Read Acts 17:5-9 + Matthew 28:19-20 in your personal Bible or at the links provided.
Review
1. What home did the Jews attack?
2. What did they accuse Jason and the other believers of, and what did this indicate about their relationship with Paul and Silas?
3. In Matthew 28, what instructions did Jesus give His disciples? How do you see this being lived out in Acts 17:5-9?
Reflect
Paul was in Thessalonica to plant a new church, all with the goal of making disciples. Jason and other believers came to Paul’s aid to the point of being persecuted themselves. Just as they had watched Paul and Silas respond with courage, these new believers responded with courage, making it their mission to spread the good news and make more disciples.
This is the mission we’re called to be a part of too. A disciple is someone who follows Jesus by obeying Him. Disciple making means entering into relationships to help others follow Jesus. As we saw with Paul, Silas, and Jason, we can’t be disciples without being disciple makers. So much of our world is self-centric, even when it comes to discipleship. We make it about us and our needs. But biblical discipleship is Jesus-focused and others-focused, and it always leads to growth.
Would you say you’re a disciple maker? Do you actively step into relationships to help others follow Jesus? Where have you made discipleship about you, rather than about Jesus and others? How can you shift your mindset and approach?
Respond
Pray through today’s reading, reflecting on the questions just posed. What do you think God is prompting you to do in response? Write it down, share it with a friend, and take a step to start making it happen.