Stress Test Devotional April 27
April 27, 2024
ACTS 5:17-18 | 17 Then the high priest took action; he and all who were with him (that is, the sect of the Sadducees), being filled with jealousy, 18 arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison.
There were lots to encourage the early church! But with all great advances come complex issues. The realism of Acts means we have an opportunity to see this in action.
The rapid growth of the church attracted the attention and opposition of Jewish leadership in Jerusalem, manifested in the arrest of the apostles. There were continuous adjustments required by growth and outreach, including the development of new “offices” and ministries, like that of the deacons. There were emerging issues about what parts of Jewish identity must be maintained and whether there should be community boundaries to exclude or include Gentiles.
Encouragement, in all the forms we’ve seen this week, is key because even positive developments will lead to challenges.
What challenges can you see emerging at VPC?
