Winter
Scripture Reading — Acts 12:1-4
Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. Acts 12:1
Winter comes. Invited or not, the harsh wind of winter blows into our lives. Spiritual winter does not arrive according to calendars handed out in advance. No, it comes when we least expect it.
Let's say your family is fine, and you're all happy, healthy, and flourishing. That's like summer. But then winter can come one day in a doctor's report or an accident or something else that presents a crisis.
Most of the stories we've covered so far in the book of Acts have been like spring and summer! New congregations have been born. Sick and disabled people have been healed. Church conflicts have been resolved. Wolves like Saul have become sheep and then shepherds. But now with James's death and Peter's imprisonment, it seems winter has come.
I know a church that was flourishing. People were coming to the faith and giving toward a new building. It grew from a few people to 200 in a short time. But then one Sunday, without notice, half the people left and formed another church.
Sometimes we forget that every church, every family, every person has seasons of winter. Think about biblical characters like David or Moses or Ruth or Esther.
But the question, of course, is, "What do we do in winter?"
Winter comes. Invited or not, the harsh wind of winter blows into our lives. Spiritual winter does not arrive according to calendars handed out in advance. No, it comes when we least expect it. Let's say your family is fine, and you're all happy, healthy, and flourishing. That's like summer. But then winter can come one day in a doctor's report or an accident or something else that presents a crisis. Most of the stories we've covered so far in the book of Acts have been like spring and summer! New congregations have been born. Sick and disabled people have been healed. Church conflicts have been resolved. Wolves like Saul have become sheep and then shepherds. But now with James's death and Peter's imprisonment, it seems winter has come. I know a church that was flourishing. People were coming to the faith and giving toward a new building. It grew from a few people to 200 in a short time. But then one Sunday, without notice, half the people left and formed another church. Sometimes we forget that every church, every family, every person has seasons of winter. Think about biblical characters like David or Moses or Ruth or Esther. But the question, of course, is, "What do we do in winter?"
About the author — Kevin Adams
Dr. Kevin Adams has served as a church planter/pastor in the Sacramento, California, area since 1991. He and his wife, Gerry, began Granite Springs Church in Lincoln, and this congregation has helped to nourish several other church plants. Kevin also serves as a director of the Sierra Leadership Network, a training program for new church leaders.
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