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1/28/2016 Day 28 - Acts 9:1-31 - ConversionConnecting to the Larger StoryOne of the people who was most prominent in persecuting the young church was a Pharisee named Saul. He had followers of Jesus brought before the courts and was able to have some of them stoned for their perceived crime of following Jesus. As the converts to the faith scattered into the countryside and neighboring towns, Saul followed with his mission to destroy the church. Important to Note 1) Saul - who later be renamed Paul - had a vision of Jesus in a blinding light on the way to Damascus. Being blind, he had to be led the rest of the way and then rested for three days. God gave Ananias the task of healing Saul of his blindness, but Ananias was reluctant because he knew of Saul's reputation. Yet he still obeyed despite the danger. 2) God told Ananias that Saul was chosen to take the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles. To this point, the disciples had only sought out converts among their fellow Jewish people. Saul would take the message outside the Jewish community and establish churches in areas of modern-day Turkey and Greece filled with Gentiles - non-Jewish people. This was very different, because most of these Gentiles had not believed in the God of Israel before coming to believe in Christ. 3) After his conversion, Saul found that the disciples did not yet trust him. He continued to pay for his persecution of the church until Barnabas vouched for him and he was able to prove himself as a true follower of Jesus. Once he had proven himself, those who had been his allies in persecuting the church sought to now kill him. Just because he had converted did not mean that the consequences of his crusade against the church would not follow him. Thoughts for Reflection1) How are we called to risk ourselves to serve God?
2) Why would God call someone so opposed to Jesus to be so important in establishing the church? 3) Why does God let consequences of our behaviors follow us even after we have repented? 1/27/2016 Day 27 - Acts 8:4-8, 26-40 - MissionaryConnecting to the Larger Story As the church grew and there were more demands on the time of the disciples as leaders, they set apart seven deacons to serve the community so that the disciples could focus on proclaiming the gospel. One of those was Stephen who was later stoned for his ministry in the name of Christ. After his execution, many of the new converts and their leaders scattered into the surrounding towns and began to preach there. This spread the gospel beyond Jerusalem. One of those who fled and began preaching in Samaria was Philip. Important to Note1) The eunuch was already reading from the Scriptures - specifically the prophet Isaiah - before he ever met Philip and heard about Jesus Christ. Yet he did not understand what it means on his own. Reading Scripture alone was not enough. The eunuch needed to read it alongside another believer to come to a fuller understanding of its meaning. 2) The eunuch then asked what would prevent him from being baptized. The implied answer, of course, was nothing. Not his nationality or ethnicity, not his being a eunuch, not his lack of understanding, nothing could keep him from being baptized if he wanted it. 1) How does being a part of church help us better understand the Scriptures?
2) What stands in the way of our connecting with God? 1/26/2016 Day 26 - Acts 5:12-42 - PersecutionConnecting to the Larger Story As people responded to the preaching of the gospel and the church began to grow, the disciples continued Jesus' disciples continued his ministry not only of teaching but also of healing. The religious authorities were threatened by the growing movement and looked for ways to silence the disciples by arresting and intimidating them. Yet the movement continued to grow and more people came to believe in Jesus. Important to Note1) Despite the best efforts of the religious authorities, the disciples stood firm against them and continued to spread the message of Jesus while the church grew. No matter what they tried, they could stop what God wanted to succeed. The advice that Gamaliel offers to the authorities reflects this idea: if Jesus were not from God, then the movement would fail much like the ones before; if Jesus were from God, then there is nothing they can do to stop the movement. So it is best for the authorities to do nothing and let God's will be done. Thoughts for Reflection1) Would we have the courage to continue preaching the gospel in the face of persecution?
1/25/2016 Day 25 - Acts 2:36-47Connecting to the Larger Story Jesus spent forty days after his Resurrection appearing to and instructing his disciples before ascending in to heaven. As the Spirit came upon the disciples heavily empowering them to fulfill the mission that Jesus had put before them, they left their hiding places to begin preaching the good news of Jesus and his kingdom. Important to Note1) Peter preached the good news of Jesus in Jerusalem, and many people were convinced. They were baptized and committed themselves to learning more, praying, eating together, and sharing what they had. Thoughts for Reflection1) How do we react to the good news of Jesus Christ?
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February 2016
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Port Republic United Methodist Church
8525 Water Street
PO Box 116
Port Republic, VA 24471
540-249-4111
8525 Water Street
PO Box 116
Port Republic, VA 24471
540-249-4111