Friday, September 07, 2012

Opening: Have you ever seen or experienced a miracle, more than the daily miracles of a new day, or of life? What was your response? How did you react?

Scripture: Read Acts 3:1-10.

Insights:

• The Jews observed three times for prayer – morning (9:00 am), afternoon (3:00 pm), and evening (sunset). At these times, devout Jews and Gentiles who believed in God often would go to the Temple to pray. It was to the afternoon prayer service that Peter and John encountered the lame man. 
• We don’t know when this encounter occurred, but it is safe to assume that it was not very long after the day of Pentecost. How is it then that this man was not healed by Jesus when He came in and out of the Temple? 
• Have instantaneous miracles stopped? It is the simple fact that a doctor or surgeon can now do things which in apostolic times would have been regarded as miracles. God has revealed new truth and new knowledge to humanity, and through that revelation they are still performing miracles. As a great doctor said, “I bandage the wounds; but God heals them.” For the Christian there are still miracles if he or she has eyes to see.[1]

Life Questions:

• The lame man asked for money, but Peter gave him something much better – the use of his legs. We often ask God to solve a small problem, but He wants to give us a whole new life and help for all our problems. He may say, “I’ve got something even better for you.” You may ask God for what you want, but don’t be surprised when He gives you what you really need.[2] 
• So often, when we encounter a beggar in the street, we avert our gaze and be sure that our eyes do not meet. Likewise, many times the beggar does not look at the people passing; it is just too humiliating. “Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, ‘Look at us!’”[3] What does the ministry of Jesus require of us as we encounter the hurting of our world? Imagine what God would say if they had gone to worship and ignored the lame man.

Prayer: For us to see the needs of the people around us, be willing to look them in the eye, and declare in the name of Jesus, “Get up!”

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[1] From Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, Acts 3:1-10

[2] From Life Application Study Bible, Acts 3:5-6

[3] Acts 3:4 (NLT)

Thursday, September 06, 2012

Opening: Have you ever attended a sporting event or concert with a large group of people who were very excited about what was going on? What was it? What were the emotions and feelings you had? Of the crowd?

Scripture: Read Acts2:37-47.

Insights:

• Church leaders and commentators look at verses 42-47 and see a description of the Early Church. They note twelve characteristics of this growing and thriving Early Church. See if you can find them all. 
• A few commentators look at verse 42 as a pattern for worship? If this is true, what should be part of every worship? How does that compare to worship we experience? 
• In verse 42, Luke uses the Greek word proskartereō. It comes from two words: pros which means “towards,” and kartereō which means “to be strong.” Together, the word means “to be strong towards” and “to endure in, or persevere in, to be continually steadfast with a person or thing.” It was used in Acts 1:14 referring to the disciples’ prayer life. The NIV and NLT versions translate it “devoted.” What would it mean to be “devoted” to the four things in Acts 2:42? 
• Lest we miss the point, there was no place for 3,000 to meet, be taught, experience fellowship, share meals, and pray together. (They do worship together in the Temple.) Luke indicates in verse 46 how the apostles were able to assimilate these new believers: they met in homes. This same technique was used in the Wesley revival and the spread of Methodism in America. Today, churches use what they call “small groups,” “life groups,” “growth groups” or “Sunday School” to nurture and disciple people in the faith.

Life Questions:

• What “pierced your heart” from the Gospel message? Does it still today? 
• Imagine 3,000 people suddenly became part of our church? If you are honest with yourself, how would you feel? How should you feel? What would it take to welcome them, begin to establish a fellowship with them, disciple them, equip them, and love them?

Prayer: For our church to be devoted to discipleship, fellowship, sharing, and prayer.

Wednesday, September 05, 2012

Opening: Think back to a time when you were able to give someone some good news. Maybe it was when your child received special recognition or was accepted to college, or that a friend did not have cancer. What does it feel like to share good news? How motivated are you to spread that news far and wide?

Scripture: Read Acts2:14-36.

Insights:

• In the beginning of Acts 2, all the believers are speaking in a variety of languages to the people gathered. Though we are not told what they were saying, it was probably not a weather report! However, after questions about the physical condition of the speakers, Peter becomes the primary spokesman for the disciples. In fact, the only messages recorded in the book of Acts are by Peter, Stephen (Acts 7) and Paul. Peter has become “the rock” (see Matthew 16:18). 
• Peter begins his sermon by quoting Joel 2:28-32. God says that He will pour out the Holy Spirit on His people – men and women alike – “and they will prophesy.” The word “prophecy” is not limited to “telling the future,” but really means “declaring the word of God. That’s what the Old Testament prophets did, and now that is what the servants of God – all of them – are to do. 
• Though the people hearing Peter’s sermon knew that Jesus was a man whom God used, they still crucified Him. Despite all the miracles and signs, they did not believe His message, nor that He was the Messiah. Unfortunately, this is true today as well. People know about the life, teachings, and sacrifice of Jesus, yet they still do not make Him their Messiah, their Leader/Lord, and their Forgiver/Savior. 
• The Cross and the Resurrection of Jesus are the key tenets of the Christian faith. Without the sacrificial death of Jesus, the penalty for humanity’s sins is left unpaid except by the sinner. And without the defeat of death, we cannot be offered eternal life. The Gospel is not the Gospel without the Cross and the Resurrection.

Life Questions:

• Have you ever thought of yourself as one who prophesizes – declares the message of God? The Bible talks about individuals with the spiritual gift of prophecy (see Romans 12:6). But Paul also writes, “Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives—especially the ability to prophesy.”[1] In what ways and settings might you be one who declares the message of God? 
• Peter concludes this section of the sermon with “So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!”[2] Isn’t that a wonderful way to conclude any message, any endeavor, any witness, and any life testimony – “Jesus is Lord and Messiah!” How can you do this?

Prayer: For us to be declarers of the message of God – the Cross and the Resurrection – in our words, actions, and lives.

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[1] 1 Corinthians 14:1 (NLT)

[2] Acts 2:36 (NLT)

Tuesday, September 04, 2012

Opening: Have you ever had an experience in life that you were anticipating, but when it occurred, it was a surprise, or at least more than you imagined? Maybe it was the birth of your child or grandchild. What is it like when your world is radically changed for the good?

Scripture: Read Acts 2:1-13.

Insights:

• Pentecost is the birthday of the Church, and the beginning of the era of the Holy Spirit. It is the fulfillment of Jesus’ promises from John 14:15-30 and 16:5-15. This was also a fulfillment of John the Baptist’s words about the Holy Spirit’s baptizing with fire. 
• Why tongues of fire? Tongues symbolize speech and the communication of the Good News. Fire symbolizes God’s purifying presence, which burns away the undesirable elements of our lives and sets our hearts aflame to ignite the lives of others. On Mount Sinai, God confirmed the validity of the Old Testament law with fire from heaven (see Exodus 19:16-18). At Pentecost, God confirmed the validity of the Holy Spirit’s ministry by sending fire. At Mount Sinai, fire came down on one place; at Pentecost, fire came down on many believers, symbolizing that God’s presence is available to all who believe in him.[1] 
• While we speak of the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, we are not saying that the Holy Spirit came into existence at Pentecost. That is not so; God is eternally Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In fact, Acts makes that quite clear. The Holy Spirit was speaking in David (Acts 1:16); the Spirit spoke through Isaiah (Acts 28:25); Stephen accuses the Jews of having opposed the Spirit all through their history (Acts 7:51). Now at Pentecost, the Holy Spirit becomes the dominant reality in the life of the Church. 
• Those that first heard the coming of the Holy Spirit were devout Jews living in Jerusalem but were from other countries. They would have known the Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek that was commonly spoken in Jerusalem, yet the Holy Spirit uses the spiritual gift of tongues to communicate the message. God certainly has a flare for the dramatic! It was quite an attention getter, and set the stage for Peter’s sermon (tomorrow’s devotional).

Life Questions:

• The Holy Spirit came in a powerful way on the day of Pentecost. Has some kind of manifestation of the Holy Spirit ever occurred in your life, in your presence, in your family? (It doesn’t have to be speaking in tongues!) 
• How is the coming of the Holy Spirit different than the coming of Jesus? 
• Has there ever been a time when God was working through you, but others ridiculed you? What was your reaction? How did you handle it?

Prayer: For the Holy Spirit to use us in powerful ways to declare the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

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[1] From “Life Application Study Bible”, Acts 2:3-4

Monday, September 03, 2012

Opening: Have you ever been part of a conversation or had an initial impression of someone that later you realize you were missing the point or way off on your assessment? Or have you ever done something just because that’s the way it has always been done, only to realize that doing it the old way was really the wrong way?

Scripture: Read Acts1:9-26.

Insights:

• The Ascension of Jesus is briefly described in Mark 16:19-20 and Luke 24:50-53. Look up these verses and compare them to Acts 1:9-10. 
• Certainly, Luke is telling us that the disciples were engaging in more prayer than usual (that is, more than several hours a day, maybe in anticipation of the coming of the Holy Spirit) or he would have no reason to mention it. Read Acts 1:14 in as many translations as you can to see how this verse is translated (go to www.biblegateway.com for additional translations). 
• It is interesting to note that Jesus’ family is here with the company of the disciples. During Jesus’ lifetime, they had been among his opponents (see Mark 3:21). It may well be that for them, as for so many others, the death of Jesus opened their eyes. What they could not understand before the Cross, they understood now. 
• Matthew 27:1-10 records the account of Judas’ suicide. Acts 1:18-19 collaborates the story as well as adds some fairly graphic information. The text also indicates that this was well known in Jerusalem, adding credibility to what Luke was now writing (and would write) to Theophilus.

Life Questions:

• Prayer was vital for the post-Ascension believers. How vital is it in your spiritual life? 
• It would seem that the apostles are struggling to know what their focus. In verse 6, they pester Jesus about politics. In verse 10, they strain to catch a final glimpse of Jesus until the angels interrupt their tunnel-vision. Finally, in verses 21-26, they insist on filling the opening left by Judas with Matthias, who is not mentioned again in the New Testament. Without the leading of the Holy Spirit, they are a little lost. Have you ever felt this way, or experienced this lack of focus and spiritual leading? How about now? 
• How many disciples were there before the coming of the Holy Spirit? 1 Corinthians15:16 says that Jesus was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time. Where are the rest? What might have happened? Have you ever seen anything similar in your experience?

Prayer Focus: For a clear direction and leading of the Holy Spirit in our lives and the life of our church.

Sunday, September 02, 2012

Opening: Think back to a time when you had to wait for something. Maybe it was to go to grandma’s for Christmas or on a vacation. Name as many emotions as you can think of that you experienced. Now think about a time when you were going somewhere or doing something that you really didn’t to go or do. Maybe it was a surgery or a court date or a parent-teacher conference. What were those emotions?

Scripture: Today we start our readings in the Book of Acts. Read Acts 1:1-8.

Insights:

• Luke wrote both his Gospel, and now this book of Acts. Look back at Luke 1:1-4. What was Luke’s purpose in writing? 
• This book is in some places called “The Acts of the Apostles.” A case could be made that it should be called “The Acts of the Holy Spirit.” 
• It has been suggested that Theophilus is merely a generic term for all Christians (the name means “loved of God”), but the epithet “most excellent” implies Luke was writing to a definite person, probably a Roman official, whom Luke held in high respect. 
• In the Gospels, the Twelve are called the disciples. Now in Acts, the term “apostles” is used to refer to those original members, while the term “disciples” refers to the ever expanding group of Christ followers. Disciple means “follower or learner,” and apostle means “messenger or missionary.” The apostles now had the special assignment of spreading the Good News of Jesus’ death and resurrection. 
•  Jesus clearly commands the apostles to remain in Jerusalem. Why?

Life Questions:

• How would the apostles recognize the coming “gift of God”, the Holy Spirit? How have you recognized the Holy Spirit? 
• Jesus told the apostles to stay in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit comes, then be witnesses “in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Has there been a time you stayed? Have you been willing then to go?

Prayer Focus: For a fresh coming of the Holy Spirit, and the power to be Christ’s witnesses.

Saturday, September 01, 2012

Opening: What was your first paying job? Not your chores at home as a child, but the first time someone chose you and said, “I will pay you to do a job for me.” What do you think was one thing you learned from that experience?

Scripture: Sunday’s message is our text today. Please read Luke 5:1-11.

Insights:

• We know that Jesus grew up in Nazareth. But at the beginning of His ministry, he moved to Capernaum (see Matthew 4:13). It would become His base of operations for His Galilean ministry. Remember that whenever you read about Jesus’ travels. 
• In our passage, we find the third reference to Peter (scan back to the previous chapters of Luke to see the previous encounters of Jesus with Peter). And our passage occurs prior to Jesus naming the Twelve Disciples (see Luke 6:12-16). Clearly, Jesus is focused on establishing a relationship with this fisherman of Galilee.  Some commentators believe this is these disciples’ “second” calling. After the first call (see Matthew 4:18-22 and Mark 1:16-20), Peter, Andrew, James, and John had gone back to fishing. They watched Jesus as He established His authority in the synagogue, healed the sick, and drove out demons. 
• In our passage, He established His authority in their lives – right where they lived, right where they worked. And when He had established His authority over the “everyday,” He called them to something greater. Instead of fishing for fish; they would be fishing for men and women.

Life Questions:

• Jesus instructing you to do something? Giving you a command? Is it something that you have already tried but He is asking you to try it His way? 
• Have you ever gone back to an old way, activity, attitude of your past before you began to really follow Jesus? Did you find that your nets were empty?

Prayer Focus: For tomorrow’s worship celebration, that we would truly and meaningfully worship the Christ who brings abundance, and that we would hear Him call us to fish for men and women.

Tomorrow’s Message Title: “The Church is like a… Fishing Trip”