The Early Church

Friends in Christ,

I’ve been reading the book of Acts lately. The stories of the early church amaze me. There are parts which seem so much like our setting, like the diversity of gods Paul saw on display in Athens. There are other parts of Acts which I long to see today, especially the stories of conversion. I’ve been paying attention to those and praying about them. Let me remind you of some of the baptisms recounted in Acts:

And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. (Acts 8:36-37)

“Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized…” (Acts 9:17-18)

For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared  “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. (Acts 10:46-48)

And after [Lydia] was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” (Acts 16:15)

Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. (Acts 16:30-33)

Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with his entire household. And many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized. (Acts 18:8)

Those are points of celebration! That’s the work of the Holy Spirit through the church of God. Let those stories encourage you. I only listed key verses, but you can go back and reread the stories as well. This is the mission of the church moving forward – making disciples of all nations, baptizing and teaching.

We have that same Spirit. We are that same church. The mission of God is still moving forward in our world. Pray with me for stories of our own. Pray with me for stories of the Spirit’s work. Pray with me for baptisms. Pray with me for friends, and family, and neighbors of ours to come to faith in Jesus. Pray with me, that we might know and celebrate the roles we get to play in God’s ongoing mission.

I’m thankful to be following Jesus in his mission with you!

Here for you,