We Are Contagious
If you've been with us the last few weeks, we've been studying This Is Us—talking about who we are as the Choctaw Church of Christ and what we're all about. And you're probably thinking, how in the world can we have another lesson from this passage of Scripture? We've been in the same text for weeks on end!
This is the last one. After today, this series is finished (though Acts 2 will surely come up again).
So far, we've talked about how we've been brought together only through Jesus, and how we've been made into a family—one that isn't just family by name, but one that lives and acts like a family. Together, we're devoted to the teaching of the apostles, to Scripture, and last week we saw how we are generous because of what God has done for us.
If we stopped there, that would have been pretty good—but we would have missed a huge part of what we're all about. Because if we only looked inward, we'd forget that God also calls us outward: to share the good news and seek the salvation of souls.
We Are Contagious
The last piece of This Is Us is this: we are contagious. Christianity is infectious. From the very beginning, people opposed it, but people were also drawn to it.
We may have negative connotations with that word contagious—we just came through a pandemic. But think about it: just like a virus spread from one side of the world to another, the message of Jesus began in Jerusalem 2,000 years ago and has spread across the world. And it is still just as contagious today as it was then.
People want to hear the good news. Some are desperate for it. And when they hear it, believe it, and obey it, their lives are set on fire. Christianity spreads through influence—through how we live, how we speak, and how we love.
Christianity Spreads by Boldness
But here's the key: Christianity does not spread without boldness.
Acts 3 tells of Peter and John healing a lame man at the temple gate. When the crowd gathers in amazement, Peter preaches the gospel:]
- Jesus is the Son of God.
- You denied Him and killed Him.
- God raised Him from the dead.
- Now repent and turn back so your sins may be blotted out.
That is bold. Preaching to the very people who had just crucified Jesus, Peter and John double down instead of backing down. And the result? The number of believers grows from about 3,000 to 5,000 in just one chapter (Acts 4:4).
Their boldness leads to both growth and persecution. They are arrested, threatened, and commanded to stop speaking in Jesus' name. But they answer:
"We cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard."
When they had the chance to retreat, they instead stood firm. And the leaders "saw their boldness and recognized they had been with Jesus" (Acts 4:13).
What Boldness Looks Like
So what does boldness mean for us today?
- Caring more about what God thinks than what the world thinks. Jesus said, "If the world hates you, know that it has hated Me before it hated you." We can't seek acceptance from a world that rejected Christ.
- Caring more about people's souls than their feelings. The truth can hurt, but the gospel is worth sharing even if it risks offense. Better to hurt someone's feelings temporarily than to let them live without the hope of salvation.
- Being willing to suffer for Christ. Peter—who once denied Jesus—later wrote that Christians should not be surprised when trials come. Instead, rejoice that we share in Christ's sufferings. Our faith may cost us friendships, jobs, or reputation, but if Christ suffered for us, we must be willing to suffer for Him.
A Challenge for Us
Christianity is not meant to stay inside the walls of the church building. A faithful church is a family, devoted to God's Word, generous—and bold.
Would you know Jesus if it weren't for a bold Christian? Think about it. Somewhere along the line, someone had the courage to share the gospel with you. Now it's our turn. There are people in our community who may never know Jesus if we aren't bold enough to speak.
At the end of Acts 4, the early Christians prayed—not for persecution to be removed—but for God to give them greater boldness. That must be our prayer too.
Closing Prayer
Father, we love You. We thank You for Your Word, for Your Son, and for His courage to face the cross. We ask that You grant us a Christlike spirit of boldness—boldness to live faithfully in a world that may oppose us, and boldness to speak of Jesus with our neighbors, friends, and family. Help us be willing to be uncomfortable, even to suffer, so that others might know Your love and salvation. In Jesus' name, Amen.