Welcome to week two of Weekly Word!
Below, you’ll find your readings for this week, along with more helpful discussion questions and a short devotional that we encourage you to enjoy at the end of the week.
Readings:
- Acts 3-4
- Luke 4:16-37
Devotional:
Readings: Acts 3–4 | Luke 4:16–37
Acts 3 and 4 show us a church that is beautiful and bold. Peter and John heal a man at the gate, but that light immediately draws the shadow of opposition. They are threatened, questioned, and told to be quiet. Similarly, in Luke 4, Jesus speaks truth in His own hometown, and the initial wonder of the crowd quickly turns to an attempt on His life.
It can be discouraging when your “yes” to God is met with a “no” from the world. But look at the disciples: they didn’t pray for the trouble to stop; they prayed for the boldness to continue. They recognized that the “Holy” life Jesus modeled is often disruptive.
If you feel a “shadow” of resistance this week—whether at work, in your family, or in your own mind—don’t let it dim your light. Holiness isn’t the absence of conflict; it is the presence of Christ in the middle of it. God is using your courage to prove that the “Good News” is more than a nice idea—it is a power that changes everything it touches.
Discussion Questions:
- Peter and John gave what they had (healing), even when they had no money. What spiritual “asset” do you have that you can share with someone in need this week?
- Jesus faced rejection in his hometown. How do the believers in Acts 4 respond to rejection, and how can we mirror that boldness?
Dig Deeper
How should we live? It seems like everyone has an opinion on how to answer this question. But what does the Bible say? Specifically, how did the first-century followers of Jesus live their lives? In this message from 2020, Pastor Andy continues to unpack Acts 1.
We are praying for you as you dig into God’s Word this week!