Thursday, September 13, 2012

Opening: Have you ever been scared to go someplace? Maybe the cemetery when you were a child? Maybe to the doctor’s office to hear the results of a recent test. Have you ever been scared to go to church?

Scripture: Read Acts 4:32-5:11.

Insights:

• The end of chapter 4 is another “Progress Report” of the Early Church. The previous one is recorded in Acts 2:42-47. There will be more. 
• Here is a sudden change in the narrative. Before this, all things were moving in the most exalted atmosphere; there were great thoughts of God; there were prayers for the Holy Spirit; there were exultant quotations from the Old Testament. Now, without warning, the narrative changes to practical things. However much these early Christians had their moments on the heights, they never forgot that someone didn’t have enough and that all must help. Prayer was supremely important, the witness of words was supremely important, but the culmination was love of the one another. 
•  Look at the motives of Ananias and Sapphira. They were free to sell their property and give whatever they wished, but they lied and made it seem as if the money they gave was the full amount of the sale, as Barnabas and others had given. 
• The fact that Luke included this story in his account of the Early Church is very telling. It could have been easily left out, and we would have been left with the impression that everything in this new church was “hunky-dory.” But the Bible is honest about the people in it. Every church has occasional problems, even this dynamic new church. 
• Verse 11 is the first occurrence of the term “church” in Acts.

Life Questions:

• Today’s reading is an example of what Bishop Robert Schnase calls “Extravagant Generosity.” The people were not commanded to give; they gave from their hearts sacrificially and generously. What is your attitude when you give? Excitement? Enthusiastic? Extravagancy? 
• The deaths of Ananias and Sapphira may seem harsh for your understanding of God, but remember, the corruptive nature of sin and the incredible amount it cost God – His only Son – to take care of it. Any sin is serious; repent and ask forgiveness now!

Prayer Focus: That our hearts would be so in touch with the heart of God that we would quickly see the needs of others and without hesitation respond.

 

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Opening: Have you ever returned to a triumphant homecoming? Maybe after a deployment in the military or after you have been away from home for a long time? Maybe after achieving a dream or an accomplishment? What was it like? What were your feelings?

Scripture: Read Acts 4:23-31.

Insights:

• The believers had to be worried. They remembered that Jesus was arrested and was executed in quick fashion. Now Peter and John were arrested in the Temple, and no one had seen them since. Would these inner circle disciples meet with a similar fate as Jesus? 
• One can see in the text the rejoicing in the Church when Peter and John return unharmed; they break out in praise to God. What a worship experience! 
• The believers prayed for boldness and that God will heal people – the same things that got Peter and John arrested in the first place. 
• Following their prayer, there is another manifestation of the Holy Spirit. The room shook, and they were all “filled with the Holy Spirit.” The text does not say how this filling was manifested; there is no evidence for or against the manifestation being limited to speaking in tongues as in Acts 2. On the contrary, the Greek text for verse 31 literally says, “…they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and were speaking the word of God freely.” Therefore, a case could be made that being filled with the Holy Spirit resulted in bold witnessing.

Life Questions:

• The people of the new church prayed for courage. They did not pretend that they could face this in their own strength; they turned to a power that was not their own. Where do you need courage today in your witness? 

Prayer Focus: That we pray for boldness in our witness and miraculous things would happen through the name of Jesus.

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Opening: Have you ever been required to make a presentation before a board, review committee, or council? Were you nervous? Confident? Prepared? Spend the night before in jail?

Scripture: Read Acts 4:13-22.

Insights:

• The council was familiar with Jesus’ disciples; they knew that Peter and John were common fisherman from Galilee. But they were amazed at not only what they said, but their grasp on Scripture. Jesus promised they would receive power from the Holy Spirit (see Acts 1:8) and the words to speak when testifying before the authorities (see Luke 21:12-15). 
• The council is stuck. They have a growing movement on their hands, a movement that blames them for condemning not just an innocent man, but God’s own representative to the world. It is hard to refute these fishermen’s words when the former lame man was standing in their midst. 
• Though they are told to keep quiet about Jesus and threatened with punishment, Peter and John state that they will obey God rather than the religious leaders. Jesus also stood against the religious leaders and their teachings. It sounds like another case of “Like father, like son.”

Life Questions:

• Jesus has changed Peter and John; it was evident even to their accusers. A changed life convinces people of Christ's power. One of your greatest testimonies is the difference others see in your life and attitudes since you have believed in Christ. How has Christ changed you? 
• There is considerable pressure to compromise one’s beliefs and principles. Just like Peter and John, we are told not to be obedient to God. When have you faced opposition for your faith?

Prayer Focus: That our lives would be transformed, our witness be bold, and our courage indelible.

Monday, September 10, 2012

Opening: Have you even found yourself becoming the center of attention of law enforcement? Maybe it was with a trooper along the side of the road. Maybe it was in the sheriff’s office. Maybe it was in a cell. How do you react when the authorities become interested in you?

 

Scripture: Read Acts 4:1-12.

Insights:

• Uh oh! Busted! Peter and John are arrested by some of the same people that arrested, tried, and asked for the sentence of crucifixion for Jesus just a few short months ago. Compare the names of the individuals and groups with those from Matthew 26:57-60, Luke 26:66, and John 18:12-14. 
• Look back to the last time Luke told us how many were in the church. Now he says there are 5,000 men. One can only guess how many women and children there might be. (The residents of Jerusalem at this time were estimated to be 80,000.) 
•  Peter challenges the religious authorities of jailing him and John for doing a good deed and healing the lame man. He may have been thinking about this very incident when he wrote 1 Peter 3:14.

Life Questions:

• Have you ever suffered for doing the right thing? Maybe instead of cheating on your taxes, you were honest and had to pay? Maybe you stood beside and supported someone at school or work who was alone against the crowd? 
• The Bible makes some strong and emphatic claims about a singular path to God through Jesus, as Peter does in verse 12. Look up other passages: John 3:15-16; 6:68; 14:6; Romans 5:1-2; 1 Corinthians 3:11; Hebrews 10:19-20. Are you counting on anything other than Jesus (good deeds, church membership, family heritage) to get you to heaven? Should you be? What should you do about it?

Prayer Focus: That when we are challenged for our faith, we will be strong.

Sunday, September 09, 2012

Opening: Has there been in incident in your life that, because of something you did, you were completely surprised by the outcome? You didn’t go through the traffic light and avoided an accident, or you did go through the traffic light and was involved in an accident? When given a choice, you picked the right option and were rewarded?

Scripture: Read Acts 3:11-26.

Insights:

• “Peter saw his opportunity and addressed the crowd.”  Peter realized that he had a perfect opportunity to share his life and experience with Jesus. The crowd was very interested in what was going on after the healing of the lame man. God used the miracle to give Peter a way to give his testimony. It is very similar to the account of Jesus healing the man born blind (see John 9), in that the healing of a physical condition allowed the Gospel of Christ to be proclaimed. 
• Peter delivers five of the dominant notes of early Christian preaching. 

1. The crucifixion was the greatest crime in human history. Whenever they speak of it, there is a kind of shocked horror in their voices. 
2. The crucifixion was vindicated by the resurrection. The resurrection proves that Jesus is the Lord of life. 
3. Early preachers always stressed the power of the Risen Lord; they never regarded themselves as the sources of power but only as channels of power. 
4. Mercy is offered to the listeners. 
5.  The obligation this knowledge brings is the obligation to repent and to turn.

Life Questions:

• God gives us many opportunities – sometimes on a daily basis – to share about our life and relationship with Jesus. Have you been nudged by God lately to move the conversation with a friend towards spiritual matters? How did you respond? 
• Is God using some “weakness” in your life that God wants to use for His glory (see 2Corinthians 12:9)?

Prayer Focus: For the courage to act upon the nudge of God when He gives us an opportunity to tell others about our faith.

Saturday, September 08, 2012

Opening: What was the best party you ever attended or hosted? What makes for a great party?

Scripture: Sunday’s message is our text today. Read Luke 14:12-24.

Insights:

• It was customary to send two invitations to a party. The first invitation announced the event, then the second was sent to tell the guests that everything was ready. The guests in Jesus’ story insulted the host by making excuses when he issued the second invitation. 
• In this parable, God is the host. His first invitation came from Moses and the prophets; the second came from his Son. The Jewish religious leaders accepted the first invitation. They believed that God had called them to be his people, but they insulted God by refusing to accept his Son. Thus, as the host in the story sent his servant into the streets to invite the needy to his banquet, so God sent his Son to a whole world of needy people to tell them that God’s Kingdom had arrived and was ready for them.[1] 
• The context of Luke 14:1-24 is a dinner party. Much of what is in these verses has to do with feasts and banquets. It is significant that Jesus thought of His kingdom and His service in terms of a feast. The symbol of the kingdom was the happiest thing that human life could know. No dower Christians; believers are to be joyful and happy in the Lord.

Life Questions:

• Motives are key here. It is not so much that Jesus is saying never invite friends to a party, but instead, don’t invite people in order to receive a future reward. Our actions should not motivated by what we can get out of our good deed. They should be done with no thought of reward or repayment. What is your motivation for what you do for God? 
• Excuses, excuses, excuses! The people in this parable sound like a child who doesn’t want to clean their room. Each excuse was something that could have been done later. The priorities were out of place. What excuses do people have for not responding to God’s invitation? Where does God fit in your list of priorities? Talk to Him about it.

Prayer Focus: For tomorrow’s worship celebration, that we would celebrate the presence of the Holy Spirit, and know that this party is not just for us, but for everyone.

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

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[1] From the Life Application Study Bible, Luke 14:16ff

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)