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Why Are You Here?

Four traits explain the apostles\\u2019 witness in the book of Acts\\u2014boldness, humility, tenacity, and urgency; these same four traits should characterize our witness.

Peter and John constantly went around reminding the religious leaders that they had killed Jesus, a fact they were less than thrilled to recount. Their boldness astonished the religious leaders, especially since Acts 4: 13 tells us Peter and John were not educated. When a fisherman stands up to the most powerful figure in the city, that is bold.

But their boldness did not lead them to arrogance; they acted with incredible humility. The apostles were astoundingly blunt about who Jesus was, but not because they had figured things out on their own. They received salvation by grace, and those who receive grace know that they have zero ground for moral or intellectual superiority.

But humility does not back down. A humble witness can still be a tenacious one. Peter and John shrug off threats of imprisonment and death. \\u201cThrow us in prison? Slander our names? Kill us? Fine, but we\\u2019ll keep preaching because it

is a message worth sharing.\\u201d This tenacity comes from the resurrection. They believed that Jesus had risen from the dead and that Jesus was doing something to save people who could not save themselves. When we believe that, we cling to our witness in the face of opposition.

We have to be urgent to spread the good news. We know that only Jesus offers salvation. The gospel was constantly on the apostles\\u2019 lips everywhere they went because they took the gospel\\u2019s implications seriously. Believing in Jesus means you will do something about the lostness around you. Share that belief, and you will have a movement on your hands.

God owes none of us salvation. That any of us have access to it is an unspeakable act of grace. But what is unfair, is for those of us who know the gospel not to do all we can to bring it to others.

As we prepare for Advent, what can you do to witness to others about the love of God that you have, as you offer people the chance to discover real hope for real life as we go out and make disciples, so that the world is transformed by God\\u2019s love? How can you invite someone into a loving relationship with Jesus and connect with the loving grace-filled community that we call Grand Lake United Methodist Church?