This week, we consider the power of the grace (4:33) of the “One Sovereign Triune Lord” (4:23) that led the “whole church and all who heard” what Jesus did and does as the resurrected Lord (4:30) to be “seized with great fear” (5:5, 11).  As we consider this section in Acts about the continuing work of Jesus, we will consider two questions and four warnings:
    Question One:  What did they understand about this Triune Sovereign Lord?
    Question Two:  How did this understanding of God shape their prayers?
    The Four Warnings:  What might happen when one prays as they do?

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The healing of a lame man at the Temple gate causes a stir among all the people and a reaction from the religious authorities.  The whole event is clearly the work of Jesus flowing through Peter and John.  Among the people there is great rejoicing; thousands more turn to receive Jesus and follow Him.  The authorities, the same ones who condemned Jesus to death just a few weeks earlier, do everything they can to put a stop to this movement but they can't help but notice something about Peter and John.  Acts 4:13 says, "When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus."  There are so many characteristics of Jesus plainly evident in the words, attitudes and actions of Peter and John throughout this incident!  May our lives similarly be characterized by the life of Jesus and may people take notice that we too have spent time with Jesus!

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As we look at the events of Acts 2 from the focus of Acts 1:1 (i.e. “What Jesus [continues to] do and teach),” it is clear that Jesus is doing and teaching exactly what the Father promised and  Jesus taught (i.e. “But wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about” – Acts 1:4-5).   While the world community present were initially “bewildered” (2:6), “utterly amazed” (2:7), “amazed and perplexed” (2:12) and asked, “What does this mean?” (2:13) and while others “made fun of them” (2:13), Jesus work and teaching through Pentecost is clear including empowering his servants to speak of him with Spirit-given understanding of the Scriptures fulfilled in him and moving hearts to repentance, acceptance of him,  and participation in the new community formed by him.

Join us for an evening of games, food and interaction with a story.  5pm Saturday February 9th at ICB.

In this 2nd half of the first chapter of Acts we observe the disciples and other followers of Jesus in the waiting period between Jesus' ascension and the coming of the Holy Spirit.  From the Gospels we observe that in many ways these are ordinary people like us - people with strengths and weaknesses; people who love Jesus but are sometimes overcome with their sinful tendencies to arrogance and fear, etc.  In this passage we observe 6 signs that these same folks were available to be filled with the power and love of God.  May God continue His gracious work in our lives also that we might be truly available to be filled with His power so that we may be faithful stewards in His kingdom on earth. 

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This week, we consider the opening words of Luke to Theophilus in Acts 1:1-11.  While some debate whether this second volume should be seen as “The Acts of the Apostles”
or the “Acts of the Holy Spirit,” Luke makes it clear that the book of Acts is a continuation of his first volume (i.e. The Gospel of Luke).  The book of Acts is about what Jesus “continues to do and to teach” (Acts 1:1). As we consider these words, we pray, “Oh Lord Jesus Christ, open our eyes to see what you continue to do and to teach in our lives and those of others today.”

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