• Download a powerpoint resource for this lesson here.
She was tall and a little lanky for being 16. But on this day, her boldness trumped the 21-year-old Christianity major enrolled in an evangelism class. Who would have thought the gospel could go forward while surrounded by animatronic cows?
“Knock, knock.” “Who is there?” “Church.” “Church who?” “Exactly!”
The church always has been about “who” and not “where.” Somehow the American church has become synonymous with buildings. This is tragic. In Acts 4, we find no building whatsoever. Instead, we find people, the church, filled with the Holy Spirit—bold, prayerful and prepared to be persecuted if necessary. There is no sense of “we must keep to ourselves inside our building.”
Recently, a missionary from Asia was discussing a short-term mission opportunity with a missions committee. He described the potential trip: Float down various rivers in a canoe packed with Bibles. When the people in the villages along the river see Americans, they will come running just to say hello. Give them a box of Bibles and keep floating.
This amazing ministry would mean thousands of people would have access to the gospel for the first time. “Is it dangerous?” one person asked. “I have been punched a time or two. Sometimes there are some intimidation tactics used by the spiritual leaders in the area to scare the Christian people away,” the missionary replied.
The atmosphere of the room immediately changed. When prayer ensued after the missionary left, it was evident the people were too afraid to pursue the opportunity: “Lord, please help this missionary find a church to help him.” “I pray you will send more provision for this ministry.” “Prepare the hearts of the other churches he will visit with this week.” These were small prayers prayed by scared people.
This type of thinking would have been totally foreign to the early church, though it has become commonplace in American churches. Yes, even right here in the extra-large belt buckle of the Bible belt in Texas. Apathy abounds. Fear cripples. Status quo reigns.
In fact, just like the Sanhedrin council had to guard the status quo, in most churches, there are a few people who guard the status quo, ensuring that visionary, Acts-like leaders are squelched before they even begin. As you know, “we’ve never done it that way before” is the bullet always ready to be fired from the chamber. It is indeed the motto of a church that is dying.
Compare this prevalent attitude to that of these amazing, Holy Spirit filled disciples in Acts 4. Their boldness abounds. Just in the verses from this study, they look in the eyes of the accusers and proclaim, “It is by the name of Jesus Christ, whom you crucified … that this man stands before you healed” (v. 10). After being threatened, Peter and John proclaimed “we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard” (v. 20). And, as the passage points out, these are simply “uneducated” normal people.
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For me, I fear the threat alone would be enough to stop my lips from speaking about Christ. For almost every Christian church in America, no threat exists yet many have become silent, not willing to leave the comfort of the pews to take the gospel outside church walls.
If no threat exists, then why are we so afraid? Perhaps Roosevelt was right: “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”
If the masses are going to be reached for Christ, it is not going to be accomplished by pastors. Yes, we pastors play a vital role. But you are a Christian today because of a band of fishermen, a tax collector, a zealot and a doubter. We have the chance to join the band of those declared “unschooled and ordinary” by the religious leaders (v. 13). Yet, our being Christian, being with Jesus, is what will make the difference.
Pray my friends. Today, join those ordinary disciples in one of the greatest, least-known prayers in the Bible: “Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness” (v. 29). Ask God to make you bold. But don’t sit back and settle for status quo. Kick down a few doors for the sake of the gospel. Motivate your church to be like the early church. Pray for your pastor. Encourage him to lead with boldness. Let him know if he leads in evangelism and mission work, you will be supportive. Don’t let the status quo kill your church.
Inspiration and application
It was Christian Youth Day at Astroworld in Houston. It was also raining cats and dogs. The Cow Palace, featuring animitronic cows, was a good respite from the rain. It was packed with soaked thrill seekers. When the electricity went out, the gospel stage was set. Myla, the lanky 16-year-old girl, turned to me and said: “Ok. Now is your time to get up there and preach, being a youth pastor and all.” “You are crazy” must have been the look I gave.
She left for a minute. I looked up and there she was, on the stage next to an animitronic cow in mid sentence. “I came up here to tell you guys some jokes.” A few knock, knock jokes and a few smiles later, she quickly sat down next to me. “Ok. I warmed them up. They are ready for the gospel.”
Scared and a little perplexed, I stood on the stage next to Sam the Bull to deliver the message of salvation. As the invitation finished, Elsie and Sam the Bull started singing another Texas hit. Were it not for a bold 16-year-old, I would have remained silent that day. Seems a small group of them prayed for boldness before we left the church.
Since we are morphing your Bible study group into a “Bible-doing” group, here are two ideas for this week:
1. Make an Acts 4:29 pact. Print the words to Acts 4:29, hand them out to your class, and ask everyone to set an alarm everyday for 4:29 p.m. When it goes off, pray Acts 4:29 for your church. Don’t do this for a week, do it for the rest of your life.
2. If you want to be radical, schedule “Support Your Pastor Week.” Ask each class member to schedule an appointment with your pastor. Keep it brief. At the meeting, let your pastor know you are praying for boldness. Assure him you are behind him 100 percent as he leads the church in evangelism and missions. It will make his year, I assure you, but it might just start a lay-person revolution.
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