Read on Twitter
The growth and geographic expansion of the church was the direct result of decentralized preaching of the Gospel message. Rather than beginning at the top with priests and governing authorities, Jesus chose normal men to be his disciples, to learn from him and imitate (1/5)
him. In time these men became “nodes” of sorts, verifying whether or not given teachings and practices had indeed been taught by Christ. He entrusted his authority to them as they set out not to do their own will or expand their own ideas, but to fulfill the mission (2/5)
that they received from Him.
The Gospel message neither deferred to or excluded the rich, but it was difficult for the rich and powerful to acknowledge that the existing systems of authority had lost touch with and become oppressive to the very people they were to protect. (3/5)
The Gospel message neither deferred to or excluded the rich, but it was difficult for the rich and powerful to acknowledge that the existing systems of authority had lost touch with and become oppressive to the very people they were to protect. (3/5)
As a result & despite many attempts by establishment authorities to discredit and punish those who preached Christ’s lordship and supremacy, his message and ethic spread throughout the known world until (a form of it) was eventually was institutionalized by emperors/kings. (4/5)
Knowing that the implications of his teachings were hard and required a radical willingness to question everything they took for granted, Jesus directed his teaching to the few who would, saying,
“He who has ears, let him hear.”
In other words...
“Few understand this.” (5/5)
“He who has ears, let him hear.”
In other words...
“Few understand this.” (5/5)
