One of the reasons the Gospel got out of the 1st century was because of the BOLDNESS of those first followers of Christ including Paul.   Acts 21:13 says:  Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

Christians in America are not willing “to die” for the cause of Christ and therefore Churches in America are dying.  We’re not reaching people effectively for Christ. 

Jesus said we are to be His witnesses to the uttermost parts of the earth.  We’re not going to impact the world until we start impacting our communities and that will only happen when we get a touch of the kind of boldness Paul had.  I’m praying for that kind of boldness in my own life.

God may not call you to give up your life (literally) in order to build His Kingdom, but you can’t serve Him effectively if you’re not willing to put Him first.  What difference does it make?  Eternities are at stake, and in spite of what cultural trends might suggest – I believe heaven and hell are as real as the world we live in and every person will spend eternity in one of them after they die.