Here are my wife's notes from the CO talk this past Tuesday.
1C Christians preached despite demonic activity (Acts 4:1,2). Acts 4:18-20 shows they continued b/c they had God's spirit. Acts 5 all the apostles were imprisoned and about to be put to death, but were beaten & released instead. They kept preaching & teaching w/out letup. In Acts 6 the persecution culminated in the death of Stephen after he gave a public talk. Acts 9 Christians were persecuted throughout the city and then they experienced a period of peace (Acts 9:31), but they still didn't slow down.
Today, are we keeping active? Are we taking advantage of this time of peace to be built up? We are wise to prepare for the coming time of trouble during this time of peace. If we've started to slow down or get distracted during our time of peace, we won't be prepared when times get hard. At Heb 12 Paul was concerned the congregation would get tired over the passing years and not be at all of their meetings. At 1 Pet 3:14 Peter didn't want the congregation to be focused on economic loss, or loss of health. Today we don't fear these things, rather we do all we can in service. Don't feel as if you have to be entertained every weekend. Don't be primarily concerned with health & diet. Don't worry about what people think of you in the community/a loss of status. We need to take advantage of all the meetings, be in field service, study, and prayer. We continue w/out letup.
WTS is really trying to gear the R&F up. Three special campaigns this year. Deliverance district convention. Keep a Simple Eye special assembly day. All I can do is shake my head.