Undefeatable Discipleship

   One could say there are two accounts of those first disciples. The first is found in the Gospel. Here we find the “disciples-in-process” -- from curious recruits to readied apostles.
   Then there is the book of Acts. Here we find some of those same disciples, now as courageous crusaders for Christ. They had been trained by the Master…they had experienced His death…and His resurrection. Their passion was inspired by the Spirit whom Christ had shared with them. The connection and calling were interwoven...
   “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”  (Acts 1:8).
   Pentecost was the “ground-swell” event. The doubt was gone... determination was in its place. These disciples were now undefeatable!
   It was not the lack of opposition that was the determining factor.  There was an ample force of frustrated, confused religious leaders who had presumed that this “Jesus Movement” would end with the crucifixion. But the “blasphemer” was reported to be back  -- alive from the tomb. There was no body to disprove the disciple’s rally cry -- “Christ is alive!”
   There is something significant in these words regarding the reaction of these leaders when then at ...