The first major shift for the early church in Jerusalem was
a result of severe persecution that broke out against the church following the martyrdom
of Stephen. The people (the church)
scattered to various places and the message of the Kingdom went viral. Acts chapter 8 relays the story of how the gospel
of the Kingdom of God arrived in Samaria.
Take a minute and read the chapter…
The word of God was taught.
People were healed. Signs and wonders were displayed. People made public commitments to follow
Jesus Christ (baptism). And the message
continued to spread outward by the people being changed by the power of God.
Shift.
Outward focus on taking the message to new groups of people
(even if because of necessity) brings delight and conflict. Some receive it
with joy (verse 39). Others look for a
way to manipulate the news for their personal agenda (Simon the sorcerer).
Shift.
What will it take to shift our thinking, resources, and
priorities toward taking the good news of the Kingdom of God to new groups of
people (locally and globally)? What will make it necessary? Will we do it before circumstances dictate
that we must?
Shift from member services to a missional push.
