Grace
To see God’s Kingdom come in the whole life of our neighbourhood, the way Jesus would, using Word, Deed and Sign.
Readings
Reading deeper…
Jim Reiher, The Book of Acts: A Social Justice Commentary, Chapter 1
Devotion 1
Wait: Take time to sit in silence together, allowing space for God’s voice to be heard.
Read: Acts 3:1-10
- Where do you hear God’s voice in this passage?
“What is not often thought about much in the retelling of the story is that the disciples—Peter and John in particular (the two key leaders of the early church, the two most prominent of the apostles!)—had to tell the poor beggar that they had no money!”
Ask:
- This story is a beautiful picture of God’s life amongst the marginalised. Where have you experienced God’s life on the margins this week?
Read: 1 Timothy 6:6-11
- How does verse 9 challenge us?
Share:
- Communion
Pray:
- Share in a time of prayer
- The Lord’s Prayer
Devotion 2
Wait: Take time to sit in the silence of repentance together, aware of our inadequacy and God’s grace.
Read: Acts 3:11-26
Where do you hear God’s voice in this passage?
Peter could have worked the crowd. He could have told big stories and made himself look amazing. He could have told the of all the stories he was a part of when Jesus was doing his thing. He could have embellished the role he played in some of those stories. He could have talked about when they went out two by two and came back with stories of demon deliverances! He could have even begun ‘Simon-Peter Ministries’ and given out flyers and announced the launch of his new ministry… But he did none of that.
Read: Proverbs 11:2 and James 4:6
Ask:
- How should we put into practice the teaching of humility in our lives?
- How can I live differently from how I live right now, today, as I seek to implement this?
Share: Communion
Pray:
- Share in a time of prayer
- End with the Lord’s prayer
Devotion 3
Wait: Take time to sit in the silence of thanksgiving together, aware of God’s loving-kindness
Read: Acts 3:11-26
In Peter’s speech in this passage, he has Israel’s story of exile and hope for restoration as a people firmly in his mind. He speaks to the people not as individuals, but as a collected people who are longing for a Messiah, or a prophet like Moses, to announce the fulfilment of God’s restoration. In calling the people to “repent” (v19) so that “times of refreshing” (v20) will come, perhaps Peter has in mind prophetic texts like Isaiah 40, which announce that God’s people have received “double for all her sins” (Is 40:2) and that they will “renew their strength” (Is 40:31).
Going Deeper
Read: Isaiah 40 (especially 1-2, 27-31)
Ask:
- How might we hear Peter’s words if we were ‘exiles in our own land”?
- How might you hope to see “times of refreshing” in your neigbourhood?
Share: Communion
Pray:
- Share in a time of prayer
- Finish with The Lord’s Prayer
2 responses to “Acts 3:1-26”
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