Persecution of the early church did not curtail the proclamation of the gospel – it fanned it into flame. A sudden upsurge in violent attacks against Christians drove disciples out from Jerusalem into the Judean hills, and further into Samaria (Acts 8:1-4). The seed of the gospel was scattered and took root wherever brave men and women witnessed to Jesus with their words and their lives. At its inception and always at its best the church is by definition a missionary movement. It is certainly not a static institution.
One of Jesus’ last commands to the disciples was to go, and in the process of moving – to make disciples not just of their kin, but of all nations. Settling into the status quo was never an option for them, and nor is it for we who walk in their footsteps. We are called to participate in God’s mission in the world. This is both our privilege and the adventure God calls us into.
In 1928 the International Missionary Conference met in Jerusalem. A declaration emanated from that meeting stating: Herein lies the Christian motive; it is simple. We cannot live without Christ and we cannot bear to think of others living without him. ... We believe in a Christlike world. We know nothing better; we can be content with nothing less.
We can be content with nothing less than playing our part in God’s reconciling work in the world. That work starts here on our doorstop – in our city. God loves the Gold Coast. In the power of the Holy Spirit we are called to proclaim that love in word and action. We are filled with the Holy Spirit and sent out by Jesus to declare and demonstrate the saving grace of God. And we get to do that together in this thing we call ‘the church’. Thank you God!
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