“Some” Christians Can Change the World

Guest post by Jesse Wisnewski

The church wasn’t going to be the same. The gospel of Jesus Christ was breaking new ground in dramatic ways.

Beginning from Jerusalem, the gospel rapidly advanced throughout the area. And the message of Jesus’ life, death, burial, and resurrection was being proclaimed exclusively to the Jewish population.

The restrictions on the gospel were about to change.

God was preparing his people to reach beyond their comfort zone by proclaiming the gospel to the non-Jewish—Gentile—population for the first time.

God expressed his desires originally to the Apostle Peter by revealing them to him in a vision. He then confirmed his intention when the Holy Spirit visibly came upon a group of Gentiles who heard the gospel proclaimed for the first time (Acts 10).

At this point, the church decided to make a concentrated effort to reach the non-Jewish people—and consequently the world—with the gospel of Jesus Christ (Acts 11:18, 20)

From here, God didn’t decide to launch this new shift in mind-blowing miraculous deeds. He didn’t send in the “big guns” like Peter and Paul to orchestrate this change. And he didn’t even need a platform.

God carried out his new work through “some” people.

“There Were Some”

“There were some,” records Luke, “who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus” (Acts 11:20).

Following a period of great persecution (Acts 11:19), “some” Christians were scattered throughout the region like leaves in the fall. They lost their homes, their source of income, and all sense of familiarity. These men, women, and children traveled great distances, traversed difficult terrain, and endured challenging circumstances.

But God redeemed their situation.

He provided them with the desire and opportunity to share the gospel with an entirely new group of people. And he didn’t leave them hanging, either.

We read that he blessed their endeavors and that “a great number who believed turned to the Lord” (Acts 11:21).

This event can be easily passed over. But this moment captured by Luke is of extreme importance in the life of the church. This moment marks the first direct outreach of the church to the Gentiles.

It's a moment in the life of the church that changed things forever. It is a moment in a long series of events that sparked the spread of the gospel throughout most of the world today. If you believe in Jesus, then this is a moment in time you can look back upon with gratitude in your heart.

Who are “Some” Christians?

The names of the “some” are not recorded. We may never know who they are. But this may be precisely the point.

• “Some” Christians throughout history are primarily responsible for “most” of the church growth.
• “Some” Christians every day choose whether or not to tell their family, friends, and neighbors about Jesus.
• “Some” Christians will never be named alongside the heroes of faith.

And this is okay.

• “Some” Christians who change the world do not need recognition, accolades, or titles.
• “Some” Christians do not need programs, plans, or a promotion.
• “Some” Christians do not need massive platforms, impressive skills, or cool trades

What “some” Christians seek is God’s glory and the good of others—not their own.

So may we be “some” Christians who seek to make Jesus famous—not ourselves, whose confidence no longer rests in what we do for God but what Jesus has done for us, and who just love God, love people, and consequently change the world around us.