Unhindered

This past Sunday, we looked at what to do when life causes you to have an interruption. We saw how the church started out and how they faced an immediate interruption coming at them from the Jewish leadership. Peter and John were doing a good and right thing, healing a lame man. The Jewish leadership had them arrested. These leaders told them to stop preaching and teaching in the name of Jesus. We read of Peter and John stating firmly and boldly, “Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him?  We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.” They had an overcomer’s attitude as they lived their lives. They went about doing the mission God called them to do in spite of the obstacles placed in front of them. Do you have an overcomer’s attitude? Do you stay on mission in spite of life’s interruptions? What do you do when adversity comes your way? 

This Sunday we’re going to look at God’s ongoing mission in the life of the church. We’ll be in Acts 4 looking at the mission God has called us to do in His name. The book of Acts ends in a way that feels incomplete because Paul is in prison. But the last word in the book of Acts is a very telling word. It’s the word “unhindered” in the original Greek. The verse says, “And he stayed two full years in his own rented quarters and was welcoming all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all openness, unhindered.” There was no limit to the movement and preaching of Paul and the mission of the church. The mission of the church has remained a constant throughout the 20 centuries it’s existed. We continue to live that mission daily as believers in Christ. The mission of Christ reaches people in his name. When you extend a smile to another person, you are doing the mission of Christ in your life. When you help someone out, you are doing what Christ would have you to do. When you ask someone to church, you are spreading the gospel. When you teach someone about what Christ means in your life, you are on mission for Christ.

This Sunday would be a great Sunday to bring a friend or an acquaintance to attend church. We’ll lift up God’s word and preach and teach Christ Jesus as Lord. Looking forward to worshiping with you this Sunday. See you then.