There’s a good reason why most evangelism outlines (such as the roman road) use passages out of Romans.  The Book of Romans is one huge evangelistic sermon.  Today’s reading is simply too rich and deep to cover it all in a simple blog.  Though I’ve read Romans many times before, I’m always blown away by the amazing words of truth that it holds.  The following three sentences are what I think sum up the point of this entire book:

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:6-8)

Today’s scripture reading gives some insight into the life of a pastor as we read about Paul and his companions’ ministry.  Here are some things we can learn about ministry from Paul:

1. Preach the Good News (Acts 17:18)
2. When you tell the Good News, some will accept it and some will not. (Acts 17:32-34)
3. The Good News will sometimes lead to controversy. (Acts 19:23-41)
4. When you’ve completed what God called you to do in one place, be willing to go where God sends you next. (Acts 20:1)
5. Try to be creative in your teaching and don’t be too long-winded. When you preach too long you may not be able to bring people back to life who die when they fall down due to you preaching “on and on.” (Acts 20:9-10)
6. When you’re in ministry, you will make sacrifices.  Sometime that will mean time away from family. (Acts 21:5-6)
7. Your testimony of what God did in your life is one of the best tools you have for sharing your faith. (Acts 26)
8. Giving your life to serve the Lord doesn’t mean it will be easy – but it’s worth the cost. (Acts 23, 24, 25, 27)

In this section of scripture we begin to see the early Christian church facing persecution and even death because of their faith in Christ.  Here are just a few of the stories that mean a lot to me and to our faith as Christians.

• Stoning of Stephen – when Stephen testified of his faith in Christ the opposition, “could not stand up against his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke.”  (Acts 6:10)  It was the Holy Spirit who spoke through Stephen and it was He who received the glory.  The people stoned Stephen to death and made him the first martyr.
• The Church Scattered (Acts 8) – Because of Stephens death and the onslaught of persecution that followed, the church scattered throughout the land.  Though the people were persecuted, the fact that they had to scatter and move around – that helped them get out the Good News of Christ.
• Evangelism 101 – (Acts 8:26-40) – Philip witnessing to the Ethiopian
• Saul’s Conversion – (Acts 9)