Walking with God over the Summer...and beyond

Acts 2:42-47

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Let’s list the elements in this passage that you see that are keys to healthy Christian living.

1.     A commitment to the Scriptures.  (vs. 42)

a.     What does it look like for you to be committed (devoted) to God’s Word? 

b.     What are some benefits of being devoted to the Scriptures?

c.     Psalm 1 – meditating on God’s Word day and night

d.     Hebrews 4:12-13

2.     Fellowship.  Being connected to other believers.  (vs. 42)

a.     Where do you find Christian fellowship?

b.     For those of you that tend to seek quality teaching and church experience online, that’s awesome.  But what’s the value of being in the physical presence with other believers?

c.     What does it really even mean to be in fellowship with one another?

3.     Enjoying time over meals together.  (vs. 42,45) 

a.     Why is mealtime so important? 

b.     Why did Jesus do so much ministry over meals?

c.     Great article here:  https://voice.dts.edu/article/a-place-at-the-table-jones-barry/

4.     Prayer.  Bringing everything before God.  Praying alone and with one another.  (vs. 42)

a.     What is your personal prayer life like?  In what ways can it improve?

b.     What is the value in praying together?  (see:  James 5:13-16)

5.     Serving others.  (vs. 45)

a.     Why is it important for us to look out for one another?

b.     What does it show the world when we care for each other like this?

c.     What avenues do you have this summer to serve?

6.     There was a commitment to fellow believers, but there was also an outward focus.  (vs. 47 – “enjoying the favor of all the people; God adding to their number)

a.     How did each of you come to know Jesus?  Did any of you come to know Him on your own, simply by reading your Bible?

b.     Why is it the sign of healthy Christianity for us to move towards those who don’t know Christ?  (think of the Dead Sea)

c.     Who do you know back home (or wherever you’re going to be) that you can share Christ with this summer?

Of course, these principles all apply not just for summer break, but for the rest of your life.  Wherever you go, seek to apply all six of these things:  a commitment to Scripture, solid Christian fellowship, enjoying Christian company over meals, a healthy prayer life, a place to serve, and making opportunities to impact others for Christ. 

Holy Week Devotional - Sunday

Matthew 28:1-10 – “1 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. 2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. 5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” 8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.””

The resurrection of Jesus is, as Paul put it in 1 Corinthians 15, the fulcrum of history.  Our faith stands or falls on whether this event happened or not.  In 1 Cor 15:17, Paul said, “if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.”  If the resurrection did not happen, we are living a lie and it is futile and we are to be pitied.  If the resurrection DID happen, we are living the glorious, life-changing truth that impacts eternity.

There is no in-between.

Some scholars like to think that the resurrection happened in a symbolic sense, but not in a real, physical sense.  But the early Christians banked everything on the resurrection being real.  The Church would never have gotten started if not for the resurrection.  We have abundant historical evidence that the early Christians believed that Jesus really rose from the dead.  It is foundational to our faith.

But one of the most interesting aspects of the resurrection is found in this account in Matthew 28.  Notice who found the empty tomb.  Mary and Mary Magdalene.  Women.  That may seem unimportant to us today, but in that culture, that was quite noteworthy. 

You see, women had no standing in that culture.  They had no power, and their word wasn’t even good in a court of law.  If the first Christians were making up the story of the resurrection, the last thing they would have done is had women play such an integral part of the story.  They’d simply have left that out.  But they didn’t leave it out, because that’s exactly what happened, and they were committed to telling the true story. 

The resurrection really happened.  Jesus really rose from the dead, conquering sin and death.  Because of that, we too can have victory over sin and death. 

Our faith is grounded in historical reality, not wishful thinking.  That’s always good to come back to when you experience doubts.  Jesus really died on the cross and He really rose from the dead.  His tomb really is empty.  Christianity is TRUE.

When you think about Easter, yes, you think about the resurrection.  But do you think about the importance of the resurrection?  Do you think about the implications?  Do you think about how history and all of eternity changed because of what happened on Easter? 

Today, take some time to thank God for the resurrection.  Thank Him for new life.  Thank Him that it’s not a fairy tale, but a true story of the Son of God giving His life for us and rising again in victory on your behalf.  Think about someone in your life who needs to hear this amazing true story.  And then go share it with them.

Holy Week Devotional - Saturday

Luke 23:50-56 – “50 Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, 51 who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea, and he himself was waiting for the kingdom of God. 52 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body. 53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. 54 It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin. 55 The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. 56 Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.”

On Friday, Jesus was crucified.  On Sunday, Jesus rose from the dead.  What happened on Saturday?

Well, verse 56 here gives us a good glimpse of what happened on Saturday.  “They rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.”  You see, when Jesus died, He needed to be buried.  The Sabbath was coming quickly.  Joseph of Arimathea, a good and upright man Luke tells us, was a member of the Council but not one in agreement with their decision to crucify Jesus.  He got permission from Pilate to take Jesus’ body and bury it.  He owned a tomb and placed Jesus, wrapped in linen, into it.  We know from Matthew 27:60 that a huge stone was placed in front of the tomb, and Matthew 27:62-66 tells us that Pilate ordered that Roman guards be placed in front of the tomb to guard it, precisely because they worried about someone stealing the body.

The women prepared spices for a proper burial – you see, the plan was that the day after the Sabbath (meaning, Sunday), they were going to go to the tomb and request that the stone be removed so they could prepare the body right for long-term burial.  They simply didn’t have enough time on Friday before the Sabbath was to start (sundown on Friday).  So they did some preparation but then the Sabbath came, from Friday night through Saturday night.

What happened on Saturday?

Nothing.

Absolutely nothing.

They rested on the Sabbath, as the Law commanded them to do.  They spent the day in quiet reflection, in prayer, and in worship.  They spent the day, sad as they were, with God. 

Do you wonder what they reflected on?  I’m going to guess that they meditated on what they just experienced – the death of the one they believed to be the Messiah.  Now don’t forget – they expected a Messiah who would free Israel from Rome’s rule.  We know this because even after Jesus rose from the dead, in Acts 1 the disciples asked, “Is it at this time that you will restore your kingdom to Israel?”  So maybe they saw this as a lost opportunity, their hopes dashed, but more importantly, a loved one lost. 

Do you ever reflect, before God, on the evil and injustice in the world?  Do you grieve in front of the Lord?  Do you bring your sadness and your lament to Him?  Or do you tend to keep it inside?  Or do you tend to complain to others? 

Grieving and lamenting death, suffering, evil, injustice is good and healthy.  David did this a lot in the Psalms.  Jesus lamented over Israel and over the death of Lazarus (even though He knew He would raise him from the dead). 

What are some things you grieve?  What are some injustices weighing on your heart?

Today, take some time to sit and be still with the Lord.  Put your school books away; put your Xbox away.  Sit with God and talk to Him about the things that grieve your heart.  It’s ok.  It’s good and healthy.  It’s not meant to be a gripe session (God, why am I not getting XYZ that I want?), but rather a time to grieve and lament.  God wants us to come to Him with these things.

Holy Week Devotional - Friday

Luke 23:33, 39-43 – “33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left…. 39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. ” 43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”” 

Imagine this scene.  Jesus is being mocked and insulted by soldiers.  And also by one of the criminals who was crucified next to Jesus.  Jesus was considered by Pilate to be completely innocent of all charges.  He found no wrong in Him.  And yet, giving in to the pressure of the crowds (remember how the crowds treated Jesus on Palm Sunday?), Pilate sentenced Jesus to die by crucifixion – a punishment reserved only for the worst criminals.

So here was Jesus on the cross, a man who did nothing wrong, who is being mocked by a criminal who actually was receiving his due penalty for his heinous crimes.  What was the criminal saying?  Basically, if you’re really God, save yourself and save me too! 

You know, people mock Jesus and Christianity all the time.  They make fun of God.  They mock the things that Christianity stands for. 

But how does Jesus deal with it?  First off, He offers forgiveness.  He’s not angry.  He said on the cross, “Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do.”  And He gave His life for them – even those mocking Him. 

But then we come to this other criminal who simply says, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”  He is, in his own way, asking for forgiveness.  And Jesus lets him know he’s forgiven by saying, “Today you will be with me in paradise.” 

The gift of grace bestowed on us by Jesus is astounding.  In the midst of our sin, He gave His life for us.  Paul put it this way in Romans 5:8 – “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” 

Today is Good Friday.  It’s a weird day in that I don’t really know how to observe it.  Do I say, “Happy Good Friday”?  That doesn’t seem right.  We remember a horrific, painful, excruciating death on a Roman cross.  That’s not a happy thing.  And yet, it was a voluntary choice on Jesus’ behalf to save us from our sin, because He loved us so much.  That IS a happy thing! 

What does Good Friday mean to you?  In what way do you think is best to observe it? 

In what way are you like the first criminal – let’s be honest, we all have a little bit of that in us (God, if you really love me, why aren’t you doing XYZ for me???) – and in what way are you like the second criminal? 

Today, think about Good Friday and why it’s so important.  Think about God’s astounding love for you that is such that He would give His life for you.  Think about how you can share this incredibly good news with someone else in your life.  It’s a perfect time for that conversation!