Acts 5:3-6

Summary retelling of Acts 5:3-6:

Today we see the conclusion of Ananias – in more ways than one!  Here we get at the heart of the issue: deception.  Peter isn’t bothered by the fact that Ananias kept some of the money for himself and Sapphira.  What bothers Peter (and God) is that they were deceitful in presenting the gift as though everything that they gave was the amount for which they had sold the property.  Peter reminds Ananias that the property was his to do with as he pleased; there was no reason to lie about what he had done.  Then Peter tells Ananias that he is ultimately guilty of lying before God.  Ananias is struck dead and carried out of the room by some members of the congregation.

Thoughts for Today:

First Thought:

While these verse seem to be about greed, they are actually about lying.  Their actions may have been motivated by greed – perhaps Ananias and Sapphira didn’t need the money they kept.  But, perhaps they did need the money and there was legitimate reason to keep some of it back.  As Peter says, the money was theirs to do with as they pleased.  What there was no reason to do was to lie about what they had actually done with the money.

How often do we lie about our actions?  How often do we lie about actions that weren’t even wrong, yet we still try and cover them up?

Second Thought:

Jumping off of the prior thought, it is quite possible that Ananias lies here without actually having sinned in keeping the money.  This brings up the idea that lying doesn’t have to be covering up something bad.  We might lie because we are trying to cover up truth.  Many poor people lie to hide that they are poor – when there is really nothing wrong with being poor!  A rich person occasionally lies about being rich when there is no sin in being rich, either.  Sometimes people lie to cover up truth when there is actually no sin involved in the truth.

What other truths do people lie about in order to hide them – even though there is no sin involved in the truth?  If there is no sin in the truth we are trying to hide, why do we still feel the need to lie about it?

Third Thought:

Ananias dies.  We know that the wages of sin are death.  I find it interesting that nobody in the gathered congregation seems to be bothered by Ananias’ death.  Peter doesn’t react to the harsh judgment.  The young men simply gather up his body and take it out to be buried. 

How would people react today if God struck someone down in the midst of their sin?  Even in our churches, if this happened today do you think people would accept God’s judgment or would they react with repulsion towards God and His wrath?

Passage for Tomorrow: Acts 5:7-8

Acts 5:1-2

Summary retelling of Acts 5:1-2:

Today we meet a very infamous married couple: Ananias and Sapphira.  We’ll learn much more about them in the next few days, but for today we find out that like Barnabas they sold a piece of property and laid some of the money at the disciples’ feet.  The difference is, he and his wife schemed to keep some of the money themselves. 

Thoughts for Today:

First Thought:

So today we hear about another couple selling something they own in order to give.  This has the makings of a very good thing.  An act like this could be motivated by generosity, love, charity, or another whole host of reasons.

Does an act of apparent generosity always have to be motivated by good means?  What bad emotions could have motivated this couple to sell a piece of property?

Second Thought:

We also learn that Ananias and his wife Sapphira scheme to keep some of the money for themselves.  They are working behind the scenes.  Their faith is no longer transparent.  They are presenting an image of complete generosity when in truth they are giving some of the money and keeping some of the money.

Do you think that it is wrong to sell something and keep some of the money?  If so, then what about this story is wrong?  What are Ananias and Sapphira really guilty of in this passage?

Third Thought:

We see in this passage that it is a husband and wife scheming.  This shows us that sometimes the people close to us can be a great asset to our faith, but sometimes the people close to us can help lead us down the path of sin.  Just because someone is a friend, doesn’t mean they will always have a good influence upon us.

How often do you evaluate your friendships and ask whether or not the influence is a good one?  What do you do to encourage good friendships?  What do you do if you discover a friendship is a detriment in your life?

 Passage for Tomorrow: Acts 5:3-6

Acts 4:32-37

Acts 4:32-37

And of the fullness of the ones who believed, heart and soul were one.  And not one was saying something of the things that exist to him to be his own but he was saying all things in common to them.  And by great power the apostles were giving the testimony of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.  For there was not some poor in them.  For as much as owners of places or of houses were existing, while selling they were bringing the value of the things being sold under and they were putting near the feet of the apostles.  And it was distributed hand to hand to each as someone was having a need.  And Joseph – the one who was being called Barnabas from the apostles, which is being translated as son of exhortation, a Levite, Kuprios by lineage – while a field exists to him after selling he brought the sum of money and put to the feet of the apostles.

Thoughts for Today:

First Thought:

The Bible tells us that the followers of Christ were of “one heart and souls.”  This doesn’t mean that they were identical carbon copies of each other, but rather that they pursued the same goal: reaching the mission field for Jesus Christ.  They may not have done everything the same way, but they had the same major goal.  Because they were unified, the Spirit moved among them.  This passage has much to say about true Christian community (and thus by default it has much to say in criticism to the Christianity that we have today).

When you look at the church you attend, do you find unity in purpose?  How might that affect the congregation’s ability to do mission?  What about if you look at Christianity in the town or city in which you live – is there unity in purpose?  Again, how might that affect Christ’s Church’s ability to reach the world for Him?

Second Thought:

Here we also have a description for what it takes to be a spiritual leader.  The ones who were sent are focusing on proclaiming Jesus Christ to the people around them.  That’s spiritual leadership.  If we want to be considered a spiritual leader in Christ’s church, that’s part of the qualifications.

Do you talk with other people about Jesus Christ?  When you talk with them, do you talk academically about Jesus (IE what the Bible teaches) or do you talk about your personal experiences with Jesus Christ?  If you do both, which do you do more often?

Third Thought:

The disciples took care of the needy in their midst.  It seems so simple, but on another hand it is quite difficult.  Jesus tells us that we will always have to poor with us.  (See Mark 14:7)  Christ also tells us that it is important to care for them (See Matthew 25:31-46).

Why can it be difficult to care for the poor?  In what ways can it be satisfying to care for the poor?  Can we ever use caring for the poor in a self-righteous way?

Passage for Tomorrow: Acts 5:1-2

Acts 4:29-31

Acts 4:29-31

And the things now, Lord, look upon their threats and give to your slaves with all boldness of speech to call out your word in the thing you reach out your hand into healing, signs and wonders to become through the name of your Holy child Jesus.  And after they requested the place in which they were having been gathered shook and all were being filled of the Holy Spirit and they were calling out the word of God with boldness of speech.

Thoughts for Today:

First Thought:

Notice that the group doesn’t spend much time worrying about the threats of the Jewish leaders.  They put it into God’s hands and ask for Him to take care of them.  They trust in God to deal with the people around them.

How often do we lose momentum worrying about the things that we cannot control?  Why is it better to give things that are outside of our control (like other people’s reactions) to God?

Second Thought:

The disciples focus on their proclamation.  They know that the only thing they have control over is whether or not they are talking to people around them about Jesus Christ.  In focusing on what they are able to accomplish, they are much more likely to feel productive about their use of time and their ability to answer God’s calling for them.

Do we focus enough on proclamation today?  Could we do more?  If so, how?

Third Thought:

Notice that the people were aware of God dwelling in their life.  They could physically feel the presence of God – the Bible even says that the whole room shook!  These people were sensitive to the Holy Spirit and knew when He was among them.  Emboldened in their confidence, they went back out and proclaimed even more boldly!

How do you know when the Holy Spirit is in your midst?  Do you recognize the Holy Spirit’s power within you?  How do you use it when the Holy Spirit comes upon you? 

Passage for Tomorrow: Acts 4:32-37

Acts 4:23-28

Acts 4:23-28

And after being set free they came to their own and they carried back word – as much as to them the high priests and elders said.  And the ones who heard with one mind took up a sound to God and they said, “Lord, you are the one who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things in them.  The one who said of our Father through the Holy Spirit of a mouth of David your child, “Why is it that nations raged and peoples gave vain painful attention?”  The kings of the earth stood near and the rulers were being gathered upon the same down from the Lord and down from his Christ.  For they were being gathered upon truth in this city upon your Holy child Jesus – who you anointed.  And Herod and Pontius Pilate with nations and peoples of Israel to do as much as your hand and your counsel ordained beforehand to become. 

Thoughts for Today:

First Thought:

Peter and John have friends.  They have close friends.  They have friends that when they come together the first thing they want to do is worship and pray to God.  Now those are some good friends.

When you come to church, or Sunday School, or Youth group, or whatever – what is your first thought?  Do you come to worship God and give Him praise?  Or do you come to socialize with friends and talk about what is going on in your life?

Second Thought:

So let’s spend a little time today thinking about the psalm that the worshiping people quote.  Why do the nations rage against God when God is clearly in control?

Let’s put this question to ourselves.  Do we always see God in control?  Do we ever rage against God?  Is there ever a good time to rage against God?

Third Thought:

The gathered worshippers speak about Jesus as the anointed one.  He is the one who accomplished the task that God preordained.  Jesus is the one that did all the hard work. 

Why is it important that once more in Acts we see the people put the focus on Jesus? 

Passage for Tomorrow: Acts 4:29-31

Acts 4:19-22

Acts 4:19-22

And after Peter and John answered they said to them, “If it is righteous in the presence of God to hear you or God, judge.  For we are not powerful enough to not call out what we heard and saw.”  And the ones who uttered additional threats set them free while finding nothing in how they should chastise them – for the sake of the people – since all were glorifying God upon the thing that has become.  For the man upon whom this sign of healing had become was as much as forty years old.

Thoughts for Today:

First Thought:

Sometimes you just have to make an enemy.  It’s a sad day when there is no course of action besides making an enemy, but sometimes you just have to do it.  Peter and John tell the Sanhedrin where they stand and let the Sanhedrin react to their decision.  Since God has greater plans for them, their boldness doesn’t end in death as it could have.

Peter and John are definitely backed into a corner and get confrontational.  Are there other times to be confrontational?  How do we know when to take a peaceful tactic or take an argumentative tactic?

Second Thought:

The Sanhedrin shows their true colors once more in this passage.  They don’t act because they are afraid of the people, losing power, or losing prestige.  They don’t punish Peter and John as they punished Jesus because they could not get the crowd on their side.  Fearing revolt – and Roman intervention – they release Peter and John.

How often do we not do what we think we should because of how other people will respond?  When is this a good thing?  When is this a bad thing?

Third Thought:

The crowds see the miracle and are free to respond to it.  The miracle reminds them about God and God’s power.  The miracle reminds them that they are in relationship with God.

What does this passage say to us about the true motivation behind God’s miracles?  Is a miracle done just to fix someone’s problem or is there a greater issue at work here?

Passage for Tomorrow: Acts 4:23-28

Acts 4:13-18

Acts 4:13-18

And while watching the boldness of speech of Peter and John and after grasping that they are illiterate men and laymen, they were amazed and they were discerning them that they were with Jesus.  And while seeing the man with them – having sat the one having been healed – they were having nothing to speak against.  And after ordering them to depart outside the Sanhedrin they were meeting together with one another while saying, “What should we do to these men?  Since for in one case a sign has become known and apparent through them to all the ones who inhabit Jerusalem and we are not powerful enough to deny it.  But in order that not upon many it should be spread abroad into the people we should threaten them to no longer call out upon this name to any men.  And after calling them out they commanded them altogether to not emit speech in teaching upon the name of Jesus. 

Thoughts for Today:

First Thought:

I love the fact that the Bible goes to such lengths to talk about Peter and John as simple and uneducated people.  The Bible’s point is quite clear with this respect.  What is important is not Peter and John’s training.  What is important is the filling of the Holy Spirit that they received.  This is still true today.

If we believe that the filling of the Holy Spirit (sometimes called the indwelling of the Holy Spirit) is actually what is important, what does that do to most of the excuses we lift up for not being bold about our faith and belief in Christ?

Second Thought:

The Jewish leaders cannot argue with the fact that the lame man stood in their presence and they are afraid of what will come of their reputation among the crowds should they try to deny this miracle.

What does this tell us about why the public dynamic of our ministry is so important?  What does the public dynamic of our ministry do for us that private ministry cannot accomplish?

Third Thought:

The Sanhedrin threatens Peter and John to no longer teach about Jesus.

If you were told never to teach about Jesus publically, how would you respond?  What if you were told that if you were caught teaching about Jesus it might just cost you your life?

Passage for Tomorrow: Acts 4:19-22

Acts 4:8-12

Acts 4:8-12

Then Peter – after being filled of the Holy Spirit – said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders: if we are today being closely examined upon a good deed of a weak man in what this one has been saved, let it be known to you all and to all the people of Israel that in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene – who you all crucified, who God raised out of the dead – in this name this one has presented in sound health in your presence.  This one is the stone that was being treated with contempt by you builders, the one who became into a head of a corner.  And there is no other salvation, for neither is another name under heaven – the one that has been given in mankind – in which it is necessary for us to be saved. 

Thoughts for Today:

First Thought:

Peter is filled with the Holy Spirit.  I think far too many people in American Christianity don’t give this any heed.  We think we are all filled with the Holy Spirit … but there is a difference.  When Peter is filled with the Holy Spirit he doesn’t care about the possibility of death and he certainly doesn’t care who he offends with the truth.  When Peter is filled with the Holy Spirit there is no holding him back.  A person filled with the Holy Spirit doesn’t question God or act in hesitation.  They do; and they do with conviction.

Looking at his example, how often can you claim to have without a doubt seen the Holy Spirit at work in people – or even yourself?

Second Thought:

Peter makes a point to tell the Jewish leaders that the name used was from a person that they had killed.  This is far more than just “guilt” at play.  Yes, Peter wants them to think about what they did and feel the guilt for crucifying Jesus.  But He also wants them to realize that if this Jesus has healed people, brought people back from the dead, and has the power to heal from beyond the grave then this Jesus must have been killed by them by His own will.  Peter’s point is that Jesus died because He let Himself be killed.  They need to think about the kind of power that Jesus possesses and the humbleness with which He yields that power.

How does this passage humble you as you look to follow Christ?

Third Thought:

There is no salvation found in anyone but Jesus.  None.  Nobody else.  No other path to eternal life but through Jesus.

How much work do we have to do if we really believe this?

Passage for Tomorrow: Acts 4:13-18

Acts 4:5-7

Acts 4:5-7

And it became upon the next day to gather together their rulers, elders, and scribes in Jerusalem.  And Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and as many as were out of the high priestly lineage. And after setting them in the middle they were investigating, “In what kind of power or in what kind of name did you all do this?” 

Thoughts for Today:

First Thought:

Imagine being Peter or John.  You are led into a room to be judged by the same people that no more than a few months prior just maneuvered the crowd into killing your Lord.  This doesn’t sound like a very good place to be, and it certainly wouldn’t have been an easy room to go into and talk.

Given those circumstances, would you stand up for what you believe knowing that it might very well mean that you are killed moments later?  Or would you try to compromise or make an excuse, say an apology, and try to get out of there?  Are there times and places for both approaches?

Second Thought:

Notice that the Bible is clear that “family” is a significant part of figuring out who is in charge.  So much of what happened in the ancient cultures depended upon bloodlines.  You were born to rule, or born to be a simple person.

How does this concept fit with Christianity?  Does Christ choose His disciples according to bloodline?  If not, what is important in Christianity in determine who has authority?

Third Thought:

The Jewish leaders want to know the power or name that Peter and John used to bring about the healing of the lame man.  In one sense, this is a beautiful question because it leads Peter and John to acknowledge that they aren’t the powerful ones.  It gives them an opportunity to put the focus where it belongs: on Jesus.

How good are we at making sure the focus stays on Jesus?  How can we be sure to constantly try and improve this focus?

Passage for Tomorrow: Acts 4:8-12

Acts 4:1-4

Acts 4:1-4

And while they called out to the people the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees stood nearby to them while being made weary for the sake of them teaching the people and announcing in Jesus the resurrection – the one out of the dead.  And they cast hands upon them and they put into custody into the next day, for it was now evening.  And many of the ones who heard the word believed and the number of the men became as five thousand.

Thoughts for Today:

First Thought:

5,000?  Really?

Hopefully you remember a story a few days ago that spoke about 3,000.  Now we are up to 5,000.  Is it really possible that from Jesus’ death to this time (probably a few months at best) the church grew from roughly 100 followers of Christ to 8,000 followers?  The answer to that is yes.  God is not constrained by our impossibilities.  God is bigger than us.  God can take people willing to proclaim God’s Word and put them in a place where people who are searching for God have been gathered.  I’m not saying it isn’t rare, but God can do the impossible!

Can you ever conceive of yourself leading 5,000 people to Jesus?  How might the answer to that question affect God’s willingness to bring about that reality?

Second Thought:

Imagine being in a place where person after person wants to believe in God.  Just for the record, there are 86,400 seconds in a day.  That means that if Peter would have had all day to talk to these people, he could have only spent 17.28 seconds with each one.  Okay, maybe John helped.  That still gives 34.56 seconds with each one.  Maybe they talked in groups of 10.  That gives 345.6 seconds (5 minutes and 45.6 seconds) per group.  Do you get what I am saying here?  Peter and John had an amazingly impossible time!  And that’s assuming they had all day, which we know that they didn’t because they got themselves arrested.  So there is no way we can say that this is Peter and John doing great work.  Clearly this is the Holy Spirit moving through Peter and John, who made themselves available.  This isn’t great human evangelism; this is great spiritual evangelism being done through human vessels.

What is the key to this part of the story?  Why do we have a hard time applying this key of this story to our life?

Third Thought:

Peter and John get arrested.  The get arrested because their preaching annoyed the “supposed spiritual leaders” of Jerusalem.  They got arrested because they had a crowd of 5,000 people wanting to hear more about Jesus.

Are you willing to get arrested for talking about Christ?  What about having your friends think you are weird and maybe not wanting to hang out with you anymore?  What sacrifice is too much?  Why is it important to ask these questions?

Passage for Tomorrow: Acts 4:5-7

Acts 3:22-26

Acts 3:22-26

In one case Moses said that the Lord your God will cause a prophet to stand up for you all out of your brothers as me.  Hear him according to all things – as much as he should call out to you all.  But in another case it will be all life that unless it should hear that prophet it will be utterly destroyed out of the people.  And also all the prophets from Samuel and the ones subsequently occurring, as much as they called out also they announced these days.  You all are the sons of the prophets and God arranged that covenant with your fathers while saying to Abraham ‘also in your seed all the families of the earth will be blessed.’  First to you all after God caused his child to stand up he sent him forth while praising you all in turning each away from your evil.”

Thoughts for Today:

First Thought:

Here is a great definition of a prophet: someone who brings a Word from God into your midst.

Who are the prophets in your life?  Do you listen to them often or do you do things your own way first and then listen to them should things go poorly?  How does this thought tie into being humble before God?

Second Thought:

Peter reminds us that those who do not listen to the prophets risk destruction.  This isn’t a scare tactic, this is history.  The people wandering through the wilderness didn’t listen to Moses and none of them (except Joshua and Caleb) got to enter the Promised Land.  The Hebrew people didn’t listen to the prophets once they were in the Promised Land and they got conquered by the Assyrians, the Babylonians, the Greeks, the Romans, the Islamic forces, and actually spend about 2,500 years without their own land to call “home.”  Even now, the land they can call home is still perpetually under threat.

Given that history, do you think people who don’t listen to God’s Word in their life (which is all of us from time to time) are being punished by God or are they reaping the natural consequences of their choices?

Third Thought:

Peter also talks about grace in this passage.  Peter says that the Jewish people should be blessed because in spite of all their prior times at refusing to listen to God, God still sent them the Messiah first.  God’s grace, love, forgiveness, and mercy do truly abound.

How lucky and blessed should we “Gentiles” be in that God gave us a Messiah at all?

Passage for Tomorrow: Acts 4:1-4

Acts 3:17-21

Acts 3:17-21

And now, brothers, we have known that according to ignorance you acted – just as also your rulers.  And God, to whom he announced beforehand through the mouth of all the prophets to his Christ suffer, fulfilled similarly.  Therefore repent and turn around in order that your sins are being wiped away by which means times of refreshing should come from the face of the Lord and he should send forth the one who has been hand-picked for you all: Jesus Christ.  Who in one case it is necessary to receive heaven until the times of restoration of all things that God called out through a mouth of the prophets from his era.

Thoughts for Today:

First Thought:

When Peter says that the people who condemned Jesus acted in ignorance, he is not saying that they are free from guilt.  God may have known Jesus was going to die – and He may have even known that salvation would come through the act – but that does not absolve those who rejected Jesus from the guilt of that action.  In the same way, anyone who has since rejected Jesus will be held accountable for that choice as well.

So, what does it mean to accept or receive Jesus?  How do you know when a person has done so?

Second Thought:

Peter does tell the people what to do should they find themselves face to face with guilt: repent.  Repentance is that moment in life where we recognize just how bad the works of our hands are and how much we need God to make the best out of life.  Repentance is that moment when we realize just how badly we’ve screwed up and we need God to come along and show us how to do things right.  In its most generalized sense, repentance is when we recognize that we’re sinful and we are overcome with our remorse for that fact.

If all it takes is that we genuinely repent before God, why do you think there is such resistance to the idea of believing in God?  Is it so hard to acknowledge our mistakes and have a contrite heart before God?

Third Thought:

Peter also talks about looking forward to the future when God will restore the world.  Imagine living in a world where people always do the right thing.  Imagine a world where jokes are actually always funny and never hurtful.  Imagine living in a world where our thoughts are genuinely always focused on what God would have us thinking about.

What does that time mean to you?  What are you looking forward to the most with respect to living in a world that God has remade to be without sin?

Passage for Tomorrow: Acts 3:22-26

Acts 3:16

Acts 3:16

And upon the faith of his name this one – who you all watch with the eyes and you all have known – his name made strong.  And the faith – the one through him – he gave this perfect soundness over against you all. 

Thoughts for Today:

First Thought:

In spite of the greatness of the miracle, Peter continues to focus on Jesus as the source of power.

How hard is it to continue to focus on Jesus – especially in the face of success?  Why is it so difficult to be in the midst of success and continue to give Jesus (or more generically, God) all the credit?

Second Thought:

Peter teaches that the healing was based upon the power of faith through Jesus Christ.  Now, please don’t hear me saying that God cannot work if a person has no faith.  But quite often, God works through the people who have faith.  Think about all the people in the Bible that Jesus healed.  Each one of them believed that Jesus was the answer.  God may be able to do anything, but enjoys working through people who have faith in Him.

Does it make sense that God would choose to work through people with faith?  Why or why not?

Third Thought:

Peter is clear that our faith comes through Jesus Christ.  In other books of the Bible, the authors of those books also make the same claim.  It is important to see our faith as not something we make, but something God gives to us.  After all, if our faith is something we make on our own, then we are in danger of teaching salvation by works: my faith becomes my work and I think I am great enough to be saved.  Instead, what we should think is that it is God who gives us faith and we merely respond to the faith that God gives us much like Peter, John, and the beggar have done.  This way we do not think that we are saved through any of our work, but rather that God has saved us and what we do is a response to the salvation God has already promised.

Can you tell the difference between someone who thinks they need to do good works in order to be saved and someone who does good works because they are saved?  What might some of those differences be?

Passage for Tomorrow: Acts 3:17-21

Acts 3:11-15

Acts 3:11-15

And while taking hold of him Peter and John ran together – all the people with them – upon the portico that is being called Solomon’s Amazement.  And after saw he answered to the people, “Men of Israel, why are you all amazed upon this one or why do you all gaze intently to us as if by our own power or piety having made him to walk around?  The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers – he glorified his child Jesus, whom in one case you all handed over and you all denied according to the face after Pilate judged to release that one.  And you all denied the Holy and Righteous One and you all asked for a murderous man to be given to you all.  And the chief author of life you all killed, who God raised out of the dead – of which we are testimonies.

Thoughts for Today:

First Thought:

The beggar clings to Peter and John.  Literally the word there means “to hold onto” or “to grasp.”  The crowds press in on the beggar, trying to examine him and figure out what is going on.  The beggar does the only thing that he can think of – cling to the people that made him well.  It is so important to recognize that this is the natural reaction of the beggar.

When your life begins to change in Jesus Christ, expect people to investigate, challenge, or question you.  Why is it important to cling to your spiritual mentors at these points?

Second Thought:

Peter is quick to remind the people that the things they do are not from their own power.  He is upfront in telling them that there is a greater source of power working through them: God the Father and Jesus Christ.  They want none of the credit; rather they want to turn it into an opportunity to talk about Jesus Christ.

When we take the credit for things that happen in life, how does that lead to us missing an opportunity to talk to other people about God?  Do you think we should always give the credit to God or are there times when we can claim the credit ourselves?

Third Thought:

Peter calls Jesus the Author of Life.  Literally, the word “author” means “creator of cause of something.”  The word “life” means “existence in a (physical) world.”  Peter is calling Jesus the reason that all of us exist.

If Jesus is the reason that we exist, how good are we at living as though He is the reason?  What gets in the way of us remembering that He is the reason for our existence?  Do you think Peter is referring here to our literal physical life, the spiritual life we have with God, or both?  Why?

Passage for Tomorrow: Acts 3:16

Acts 3:8-10

Acts 3:8-10

And while leaping forth he stood and was walking around.  And he went into the temple with them while walking around and while leaping forth and while praising God.  And all the people saw him while walking around and while praising God.  And they were recognizing him since he was to one who sat with compassion upon the Timely gate of the temple.  And they were being filled of astonishment and put out of mind upon the thing that has happened to him.

Thoughts for Today:

First Thought:

The first point today is huge: the lame beggar goes into the temple.  The reason that this is huge is because unlike today, where we have buildings designed so that they are handicapped friendly, in those days they had prohibitions about who could enter into the temple.  They had areas where anyone could go, areas where only Jews with no serious physical defect could go, then areas where men with no defect could go, then areas where only priests (who by definition had no physical defect) could go, and then an area where just the high priest could go.  So not only is the man healed, but for the first time in probably his whole life he gets to go inside the court of the Gentiles (where anyone could go) and see the parts of the temple that had been off-limits to him because of his physical defect.  No wonder he leapt as he went in!

Have you ever felt shut out of something or excluded for some reason?  How does it feel when you finally gain access to what had formerly been put away from you?

Second Thought:

I still want to focus on this “first-time in the temple” thing.  Obviously the man was ecstatic.  He leapt for joy.  He literally leapt for joy because his life was permanently changed and he could draw closer to God than he could ever have done in the past.

How good are we at “leaping for joy” in celebration of what God has done?  When we have those watershed moments where faith suddenly feels like we are closer to God, are we good at leaping for joy and showing everyone just how excited about it we happen to be?

Third Thought:

The people around the temple are amazed.  They are dumbfounded.  Yet they praise God for what they see and cannot fathom.  I love the response of the people here.  We don’t sense any jealousy or irritation that this man was blessed in such an obvious manner and they weren’t.  They simply praise God for God’s presence.

Imagine hearing about some miraculous event in the life of someone you work with or go to school with - someone you know well enough to recognize but not well enough to actually know them.  How easy would it be to feel happiness for them?  How easy would it be to feel a hint of jealousy?

Passage for Tomorrow: Acts 3:11-15

Acts 3:4-7

Acts 3:4-7

And after Peter gazes intently into him with John he said, "See into me."  And the one was reaching out to them while anticipating to take something from them.  And Peter said, “Silver and gold do not exist to me.  But what I do have, this I give to you.  In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, rise and walk around.”  And after taking hold of him – his right hand – he raised him up.  And immediately his feet and ankles were being strengthened.

Thoughts for Today:

First Thought:

The beggar is obedient.  It is important for those who are in the weaker position to be obedient to those who have the control, power, and especially authority.  The beggar obeys Peter when Peter says to look at him.  In the same way, it is important for children to obey their parents (assuming the parents are telling their children righteous things, of course).  It is important for us to obey God when He tells us something, too.

Do you think you are a particularly obedient person?  If so, why do you have an easy time obeying?  If not, what about obedience is difficult?

Second Thought:

Peter doesn’t miss out on an opportunity to introduce Jesus Christ to this beggar.  Peter didn’t come to the temple to meet this beggar, so Peter is clearly prepared even in spite of the spontaneous nature of this event.

Dow we always know when we will have an opportunity to present God to people?  Do you think we as human beings miss opportunities that God puts before us?

Third Thought:

Peter introduces Jesus Christ to this beggar in a pretty dramatic fashion.  It’s not often that we see someone who is lame just rise up and walk away.  This is why it is called a miracle.  By definition, a miracle is something that is beyond the control of mankind.

Do you think miracles make it easier or harder to explain Jesus Christ to people?  What might influence how easy or hard it is to talk about the miracle?

Passage for Tomorrow: Acts 3:8-10

Acts 3:1-3

Acts 3:1-3

And Peter and John were going up into the temple upon the ninth hour of prayer.  And some man – while existing lame out of his mother’s womb – was being carried aloft, whom they were putting according to a day by the door of the temple – the one being said “timely” – to ask for compassion from the ones who go into the temple.  Who, after seeing Peter and John while being about to be into the temple, was interrogating to take compassion.

Thoughts for Today:

First Thought:

Peter and John are in the position to meet this lame beggar because they are going about their regular religious practices.  They didn’t set out to meet this beggar, they set out to simply worship God.  Yet God uses their faithful religious obedience in an unexpected way.

Why is it hard to be faithful in obedience?  What obstacles do the faithful face?  Why do you think God uses the faithful moreso than the sporadically faithful or even the unfaithful?

Second Thought:

The lame beggar’s friends are also faithful.  They are faithful to their service to the beggar as a response to God’s love.  They have an unsung role in this story, but the truth is that if the friends hadn’t brought the beggar, he wouldn’t have been there to meet Pater and John.

Is it hard to play the background role?  What can we learn from this story about how to be faithful even if it feels like we aren’t starring in God’s plan?

Third Thought:

The beggar initiates the encounter by begging from Peter and John.  The beggar cries out for anything that Peter and John might be willing to hand out.

How is this beggar like the human being before finding God?

Passage for Tomorrow: Acts 3:4-7

Acts 2:46-47

Acts 2:46-47

And while daily persisting in adherence with one accord in the sacred rites and while breaking bread from house to house – they were sharing in nourishment in extreme joy and simplicity of heart, while praising God and while having grace with the whole people.  And the Lord was putting near the ones who are saved daily upon the same thing. 

Thoughts for Today:

First Thought:

Here we see one of the most important dynamics of Christian life: time.  Time is one of the most costly resources we have, and we toss it away so thoughtlessly.  The Christians in this chapter are in one another’s company and enjoying it.  They are participating in each other’s lives.  They are strong because they are experiencing each other’s company.

How easy it is to be close with someone you see every day?  How easy is it to be close with someone with whom you interact with once a month?  What can we learn from this in comparison to what we see here in Acts?

Second Thought:

The people here are thankful about what God has given them: community, food, a place to worship, etc.  God is the object of their praise and glory, not their building or the fact that they are growing.  They focus on making sure God receives the praise.

Why is it important to keep the focus on God and His glory?  What are the dangers if we don’t maintain that focus?

Third Thought:

Same third thought as yesterday.  How good am I at doing what the first followers of Christ are doing in these verses?

So today, the questions are: How good am I at remembering to be thankful about the spiritual community around me?  How good am I at even participating in that spiritual community?  How good am I at remembering to keep the focus on God?

Passage for Tomorrow: Acts 3:1-3