choose to turn from our own ways in favor of a walk next to our Savior. Knowing that this is available to you, ask yourself how you are using it. God speaks to us all differently and provides us the power to act, small or magnificent, on His behalf. We are to use the message from the Holy Spirit to empower, educate and persuade those that God places around us. Do you daily decide to dedicate all of yourself to discipleship like Paul did? We see that even when he faced opposition, Paul simply withdrew with those whom were genuinely thirsting for more truth and continued to teach them. Keep the practice of persistence, even in conditions when your environment changes. As God uses the Holy Spirit to work through you, there will be evidence of His power surrounding you. You look different than the false witnesses. Someone asked once, if you were put on trial today and accused of being a disciple of the Lord, would there be enough evidence to convict you? Take inventory of your life and your actions. Are you taking time to silence yourself and allow the Holy Spirit to act through you? Make time in your routine for the Holy Spirit to use you for discipleship. Lean into your relationship with Jesus. How fortunate we are that we are allowed the opportunity to lead others to the same promise of eternity with our heavenly Father that we so confidently rest in.
Microchurch Minute
Good morning y’all! We enjoyed gathering Sunday to discuss Acts 20. We made note of the followers that were listed and locations referenced. The historically documented people and locations help to provide authenticity to the writing, they could be referenced and known by readers and help us historically retrace Paul’s route! We gather the importance of their gatherings, as we note that Paul was speaking in an evening setting and wanted to make the most of their time together. I applaud the dedication of these individuals. They had definitely been working all day and used every ounce of their energy to enthusiastically gather and discuss teachings with Paul until all hours of the night. Then, another opportunity to see God’s goodness at work! When Eutychus falls from the window after surrendering to his complete exhaustion, he’s immediately pronounced dead. But, with the loving power of the Holy Spirit, Paul throws himself on Eutychus and he wakes. The crowd returns to break bread and continue their evening. May we all be so vigilant as to actively worship God by giving thanks and coming together. As we wrapped up this chapter, we are reminded to never stop sharing the good news. After all, if you are given the opportunity to share and you withhold, the blood of the fallen will lay heavy on your heart. But as we confidently move forward, sharing His word in every opportunity big and small, we can trust that we have played the piece God has asked us to and prayerfully move forward knowing He will move in the hearts of those that will have Him. Remember: it’s your job to plant the seeds. God will help them grow.
Microchurch Minute
What is in the blueprint of your DNA as a Christian? In Acts 21 we see Paul’s 3rd missionary journey as he has continued his venture in planting churches and spreading the good news. Paul wasn’t on a cushy vacation, as a matter of fact, his colleagues encouraged him not to go to Jerusalem. Sensing God’s calling, Paul pressed on ready to be uncomfortable. The holy spirit will often lead us into difficult things, not away from them. This is where the enemy likes to get a foothold and cast doubts in your mind, trying to consume you with fear. My friends, fear is not from your Heavenly Father. Even when leading us into uncomfortable missions, God will give you spiritual peace in honor of your perseverance and obedience. As Paul boldly spoke at the temple, in the midst of his enemies, he was arrested and led away. Speaking in Greek, Paul sought an opportunity to address the crowd he was being led through and his captors obliged. Have you ever found yourself in a less than favorable position? Was God using it to set up an opportunity for you to glorify Him? After all, He can use any circumstance for His glory (and our good). It’s pretty cool, when we align our hearts with where He is leading us, fear has no place because we are convicted by the word of God. Run an assessment of yourself and your beliefs. Are you going to church just to say that you do? Or are you a convicted Christian, so focused on pleasing the Lord that your every action is being used to glorify Him? This won’t always be comfortable, but I challenge you to pursue unity over your own selfish comfort. Expect opposition. The enemy wouldn’t be pushing you back so hard if you weren’t on the edge of revealing God’s greatness.
Microchurch Minute
We were so blessed to gather together and celebrate dads on Sunday. How blessed we are to be loved by a perfect Father! While many of us have far from perfect experience with earthly father figures, we can turn to the bible for the unshakable truths of God. He loves us so much that He will provide for us and sustain us. Are we trusting in that provision or do you find yourself pressing into the uncertainties of tomorrow? At times when correction is needed, we will sense God’s discipline as He provides course correction. Discipline may not always feel welcomed, but we can rest in the fact that God disciplines those whom He considers His own. The opposite of love isn’t necessarily hate, but oftentimes can been seen as complete apathy. If He didn’t truly embrace us as His own, there wouldn’t be a desire for correcting us. But instead, God chose to adopt us and care for our spiritual longevity with Him. We can fall into the comfort of His grace and reject the spirit of fear. He is loving and shows compassion to His children. Simply look at those of us striving to be good parents, we aim to love and embrace our children, providing the best things for them that we are capable of in this life. As flawed and fallen as our earthly selves are, just imagine the divine perfection that God loves us with. If we think we can provide so much good for our children, how much better can God actually provide for His own children? (that’s YOU!) Dads I encourage you to press into these truths, both about who you are to God and who He has called you to be to the youth entrusted in your care. God is not distant from us, but desires to walk among us and be present with us. Look at your everyday lives. Are you invested in your children and active in their lives? Are you setting the bar high by showing them how you follow God and by how you love their mother? The journey of fatherhood is a divine anointing God has placed on your life. A great responsibility. It’s time to rise up to who you’re called to be in the body of Christ.
Microchurch Minute
Being a Christian sure is a cakewalk, isn’t it? With our collectively perfect pasts and simply acquired citizenships. Sense the sarcasm. We see parts of Paul’s story highlighted, even in the midst of trials. Paul even identified as a Jew while referencing the persecution he personally inflicted on believers prior to being welcomed into the family of God. Relatable much? I really have grown to love the saying “I was one way and now I am completely different.” It looks different on this side of grace, yet sounds completely crazy to unbelievers. The crowd turns against Paul when he mentions reaching out to the Gentiles. As Christians, we understand that we are all God’s children, and that dictates an urgency in reaching out to them all. But to those confused at the mercy of grace and the gift the Jesus bestowed upon all creation the day he took up the cross, it’s a common misconception that is seen even in the modern day church… “christians” believing that they are better than or worth more than those that are not.
How does your everyday life look? Are you actively reaching those around you? In the midst of persecution, do you find yourself seeking opportunities to point to Heaven the way that Paul did? He related to people by way of sharing his story. You can’t argue someone’s testimony. Religion and politics can be debated all day, but the facts of your story will hold true. Who you were. Where you’ve been. What you’ve done. And then the shining moment, how did God make you completely different after you chose to rest in His grace. We all have a story. We have all faced varying degrees of trials. You’ll be amazed at the situations God strategically places you in where there are ears that need to hear it. At the coffee shop? In the checkout line at the grocery store? We have hundreds of opportunities each day to shine the light into the lives of others. Embrace it and seek the opportunities. Allow God to give you the boldness to speak unapologetically about His glory and how you’ve been transformed.
