THAT WAS THEN. THIS IS NOW. BUT WHAT HAPPENED THEN CAN HAPPEN AGAIN.
When we read the book of Acts, we see a church marked by boldness, prayer, sacrifice, biblical conviction, community, mission, and an unwavering commitment to Jesus Christ.
https://patrickryanlewis.com/2026/08/23/that-was-then-this-is-now-but-it-can-happen-again/
The early church wasn't perfect. Scripture openly records its struggles, disagreements, and failures. But there was something unmistakable about those believers:
Christ had the preeminence.β¨
They feared God more than people.β¨
They prayed believing God could move.β¨
They were willing to sacrifice for the gospel.β¨
They lived with eternity in view.β¨
They confronted sin while extending grace.β¨
They cared deeply about reaching people with Jesus.
The question isn't whether we can somehow recreate the first century.
The question is whether we are willing to recover those same spiritual priorities in the twenty-first century.
Before pointing at everything wrong with the church today, we should ask:
Lord, what needs to change in me?
Am I more concerned with God's approval or people's approval?
Am I willing to stand for truth when it costs me something?
Is Jesus truly first in my life?
Do I pray expecting God to work?
Am I more passionate about the gospel than my preferences?
Do I live like eternity is real?
We don't simply need better programs, bigger churches, or newer strategies.
We need Christ-centered churches filled with surrendered people who believe the gospel is true, Jesus is alive, eternity is real, and the mission is worth our lives.
Maybe our prayer needs to become very simple:
Lord, do it again.
Read the full blog and consider what it would look like for the church—and for each of us individually—to recover the passion, courage, holiness, prayer, and mission we see in the book of Acts.
#ChurchRevival #BookOfActs #JesusChrist #ChristianLiving #BiblicalTruth #Faith #Prayer #Repentance #GreatCommission #Gospel #FollowJesus #ChristianChurch #SpiritualRenewalTHAT WAS THEN. THIS IS NOW. BUT WHAT HAPPENED THEN CAN HAPPEN AGAIN.
When we read the book of Acts, we see a church marked by boldness, prayer, sacrifice, biblical conviction, community, mission, and an unwavering commitment to Jesus Christ.
https://patrickryanlewis.com/2026/08/23/that-was-then-this-is-now-but-it-can-happen-again/
The early church wasn't perfect. Scripture openly records its struggles, disagreements, and failures. But there was something unmistakable about those believers:
π₯ Christ had the preeminence.β¨π₯ They feared God more than people.β¨π₯ They prayed believing God could move.β¨π₯ They were willing to sacrifice for the gospel.β¨π₯ They lived with eternity in view.β¨π₯ They confronted sin while extending grace.β¨π₯ They cared deeply about reaching people with Jesus.
The question isn't whether we can somehow recreate the first century.
The question is whether we are willing to recover those same spiritual priorities in the twenty-first century.
Before pointing at everything wrong with the church today, we should ask:
Lord, what needs to change in me?
Am I more concerned with God's approval or people's approval?
Am I willing to stand for truth when it costs me something?
Is Jesus truly first in my life?
Do I pray expecting God to work?
Am I more passionate about the gospel than my preferences?
Do I live like eternity is real?
We don't simply need better programs, bigger churches, or newer strategies.
We need Christ-centered churches filled with surrendered people who believe the gospel is true, Jesus is alive, eternity is real, and the mission is worth our lives.
Maybe our prayer needs to become very simple:
Lord, do it again.
Read the full blog and consider what it would look like for the church—and for each of us individually—to recover the passion, courage, holiness, prayer, and mission we see in the book of Acts.
#ChurchRevival #BookOfActs #JesusChrist #ChristianLiving #BiblicalTruth #Faith #Prayer #Repentance #GreatCommission #Gospel #FollowJesus #ChristianChurch #SpiritualRenewal
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