After the stoning of Stephen, Christians fled Jerusalem and formed communities of faith throughout the Roman Empire. Read Acts 11:19-21. Luke, the author of Acts, recorded how the community of faith in Jerusalem was growing. The twelve disciples expanded the leadership team so that Greek-speaking Christians could help assist in ministry to their peers. Stephen, one of the seven chosen, was stoned to death when he publicly proclaimed the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. To flee persecution, many Christians left Jerusalem and settled in other parts of the Roman Empire. The Christian movement grew in these areas. The stoning of Stephen was a tragedy. People fleeing for their lives is frightening. The long-term outcome was transformative. I do not believe God causes bad things to happen, but God can take a tragedy and use it for transformation. First-century Christians were open to new and different people joining their community. First-century Christians showed God’s love through words and actions. First-century Christians were serious about peace and reconciliation. These values helped create authentic communities of faith and are the same values we incorporate today. When we put our faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, Jesus gives us the gift of community. We join together to carry out the mission of making disciples. We join our voices to praise God together. We study together so that we might apply Jesus’ teaching to our daily lives. We lean on each other in difficult, even tragic times, and ask God to transform us.

Holy God, in times of tragedy, help us to lean on your grace. Give us the strength and the courage to continue the mission of making disciples. Thank you for surrounding me with an authentic and warm community. Amen