建立初信者
使徒行传十四章19至27节
19但有些犹太人从安提阿和以哥念来，挑唆众人，就用石头打保罗，以为他是死了，便拖到城外。
20门徒正围着他，他就起来，走进城去。第二天，同巴拿巴往特庇去，
21对那城里的人传了福音，使好些人作门徒，就回路司得、以哥念、安提阿去，
22坚固门徒的心，劝他们恒守所信的道；又说：我们进入神的国，必须经历许多艰难。
23二人在各教会中选立了长老，又禁食祷告，就把他们交托所信的主。
24二人经过彼西底，来到旁非利亚。
25在别加讲了道，就下亚大利去，
26从那里坐船，往安提阿去。当初，他们被众人所托、蒙神之恩，要办现在所做之工，就是在这地方。
27到了那里，聚集了会众，就述说神藉他们所行的一切事，并神怎样为外邦人开了信道的门。
信息分享
就在他们准备回程的时候，他们觉得必须先偿一个心愿。他们昔日因行程紧迫，所以在每处传讲福音、领人信主之后，便匆忙地继续上路。因此，保罗认为他们必须沿着原路回去，重访昔日到过的地方，去探望初信的信徒，巩固他们的信心，并协助他们建立教会。
传道和布道这两项工作都非常重要；可是，栽培初信的信徒，并在可能的情况下，尽量帮助他们建立教会，才能使福音的工作得以持续。保罗正是尽可能在每个地方做这全面的工作。
而且，保罗教导信徒，信仰的路途需经历很多艰苦(22节)，也对信徒大有帮助。我们不可让初信者误以为，信了基督就可免除一切的痛苦及难题。圣灵其中一项工作，正是帮助信徒在苦难中保持忍耐，以及在苦难中学像基督。
最后，保罗终于回到安提阿，获得了信徒的热烈欢迎。他在外面辛劳了整整一年，如今回到自己的母会，再次感受到主内肢体的关怀与支持，实在是何等的欣慰！他向众人讲述神的作为之后，他们都同声向神发出赞美。这快乐欢愉的一幕，为过去十二个月的艰辛工作划上了圆满的句号。
反思：
我们怎样去建立初信者？
HELPING NEW CHRISTIANS
Acts 14: 19 - 27
19 Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there; and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead.
20 However, when the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and went into the city. And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.
21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch,
22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”
23 So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
24 And after they had passed through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia.
25 Now when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia.
26 From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had completed.
27 Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.
Message
But first there was something more to do before they could leave the areas they had visited. They had been forced to leave almost every city in a hurry even though there were new Christians there. Now Paul felt he must go back over the same road. But this time he would meet only with the Christians to strengthen their faith and help them organise a church.
Preaching and evangelistic work are very important. But there must also be care for the new converts and wherever possible the formation of a local church if the work is to continue. Paul did all of this wherever he went.
Paul helped the Christians too by explaining the strange mystery of suffering (v.22). No-one can expect to be absolutely free of pain and problems just because they have accepted Christ. It is part of the work of the Holy Spirit to help us endure these occasions and to become more Christlike in them.
Lastly, Paul arrived back in Antioch and found a marvellous welcome. He was in his home church. How he must have appreciated the fellowship he found there after a year on the road. They shared in praising God together as he told of what God had done. It was a very happy ending to twelve months of testing.
A QUESTION:
What help do we give to people who accept Christ?