100 Days to a Healthier ChurchSample

Day 65 (Sunday)

Today’s Big Idea: Paul builds on a solid foundation. Following the Lord as He does something new does not mean rejecting the foundational principles that got you where you are.

Key Verse: “We tell you the good news: What God promised our ancestors he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus” (Acts 13:32–33).

Thoughts to Consider: The apostle Paul was doing something so new and radical by following Jesus that most of his Jewish contemporaries couldn’t go along with it. But that didn’t surprise Paul, since he felt the same way until the resurrected Jesus knocked him to the ground and changed his mind and heart. So whenever Paul brought the message of Jesus to a new town, he started on familiar territory—in the synagogue, reading from the Hebrew scriptures. From that foundation, he showed how Jesus’ message, though revolutionary, wasn’t a shift from the scriptures but a fulfillment of them.

As you consider the current process of change, it’s easy to get your eyes on the new things and either be excited by them or angry at them. Instead of focusing on these changes, it’s essential to keep our focus on God’s will. Are we building on biblical principles? If not, it’s time to renew our commitment to God and His Word. If so, say “no” to fear and step out in faith.