Gossiping the gospel

My friend, Justin, reminded me today that I hadn't posted in awhile. Come to think of it, it's been weeks. New career, investment courses and exams, yadayadayada....... We're all busy, I know.

So let's pick back up where we left off. Last post we were looking at the stoning of Stephen and how Jesus appeared to him, standing at the right hand of God, as if to demonstrate love for Stephen in his martyrdom.

The next chapter, Acts 8, relates an interesting phenomenon. First, it tells about a great persecution that followed the stoning of Stephen. Zealous Jews were seeking to eradicate this young movement that had already turned Jerusalem upside down. It goes on to say that "those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the gospel."

Now it's normal to assume that the ones who preached were the leaders of the early church, when, in actuality, these first "missionaries" were rank and file church members whose lives had been dramatically changed through their encounter with the Risen Lord. They were so pumped up that they couldn't keep silent. As they traveled back to their homes in the outlying regions I can picture them seizing every opportunity to relate their experience of having their lives dramatically and eternally changed through their faith in Christ. I can imagine Joe and Sadie, as they headed back to Pamphylia, stopping at an interstate rest area or service station (donkey filling station - use your imagination), and striking up a conversation with anyone who would listen. Then, once they got back home, Joe couldn't help sharing his new faith with his coworkers. The same was true of Sadie, who went every day to the market and looked for opportunities to talk to someone about Jesus. And this happened in hundreds of lives, as these Greek-speaking Jewish converts returned to their homes and told of their encounter with Christ.

One writer, in commenting on this phenomenon, said that these early converts "gossiped the gospel." In a short time the entire region was abuzz with the Good News message.

The change that a relationship with Jesus Christ brings is something to buzz about. Who are the persons in your life with whom you're sharing your faith?