9 Words Change Everything

“Jesus himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” Acts 20:35b NIV

Can you picture for a moment, Jesus' dusty feet, traveling through small, tiny villages with his Chosen (12) Apostles and would-be-followers. Jesus is teaching curious crowds, swarmed by onlookers everywhere. Jesus' public ministry and popularity lasted 3.5 years; before His arrest, crucifixion, and resurrection. How did Jesus do it? Why did the crowds keep coming?    

What began with a few unschooled, untrained fisherman (Acts 4:13-20) quickly grew with unstoppable momentum. Jesus' small circle of followers became the global phenomenon which continues today, centuries later. Easter changes everything. He called fishermen, Simon Peter and his brother Andrew, by the Sea of Galilee. Jesus simply said, “Come, follow Me.” And, “I will make you fishers of men.” Mt 4:19 NIV.

Jesus’ invite to regular people (spiritual outsiders) became contagious. In Jerusalem, on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2), following Jesus resurrection, Peter and the Apostles shared the Jesus Gospel of Good News. They told everyone, 'Jesus is not dead. He is risen. We have seen Him with our own eyes.' The people who rejected Jesus were immediately convicted; asking, “What can we do?” Peter made it clear, surrender yourselves to God’s mercy, confess your sins, and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins and gift of the Holy Spirit. Thousands responded and were baptized (Acts 2:38).

What wouldn’t we give today for a spot in the Jesus circle? Sitting around a campfire, listening to Jesus teaching. The next best thing could be gathering in regular worship. Celebrating, remembering, reviewing Jesus' life changing words. One of the early church take-aways from Jesus’ message to His followers in the start-up churches planted after Easter… were those 9 words… “It is more blessed to give… than to receive.”

This weekend at Journey Church Cynthiana we wrap up our current series, The Treasure Principle - describing those 9 words of Jesus… once again discovering the eternal benefit of learning and sharing with everyone what life is about on earth; following Jesus instructions, sharing Jesus' Good News. Life, real life, is accepting forgiveness through Jesus sacrifice and the Cross and sharing grace generously to others via Jesus' love. It’s about giving, not getting!

'Jesus is not dead, we’ve seen Him with our eyes.' Jesus' disciples told everyone. Let’s give away the Jesus blessing, again today. Let’s invite everyone. Come and See. April 19/20 - Easter 2025. Help invite NOW!

Go God!