Bible Reading Plan

Month: April 2020

Acts 8
Read Acts 8

¹And Saul approved of their killing him.
The Church Persecuted and Scattered
On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.²Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. ³But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.
Philip in Samaria
⁴Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. ⁵Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there. ⁶When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. ⁷For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. ⁸So there was great joy in that city.
Simon the Sorcerer
⁹Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, ¹⁰and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is rightly called the Great Power of God.” ¹¹They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his sorcery.¹²But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. ¹³Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.
¹⁴When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria. ¹⁵When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit, ¹⁶because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. ¹⁷Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
¹⁸When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money ¹⁹and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
²⁰Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! ²¹You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. ²²Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. ²³For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”
²⁴Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”
²⁵After they had further proclaimed the word of the Lord and testified about Jesus, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages.
Philip and the Ethiopian
²⁶Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” ²⁷So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, ²⁸and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. ²⁹The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”
³⁰Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.
³¹“How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
³²This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading:
“He was led like a sheep to the slaughter,
    and as a lamb before its shearer is silent,
    so he did not open his mouth.
³³In his humiliation he was deprived of justice.
    Who can speak of his descendants?
    For his life was taken from the earth.”
³⁴The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” ³⁵Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.
³⁶As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?”^[37]³⁸And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. ³⁹When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.⁴⁰Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.

Go Deeper

Acts 8 is a turning point in history. Stephen’s execution (Acts 7) ignites the persecution of Christian Jews, which initiates the scattering of the Jerusalem church. This persecution is the beginning of the fulfillment of Acts 1:8: “…you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 8:4 tells us that “those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.” The enemy’s attack on believers had the opposite effect of what he intended. Instead of smothering the gospel, the gospel spread. God’s purposes cannot be stopped and His promises are true.
The rest of chapter 8 tells us the story of one of these early missionaries, Philip. He preaches the gospel to many and he preaches the gospel to one.
It’s hard for us to imagine the boldness required of Philip to preach to the Samaritans. Samaritans were despised by the Jews. Jews did not associate with Samaritans. Yet, Philip went to them. Told them about the Messiah, the Christ. Many were saved. People once considered outsiders are now in.
Philip is then sent south and encounters an Ethiopian. Philip initiates a conversation, and the Ethiopian invites Philip to explain Scripture to him. Philip sits next to this man, privately and patiently explaining who Jesus is and what He’s done for us. An unnamed Ethiopian man received salvation that day. A man once considered an outsider–now in.
What we learn from these two encounters is that evangelism on any scale is necessary and important. Whether it’s a public platform or a private conversation, it’s all sacred work that we get to participate in. When God asks us to go, may we be obedient and faithful to go and do what He asks of us, trusting Him with the results. Whether we preach to one or we preach to many, our methods may need to be altered, but our message remains the same—Jesus is the Messiah, the Savior. Let’s boldly tell the Good News!

Questions

God used persecution in the early church to fulfill His plan of spreading the gospel to the ends of the earth. What trials, oppositions, struggles are you facing that God could use for His glory?
We read about Simon, the Sorcerer, and the Ethiopian Eunuch. What are the similarities of their stories? What are their differences?
What admirable qualities do you see in Philip? What do you learn from his story?

Did You Know?

At the time, there was an understanding that the Ethiopians lived at “the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Philip was the first Jewish Christian to evangelize a Gentile in such a far away, remote land.

Think About It.

Watch this sermon on Scattered to Gather.

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April 20, 2020
Acts 7
Read Acts 7

Stephen’s Speech to the Sanhedrin
¹Then the high priest asked Stephen, “Are these charges true?”
²To this he replied: “Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Harran. ³‘Leave your country and your people,’ God said, ‘and go to the land I will show you.’
⁴“So he left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Harran. After the death of his father, God sent him to this land where you are now living. ⁵He gave him no inheritance here, not even enough ground to set his foot on. But God promised him that he and his descendants after him would possess the land, even though at that time Abraham had no child. ⁶God spoke to him in this way: ‘For four hundred years your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated. ⁷But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves,’ God said, ‘and afterward they will come out of that country and worship me in this place.’ ⁸Then he gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision. And Abraham became the father of Isaac and circumcised him eight days after his birth. Later Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob became the father of the twelve patriarchs.
⁹“Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him ¹⁰and rescued him from all his troubles. He gave Joseph wisdom and enabled him to gain the goodwill of Pharaoh king of Egypt. So Pharaoh made him ruler over Egypt and all his palace.
¹¹“Then a famine struck all Egypt and Canaan, bringing great suffering, and our ancestors could not find food. ¹²When Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our forefathers on their first visit. ¹³On their second visit, Joseph told his brothers who he was, and Pharaoh learned about Joseph’s family. ¹⁴After this, Joseph sent for his father Jacob and his whole family, seventy-five in all. ¹⁵Then Jacob went down to Egypt, where he and our ancestors died. ¹⁶Their bodies were brought back to Shechem and placed in the tomb that Abraham had bought from the sons of Hamor at Shechem for a certain sum of money.
¹⁷“As the time drew near for God to fulfill his promise to Abraham, the number of our people in Egypt had greatly increased. ¹⁸Then ‘a new king, to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power in Egypt.’ ¹⁹He dealt treacherously with our people and oppressed our ancestors by forcing them to throw out their newborn babies so that they would die.
²⁰“At that time Moses was born, and he was no ordinary child. For three months he was cared for by his family. ²¹When he was placed outside, Pharaoh’s daughter took him and brought him up as her own son. ²²Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action.
²³“When Moses was forty years old, he decided to visit his own people, the Israelites. ²⁴He saw one of them being mistreated by an Egyptian, so he went to his defense and avenged him by killing the Egyptian. ²⁵Moses thought that his own people would realize that God was using him to rescue them, but they did not. ²⁶The next day Moses came upon two Israelites who were fighting. He tried to reconcile them by saying, ‘Men, you are brothers; why do you want to hurt each other?’
²⁷“But the man who was mistreating the other pushed Moses aside and said, ‘Who made you ruler and judge over us? ²⁸Are you thinking of killing me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’ ²⁹When Moses heard this, he fled to Midian, where he settled as a foreigner and had two sons.
³⁰“After forty years had passed, an angel appeared to Moses in the flames of a burning bush in the desert near Mount Sinai. ³¹When he saw this, he was amazed at the sight. As he went over to get a closer look, he heard the Lord say: ³²‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.’ Moses trembled with fear and did not dare to look.
³³“Then the Lord said to him, ‘Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground. ³⁴I have indeed seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their groaning and have come down to set them free. Now come, I will send you back to Egypt.’
³⁵“This is the same Moses they had rejected with the words, ‘Who made you ruler and judge?’ He was sent to be their ruler and deliverer by God himself, through the angel who appeared to him in the bush. ³⁶He led them out of Egypt and performed wonders and signs in Egypt, at the Red Sea and for forty years in the wilderness.
³⁷“This is the Moses who told the Israelites, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your own people.’ ³⁸He was in the assembly in the wilderness, with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our ancestors; and he received living words to pass on to us.
³⁹“But our ancestors refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt. ⁴⁰They told Aaron, ‘Make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who led us out of Egypt—we don’t know what has happened to him!’ ⁴¹That was the time they made an idol in the form of a calf. They brought sacrifices to it and reveled in what their own hands had made. ⁴²But God turned away from them and gave them over to the worship of the sun, moon and stars. This agrees with what is written in the book of the prophets:
“‘Did you bring me sacrifices and offerings
    forty years in the wilderness, people of Israel?
⁴³You have taken up the tabernacle of Molek
    and the star of your god Rephan,
    the idols you made to worship.
Therefore I will send you into exile’ beyond Babylon.
⁴⁴“Our ancestors had the tabernacle of the covenant law with them in the wilderness. It had been made as God directed Moses, according to the pattern he had seen. ⁴⁵After receiving the tabernacle, our ancestors under Joshua brought it with them when they took the land from the nations God drove out before them. It remained in the land until the time of David, ⁴⁶who enjoyed God’s favor and asked that he might provide a dwelling place for the God of Jacob. ⁴⁷But it was Solomon who built a house for him.
⁴⁸“However, the Most High does not live in houses made by human hands. As the prophet says:
⁴⁹“‘Heaven is my throne,
    and the earth is my footstool.
What kind of house will you build for me?
says the Lord.
    Or where will my resting place be?
⁵⁰Has not my hand made all these things?’
⁵¹“You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! ⁵²Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— ⁵³you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.”
The Stoning of Stephen
⁵⁴When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. ⁵⁵But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. ⁵⁶“Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
⁵⁷At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, ⁵⁸dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.
⁵⁹While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” ⁶⁰Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.

Go Deeper

The story in Acts 7 picks up where the previous chapter left off. Stephen had been preaching and performing “great wonders and signs among the people” (Acts 6:8). He had gained notoriety and was captured and brought before the Sanhedrin. When given the chance to defend himself, Stephen launches into a Jewish history lesson. While they were accusing him of blaspheming Moses and God, Stephen actually did no such thing. Over the next 51 verses, Stephen gives the longest speech recorded in the book of Acts. He’s not there to defend himself; he’s there to tell anyone who will listen that he’s living out a new way of worship that Jesus instructed.
The crowd doesn’t react favorably. Unlike some of the other stories we have read in Acts so far, Stephen’s speech doesn’t end with thousands of new converts or a rush to repentance from the crowd. Instead, they charge Stephen and immediately start stoning him. Stephen’s story ends with him being the first martyr in Christian history.
So what are we to take away from a story like this one? The story of Stephen is one of surrender and obedience. Stephen, similarly to Jesus in Luke 23:46, as He’s hanging on the cross, references Psalm 31 in his last moments, saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” That psalm is a cry of David for protection and deliverance, which is the same thing we see Stephen asking for here. Regardless of the outcome, Stephen took the opportunity in front of him to speak the truth and to call the people in front of him to repentance, all while trusting that God would deliver him. And, because of the faithfulness of God, we know He did.

Questions

What stands out to you about Stephen’s speech before the Sanhedrin?
What is the importance of the Jewish history lesson Stephen presents here? Why do you think he built his speech around that?
While you probably haven’t ever been threatened with stoning, there is something for us to learn from Stephen in Acts 7. Where can you implement the boldness and the obedience of Stephen in your own life?

Did You Know?

Towards the end of the chapter we see the first reference to Saul (eventually known as Paul) in the book of Acts. While we don’t know for sure, perhaps Stephen’s speech and subsequent stoning planted a seed for Saul’s upcoming conversion.

Think About It.

Listen to this podcast on Becoming Courageous

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April 19, 2020
Acts 6
Read Acts 6

The Choosing of the Seven
In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. ²So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. ³Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them ⁴and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”
⁵This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. ⁶They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
⁷So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.
Stephen Seized
⁸Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. ⁹Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia—who began to argue with Stephen. ¹⁰But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke.
¹¹Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.”
¹²So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin. ¹³They produced false witnesses, who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. ¹⁴For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us.”
¹⁵All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

Go Deeper

Today we read about a disagreement the early church had. While the text says Hellenist Jews and Hebrew Jews, it’s important to note that both sides were believers–Jewish converts to Christianity. And even though they had the “main thing” in common, an issue still arose: the Hellenistic Jewish widows were being forgotten in the daily distribution of food. What is amazing to note here is the way this conflict was handled. When the problem was brought up, instead of blaming others or giving excuses, the apostles wisely decided to delegate this task. In doing so, they were able to bring in an additional seven ministers to share the load, rather than keeping all the work for themselves. Because of how this conflict was handled, verse 7 says that the word of God continued to increase, the number of disciples multiplied, and even Jewish priests began to believe and were brought to faith in Jesus.
Can you believe that? A conflict brought people to faith in Jesus because of how well it was handled! A situation which had the potential to bring chaos, discord, and disunity actually brought peace, harmony, and unity to a diverse group of believers. The enemy loves to stir up trouble. The place he loves to work the most is in the church, and the people he loves to target the most are believers. What we see here is the enemy’s plans being thwarted because people who were full of the Spirit listened to each other, worked through the conflict, and found a way to solve it–together. At Harris Creek, and even in your Life Group, there will be people you disagree with and conflict so large you think it can’t be solved. When that moment comes, remember this story and how God was glorified by the way this conflict was handled. If He can do that with the chaos of this story, what can He do through the conflict you face today?

Questions

How do you normally approach conflict? How has God changed the way you disagree with people?
How is Stephen described in this chapter? Do you share any of the same qualities that he is described as having? (Pay attention to Stephen. His story continues in the next chapter.)
If God can use conflict to make His name famous, He can even use the chaotic events of the coronavirus to spread His name and His fame. How are you seeing good brought out of this situation? How is God working through this crazy mess to bring unity from discord?

Did You Know?

The Hebrew Jews were the Jews mostly from Judea who were more likely to embrace Jewish traditions; the Hellenist Jews were from all over the Roman Empire and were more likely to fit in with Greek culture. AKA: the Hebrews were more “traditional/conservative” and the Hellenists were more “liberal,” and they each thought the other was too extreme in their beliefs, even though both sides were Christians. Sound familiar to any sort of disagreements we might have with other believers today?!

Think About It.

During His last “free” hours on earth, Jesus prayed for His current disciples and then future believers (like us). The theme of His prayer was unity. Read John 17 and pray His prayer over yourself, your Life Group, and this church now.

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April 18, 2020
Acts 5
Read Acts 5

Ananias and Sapphira
¹Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. ²With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet.
³Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? ⁴Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.”
⁵When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. ⁶Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.
⁷About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. ⁸Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?”
“Yes,” she said, “that is the price.”
⁹Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord?Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.”
¹⁰At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. ¹¹Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.
The Apostles Heal Many
¹²The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade. ¹³No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. ¹⁴Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. ¹⁵As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. ¹⁶Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed.
The Apostles Persecuted
¹⁷Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. ¹⁸They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. ¹⁹But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. ²⁰“Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.”
²¹At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people.
When the high priest and his associates arrived, they called together the Sanhedrin—the full assembly of the elders of Israel—and sent to the jail for the apostles. ²²But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they went back and reported, ²³“We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” ²⁴On hearing this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were at a loss, wondering what this might lead to.
²⁵Then someone came and said, “Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people.” ²⁶At that, the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force, because they feared that the people would stone them.
²⁷The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. ²⁸“We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”
²⁹Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! ³⁰The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross. ³¹God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. ³²We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
³³When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. ³⁴But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. ³⁵Then he addressed the Sanhedrin: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. ³⁶Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. ³⁷After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. ³⁸Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. ³⁹But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”
⁴⁰His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
⁴¹The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. ⁴²Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.

Go Deeper

This chapter opens and closes with two stories that have very different outcomes. We see two groups of people who on the surface appear to be serving God, but only one group has the correct motivation. One wants to serve their own desires, while the other wants to glorify God. The opening story of Ananias and Sapphira is one of the more shocking passages in the entire New Testament. They sold their property and told the apostles they were donating the entirety of the sale to the church. However, they were keeping half of the profits to themselves. Because of their deceit, they both fall dead. At first glance, this story seems like it is about their lack of generosity, but it is really about their motivation. Their desire was so that others would be impressed by their good deeds, rather than be impressed by their good God.
This story is juxtaposed with a completely different example in the second half of the chapter. Rather than caring about their own lives, the apostles are willing to risk everything to share the gospel. They are jailed and flogged, but leave rejoicing because they were counted worthy to suffer for the sake of Jesus. Rather than caring about the thoughts of the people around them, they submitted to the desires of God (v. 29). This chapter challenges us to reflect on which camp we would fall into. Are we among those who use our actions to impress others or to showcase the power of our God? Ananias and Sapphira’s story is a tragedy, while the apostles got to see God move mountains.

Questions

What differences do you notice between the lives of Ananias and Sapphira and the apostles?
In verse 29, Peter says, “We must obey God rather than human beings!” Why do you think we are drawn to the approval of people rather than the approval of God?
The chapter ends with the apostles joyfully realizing that they were considered worthy to suffer for the name of Jesus. Where in your life have you had to “suffer” because you were following Jesus?
Verse 42 says, “Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.” Who in your life needs to hear about Jesus? How can you share the Good News with them this week?

Did You Know?

Gamaliel likely was not a follower of Jesus. As a Jewish leader, he didn’t support the apostles’ teachings, but he also didn’t want to kill them in order to keep the people from rioting. God used someone who wasn’t following Jesus to help spread the news about Jesus.

Think About It.

Read this article interpreting the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira.

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April 17, 2020
Acts 4
Read Acts 4

Peter and John Before the Sanhedrin
¹The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. ²They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. ³They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day.⁴But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.
⁵The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. ⁶Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family. ⁷They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”
⁸Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! ⁹If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed,¹⁰then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. ¹¹Jesus is
“‘the stone you builders rejected,
    which has become the cornerstone.’
¹²Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
¹³When 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. ¹⁴But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. ¹⁵So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. ¹⁶“What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it. ¹⁷But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.”
¹⁸Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. ¹⁹But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! ²⁰As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
²¹After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. ²²For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.
The Believers Pray
²³On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. ²⁴When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. ²⁵You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:
“‘Why do the nations rage
    and the peoples plot in vain?
²⁶The kings of the earth rise up
    and the rulers band together
against the Lord
    and against his anointed one.’
²⁷Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. ²⁸They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. ²⁹Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. ³⁰Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
³¹After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
The Believers Share Their Possessions
³²All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.³³With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all ³⁴that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales ³⁵and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.
³⁶Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), ³⁷sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.

Go Deeper

One of the main lessons of Acts 4 is that God can use anyone, anywhere, at any time. Nobody is too shy, too sinful, or too broken to be used in a mighty way by the Holy Spirit. One of the most intriguing (but a little insulting!) verses in the entire book of Acts is verse 13: “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.” The religious leaders were shocked that these men spoke with such power because they were ordinary. Peter and John were just run of the mill people with no degrees and no money, just a powerful message.
The people there that day couldn’t help but conclude that the only difference was Jesus. These men had spent time with the crucified Christ. If Jesus could transform these two, well, then He could transform anybody! This transformation would happen in more and more lives, even as the religious leaders tried to put an end to this movement. Thousands came to know Jesus and created a unified family the likes of which the world had never seen. These men and women created habits of prayer and generosity that literally shook the foundations of the earth. God was on the move through everyday, ordinary people who simply didn’t know any better. May we be desperate for Him to do it again!

Questions

What characteristics of these early believers do you wish marked Harris Creek today?
Words like “courage” and “boldness” are frequently used to describe the early church. Why do you think they had such confidence?
In Acts, one of the main qualities of Christians was their generosity. Who in your life could God impact with your generosity?

Did You Know?

The Sanhedrin clearly had little respect for Peter and John. They weren’t wealthy enough to have received formal training, nor were they part of the religious class to have studied under a scholar. However, God took these two fishermen and empowered them to present a case in front of chief priests and scribes, because they’d been with Jesus and could testify on His behalf.

Think About It.

A pastor teaches you what to look for while reading Acts 4.

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April 16, 2020
Acts 3
Read Acts 3

Peter Heals a Lame Beggar
¹One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. ²Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. ³When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. ⁴Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” ⁵So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.
⁶Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” ⁷Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. ⁸He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. ⁹When all the people saw him walking and praising God, ¹⁰they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
Peter Speaks to the Onlookers
¹¹While the man held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade. ¹²When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? ¹³The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. ¹⁴You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. ¹⁵You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. ¹⁶By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.
¹⁷“Now, fellow Israelites, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. ¹⁸But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Messiah would suffer. ¹⁹Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, ²⁰and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus. ²¹Heaven must receive him until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets. ²²For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you. ²³Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from their people.’
²⁴“Indeed, beginning with Samuel, all the prophets who have spoken have foretold these days. ²⁵And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.’ ²⁶When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.”

Go Deeper

As the story of the early church continues to unfold, we see another instance of Peter explaining to all who will listen who Jesus was and why His life, death, and resurrection is so important. After healing a man as he and John approached the temple, word started to spread that Peter was healing in Jesus’s name. Peter then takes the situation at hand, just like he did one chapter before, and uses it to explain the spiritual implications for everyone who is watching. Peter’s message will ultimately gain the attention of the Sanhedrin, which we’ll read about in the very next chapter.
We can learn a lot from Peter’s approach here. We live in a world that is broken. There is a consensus amongst believers and nonbelievers that things aren’t as they should be, and people feel unsettled. On top of that, people are desperate for hope. The more you watch the news, scroll through Facebook, or check the news app on your phone, the more hopeless you ultimately feel. As followers of Jesus, we believe that Jesus is the solution to the problems people are facing. Much like Peter did, we have a unique opportunity right now to take the situation in front of us and point people back to the message of the Messiah who came to the earth to reconcile the world to Himself. In a world full of questions, we have the opportunity to provide the Answer. Let’s continue to lean into the Spirit, go where we are called to go, and engage the people around us with the story of Jesus.

Questions

What sticks out to you about Peter’s conversation with the man he heals?
Peter takes advantage of the platform he has as he’s sharing with the crowd to spread the gospel. What do you take away from Peter’s message?
In what ways have you looked for hope in the wrong places? How did that turn out for you?
Think about the typical, day-to-day interactions you have. What opportunities do you have to share hope with others? How can you take the situations in front of you and use them as an opportunity to share the gospel with others?

Did You Know?

A short time before this, Peter and John were scared to even go to the temple out of fear of the Jewish leaders (John 20:19), so instead they hid out in a locked room. Now that they have the Holy Spirit, they’re emboldened to go into the temple, armed with the message of Jesus.

Think About It.

We’ve read a lot about them in Mark and now Acts, but you can learn even more about Peter and John.

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April 15, 2020
Acts 2
Read Acts 1

The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost
¹When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.²Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. ⁴All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
⁵Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. ⁶When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken.⁷Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans?⁸Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? ⁹Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, ¹⁰Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome ¹¹(both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” ¹²Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”
¹³Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”
Peter Addresses the Crowd
¹⁴Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. ¹⁵These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! ¹⁶No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
¹⁷“‘In the last days, God says,
    I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
    your young men will see visions,
    your old men will dream dreams.
¹⁸Even on my servants, both men and women,
    I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
    and they will prophesy.
¹⁹I will show wonders in the heavens above
    and signs on the earth below,
    blood and fire and billows of smoke.
²⁰The sun will be turned to darkness
    and the moon to blood
    before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
²¹And everyone who calls
    on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
²²“Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. ²³This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. ²⁴But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. ²⁵David said about him:
“‘I saw the Lord always before me.
    Because he is at my right hand,
    I will not be shaken.
²⁶Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
    my body also will rest in hope,
²⁷because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,
    you will not let your holy one see decay.
²⁸You have made known to me the paths of life;
    you will fill me with joy in your presence.’
²⁹“Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. ³⁰But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. ³¹Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay. ³²God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. ³³Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. ³⁴For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said,
“‘The Lord said to my Lord:
    “Sit at my right hand
³⁵until I make your enemies
    a footstool for your feet.”’
³⁶“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”
³⁷When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
³⁸Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
⁴⁰With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” ⁴¹Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
The Fellowship of the Believers
⁴²They 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. ⁴⁴All the believers were together and had everything in common. ⁴⁵They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. ⁴⁶Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, ⁴⁷praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Go Deeper

We pick up in Acts 2 right where Acts 1 left off. There are 120 or so followers of Jesus in a room trying to figure out where to go and what to do next, when the Holy Spirit arrives. All of a sudden, their worlds are completely changed. Peter, often the spokesman for the group, stands up and tries to explain to a skeptical crowd exactly what’s going on. He boldly tells them about the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. As he’s talking, it’s starting to click in the minds of the crowd: Jesus was the Messiah. We killed the Messiah. Then, Peter calls them to repentance and tells the crowd that they, too, can have the same Spirit living inside of them. Scripture then tells us 3,000 were added to their number that day!
Next, we see the first picture of the church really acting like the church. They studied Scripture together, they ate meals together, and they sold property and possessions so that they could be generous to one another. They prioritized gathering together, and God blessed all that was going on and this, too, added to their numbers.
So how did Peter go from denying Jesus three times to boldly proclaiming the Good News about Jesus? And how did this group of thousands of people, who previously weren’t connected to one another, become part of a movement that’s still going 2,000 years later? They all had the Spirit of God living inside of them–the same Spirit that we can have living in us. We have the ability to live by the Spirit in the same way that Peter and the rest of the Acts 2 church did. But will we?

Questions

What does this passage teach us about the Holy Spirit?
What does it mean for you to live a life that’s led by the Spirit? What would look different in your life if you followed the Spirit’s prompting all throughout the day?
What stands out to you about the functions of the church that we read about in Acts 2:42-47? Of the early church’s behaviors, which are present in your Life Group? Which are absent? How can your group go about functioning more like the early church during such a unique season in the life of the church?

Did You Know?

Pentecost was the next major feast on the Jewish calendar, falling 50 days after the Passover. Jews from as far as 20 miles would descend on Jerusalem for the feast, swelling the population in Jerusalem to as many as 3,000,000 people.

Think About It.

The Bible Project: The Holy Spirit

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April 14, 2020
Acts 1
Read Acts 1

Jesus Taken Up Into Heaven
¹In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach ²until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. ³After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. ⁴On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.⁵For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
⁶Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
⁷He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. ⁸But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
⁹After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
¹⁰They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. ¹¹“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas
¹²Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. ¹³When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James.¹⁴They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
¹⁵In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) ¹⁶and said, “Brothers and sisters, the Scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus.¹⁷He was one of our number and shared in our ministry.”
¹⁸(With the payment he received for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. ¹⁹Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)
²⁰“For,” said Peter, “it is written in the Book of Psalms:
“‘May his place be deserted;
let there be no one to dwell in it,’
and,
“‘May another take his place of leadership.’
²¹Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, ²²beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.”
²³So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. ²⁴Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen ²⁵to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” ²⁶Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.

Go Deeper

Is the book of Acts the start of a new section in the story of Scripture, or a continuation of the Gospels? The answer is probably yes. Yes, the book of Acts ushers in a brand-new season for the disciples. In this chapter, we see that Jesus leaves them and commissions them to start the Church. However, He doesn’t leave them all alone. He promised that God would give them the gift of His Holy Spirit. So while Jesus was leaving, He was also going to be present in a new way. With this in mind, yes, the book of Acts is really just a continuation of the Gospels. The Good News will continue to advance and Jesus will still be changing lives. The main difference is that the disciples are now empowered to go out and change the world when Jesus isn’t physically present. You can almost feel their uneasiness and nervousness as they stand staring into the sky in verses 10 and 11. Jesus has left them and they have no idea what to do next. In their confusion, two angels appear and ask them, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking into the sky?” For many of us, in times of uncertainty, we can’t help but stand and stare as we try to take it all in. As we read this chapter, we can be encouraged that even in times of dramatic change, we are still empowered to go out and live with a mission. We don’t have to stand and wait for directions. The directions have already been given. Go and make disciples of all nations! As the chapters unfold in the book of Acts, we’ll see that’s exactly what the disciples will do.

Questions

What are some things you notice the disciples doing in the second half of the chapter, after Jesus has left?
When the disciples asked if Jesus was now going to restore the kingdom of Israel, why do you think that Jesus told them that was not for them to know? Why does He leave them in the dark?
What do you notice about Peter’s leadership in this chapter? How has he changed from the moment he denied Jesus?

Did You Know?

Casting lots was a traditional way of determining God’s will. This is the last instance of casting lots recorded in Scripture, because once the believers received the Holy Spirit, they were able to follow the Spirit as a guide instead.

Think About It.

Watch this video: Overview of Acts 1-12

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April 13, 2020
Mark 16
Read Mark 16

Jesus Has Risen
¹When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. ²Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb ³and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”
⁴But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. ⁵As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
⁶“Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. ⁷But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”
⁸Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.
[The earliest manuscripts and some other ancient witnesses do not have verses 9–20.]
⁹When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. ¹⁰She went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping. ¹¹When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it.
¹²Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country. ¹³These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either.
¹⁴Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.
¹⁵He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. ¹⁶Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. ¹⁷And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; ¹⁸they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”
¹⁹After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. ²⁰Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.

Go Deeper

This is it! All of history hinges on the event we read about in today’s passage: the resurrection. It’s the foundation of our faith. The Good News. It is finished. Our sins are paid in full. The empty tomb is our receipt. Death defeated. Jesus is risen! Just as He said.
The first witnesses to the resurrection were the same women who witnessed His death and burial (15:47). These women had proved to be the most devoted followers of Jesus. We can only imagine the weight of their grief and disappointment as they walked in the early morning hours on the way to anoint the body of not only their teacher, but their dear friend.
To their amazement, they are met by an angel with a message—The Message. Look again at verse 6: “Don’t be alarmed, you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. BUT go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’” These devoted women were expecting a conclusion to a moment, not an invitation to a movement.
In one verse, we learn so much about the power and grace of our Savior. “He is going ahead of you.” Jesus always leads us. He goes before us. He’s a good Shepherd who leads His flock.
We learn that Jesus’s word can be trusted. “Just as He said.” Not one word spoken from the mouth of the Messiah has been untrue. His promises never fail. He is incapable of lying. We can trust what He says. He is true and what He says is true.
Perhaps the most astonishing of all is that we learn that Jesus is a reconciler. He invites us to a right relationship with Him through grace. The invitation wasn’t only for the most devoted followers. The invitation is extended, specifically, to arguably the biggest deserter and runaway, Peter. “Go and tell his disciples AND PETER.” Jesus redeems our wasted moments and foolish failures. He pursues liars, cheaters, failures, adulterers, prodigals, and misfits and offers them hope, forgiveness, and freedom.
It is the invitation extended to all of us. Will we believe Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified, is risen…just as He said? That He died as a payment for our sins and made a way for us to have new life?
Let’s go and tell that Good News.

Questions

What’s the implication of Jesus’s desire for Peter, specifically, to know Jesus is alive? Reread Mark 14:66-72 for more understanding.
Who do you most relate to in this passage? What do you learn about the character of Jesus?
Is there a situation you’re experiencing into which you need Jesus to breathe new life? Spend some time in prayer asking Him to restore that which you think is broken.

Did You Know?

The gospel of Mark is written by John Mark, who spent time with Peter. Mark is Peter’s account and perspective from his time spent with Jesus. After the resurrection, Peter went on to pen these words: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3). Church history tells us that Peter was crucified, a martyr’s death, for the sake of the gospel.

Listen to this.

Watch this video: An Unexpected Letter

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April 12, 2020
Mark 15
Read Mark 15

Jesus Before Pilate
Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, made their plans. So they bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate.
²“Are you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate.
“You have said so,” Jesus replied.
³The chief priests accused him of many things. ⁴So again Pilate asked him, “Aren’t you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of.”
⁵But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed.
⁶Now it was the custom at the festival to release a prisoner whom the people requested. ⁷A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising. ⁸The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did.
⁹“Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate,¹⁰knowing it was out of self-interest that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. ¹¹But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead.
¹²“What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?” Pilate asked them.
¹³“Crucify him!” they shouted.
¹⁴“Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.
But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”
¹⁵Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.
The Soldiers Mock Jesus
¹⁶The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers. ¹⁷They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. ¹⁸And they began to call out to him, “Hail, king of the Jews!” ¹⁹Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. ²⁰And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.
The Crucifixion of Jesus
²¹A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross. ²²They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). ²³Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. ²⁴And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get.
²⁵It was nine in the morning when they crucified him. ²⁶The written notice of the charge against him read: the king of the jews.
²⁷They crucified two rebels with him, one on his right and one on his left. ^[28] ²⁹Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, ³⁰come down from the cross and save yourself!” ³¹In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! ³²Let this Messiah, this king of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him.
The Death of Jesus
³³At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. ³⁴And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).
³⁵When some of those standing near heard this, they said, “Listen, he’s calling Elijah.”
³⁶Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down,” he said.
³⁷With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.
³⁸The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. ³⁹And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”
⁴⁰Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joseph, and Salome. ⁴¹In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there.
The Burial of Jesus
⁴²It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached, ⁴³Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. ⁴⁴Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. ⁴⁵When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. ⁴⁶So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. ⁴⁷Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where he was laid.

Go Deeper

One of the most upsetting moments in today’s reading, besides Jesus’s death, is the action of the soldiers who called Jesus King, put a crown on His head, and bowed down to Him… but all as a joke. He was/is the true King, and He deserved their true praise, yet, they taunted Him in mockery. How dare they?! But, as much as we want to angrily hurl that question at the soldiers, we can’t let Easter weekend go by without asking the same of ourselves: How dare we?
Because while we may not physically mock Jesus in fake worship, when we sit at lunch after church on Sunday and gossip about someone we saw that morning, are we not the same as the soldiers crowning Jesus with a crown of thorns? Is our worship as big of a joke as that of the soldiers when we strive to find our worth in success rather than in identity given by God? Do we mock Jesus when we say that He is Lord but confine that to an hour a week on Sundays? You see, just like the soldiers, we may have the right words and posture and some of the right actions, but if our heart isn’t in it, then our worship is just as fake.
This fake worship means that we prioritize everything else in our life first, and Jesus second. Idolatry consumes us as our hearts become too busy worshipping ourselves–our careers, kids, successes, looks, and possessions–and we end up unable to acknowledge the true King right in front of us, just like the soldiers. Simply put, we miss Him, just like they did. This Easter weekend, let’s slow down, reflect, and confess in order to make sure we don’t miss Him again.

Questions

What person in this story do you most connect with today? Are you an idolator like the soldiers? A skeptic like Pilate? The disciples, who are no-shows in today’s chapter? The faithful women who followed Jesus to the very end? Why?
What are your idols? In what way is your worship of Jesus falsified at times by your heart or your actions?
Easter weekend, coronavirus style, probably looks a bit different this year than normal–less loud, less busy, maybe even less “fun.” How can you use the extra stillness of this weekend to reflect on your role in putting Jesus on the cross?

Did You Know?

The scourging (the whipping, beating, flogging) that Jesus received was very common practice at that time. It was so intense that oftentimes the criminal who was to be crucified didn’t even make it to the cross. The entire company of soldiers normally joined in, which means that there could’ve been up to 600 people mocking Jesus before His crucifixion.

Think About It.

Watch this sermon: Not Forsaken

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April 11, 2020