By the time we get to Acts 5 the church has felt little heat from the enemies of the gospel, but this is about to change dramatically. A word of censure becomes a vicious beating and suddenly the church starts tasting its own blood. Does this kill the church and silence their witness? No, it becomes fuel for the spreading flame of evangelism and a reason for pure joy in a pure fellowship. If this is what it takes to ignite the church we should be willing to say, “bring it on!”

Rejoicing in Pain for Christ’s Sake