“This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:13 NLT)

God didn’t say, “I desire unity in the church. Good luck with that.” Instead, He designed the church so that it would promote unity. In Ephesians 4:11–12, the apostle Paul tells us that Christ gives people specific gifts so that they can fill specific offices in the church. When those officers use their gifts to fulfill their responsibilities, something amazing happens. Connections are made. Fellowship occurs. Bonds of unity are forged.

Some people are called—and gifted—to be apostles. They don’t have the authority of Jesus’ apostles, but they are special ambassadors of God’s work. Apostles may plant churches or serve as liaisons to other Christian organizations.

Some people are equipped to be prophets. They don’t have the same authority as biblical prophets, but they speak the words of God that agree with the Old and New Testaments. In 1 Corinthians 14:29, Paul emphasized that the words of prophets are subject to the discernment and authority of church leaders.

Some people are equipped to be evangelists. That is, they are specially gifted to share the Good News of Christ with others.

And some people are equipped to be pastors and teachers. We shepherd the flock by making God’s Word accessible, understandable, and applicable. Often that involves building a bridge to our audience or making a connection to get their attention. Ultimately, though, the power of our message is not in some quote from a secular philosopher or a pop star or some other iconic figure. The power is in the Word of God.

God said in Isaiah 55:11, “It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it” (NLT).

And Paul said in 2 Timothy 3:16–17, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work” (NLT).

My job, and the job of all pastors and teachers, is not to make the Bible relevant. The Bible is relevant. I just need to let the lion out of the cage and let the Word of God do what it does best, change lives.

In the bigger picture, Christ equips the leaders of the church to equip God’s people to serve. This common experience—of learning the truth of God’s Word, of being equipped, and of sharing a commitment to serve—strengthens the unity among church members.

When we embrace our roles, the body of Christ grows, and the members of that body learn to work in unity.

Reflection Question: How can you help create or nurture a spirit of unity in your church?

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“Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.” (Ephesians 4:3 NLT)

In our increasingly fractured culture, we don’t have to look hard for issues that divide us. But where can we find things that unite us? Ephesians 4 is a good place to start our search. For the next few days, we’re going to look at the apostle Paul’s teachings on creating and nurturing unity in the church.

In the first three chapters of his letter, Paul reminded the Ephesian believers of what God had done for them. In Ephesians 4:1, he urged them “to lead a life worthy of your calling” (NLT). When you have a sense of what God has done for you, you’re more likely to serve Him out of gratitude. You don’t lead a worthy life so that He will love you; you lead a worthy life because He loves you.

Leading a worthy life means embracing qualities such as humility, gentleness, and patience. That might involve tabling your own agenda for the sake of someone else’s. Or choosing to forgive instead of taking revenge. Or learning to appreciate the characteristics and quirks in other people that don’t mesh with ours.

James put it a little more bluntly: “Don’t grumble about each other, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. For look—the Judge is standing at the door!” (James 5:9 NLT).

Don’t complain about other believers. Go to them and try to help them. The phrase “grumble about each other” means to groan within yourself. It speaks of a person who has a bitter attitude. Some people are always criticizing. They think it’s a spiritual gift—the gift of tearing others down. But it’s not a gift of the Spirit; it’s a work of the flesh, and it’s used by the enemy. Don’t be known as someone who burns bridges; be known as someone who builds bridges. Don’t be known as someone who kicks others when they’re down; be known as someone who reaches out to people and pulls them back up again. Don’t denigrate and tear down one another. If you have something to say about someone, say it to them, not about them.

Paul said, “Make every effort to keep yourselves united” (Ephesians 4:3 NLT). If that means sacrificing your own preferences, so be it. If it means swallowing your pride, so be it. If it means meeting people more than halfway or doing the heavy lifting in a relationship, so be it. Keeping people united may seem like thankless work at times, but God sees and rewards our efforts. His Spirit works in us and through us, making sure that our efforts don’t go to waste.

As believers, we share one body, one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of all. That gives us a wide swath of common ground on which to build unity.

Reflection Question: What is your best strategy for building unity in a group?

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“That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! ‘Peace be with you,’ he said. As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord!” (John 20:19–20 NLT)

If we were telling the origin story of the Christian church, this would be a compelling first scene. A handful of Jesus’ followers hiding behind closed doors, shell-shocked, confused, and too scared to show their faces in public. Suddenly the risen Jesus miraculously appears in the flesh, victorious over sin and death, confirming the truth of everything He taught and promised them.

At some point, either while Jesus was in the room or after He left, the truth must have dawned on them. If the One they served is more powerful than sin and death, then (1) they had nothing to fear, and (2) the world needed to know. We see their newfound boldness and sense of purpose in the passages that follow. That’s the power of the resurrection.

Armed with that power, this small group of believers changed the world. And most of them sacrificed their lives to do it.

According to church tradition, Peter took the gospel to Pontus, Galatia, Bithynia, Cappadocia, and Asia. He was crucified upside down because he told his executioners that he wasn’t worthy of being crucified in the same manner as Jesus.

Andrew spread the gospel through what is now Russia, Turkey, and Greece. He, too, was crucified.

Thomas wasn’t present when Jesus first appeared to the disciples in John 20. And he doubted their story. But when Jesus appeared again, and Thomas saw Him, his doubts disappeared. He took the Good News of Jesus’ resurrection all the way to India. He died after being impaled by the spears of four soldiers.

Philip spread the gospel in North Africa and Asia Minor. After he converted the wife of a Roman official, the official had him put to death.

Matthew, the tax collector, traveled to Persia and Ethiopia to spread Jesus’ message. He was stabbed to death.

Bartholomew accompanied Thomas to India and also shared the gospel in Armenia, Ethiopia, and Southern Arabia. He was crucified.

James, the son of Alphaeus, shared the Good News of Christ throughout Syria. He was stoned and then clubbed to death.

Simon took the gospel to Persia. He was put to death there when he refused to make a sacrifice to the sun god.

Matthias was the man chosen to replace Judas Iscariot. He shared the gospel in Syria, where he was burned to death.

John is believed to be the only disciple who died a natural death. He was exiled to the penal colony of Patmos.

The apostle Paul traveled extensively to share the gospel. He was beheaded in Rome.

The apostle John ended his Gospel with these words: “Jesus also did many other things. If they were all written down, I suppose the whole world could not contain the books that would be written” (John 21:25 NLT).

Among the “many other things” was the impact Jesus had on a small group of ordinary people. He changed their lives forever. And, in turn, they changed the world in His name.

As Jesus’ followers, we’re still called to change the world—one life at a time. We have Good News to share—the best news, in fact. If we’re faithful to our calling, we can impact lives for eternity.

Reflection question: In what ways would you like to be bolder in sharing your faith with others?

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“As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?’” (Acts 9:3–4 NLT)

The story of Stephen’s stoning contains a curious footnote: “His accusers took off their coats and laid them at the feet of a young man named Saul” (Acts 7:58 NLT). That would be Saul of Tarsus. After participating in the stoning of Stephen, Saul gained notoriety as a persecutor of Christians.

Saul was proud of his Jewish heritage and zealous in his Jewish faith. When he saw the followers of Jesus of Nazareth, a dead revolutionary, challenging Jewish beliefs, he determined to put an end to their movement. Acts 8:3 says, “But Saul was going everywhere to destroy the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into prison” (NLT).

Acts 9:1 says, “Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers” (NLT).

This was a man fueled by religious extremism. Saul found his identity in his Jewish religion. He was rigid in his beliefs and unlikely to change.

Until he encountered the risen Christ.

While Saul was on his way to Damascus to arrest Christians, Jesus appeared to him, as explained in the passage above. Saul’s life was never the same again.

Temporarily blinded after his encounter, Saul was led to the home of Ananias, a believer who knew of Saul’s reputation and was understandably suspicious of him. But the Lord revealed to Ananias that He had important plans for Saul.

Saul regained his sight, was filled by the Holy Spirit, and then baptized. As zealous as ever, he went straight to the local synagogue and proclaimed that Jesus was the Son of God. The Jewish people who had been his former allies were confounded by the power of his teaching.

As was the case with Ananias, the apostles and church leaders viewed Saul with skepticism. Eventually he won them over with the power of his testimony, his teaching, and his zeal to share the Good News.

Saul embarked on three major missionary journeys that took him to Gentile regions throughout the land. Perhaps to give himself more credibility in those places, he started using his Roman name, Paul.

He was imprisoned, stoned, and beaten for preaching the truth of Christ. But he never wavered. He considered it an honor to suffer for the Lord’s sake. He was beheaded in Rome around AD 66. But not before God had used him to change the world.

The life of Saul/Paul is a testimony to the power of Jesus’ resurrection. The risen Christ can transform any life. He offers forgiveness and healing. He gives us new purpose, new meaning, and new hope. Through the Holy Spirit, He guides us, comforts us, convicts us when we do wrong, and challenges us to maximize our God-given gifts.

Jesus lets us start again.

Reflection question: How has Jesus transformed your life or the lives of people you know?

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“Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed amazing miracles and signs among the people.” (Acts 6:8 NLT)

In the months following Jesus’ ascension, the church grew at an amazing rate. Jesus’ followers, emboldened by His resurrection, spread the Good News near and far. And people responded. Acts 2:41 tells us that after Peter’s sermon at Pentecost, “those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all” (NLT).

The church was also trying a radical experiment in community living. “All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. . . . There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need” (Acts 4:32, 34–35 NLT).

“But as the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. The Greek-speaking believers complained about the Hebrew-speaking believers, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food” (Acts 6:1 NLT).

Jesus’ apostles had neither the time nor the training to deal with such matters. Their solution was to delegate the responsibilities to “seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom” (Acts 6:3 NLT). The first person on their list was “Stephen (a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit)” (verse 5 NLT).

One day a group of Jewish men started a debate with Stephen, but quickly realized they were overmatched. Stephen was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke with His wisdom.

The men got their revenge by persuading others to lie about Stephen and accuse him of slandering the temple and the law of Moses. Stephen was taken to the Jewish high council to answer the charges.

Instead, Stephen launched into an epic sermon. He traced Israel’s relationship with God, starting with Abraham, who left his homeland for the land God promised him. God also promised Abraham that his descendants would fill the land but would also be oppressed as slaves in a foreign land for four hundred years.

Stephen recounted how God gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision and how He blessed Abraham’s descendants: Isaac, Jacob, and the twelve patriarchs of Israel. He explained how Joseph’s captivity in Egypt led to the slavery of the Jewish people for four hundred years. He also explained how Moses not only led them out of slavery but also prophesied the coming of the Messiah.

Stephen ended his sermon by making the connection between their ancestors’ rejection of Moses and the prophets and the Jewish leaders’ rejection—and murder—of Jesus.

Stephen spoke God’s truth boldly. He was prepared to sacrifice His life for His Savior. Acts 7:57–58 tells us that the Jewish leaders were so infuriated that they dragged Stephen out of the city and stoned him. Stephen became the first recorded Christian martyr.

There’s a powerful lesson in his story for all believers. We may never be called to give our lives for Christ, but we should be prepared to sacrifice our comfort, security, pride, relationships, plans, priorities, and anything else we hold dear for His sake.

Reflection question: Why is sacrifice an important part of our walk with Christ?

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“So beginning with this same Scripture, Philip told him the Good News about Jesus.” (Acts 8:35 NLT)

The New Testament mentions two followers of Jesus named Philip. The first was one of the twelve disciples, the men Jesus handpicked to follow Him. The second was known as Philip the Evangelist. Many Bible scholars believe that Philip the Evangelist was one of the seventy-two men Jesus sent out in Luke 10:1.

According to Acts 6:5, Philip the evangelist was one of the original seven deacons in the church at Jerusalem. According to Acts 21:8–9, Paul and Luke stayed at his house for several days when they visited Jerusalem.

But the story for which Philip is best known is found in Acts 8. Philip had left Jerusalem to become an evangelist in the city of Samaria, which was located about thirty miles north of Jerusalem.

“Crowds listened intently to Philip because they were eager to hear his message and see the miraculous signs he did. Many evil spirits were cast out, screaming as they left their victims. And many who had been paralyzed or lame were healed. So there was great joy in that city” (verses 6–8 NLT).

Energized and emboldened by Jesus’ resurrection, Philip fearlessly spread the gospel to people who were hungry for the Good News.

One day he received very specific instructions from an angel of the Lord. It seems that an important government official from Ethiopia had traveled to Jerusalem to worship. The official was reading aloud from the book of Isaiah in his carriage on his journey back to Ethiopia but was having difficulty making sense of the text. The angel instructed Philip, “Go south down the desert road that runs from Jerusalem to Gaza” (verse 26 NLT)—the road the Ethiopian official was traveling.

Philip didn’t question why he was being sent to the middle of nowhere. Incredible things had been happening since Jesus’ resurrection, and he probably saw the assignment as an opportunity to be part of yet another one.

He was right.

“Philip ran over and heard the man reading from the prophet Isaiah. Philip asked, ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’

“The man replied, ‘How can I, unless someone instructs me?’ And he urged Philip to come up into the carriage and sit with him” (verses 30–31 NLT).

The passage he was reading was Isaiah’s prophecy of Jesus being led like a sheep to the slaughter. The official wanted to know who the passage was talking about. He practically invited Philip to share the Good News with him. Philip didn’t need to be told twice.

The Ethiopian official was so moved by the gospel message that he asked Philip to baptize him. And then, according to church tradition, he carried the Good News of Christ back to his homeland and started a church there so that countless other lives would be transformed. The Christian faith gained an important foothold in its global spread. All because one man was bold enough to respond to God’s call.

If you find yourself in the right place at the right time to share your faith or answer someone’s questions about the Bible, it’s because God put you there, just as He did with Philip. Seize the moment. Be bold. Even a single encounter can change a life—and more.

Reflection question: Who might be waiting for you to help them understand the message of the Bible?

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“The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.” (Acts 4:13 NLT)

A short time after the miracle at Pentecost, Peter and John went to the temple in Jerusalem for an afternoon prayer service. They were approached by a man who had been a paraplegic since birth. The man was well-known to temple-goers because every day he was carried to the temple gate, where he begged for money.

Newly filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter and John opted for something much, much better. Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk” (Acts 3:6 NLT).

The man was instantly healed—and filled with joyous gratitude. “Walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with” Peter and John (Acts 3:8 NLT). People recognized him as the (formerly) lame beggar and gathered around, absolutely astounded by his healing.

Peter saw a faith-sharing opportunity and addressed the crowd. That’s right, the man who, only a short time earlier, had been too afraid to identify himself as Jesus’ disciple was now speaking boldly to the temple crowd. That’s the power of Jesus’ resurrection.

Peter pulled no punches in explaining where the power for the man’s healing had come from. Jesus—whom the people in the crowd had rejected and demanded be crucified—had been raised from the dead. Faith in Him is what caused the man to be healed.

Peter helped the people see that Jesus had fulfilled the prophecies about the Messiah. He urged them to repent of their sins and receive God’s forgiveness. About two thousand of them did just that. (Compare the figure in Acts 2:41 with the one in Acts 4:4.)

The Jewish religious leaders quickly put an end to the preaching and arrested Peter and John. The next day, the two disciples were brought before “the council of all the rulers and elders and teachers of religious law” (Acts 4:5 NLT)—the same people who had overseen Jesus’ trials two months earlier.

“By what power, or in whose name, have you done this?” they asked. (verse 7 NLT). That’s a risky question to ask two men filled with the Holy Spirit.

“Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the man you crucified but whom God raised from the dead.… There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved” (verses 10, 12 NLT).

Peter and John knew full well that the Jewish officials could have them killed. In fact, they had been hiding from these very men when Jesus appeared to them after His resurrection. But they had been empowered by the One who conquered death. So they spoke the truth boldly and left the consequences in the Lord’s hands.

The Lord doesn’t shield His followers from the repercussions of being bold for His sake. But He stays with us through the challenges, the discomfort, and the consequences. He gives strength, wisdom, and perspective. And He rewards our faithfulness in ways we can’t imagine.

Reflection question: What would boldness in sharing the Good News of Christ look like in your life?

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“Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.” (Acts 2:41 NLT)

Jesus’ followers experienced a profound change after His resurrection. Jesus had conquered sin and death forever. He had already won the war against humankind’s two greatest enemies. So His followers were emboldened to fight the battles against those who opposed Jesus’ work. They literally had nothing to fear any longer.

We can see the evidence of their newfound boldness in the events that took place during the celebration of Pentecost at the temple in Jerusalem about ten days after Jesus returned to Heaven.

Pentecost (which is also known as Shavuot) is a major Jewish festival. In the first century AD, people traveled from foreign lands to celebrate it at the Jerusalem temple, the center of Jewish worship.

Jesus’ followers were also in Jerusalem at the time. About 120 of them had continued to meet since Jesus’ departure. According to Acts 2:1–4, a roaring wind suddenly swept through their meeting place. Small flames appeared and rested on each of them. The Holy Spirit filled them, and they began to speak in languages they didn’t know.

A large crowd rushed in to investigate the commotion. Foreign visitors to the city were stunned to hear stories about the wonderful things God had done being spoken in their native languages by uneducated Galileans.

Peter seized the moment. The disciple who, just a short time earlier, had been too scared even to identify himself with Jesus, boldly stepped forward and explained that the people were witnessing the fulfillment of a prophecy God had made hundreds of years earlier, as recorded in Joel 2:28–32. God had promised to pour out His Spirit on all people, and now the Spirit had arrived.

Peter then launched into an impromptu sermon. He reminded people of the miracles Jesus had performed. He pointed to those miracles, as well as to Jesus’ death and resurrection, to show them that Jesus had carried out God’s plan of salvation. Peter quoted the prophetic words King David wrote about Jesus hundreds of years before Jesus’ birth. And then he identified Jesus as the long-promised Lord and Messiah. Peter urged the people to repent and be baptized so that they, too, would be filled with the Holy Spirit.

His words had a powerful impact. Acts 2:42 says that about three thousand people believed in Jesus that day. With one bold push, Peter and the others started the snowball rolling downhill. Filled with the Holy Spirit, they established the church and began to fulfill the Great Commission—to make disciples of all nations. The world would never be the same.

The same Holy Spirit who gave wisdom, strength, and boldness to Peter and the others fills everyone who believes in Jesus today. His power is always available to us. He equips us to step out of our comfort zone, to reach across the invisible lines that separate us from others, and to boldly share the Good News of Jesus.

Reflection question: What specifically can the Holy Spirit equip you to do?

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