I love the original Rocky movie. A down-and-out fighter turned muscle for a neighborhood loan shark gets a shot at the title. Rocky goes all-in. Up before dawn to train, guzzling raw eggs (I tried this once, almost threw up), pounding sides of beef in a meat locker. Rocky trained relentlessly. In the ring he proved his mettle. In leadership parlance we call this dynamic determination.

Paul the Apostle was a lot like Rocky. After taking a right hook from Jesus, Paul relentlessly pursued the mission given to him by the Lord. Following one episode of mistreatment and stoning, he and his companion Barnabus picked up and moved to the next city where we’re told they continued to preach the gospel. That’s dynamic determination.

Screams in their face, rods broken across their back, rocks bouncing off their head—all part of the job. Paul and Barnabus proclaimed the the good news until they died. Paul’s preaching career ended in Rome, beheaded by Nero. Barnabus was stoned to death by a crowd in Cyprus.

A simple formula, really. Preach Christ until you die. Their determination changed the world, and ushered in the faith we enjoy today.

Acts 14:7

Photo by The Ordinary Moments