When most folks think of greatness, they picture empires, parades, marble palaces, and men in robes giving orders from gilded thrones.

Rome had all that.

Caesar had power.
The Pharisees had prestige.
The merchants had money.

But tucked away in borrowed rooms, humble homes, and dusty streets… a quieter revolution was unfolding. No trumpets. No banners. Just bread, prayer, and broken people finding hope.

They were called “the followers of the Way” (Acts 9:2).
And history would come to know them as the first Church.

Now these people had no marketing plan. No building fund. No political influence. Just a handful of fishermen, former tax collectors, widows, servants, and skeptics who had seen something the world could not explain—a risen Savior.

“The apostles gave powerful testimonies about the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great measures of grace rested upon them all.”

Acts 4:33 TPT

They gathered not to be impressed, but to be transformed.

They shared what they had.
They prayed without ceasing.
They gave without keeping score.
They loved when it made no sense to love.

And Rome couldn’t quite figure them out.

You see, the world was teaching them how to be successful…
but Christ was teaching them how to be significant.

“I’ve left you an example of how you should serve and take care of those who are weak. For we must always cherish the words of our Lord Jesus, who taught, ‘Giving brings a far greater blessing than receiving.'”

Acts 20:35 TPT

Success said: “Climb higher.”
Significance whispered: “Bend lower.”

Success said: “Protect your own.”
Significance declared: “Care for the broken.”

Success said: “Be remembered.”
Significance said: “Be faithful.”

And in the midst of all this walked a man named Peter—once a nervous denier, now a courageous shepherd of souls. A man named Stephen, who spoke grace even as stones fell. A Barnabas who encouraged when everyone else judged. And Paul—a former enemy turned architect of hope.

But the real miracle, friends, wasn’t in the famous names. No sir.

The real miracle was in the everyday believer who shared a loaf of bread.
The mother who opened her home.
The merchant who forgave a debt.
The neighbor who chose mercy over revenge.

They did not change the world through strategy.
They changed it through surrender.

And while Caesar ruled with fear…
these believers ruled with love.

They didn’t build monuments.
They built people.

They didn’t chase applause.
They pursued obedience.

They didn’t ask, “How big can we become?”
They asked, “How deeply can we serve?”

And it was said of them—these simple, faithful people—that they turned the world upside down (Acts 17:6).

Not because they sought significance.

But because they lived it.

“Every believer was faithfully devoted to following the teachings of the apostles. Their hearts were mutually linked to one another, sharing communion and coming together regularly for prayer.”

Acts 2:42 TPT

And that, my friends, is the difference between success and true significance.

Success builds towers you can see…
Significance builds lives you can feel.

“But whether I live or die is not important, for I don’t esteem my life as indispensable. It’s more important for me to fulfill my destiny and finish the ministry my Lord Jesus has assigned to me, which is to faithfully preach the wonderful news of God’s grace.”

Acts 20:24 TPT

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In addition to discovering Truly Significant, author Rick Tocquingy invites you to check out TheRightOne.net, a singles ministry based on the emotional intelligence of Jesus and how it applies to finding your partner for life. Rooted in Jesus’ emotional intelligence—his empathy, patience, and self-giving love—this ministry helps couples to find their Right One by choosing understanding over ego and sacrificial love over self-interest. Visit www.TheRightOne.net today and take the emotional intelligence quiz.