Welcome to week 12 of Weekly Word!
We pray that these weekly readings continue to stir your heart as you abide in Christ! Below, you’ll find your readings for this week, along with discussion questions and a short devotional for you to enjoy at the end of the week.
Readings:
- Acts 23-24
- Luke 22
Devotional:
Readings: Acts 23-24 | Luke 22
Paul’s time in Acts 23 and 24 is marked by betrayal. His own people plot to kill him, a high priest insults him, and a governor leaves him in prison as a favor to his enemies. Yet, Paul remains steady. He doesn’t strike back with bitterness because he is following a Messiah who knew betrayal intimately.
The Good Question in Luke 22 is devastating: “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” Jesus was betrayed by His closest friends, yet He responded with the ultimate act of grace on the cross.
When people let you down this week, remember that your loyalty is to Christ, not to the approval of others. You can respond with grace to your betrayers because you are secure in the love of the One who will never leave you!
Discussion Questions:
- Paul was warned of trouble but went to Jerusalem anyway, full of gratitude for his calling. How does being “one of the ten” who returns to thank Jesus change how you face difficult news?
- In Acts 22, Paul shares his testimony. If you had 60 seconds to share your “cleansing” story, what would you say?
Dig Deeper
As we near the end of our reading in Acts, let’s camp out on this message from Antioch’s 2020 sermon series, “Unstoppable,” as Pastor Stephen Castleberry examines the end of the book of Acts.
Have you ever considered how Acts ends? What if the end of Acts is less about wrapping up the story of the early church and more about what our responsibility is today?
We are praying for you as you dig into God’s Word this week!