To listen to the audio version, click here.
Thursday, October 9
Acts 3:1-21
Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, "Look at us." And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, "I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!" And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. And leaping up he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God, and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
A number of years ago Pastor Roger was invited to visit one of FBCG mission partners in South Africa. When he returned he delighted in telling the story of sharing in a baptismal service that took place in a river near a small village. He told of one man in particular who was overcome with joy at the moment of his baptism. Roger prayed for him and then lowered him into the river, and when the man came up out of the water he threw his hands in the air and began shouting at the top of his lungs, “I’m free! I’m free!” Roger often referred to that story when he taught about the joy of salvation; the freedom from sin that we receive through Christ.
We’ve already seen that the lame man in this story serves as a picture of what it means to be helpless in and captive to our own sin.
We’ve seen that the man was healed as a testimony to the power of Jesus and the liberating truth of the gospel.
Now we see that the result of the healing was joy and worship.
And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. And leaping up he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God, and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
It occurs to me that the man was so joyful because he knew what it was to be broken and outcast. To be free to walk and run and leap had to be an incredibly joyful and overwhelming experience.
I wonder if we experience our spiritual freedom with the same joy and praise. I wonder if we are as keenly aware of our brokenness as was this ancient man.
I think I am sometimes guilty of taking the gospel for granted. I fear that sometimes I have become so familiar with the grace and forgiveness of Christ that I tend to forget my own brokenness apart from Christ and therefore forfeit the joy of my own salvation.
Perhaps this is true at times for you too! Would you join me in this prayer?
Lord Jesus, by your Spirit remind me that I am so like the man who was lame from birth. Remind me that I have been sinful from birth and that without your grace I am imprisoned by the power of sin and death. Remind me of my brokenness not so I would wallow in my unworthiness, but so that I might rejoice in your salvation! Take me by the hand that I might run and leap and dance because I have been set free! Amen.
Pastor Brian Coffey
Wednesday, October 8th
To listen to the audio version, click here.
Wednesday, October 8
Acts 3:1-10
Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, "Look at us." And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, "I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!" And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. And leaping up he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God, and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
Last week I had the opportunity to travel to the middle east with two colleagues from FBCG to visit a potential ministry partner in that part of the world. One night of our visit was set aside to hear the stories of several people who had become followers of Jesus after spending most of their lives as Muslims.
One of those who shared with us was a woman who looked to be in her mid-fifties or so. She said that in her whole life she had only one Christian friend but that she and her friend had never discussed their respective faiths. It was simply something that she dared not pursue. But she knew the woman was a Christian and they were neighbors.
Eventually the woman developed a tumor on her thyroid and was scheduled to have surgery to remove the tumor. She was very frightened about the process and shared her fears with her Christian friend.
Her friend suggested that she pray to Jesus to ask for help. She went on to say Jesus healed many people and maybe he would help her. The Muslim woman knew of Jesus through the Qu’ran but did not know anything about him. So she asked, “How do I talk to him?” The Christian woman advised her to just say, “Jesus, please come and help me.”
She said that night she prayed that simple prayer not really even knowing who she was praying to. “Jesus, please come and help me.”
That very night she had either a dream or a vision - she couldn’t tell which - of Jesus coming to her in her room. She said he sat on a chair and she went to him and put her forehead on his knees. Then she said Jesus lifted her head so she could see his face. When he opened his mouth, she said, light came out of his mouth. But she said that in her mind she could hear the words that were in the light. This is what she heard Jesus say to her:
“I am the way, the truth and the life.”
She had never heard or read those words before. She had no idea they were in the New Testament because she had never seen a Bible.
She said that Jesus then put his hand on her neck - right on the swollen tumor. She said she suddenly felt as if she was outside her body and was looking down on herself lying in bed. She said she could see that the tumor had been removed from her neck and was actually sitting on the table beside her.
She said that when she woke up the next morning the tumor was gone; her neck had returned to it’s normal size. When she called her Christian friend to tell her about the dream or vision her friend was able to show her in the Bible where Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth and the life.”
That was the day she decided to become a Christian.
There is no getting around this part of the story. Luke says a miracle happened; a lame man was healed.
But Peter said, "I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!" And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. And leaping up he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.
It seems to me there are two main reactions to stories like this in the Bible. On the one hand there are the skeptics who try to explain away the miraculous or simply choose not to believe.
On the other hand, there are those who tend to overemphasize miraculous stories of healing to the point where physical healing becomes part and parcel with the gospel; that we can expect and even demand healing miracles from Jesus.
To the skeptic I would simply say that if one accepts Genesis 1:1, that God created the heavens and the earth, one accepts the possibility of the miraculous. If God exists then he has access to power and technology that we do not.
To those who believe their faith should allow them to “claim” miraculous healing I would remind them of a couple of things.
First, the man who is healed in this story did not ask for healing nor did he have faith in Jesus. In fact nearly every miracle in the Book of Acts happens to an unbeliever.
Second, the purpose of the miracle was not primarily so this man could escape a life of poverty and begging. The purpose was so that others could see the power of Jesus and then hear the gospel proclaimed.
Back to the woman’s story about being healed by Jesus through a dream.
Do I believe she was healed? Yes, I do. There is just no way a woman who knew nothing about the New Testament could manufacture that story.
Do I understand how and why Jesus chose to heal her in that manner? No, I do not.
I only know that, just as in the story of the lame man in Acts 3, it appears that Jesus’ main purpose in healing the woman was to make the gospel of salvation known.
My response is to be the same as the people who watched the lame man leaping and praising God.
And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
Pastor Brian Coffey
Wednesday, October 8
Acts 3:1-10
Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, "Look at us." And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, "I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!" And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. And leaping up he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God, and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
Last week I had the opportunity to travel to the middle east with two colleagues from FBCG to visit a potential ministry partner in that part of the world. One night of our visit was set aside to hear the stories of several people who had become followers of Jesus after spending most of their lives as Muslims.
One of those who shared with us was a woman who looked to be in her mid-fifties or so. She said that in her whole life she had only one Christian friend but that she and her friend had never discussed their respective faiths. It was simply something that she dared not pursue. But she knew the woman was a Christian and they were neighbors.
Eventually the woman developed a tumor on her thyroid and was scheduled to have surgery to remove the tumor. She was very frightened about the process and shared her fears with her Christian friend.
Her friend suggested that she pray to Jesus to ask for help. She went on to say Jesus healed many people and maybe he would help her. The Muslim woman knew of Jesus through the Qu’ran but did not know anything about him. So she asked, “How do I talk to him?” The Christian woman advised her to just say, “Jesus, please come and help me.”
She said that night she prayed that simple prayer not really even knowing who she was praying to. “Jesus, please come and help me.”
That very night she had either a dream or a vision - she couldn’t tell which - of Jesus coming to her in her room. She said he sat on a chair and she went to him and put her forehead on his knees. Then she said Jesus lifted her head so she could see his face. When he opened his mouth, she said, light came out of his mouth. But she said that in her mind she could hear the words that were in the light. This is what she heard Jesus say to her:
“I am the way, the truth and the life.”
She had never heard or read those words before. She had no idea they were in the New Testament because she had never seen a Bible.
She said that Jesus then put his hand on her neck - right on the swollen tumor. She said she suddenly felt as if she was outside her body and was looking down on herself lying in bed. She said she could see that the tumor had been removed from her neck and was actually sitting on the table beside her.
She said that when she woke up the next morning the tumor was gone; her neck had returned to it’s normal size. When she called her Christian friend to tell her about the dream or vision her friend was able to show her in the Bible where Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth and the life.”
That was the day she decided to become a Christian.
There is no getting around this part of the story. Luke says a miracle happened; a lame man was healed.
But Peter said, "I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!" And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. And leaping up he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.
It seems to me there are two main reactions to stories like this in the Bible. On the one hand there are the skeptics who try to explain away the miraculous or simply choose not to believe.
On the other hand, there are those who tend to overemphasize miraculous stories of healing to the point where physical healing becomes part and parcel with the gospel; that we can expect and even demand healing miracles from Jesus.
To the skeptic I would simply say that if one accepts Genesis 1:1, that God created the heavens and the earth, one accepts the possibility of the miraculous. If God exists then he has access to power and technology that we do not.
To those who believe their faith should allow them to “claim” miraculous healing I would remind them of a couple of things.
First, the man who is healed in this story did not ask for healing nor did he have faith in Jesus. In fact nearly every miracle in the Book of Acts happens to an unbeliever.
Second, the purpose of the miracle was not primarily so this man could escape a life of poverty and begging. The purpose was so that others could see the power of Jesus and then hear the gospel proclaimed.
Back to the woman’s story about being healed by Jesus through a dream.
Do I believe she was healed? Yes, I do. There is just no way a woman who knew nothing about the New Testament could manufacture that story.
Do I understand how and why Jesus chose to heal her in that manner? No, I do not.
I only know that, just as in the story of the lame man in Acts 3, it appears that Jesus’ main purpose in healing the woman was to make the gospel of salvation known.
My response is to be the same as the people who watched the lame man leaping and praising God.
And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
Pastor Brian Coffey
Tuesday, October 7th
To listen to the audio version, click here.
Tuesday, October 7
Acts 3:1-10
Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, "Look at us." And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, "I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!" And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. And leaping up he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God, and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
Many years ago while I was still trying to discern God’s purpose for my life, I served for a summer as an intern in an inner-city church in Pittsburgh. The church was located just across a city park from a deteriorating area that could accurately be described as “economically disadvantaged” or a “slum.”
I lived in a small apartment in the church and most mornings I would walk across that park to a small donut shop to get my breakfast. It wasn’t unusual to see men sleeping in the park, either because they were homeless or because they were sleeping off a night of drinking from the night before. It was a very sad area of the city.
One particular morning I had gone to the donut shop and was on my way back to the church when I was greeted by an African American man (this is only significant because of what happens later in the story) sitting on the steps of the church entrance.
As I got to the steps he stood up and said something like, “Hey, man, can you help me out? I need to catch a bus to go see my Mom - she’s sick - and I don’t have enough money. Can you spare a few bucks?”
I knew that it was quite likely that his story was a fabrication and that he was simply begging for money. But I could also tell from his clothes and overall demeanor that he was probably homeless and had all kinds of other needs as well. So I reached into my pocket to see what I could give him.
Now, at the time, I was receiving $25 a week as a ministry intern and had very little money myself. So when I reached into my pocket I found only coins. I pulled out everything I had and it totaled something like .86 cents. I looked at the guy and said, “Hey, I’m sorry, this is all I have...but you can have it.” And I held out my hand with the money.
He looked at me with a kind of disdain and spit out, “What are you, some kind of racist?” and he stalked off.
I remember being both a little surprised by his reaction as well as a little embarrassed that I only had .86 cents to offer him. But the truth is, he needed a lot more than my money.
The scene Luke paints for us would have been very typical for that time.
Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple.
In the ancient world begging was a way of life for those with significant disabilities. The giving of alms to the poor was one of the ways a devout Jew could demonstrate his or her piety before God. So, evidently, this man had staked out an area at the temple where there would be maximum exposure to people moving in and out for the purposes of worshiping or offering sacrifices. Day after day he lay there and held his hand out begging for money.
Notice that Luke mentions this man was “lame from birth.” This is significant because in that time it was believed that being born with an issue like this meant that a person was cursed and they were often even cast out by their own families.
The picture, therefore, is of a man who is utterly helpless to help himself; a man whose broken condition was seen to be permanent and even deserved.
What I notice is that the man was lying at the very gate of the temple, where the Jews believed the presence of God dwelled, and yet he had settled for begging for pennies.
I think, in a way, this man represents all of us. The Bible teaches that we are all sinners and therefore spiritually “lame.” We are all broken people. We cannot fix what is broken within us, we need someone to do that for us.
The man I met back in Pittsburgh needed far more than my .86 cents; he needed Jesus. The lame man needed more than the coins people tossed his way; he needed Jesus.
You and I need far more than we usually settle for; we. too, need Jesus.
Pastor Brian Coffey
Tuesday, October 7
Acts 3:1-10
Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, "Look at us." And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, "I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!" And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. And leaping up he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God, and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
Many years ago while I was still trying to discern God’s purpose for my life, I served for a summer as an intern in an inner-city church in Pittsburgh. The church was located just across a city park from a deteriorating area that could accurately be described as “economically disadvantaged” or a “slum.”
I lived in a small apartment in the church and most mornings I would walk across that park to a small donut shop to get my breakfast. It wasn’t unusual to see men sleeping in the park, either because they were homeless or because they were sleeping off a night of drinking from the night before. It was a very sad area of the city.
One particular morning I had gone to the donut shop and was on my way back to the church when I was greeted by an African American man (this is only significant because of what happens later in the story) sitting on the steps of the church entrance.
As I got to the steps he stood up and said something like, “Hey, man, can you help me out? I need to catch a bus to go see my Mom - she’s sick - and I don’t have enough money. Can you spare a few bucks?”
I knew that it was quite likely that his story was a fabrication and that he was simply begging for money. But I could also tell from his clothes and overall demeanor that he was probably homeless and had all kinds of other needs as well. So I reached into my pocket to see what I could give him.
Now, at the time, I was receiving $25 a week as a ministry intern and had very little money myself. So when I reached into my pocket I found only coins. I pulled out everything I had and it totaled something like .86 cents. I looked at the guy and said, “Hey, I’m sorry, this is all I have...but you can have it.” And I held out my hand with the money.
He looked at me with a kind of disdain and spit out, “What are you, some kind of racist?” and he stalked off.
I remember being both a little surprised by his reaction as well as a little embarrassed that I only had .86 cents to offer him. But the truth is, he needed a lot more than my money.
The scene Luke paints for us would have been very typical for that time.
Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple.
In the ancient world begging was a way of life for those with significant disabilities. The giving of alms to the poor was one of the ways a devout Jew could demonstrate his or her piety before God. So, evidently, this man had staked out an area at the temple where there would be maximum exposure to people moving in and out for the purposes of worshiping or offering sacrifices. Day after day he lay there and held his hand out begging for money.
Notice that Luke mentions this man was “lame from birth.” This is significant because in that time it was believed that being born with an issue like this meant that a person was cursed and they were often even cast out by their own families.
The picture, therefore, is of a man who is utterly helpless to help himself; a man whose broken condition was seen to be permanent and even deserved.
What I notice is that the man was lying at the very gate of the temple, where the Jews believed the presence of God dwelled, and yet he had settled for begging for pennies.
I think, in a way, this man represents all of us. The Bible teaches that we are all sinners and therefore spiritually “lame.” We are all broken people. We cannot fix what is broken within us, we need someone to do that for us.
The man I met back in Pittsburgh needed far more than my .86 cents; he needed Jesus. The lame man needed more than the coins people tossed his way; he needed Jesus.
You and I need far more than we usually settle for; we. too, need Jesus.
Pastor Brian Coffey
Monday, October 6th
To listen to the audio version, click here.
Monday, October 6
Acts 3:1-10
Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, "Look at us." And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, "I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!" And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. And leaping up he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God, and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
It’s probably a little embarrassing to admit, but I like those floppy “air dancer” things that business owners set up in front of their stores. I know they’re just plastic bags filled with air designed to catch my attention but they seem oddly joyful and almost inevitably make me smile.
It is generally assumed that if a company wants to launch a new product or brand they need to do something to capture the collective attention of a busy and preoccupied public.
We who have lived most of our lives in the age of television and the internet have become almost numb to the never-ending stream of images and messages that compete for our attention. We can even drive by 20 foot tall “air dancers” without even casting a glance!
The Book of Acts tells the story of the birth of the church. It tells the story of how a small group of men and women who were witnesses to the resurrected Jesus became a movement that, after 2000 years, is still going strong.
It also tells the story of what God did to capture the attention of the world he wanted to reach with the Gospel.
First, in chapter 2, he sent the Holy Spirit in the form of a violent wind and enabled the Apostles to speak in languages they had never learned so that those hearing could understand the gospel in their own tongues.
Luke tells us that the scene was so dramatic that some of those watching thought they were all drunk at 9 in the morning!
Then Peter stood up and delivered the first Christian sermon, proclaiming the risen Jesus to be Lord and Christ. When he called his listeners to “repent and be baptized” in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, some three thousand people responded in faith.
But God wasn’t done yet.
Here in chapter 3 God does something else designed to create a platform for the gospel. Peter and John are on their way to the Temple and come across a lame man who is begging for money.
But Peter said, "I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!" And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. And leaping up he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.
It’s a miracle! The lame man is healed! We are tempted to stop there and start asking ourselves all kinds of questions. “How did that happen? Does God still heal people like that today? Why did God not heal my Aunt Sally when I prayed?
But to understand the story fully we have to keep reading.
And all the people saw him walking and praising God, and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
Yes, the lame man was healed. But if we understand the story properly we see he was not healed just so he wouldn’t have to beg anymore. That was almost an afterthought. He was healed so that other people would see the power of Jesus and then hear the truth of the gospel.
In this way he was kind of like an ancient “air dancer” balloon. He was a leaping and dancing and joyful testimony to the power of Jesus...and we can’t help but notice!
Pastor Brian Coffey
Monday, October 6
Acts 3:1-10
Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, "Look at us." And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, "I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!" And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. And leaping up he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God, and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
It’s probably a little embarrassing to admit, but I like those floppy “air dancer” things that business owners set up in front of their stores. I know they’re just plastic bags filled with air designed to catch my attention but they seem oddly joyful and almost inevitably make me smile.
It is generally assumed that if a company wants to launch a new product or brand they need to do something to capture the collective attention of a busy and preoccupied public.
We who have lived most of our lives in the age of television and the internet have become almost numb to the never-ending stream of images and messages that compete for our attention. We can even drive by 20 foot tall “air dancers” without even casting a glance!
The Book of Acts tells the story of the birth of the church. It tells the story of how a small group of men and women who were witnesses to the resurrected Jesus became a movement that, after 2000 years, is still going strong.
It also tells the story of what God did to capture the attention of the world he wanted to reach with the Gospel.
First, in chapter 2, he sent the Holy Spirit in the form of a violent wind and enabled the Apostles to speak in languages they had never learned so that those hearing could understand the gospel in their own tongues.
Luke tells us that the scene was so dramatic that some of those watching thought they were all drunk at 9 in the morning!
Then Peter stood up and delivered the first Christian sermon, proclaiming the risen Jesus to be Lord and Christ. When he called his listeners to “repent and be baptized” in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, some three thousand people responded in faith.
But God wasn’t done yet.
Here in chapter 3 God does something else designed to create a platform for the gospel. Peter and John are on their way to the Temple and come across a lame man who is begging for money.
But Peter said, "I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!" And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. And leaping up he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.
It’s a miracle! The lame man is healed! We are tempted to stop there and start asking ourselves all kinds of questions. “How did that happen? Does God still heal people like that today? Why did God not heal my Aunt Sally when I prayed?
But to understand the story fully we have to keep reading.
And all the people saw him walking and praising God, and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
Yes, the lame man was healed. But if we understand the story properly we see he was not healed just so he wouldn’t have to beg anymore. That was almost an afterthought. He was healed so that other people would see the power of Jesus and then hear the truth of the gospel.
In this way he was kind of like an ancient “air dancer” balloon. He was a leaping and dancing and joyful testimony to the power of Jesus...and we can’t help but notice!
Pastor Brian Coffey
Friday, October 3rd
To listen to the audio version, click here.
Friday, Oct. 3
Acts 2:42-47
And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
A few weeks ago a friend told me a story about one of his adult children that struck me as very significant. He said that his son had a friend that he had invited to join him for an FBCG worship service. But the friend had not been in a church for a very long time due, in part, to negative experiences earlier in life. The friend also had multiple tattoos and body piercings that he feared would cause people to judge and reject him as unworthy of being in church. My friend’s son responded, “Not my church! The people at my church are real - they won’t judge you or reject you - they will welcome you!”
That story made me feel good on several levels. First, that’s what I hope anyone would feel when they walk into our church for the first time - accepted, loved and cared about - not judged. Second, that’s what the gospel is about! We don’t have to clean ourselves up before God will love us and forgive us; he loves us as we are and takes us as we are! Then, after we receive his grace, he begins to shape us into what he wants us to be. Third, that’s what the very first church was like!
Luke tells us the first church loved welcoming people into their number!
And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
To me this is one of the most joy-filled and powerful sentences in the whole New Testament.
“The Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”
I think there are several things we must see here.
First, notice it is the Lord who does the adding. That tells us that it was Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit, that was drawing people to himself.
Second, we see that the young church was growing “day by day.” That tells me that growth was happening not because of some program or some advertising campaign (although there is nothing wrong with programs or advertising), but rather because there was something dynamic and attractive about this community of people that others simply found irresistible. I think we see some clues in Luke’s description of the church:
...and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people.
People are attracted to joy; people are attracted to generosity; people want to be part of something that blesses others!
Finally, Luke says, people were being saved. That means people were hearing the gospel; recognizing their sin; and receiving the forgiveness and promise of eternal life found in Christ.
I have read research that says that some 70% of churches in America are either in plateau or decline. Some estimate that some 4,000 churches close their doors every year in our country. The reasons for all this are complicated and many.
But in Acts 2 Luke gives us a window into the key ingredients of a healthy, dynamic and growing church.
Devotion to the truth of the gospel.
Devotion to the fellowship.
Devotion to prayer.
Extraordinary generosity and contagious joy.
Welcoming every single person that the Lord added to their number.
It’s not rocket science! It’s just the church!
Pastor Brian Coffey
Friday, Oct. 3
Acts 2:42-47
And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
A few weeks ago a friend told me a story about one of his adult children that struck me as very significant. He said that his son had a friend that he had invited to join him for an FBCG worship service. But the friend had not been in a church for a very long time due, in part, to negative experiences earlier in life. The friend also had multiple tattoos and body piercings that he feared would cause people to judge and reject him as unworthy of being in church. My friend’s son responded, “Not my church! The people at my church are real - they won’t judge you or reject you - they will welcome you!”
That story made me feel good on several levels. First, that’s what I hope anyone would feel when they walk into our church for the first time - accepted, loved and cared about - not judged. Second, that’s what the gospel is about! We don’t have to clean ourselves up before God will love us and forgive us; he loves us as we are and takes us as we are! Then, after we receive his grace, he begins to shape us into what he wants us to be. Third, that’s what the very first church was like!
Luke tells us the first church loved welcoming people into their number!
And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
To me this is one of the most joy-filled and powerful sentences in the whole New Testament.
“The Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”
I think there are several things we must see here.
First, notice it is the Lord who does the adding. That tells us that it was Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit, that was drawing people to himself.
Second, we see that the young church was growing “day by day.” That tells me that growth was happening not because of some program or some advertising campaign (although there is nothing wrong with programs or advertising), but rather because there was something dynamic and attractive about this community of people that others simply found irresistible. I think we see some clues in Luke’s description of the church:
...and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people.
People are attracted to joy; people are attracted to generosity; people want to be part of something that blesses others!
Finally, Luke says, people were being saved. That means people were hearing the gospel; recognizing their sin; and receiving the forgiveness and promise of eternal life found in Christ.
I have read research that says that some 70% of churches in America are either in plateau or decline. Some estimate that some 4,000 churches close their doors every year in our country. The reasons for all this are complicated and many.
But in Acts 2 Luke gives us a window into the key ingredients of a healthy, dynamic and growing church.
Devotion to the truth of the gospel.
Devotion to the fellowship.
Devotion to prayer.
Extraordinary generosity and contagious joy.
Welcoming every single person that the Lord added to their number.
It’s not rocket science! It’s just the church!
Pastor Brian Coffey
Thursday, October 2nd
To listen to the audio version, click here.
Thursday, Oct. 2
Acts 2:42-47
And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
A few years ago a friend at FBCG asked me if I would be willing to talk to a Jewish woman who friend of hers and was going through some personal problems. I said, “Sure,” and we set up the meeting.
The woman met me at my office and shared a number of painful issues with me. After doing the best I could to give her some perspective and direction, I offered to pray for her. She looked a little surprised, but then indicated that would be O.K.
I bowed my head and thanked God for the conversation we had shared, and asked specifically for his help and guidance in her life.
When I opened my eyes and looked up at her I was surprised to find her staring at me. She said, “Um, thank you,” and I realized that she had not bowed her head but rather had just watched me pray for her. It was obvious that she had no idea what to do when someone prayed for her and it occurred to me that she had probably never seen anyone do what I had just done!
Two thoughts struck me that day. First, it made me sad to think that this woman had never had anyone pray for her before; and second, it made me think about how often I take for granted the great privilege of praying for others and being prayed for by others.
Luke tells us the first church was devoted to prayer.
And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.
Now I have to admit, and this is a funny thing for a pastor to say, but I don’t really get how prayer “works.” I don’t fully understand how directing my thoughts or words toward God can impact someone else’s life. Yet the Bible instructs me over and over again to pray for others. So I do and I do so in faith that just as I use my cell phone dozens of times a day when I don’t understand how cell towers work, God simply has spiritual “technology” that I don’t understand.
But I do know that personal prayer is powerful. I know that both praying for someone else and the experience of being prayed for are gifts from the very heart of God that leave both pray-er and pray-ee blessed beyond description.
I think the early followers of Jesus were devoted to prayer because they knew there was no way their little band of believers would survive without God’s help. I think they prayed for each other because it was sometimes all they could do for each other. I think prayer was as natural for them as eating, sleeping and working. I don’t think they had to be urged or reminded to pray; I think they couldn’t help but pray.
How about you? Is prayer something you would say you are devoted to? Or is prayer hard for you? Who do you pray for and who do you know for sure prays for you?
I think many of us struggle in our devotion to prayer. We often feel like the sheer velocity of our lives robs us of the space to focus on prayer. Here’s a simple idea: let your car or your cell phone be your reminder. See your car as a sanctuary and your cell phone as a prayer prompter. Decide right now who you will pray for every time you get in your car; and who you will pray for each time you pick up your cell phone for a call or text. Then let those people know you are praying for them; I guarantee they will be both grateful and blessed.
Remember, you don’t have to understand how the technology works to use it!
Pastor Brian Coffey
Thursday, Oct. 2
Acts 2:42-47
And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
A few years ago a friend at FBCG asked me if I would be willing to talk to a Jewish woman who friend of hers and was going through some personal problems. I said, “Sure,” and we set up the meeting.
The woman met me at my office and shared a number of painful issues with me. After doing the best I could to give her some perspective and direction, I offered to pray for her. She looked a little surprised, but then indicated that would be O.K.
I bowed my head and thanked God for the conversation we had shared, and asked specifically for his help and guidance in her life.
When I opened my eyes and looked up at her I was surprised to find her staring at me. She said, “Um, thank you,” and I realized that she had not bowed her head but rather had just watched me pray for her. It was obvious that she had no idea what to do when someone prayed for her and it occurred to me that she had probably never seen anyone do what I had just done!
Two thoughts struck me that day. First, it made me sad to think that this woman had never had anyone pray for her before; and second, it made me think about how often I take for granted the great privilege of praying for others and being prayed for by others.
Luke tells us the first church was devoted to prayer.
And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.
Now I have to admit, and this is a funny thing for a pastor to say, but I don’t really get how prayer “works.” I don’t fully understand how directing my thoughts or words toward God can impact someone else’s life. Yet the Bible instructs me over and over again to pray for others. So I do and I do so in faith that just as I use my cell phone dozens of times a day when I don’t understand how cell towers work, God simply has spiritual “technology” that I don’t understand.
But I do know that personal prayer is powerful. I know that both praying for someone else and the experience of being prayed for are gifts from the very heart of God that leave both pray-er and pray-ee blessed beyond description.
I think the early followers of Jesus were devoted to prayer because they knew there was no way their little band of believers would survive without God’s help. I think they prayed for each other because it was sometimes all they could do for each other. I think prayer was as natural for them as eating, sleeping and working. I don’t think they had to be urged or reminded to pray; I think they couldn’t help but pray.
How about you? Is prayer something you would say you are devoted to? Or is prayer hard for you? Who do you pray for and who do you know for sure prays for you?
I think many of us struggle in our devotion to prayer. We often feel like the sheer velocity of our lives robs us of the space to focus on prayer. Here’s a simple idea: let your car or your cell phone be your reminder. See your car as a sanctuary and your cell phone as a prayer prompter. Decide right now who you will pray for every time you get in your car; and who you will pray for each time you pick up your cell phone for a call or text. Then let those people know you are praying for them; I guarantee they will be both grateful and blessed.
Remember, you don’t have to understand how the technology works to use it!
Pastor Brian Coffey
Wednesday, October 1st
To listen to the audio version, click here.
Wednesday, Oct. 1
Acts 2:42-47
And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
As a pastor I have the unusual privilege of witnessing all kinds of extraordinary acts of generosity that happen in the life of a church like FBCG. One such act took place a number of years ago and was extremely private. I got a call one day at my office from a man who had been part of the church for a long time but who had been somewhat withdrawn for years. He had made some poor financial decisions and had, in turn, received forgiveness for a substantial amount of debt. Even though forgiven, I think he carried a sense of shame that kept him from participating much in church life.
When he called he just asked me to come to his office because he had something to give me. So I drove to his office and he said simply that he had been forgiven much and that God had recently blessed him with resources and he believed the purpose of the blessing was to bless others. Then he handed me an envelope that was stuffed with cash. He asked me to use the money to help those in need - but that no one was to know who gave the money.
I promised him I would do that - and we prayed together and I left. He and I never talked about that gift again and he died a few years later.
Luke tells us that one of the marks of the very first church was generosity.
And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people.
Each time I read this text I notice the connection between gladness and generosity. It seems to me that Luke has noticed that gladness and generosity tend to inhabit the same heart. Maybe he is telling us that gladness tends to produce generosity, and that generosity tends to produce gladness.
Think about that. Do you know anyone who is truly glad but tends to be stingy with their possessions or money? Do you know anyone who is generous with their time or possessions who profoundly unhappy? My guess is you will find it far easier to think of people who are both glad and generous because each of those characteristics tends to produce the other.
I think there is also a connection between generosity and praising God. I think the early church was a generous church because it was a joyful church; and I think it was a joyful church because it was a worshiping church.
My prayer for myself and for our church is that we would be extraordinary in our generosity, remarkable in our joy and unabashed in our praise!
Pastor Brian Coffey
Wednesday, Oct. 1
Acts 2:42-47
And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
As a pastor I have the unusual privilege of witnessing all kinds of extraordinary acts of generosity that happen in the life of a church like FBCG. One such act took place a number of years ago and was extremely private. I got a call one day at my office from a man who had been part of the church for a long time but who had been somewhat withdrawn for years. He had made some poor financial decisions and had, in turn, received forgiveness for a substantial amount of debt. Even though forgiven, I think he carried a sense of shame that kept him from participating much in church life.
When he called he just asked me to come to his office because he had something to give me. So I drove to his office and he said simply that he had been forgiven much and that God had recently blessed him with resources and he believed the purpose of the blessing was to bless others. Then he handed me an envelope that was stuffed with cash. He asked me to use the money to help those in need - but that no one was to know who gave the money.
I promised him I would do that - and we prayed together and I left. He and I never talked about that gift again and he died a few years later.
Luke tells us that one of the marks of the very first church was generosity.
And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people.
Each time I read this text I notice the connection between gladness and generosity. It seems to me that Luke has noticed that gladness and generosity tend to inhabit the same heart. Maybe he is telling us that gladness tends to produce generosity, and that generosity tends to produce gladness.
Think about that. Do you know anyone who is truly glad but tends to be stingy with their possessions or money? Do you know anyone who is generous with their time or possessions who profoundly unhappy? My guess is you will find it far easier to think of people who are both glad and generous because each of those characteristics tends to produce the other.
I think there is also a connection between generosity and praising God. I think the early church was a generous church because it was a joyful church; and I think it was a joyful church because it was a worshiping church.
My prayer for myself and for our church is that we would be extraordinary in our generosity, remarkable in our joy and unabashed in our praise!
Pastor Brian Coffey
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