SCRIPTURE: Acts 4:13-22 “They were unschooled, ordinary men…” (Acts 4:13) Jesus delights in making the ordinary extraordinary! Are these the same men that denied Jesus a weeks earlier? Why caused these guys to change… “these men had been with Jesus!” (Acts 4:13) I finished a biography of another extraordinary man, a man of deep, sincere prayer. Not ‘prayer’ in…
Author: Norm
Trusting God for results
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 127 Unless the Lord builds… the builders labor in vain… (Psalm 127:1) What is my house or city falls, if I don’t have kids, or can’t sleep? Does this mean God is not for me, God is not blessing me? Or if my church is not growing, is it because God is not building with us?…
By grace transformed!
SCRIPTURE: 1 Corinthians 9-10 “For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.” (1 Corinthians 10:33) We serve a gracious God, Who seeks the good of many, that they may be saved. Paul was blessed by this grace, he knows he is loved, forgiven, accepted, restored. This amazing grace…
Concern for someone you love
SCRIPTURE: 1 Corinthians 6-8 “I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 7:35) Paul is not being bossy or demanding, like an autocratic leader. His words about lawsuits, sexual immorality, marriage, divorce, singleness, and food sacrificed to idols…
Guilty of extreme kindness!
SCRIPTURE: Acts 4:1-12 “Called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame…” (Acts 4:9) Their crime is an act of kindness. Oh that church today would be more guilty of this crime. What crimes are churches accused of today? We need to learn from the criminals of our day, we…
Through Jesus, through us!
SCRIPTURE: Acts 3:11-26 “Heaven must receive him until the time comes for God to restore everything.” (Acts 3:21) Peter and John’s boldness is in stark contrast to their fear before Jesus died. Jesus is alive, Jesus is in heaven… either they’re nuts, or they’re telling the truth. They are not just on fire about ‘forgiveness’ or ‘going…
Something to give!
SCRIPTURE: Acts 3:1-10 “Silver or gold I do not have… in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” (Acts 3:6) Someone observed that these are two things Christians can’t say anymore. They meant it as a criticism, how we have become worldly and weak. “But what I do have I give you.” (Acts 3:6) This is the key…
Let it begin in me
SCRIPTURE: Acts 2:42-47 “Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts.” (Acts 2:46) These people did not start a church, this was a community on fire! They were bonded together by faith, hope and love, and it was contagious. How many churches today reflect this kind of connection? Assuming that your church does not…
Seeing beyond tears
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 126 “Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.” (Psalm 126:5) What causes tears but things that are wrong, bad, unfair or hurtful. There’s something wrong if someone won’t weep at injustice, grief or tragedy. Tears are universal, a natural response to our messed up world. “Blessed are those who mourn, for…
Getting rid of sin
SCRIPTURE: 1 Corinthians 4-5 “Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.” (1 Corinthians 5:7) Today is actually Passover, so this verse is fitting. Paul refers to the spiritual meaning of Passover: getting rid of the sin that ruins us. As…