Luke writes, ... and that repentance...
Illustration
Luke writes, "... and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things." (24:47-48)
Do we realize the tremendous power and potential that is ours as the people of God? T. A. Kantonen, in his book A Theology of Evangelism, spoke to this passage when he wrote, "Christianity spread because it was essentially a lay movement in which every member was a missionary." Wherever Christians were and wherever they went, they spoke a good word for Christ. They lived for him and they died for him.
It is significant that the very word layperson is derived from laos, meaning people, the word which the New Testament uses of the messianic people, the royal priesthood of all believers. To be a layperson is thus the highest honor in which a person is held in the New Testament. It is to be a person for the kingdom, a Christ-person. The distinction in being between the ordained minister and the layperson is utterly insignificant. Both belong to the laos of God, and both are called to the ministry of Christ and his church. The only thing that ultimately matters is to be "in Christ," to be a member of Christ's body and God's Kingdom, doing God's work, whatever one's calling may be.
Little wonder that George Sweazey in The Church as Evangelist has stated it so well: "Without evangelism there could be no Christian faith on earth. Christ has no other plan."
What are you doing to spread the news of Christ?
Do we realize the tremendous power and potential that is ours as the people of God? T. A. Kantonen, in his book A Theology of Evangelism, spoke to this passage when he wrote, "Christianity spread because it was essentially a lay movement in which every member was a missionary." Wherever Christians were and wherever they went, they spoke a good word for Christ. They lived for him and they died for him.
It is significant that the very word layperson is derived from laos, meaning people, the word which the New Testament uses of the messianic people, the royal priesthood of all believers. To be a layperson is thus the highest honor in which a person is held in the New Testament. It is to be a person for the kingdom, a Christ-person. The distinction in being between the ordained minister and the layperson is utterly insignificant. Both belong to the laos of God, and both are called to the ministry of Christ and his church. The only thing that ultimately matters is to be "in Christ," to be a member of Christ's body and God's Kingdom, doing God's work, whatever one's calling may be.
Little wonder that George Sweazey in The Church as Evangelist has stated it so well: "Without evangelism there could be no Christian faith on earth. Christ has no other plan."
What are you doing to spread the news of Christ?
