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December 22, 2021 7:00 pm
“The Gathering” in northern Thailand is an interdenominational, international church. On a recent Sunday, Christians from Korea, Ghana, Pakistan, China, Bangladesh, America, the Philippines, and other countries came together in a humble, thread-worn hotel conference room. They sang “In Christ Alone” and “I Am a Child of God,” lyrics that were especially poignant in this setting.
No one brings people together like Jesus does. He’s been doing it from the start. In the first century, Antioch contained eighteen different ethnic groups, each living in its own part of the city. When believers first came to Antioch, they spread the word about Jesus “only among Jews” (Acts 11:19). That wasn’t God’s plan for the church, however. Others soon came who “began to speak to Greeks [Gentiles] also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus,” and “a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord” (vv. 20–21). People in the city noticed that Jesus was healing centuries of animosity between Jews and Greeks, and they declared this multi-ethnic church should be called “Christians,” or “little Christs” (v. 26).
It can be challenging for us to reach across ethnic, social, and economic boundaries to embrace those different from us. But this difficulty is our opportunity. If it wasn’t hard, we wouldn’t need Jesus to do it. And few would notice we’re following Him.
Thanks for joining me for today's encouragement from our daily total cowbell. No, the gathering in northern Thailand is an interdenominational international church on a recent Sunday believers in Jesus from Korea, Ghana, Pakistan, China, Bangladesh, the United States, the Philippines and other countries came together in a humble thread worn hotel conference room they saying in Christ alone and I'm a child of God, lyrics that were especially poignant in that setting. No one brings people together like Jesus does. He's been doing it from the start in the first century. Antioch contained 18 different ethnic groups, each living in its own part of the city when believers first came to Antioch. They spread the word about Jesus only among Jews.
That wasn't God's plan for the church. However, ask Chapter 11 records at others soon came, who began to speak to Greeks also telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus and a great number of people believed in turn to the Lord. People in the city noticed that Jesus was healing. Centuries of animosity between Jews and Greeks and they declared this multiethnic church should be called Christians were little, Christ's, they can be challenging for us to reach across ethnic, social and economic boundaries to embrace those different from us, but this difficulty is our opportunity wasn't hard. We would need Jesus to do it, and few would notice were following him today Our Daily Bread devotional Scripture reading from acts Chapter 11 verses 19 through 26. No, those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed traveled as far as Tunisia, Cyprus and Antioch spreading the word only among Jews.
Some of them. However, men from Cypress and styrene went to Antioch began to speak to Greeks also telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus the Lord's hand was with them and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord. News of this reach the church in Jerusalem and they sent Barnabas to Antioch when he arrived and saw with the grace of God had done. He was glad and encourage them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit in faith and a great number of people were brought to the Lord. Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul when he found him, he brought him to Antioch.
So for a whole year. Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people.
The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. Let's pray father. Your spirit is calling together people from every race, nation, tribe and language.
Thank you for including us in your beautiful church in Jesus name we pray. Amen.
Today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread ministries
