Week 3
Day 1 – Healing at the Gate
Read: Acts 3:1-10
In Acts 3:1-10, we see a miraculous healing take place at the Beautiful Gate. The gate was located at the entrance to the temple and was a popular place for beggars to gather and ask for money. As Peter and John were entering the temple, they encountered a man who was lame from birth and had been begging for many years. The man asked them for money, but Peter responded, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”
Peter took the opportunity to demonstrate the power of Jesus’ name by healing the lame man. The man was immediately healed and began to jump and praise God. This miracle drew a large crowd and provided an opportunity for Peter to share the gospel with them.
Reflection:
One of the main themes of this passage is the power of the name of Jesus. Peter recognized that he didn’t have anything of material value to offer the man, but he did have something far more valuable – the power of Jesus’ name. We too can trust in the name of Jesus to bring about miraculous healing and transformation in our lives and the lives of those around us.
Another theme of this passage is the importance of being open and available to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Peter and John could have easily walked past the lame man without noticing him, but they were open to the leading of the Holy Spirit and were able to minister to him in a powerful way.
Prayer:
Lord, thank you for the power of your name. Help us be open to the Holy Spirit’s leading and recognize the opportunities you give us to minister to those around us. May we trust in your name to do great things in our lives and the lives of others. Amen.
Discussion Questions:
- How can we cultivate a greater sensitivity to the leading of the Holy Spirit in our daily lives, so that we don’t miss opportunities to minister to others?
- In what ways have we limited the power of Jesus’ name in our lives and the lives of those around us? How can we trust in his name to bring about miraculous healing and transformation?
- How can we apply Peter’s response to the lame man (“Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you”) to our own lives? What are some valuable gifts that we can offer others that don’t involve material possessions?
Day 2 – Repentance and Restoration
Read: Acts 3:11-26
After the miraculous healing of the lame man at the Beautiful Gate in Acts 3:1-10, Peter takes the opportunity to preach a powerful message to the gathered crowd in Acts 3:11-26. Peter emphasizes that the healing was not done by his own power or piety, but through the power of Jesus Christ.
Peter then uses this miracle as a springboard to preach about the need for repentance and restoration. He reminds the crowd that they had rejected Jesus and handed him over to be crucified, but God had raised him from the dead. Peter urges them to repent of their sins and turn to God, so that their sins may be wiped out and times of refreshing may come.
Peter also emphasizes that Jesus is the fulfillment of the prophesies in the Old Testament and that all who believe in him will be saved. He warns the crowd of the consequences of rejecting Jesus and urges them to accept him as their Savior.
Reflection:
This passage highlights the importance of repentance and restoration in our relationship with God. Just as the lame man was physically restored through the power of Jesus’ name, we too can experience spiritual restoration through repentance and faith in Jesus. We must be willing to acknowledge our sin and turn away from it, and trust in the saving power of Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Another theme of this passage is the urgency of accepting Jesus as our Savior. Peter warns the crowd of the consequences of rejecting Jesus and urges them to make a decision to follow him. We too must recognize the urgency of accepting Jesus as our Savior and not put off making a decision to follow him.
Prayer:
Lord, we thank you for the power of Jesus’ name and the restoration that comes through repentance and faith in him. Help us to be willing to acknowledge our sin and turn away from it, and to trust in the saving power of his death and resurrection. May we recognize the urgency of accepting Jesus as our Savior and not put off making a decision to follow him. Amen.
Reflection questions:
- What areas of our lives do we need to repent of and turn away from in order to experience spiritual restoration?
- How can we share the message of repentance and salvation with those around us in a way that is both urgent and compassionate?
- What are some practical steps we can take to ensure that we are actively living out our faith and not putting off making a decision to follow Jesus?
Day 3 -The Unwavering Boldness of Peter and John
Read: Acts 4:1-12
In Acts 4:1-12, Peter and John are arrested and brought before the Sanhedrin for preaching about Jesus and performing the miracle of healing the lame man at the Beautiful Gate. The religious leaders were threatened by their teaching and sought to silence them.
Peter boldly defends their actions, proclaiming that the man was healed by the power of Jesus’ name. He emphasizes that there is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.
Despite the opposition they faced, Peter and John refused to back down from their faith in Jesus and continued to boldly proclaim the gospel.
Reflection:
This passage highlights the power of the name of Jesus and the importance of boldness in our faith. Peter and John were not afraid to proclaim the truth about Jesus, even in the face of persecution and opposition. They knew that the power of Jesus’ name was greater than any earthly authority or threat.
This passage also reminds us that there is only one way to salvation – through faith in Jesus Christ. We cannot earn our salvation through good works or adherence to religious laws, but only by putting our trust in Jesus and the power of his name.
Finally, this passage challenges us to examine our own willingness to boldly proclaim the gospel, even when it may be unpopular or met with opposition. We must be willing to stand firm in our faith and trust in the power of Jesus’ name to transform lives and bring salvation to those who believe.
Prayer:
Lord, we thank you for the power of the name of Jesus and the salvation that comes through faith in him. Help us to be bold in our faith, even in the face of opposition or persecution. May we trust in the power of his name to transform lives and bring salvation to those around us. Amen.
Reflection questions:
- In what ways have we seen the power of Jesus’ name at work in our own lives and the lives of those around us?
- How can we cultivate a greater boldness in our faith and willingness to proclaim the gospel, even when it may be unpopular or met with opposition?
- What are some practical ways we can continue to remind ourselves that salvation is only through faith in Jesus and not through our own efforts or good works?
Day 4 – Standing Firm in the Face of Opposition
Read Acts 4:13-22
After Peter and John were released from custody by the Sanhedrin, they returned to their fellow believers and recounted what had happened. The believers responded by praying for boldness and the ability to continue to proclaim the gospel.
In Acts 4:13-22, we see that the Sanhedrin is still threatened by Peter and John’s teaching, but they are unable to refute the evidence of the miraculous healing. Instead, they issue a warning and threaten them not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus.
Peter and John refuse to be intimidated and boldly declare that they cannot help but speak about what they have seen and heard. They demonstrate their unwavering commitment to following Jesus, even in the face of opposition.
Reflection:
This passage challenges us to consider our own commitment to following Jesus, especially in the face of opposition or persecution. Peter and John refused to back down from their faith and were willing to endure persecution for the sake of the gospel. They recognized the importance of obedience to God over obedience to man.
Additionally, this passage reminds us of the power of prayer and the importance of seeking the Holy Spirit’s guidance and strength in all that we do. The believers prayed for boldness and were filled with the Holy Spirit, enabling them to continue to proclaim the gospel in the face of opposition.
Finally, this passage also highlights the importance of relying on the evidence of God’s work in our lives and in the world around us. Peter and John were able to confidently proclaim the truth of Jesus’ message because they had seen the evidence of his power in the healing of the lame man.
Prayer:
Lord, we thank you for the example of Peter and John and their unwavering commitment to following you. Help us to be willing to endure persecution and opposition for the sake of the gospel. May we rely on the power of prayer and the guidance of the Holy Spirit in all that we do. Amen.
Reflection questions:
- In what ways do we face opposition or persecution for our faith? How can we remain steadfast in our commitment to following Jesus in these situations?
- How can we cultivate a greater reliance on prayer and the Holy Spirit’s guidance in our daily lives?
- What evidence of God’s work have we seen in our own lives and in the world around us? How can we use this evidence to confidently proclaim the truth of Jesus’ message to those around us?
Day 5 – Unity in Prayer
Read Acts 4:23-31
After being released from custody by the Sanhedrin and threatened not to preach or teach in the name of Jesus, Peter and John returned to the other believers and shared what had happened. In response, the believers came together in prayer, seeking God’s strength and guidance.
In Acts 4:23-31, we see a powerful example of unity in prayer. The believers lift their voices together, praising God and asking for boldness to continue to proclaim the gospel in the face of opposition. They recognize the sovereignty of God and the importance of trusting in his plan.
As they pray, the Holy Spirit fills them and they are emboldened to continue to speak the truth about Jesus. The believers leave the prayer meeting with a renewed sense of purpose and mission, ready to continue to spread the gospel message to all who will hear it.
Reflection:
This passage highlights the importance of unity in prayer and the power that comes when believers come together to seek God’s guidance and strength. The believers in Acts 4 recognized the importance of standing together in the face of opposition and supporting one another through prayer.
Additionally, this passage reminds us of the importance of trusting in God’s sovereignty and plan, even when we face difficulties or opposition. The believers recognized that God was in control and that their ultimate purpose was to glorify him through their actions and words.
Finally, this passage challenges us to examine our own prayer lives and the role that prayer plays in our relationship with God and our mission as believers. We must be willing to come together in unity and seek God’s guidance and strength as we navigate the challenges and opportunities that come our way.
Prayer:
Lord, we thank you for the example of the believers in Acts 4 and their commitment to unity in prayer. Help us to recognize the power that comes when believers come together to seek your guidance and strength. May we trust in your sovereignty and plan, even when we face difficulties or opposition. Amen.
Reflection questions:
- In what ways have we seen the power of unity in prayer in our own lives or in our community of believers
- How can we cultivate a greater trust in God’s sovereignty and plan, even when we face difficulties or opposition?
- What steps can we take to prioritize prayer in our daily lives and seek God’s guidance and strength as we live out our mission as believers?