Day Nineteen

READ:  Acts 13-14

The 12^th century Italian Catholic St Francis of Assisi is credited with saying “Preach the Gospel at all times.  Use words if necessary.”

While potent, it implies that words and deeds are an either/or dichotomy.  Paul demonstrated that both are critical.

Paul’s first road trip (a.k.a. “missionary journey”) included one partner, one helper,  nine cities, and three regions of the Roman Empire.   It lasted three years. 

Early in his adventure, Paul developed his capacity to communicate God’s good news in various environments.  Three stand out.

1.      Synagogue:  His synagogue “talk” recounted God’s epic liberation of God’s people and promised forgiveness of sins, which yielded a whole new kind of life.  He assured his hearers of God’s favor.  The whole city gathered to hear that three minute sermon again.  v44   The Gentiles overheard, and rejoiced.  The word of the Lord spread throughout the region. v49 

2.      Crowd: To the curious bystander, Paul shared a 30 second version of God’s good news, encouraging hearers to refocus their lives from a worthless rat race to the living God who created beauty and freedom and food and joy.  14:14-17   People threw money in grateful response. 

3.      Jesus-followers:  To his fellow “church friends,” Paul started with this:  It is through many persecutions that we must enter the kingdom of God.    This encouraged and strengthened their questioning souls.

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 Write out your three-minute version of the good news:

 

What might happen when someone else hears your story?

Invitation:

Ponder Paul’s own question about proclaiming good news.  

And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? 

Romans 10:14

 

Day Eighteen

READ:  Acts 12

As the Jesus movement continues to grow, James “son of thunder” is killed by a bitterly jealous King Herod.  This ignites a fervent movement of congregational.   vv5,12

During their season of prayer:

·         an angel boosts Peter from jail, half-naked, fully asleep

·         an angel strikes down King Herod, where he was eaten by worms and died

Be mindful how you pray.

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How many times do you pray weekly:

• 1-2
• 3-4
• 5-6
• +7
• I pray without ceasing

What is a reasonable percentage of each day to spend connecting to the God of the universe:

• 1%   (14 mins)
• 2%   (28 mins)
• 5%   (72 mins)
• 0.3%  (5 mins)

 

Jesus taught his followers to pray a six-piece prayer that we’ve appropriately titled “The Lord’s Prayer”    

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name

your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but

deliver us from the evil one.

Invitation:  Select the phrase of this prayer which best fits your soul today.  Pray it throughout today.

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Day Seventeen

READ:  Acts 11

Like every CEO, Peter gives a periodic update to the board of directors at the First Church of Jerusalem.  The board consists of the Jewish religious authorities who inherited a multi generationally held belief that only “their kind” (circumcised) were accepted by God.

But, Peter’s recent adventures had included many who were NOT “their kind.”    When called to account, Peter simply recounts his own personal experience (vv4-15) and recites a Bible verse he memorized years earlier, fresh from Jesus’ mouth. 

The stunned silent council soon erupted into board room rejoicing (worship). 

Eventually, the adventurers’ telling of God’s ongoing involvement with people led outsiders to call them “Christians.”

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Peter’s frequent telling of his story with God (“God story” or

“good news”) continually resulted in his hearers:

• becoming believers
• turning to the Lord
• rejoicing
• drawing a great many others to the Lord
• all of above

What is your abbreviated good news story with God?  Outline below

            Once upon a time, I was born.  Then I….

            Then….

            Then….

            Now….

            One day, I look forward to…      …with God, forever. Amen.

Invitation: 

Ponder today who needs to hear your particular good news story of God.

Day Sixteen

READ:  Acts 10

 The Jesus plan expands further.  The Way of Jesus is demonstrated at Lydda, Joppa, Sharon, and Caesarea.  In each city, “many believed” and “turned to the Lord.” 

At Caeasarea, Peter’s telling (proclamation) of the good news lasts only nine verses vv34-43.  His gospel to those reprehensible Gentiles reflected his personal experience, the basic facts, and the inviting appeal that everyone who believes in [Jesus] receives forgiveness of sins through his name”  

The Spirited results were “astounding.”  vv 44-48
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Have you ever told someone the good news of God’s work in your life?   Y/N     What resulted?

Peter was led to proclaim good news to so many “undesirables.”  Why might these be a wise focal audience?

 

Who are the “undesirables” in northern Albemarle County?

 What is Chestnut Grove’s responsibility to proclaim/demonstrate Good news to them?  

 

What might your personal role be in the above endeavor?

 Invitation: 

       meditate today on the following:  

“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me…whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

Matthew 25:40,45

Day Fifteen

READ:  Acts 9

Ever experienced a “re-orientation”? 

In a proverbial “blink,” Saul was reoriented from persecutor to proponent of the Jesus plan. 

Saul’s transformation involved keeping his strongest qualities (zeal for God, scriptural knowledge) and tossing his flaws (legalistic orientation, evil, intolerance, defective vision). 

He even received a new label, “Paul.”

When God turns on the light, the world looks different.

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 Is following Jesus possible without a re-orientation of life?   Y/N

What in your life needs/needed to be discarded to fully engage Jesus’ plan?

Saul-Paul taught his congregations in Corinth:  So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!*  What might result if a handful of local “Sauls” were reoriented to “Pauls?”

Invitation:

Pray today that God would facilitate new vision for you… in Jesus’ name.

 Notes:

*2 Corinthians 5:17