First called "Christians" ....

Acts 11:26

" ... and in Antioch
the disciples
were first called Christians ..."

Reading about the amazing growth

of the early church, 

in the book of Acts,

is an encouraging read.

The more the believers were persecuted,

the more the church grew.
 The grace of God that gripped these early believer's hearts
was invisible -- but the effect it had on their lives was easy to see.


Barnabas sought out Paul to help him disciple the new believers in Antioch.
They taught them the Word of God for a year.

As these new believers grew and the church grew,
those opposing them began to recognize them as people who were
"of the party of Christ"  and began calling them


"Christians".

The term  was used in derision toward these new converts.

But how encouraging and challenging it is -- 

that those who did not follow Christ

recognized those who did.

Now THAT is a good testimony ....
and a good challenge to me!