KEEP FOLLOWING

After the crucifixion of Jesus, the disciples were left rudderless and disoriented, but his appearance to them and the intensely motivating events of Pentecost rallied their spirits.

From this point they found the strength to push forward with keeping Jesus’ message alive. They carried Christianity through the Near East and beyond faithfully following  the command Jesus had given them to tell the world about Him.

BIBLE READING

37 Cut to the quick, those who were there listening asked Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers! Brothers! So now what do we do?”

38-39 Peter said, “Change your life. Turn to God and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, so your sins are forgiven. Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is targeted to you and your children, but also to all who are far away—whomever, in fact, our Master God invites.”

40 He went on in this vein for a long time, urging them over and over, “Get out while you can; get out of this sick and stupid culture!”

41-42 That day about three thousand took him at his word, were baptized and were signed up. They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meal, and the prayers.

43-45 Everyone around was in awe—all those wonders and signs done through the apostles! And all the believers lived in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in common. They sold whatever they owned and pooled their resources so that each person’s need was met.

46-47 They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple followed by meals at home, every meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful, as they praised God. People in general liked what they saw. Every day their number grew as God added those who were saved. (Acts 2: 37-47)

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE DISCIPLES?

* What do we know about what the disciples went on to do?

* How did they live after Jesus had left them?

* How did they fulfil the Great Commission? (google this if you don’t know what it means)

* Did they achieve all that Jesus had set out for them to do?

* Did they keep following?

This is what we know:

We know that the disciples became bold, empowered by the Holy Spirit. (Check out Peter’s sermon in our reading. Remember how he had previously denied he even knew Jesus).

We know they were founders of the early Christian church.

We know that they were instrumental in some of the writings of the New Testament

We know that they kept following Jesus, through all the hardship.

We know that some of them even lost their lives because they were followers of Jesus.

I WILL BE WITH YOU

It’s not always easy to follow Jesus. In fact if it is easy then maybe we aren’t truly following him.

Jesus tells us though that however hard it is, he promises to be with us. Let’s make a commitment to keep following Jesus, to keep running the race of Christian discipleship. Listen to these wise words from the writer of the book of Hebrews:

We are surrounded by a great cloud of people whose lives tell us what faith means. So let us run the race that is before us and never give up. We should remove from our lives anything that would get in the way and the sin that so easily holds us back. Let us look only to Jesus, the One who began our faith and who makes it perfect. (Hebrews 12:1–2 NCV)

What was the one thing that kept those runners running for five or six hours?

It was the thought of crossing the finish line, of receiving the medal. It wasn’t about getting there first, before everyone else. It was about keeping on going – walking or running – crossing that line. The exhilaration of the achievement. The success of not giving up.

Watch the clip again and imagine you are running, as a disciple of Jesus, with many people cheering you on.

PRAYER

Lord,

Help us to keep following you, to keep running the race, to keep our eyes fixed firmly on you, even if the way seems hard. Thank you that you have promised to be with us, always.

Amen