Stay. Make Disciples

Acts 8:1-2
1 And Saul approved of his (Stephen's) execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.
2 Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him.

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Jesus promised his disciples that they would be his witnesses to the entire world, beginning in Jerusalem. Up to this point in the narrative, they haven't branched outside of Jerusalem. As the church, they haven't expanded beyond one city. With the murder of Stephen, the official persecution against the early church begins and the church is scattered. Because of this scattering, everything goes just as Jesus had proclaimed, that Judea and Samaria would also be filled with his witnesses.

This event is similar to the Tower of Babel incident, but with a little twist. At Babel, God confused everyone's language so that they could not understand each other. On Pentecost, God also brought various languages into one place, but people from other nations were present and could understand what was being said. After the Tower of Babel stopped building, the people scattered throughout the nations, just as God had proclaimed to Adam and Noah (be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and rule it). After this scattering of the church, his disciples go throughout the nations and proclaim the good news of the kingdom.

What stands out to me today is how all twelve of the apostles remain in Jerusalem. There needed to remain a solid foundation in Jerusalem, the center, the hub. It says that none of the apostles were scattered or left Jerusalem, whereas before, all of the apostles scattered when Jesus was arrested. Here, they all remain in a bold statement of courage, "We're not going anywhere. The church is here to stay." As I read these verses, it gives me encouragement to know that God has called me to my place, and he has not scattered me to pick up and leave, but to remain steadfastly.

I imagine that not every single disciple in Jerusalem left except for the apostles, and that there were only twelve Christians in the entire city. It does say after all in verse 2 that "devout men" buried Stephen. Devout to what? To the faith; they were devout followers of Jesus. But the disciples who did go out didn't just run away, they were also bold and had important work to do. Verse 4 says that "those who were scattered went about preaching the word." In order for them to do so, they had to have known how to preach the word, how to share the good news. These disciples were equipped for ministry (Eph. 4:12); not in a formal, educated sense, but they had spent time with theOctober 18, 2011 8:49 AM apostles and devoted themselves to their teaching. They had committed to a lifestye of being actual followers of Christ, not just Sunday attenders.

It shows that the apostles were effective and faithful in raising up the saints to be doers of the word, and not just hearers (James 1:19). The key to raising up any disciple is relationship. Not powerful teaching or programs, but life-on-life relationship. When it says that devout men buried Stephen is also says that they made great lamentation over him. In previous chapters, it tells of how Stephen was selected along with Philip to take a higher position of leadership in the church. That all came about because of relationship with the apostles and the other believers.

I'm not just called to stay where I am and be a steadfast worker, just chipping away at my daily tasks. I'm also called to raise up disciples in the process. In fact, I think that's flipped. I think I'm supposed to raise up disciples first and foremost. My daily tasks and workload gets done in the midst of relationship. Those who are ministers with me should be able to be scattered, or leave, and be able to minister wherever they end up. Sometimes we get so caught up over the incredibly miraculous and powerful things the Holy Spirit did in the days of the early church, like teleporting Philip from one place to the other, that we overlook how these disciples were prepared to proclaim the good news, and willing to be wherever the Lord led them. That's the key for us today as well.

For me specifically, I am challenged and encouraged to make relationship and disciple building my primary focus. Because the true test of my calling and leadership will be the effectiveness of those who are raised up under me. The Lord wants better disciples, not just better programs and services (although, those things should be happening, in the context of building disciples).

Father, thank you for this challenge and reminder. Forgive me Lord for switching my priorities. Fill me with your goals and cares, and may I be found faithful to raise up committed, effective disciples for your name, glory, and kingdom.