Saul must have seen himself as a guardian. He was a Pharisee and shaped by a people who had learned the hard way that compromise gets people in trouble. He knew what happened when Israel let the covenant slip. Babylon happened. Exile happened. And so, when this movement began to spread through Jerusalem, claiming that a crucified man was the Messiah, Saul saw the same old drift that had happened before. He did what men of deep conviction do when they believe the sacred is under threat. He moved to stop it.
That's what makes the Damascus road so disorienting. Jesus doesn't appear to a man who has abandoned his faith. He appears to a man who is on fire for it. And the question he asks is Why are you persecuting me? Saul's certainty, the very thing he thought was protecting God's people, had become the weapon aimed at God himself. Today ask: Where in my life is my certainty doing the most damage?
- David Bempong

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ Jesus asks Saul "Why are you persecuting me?" not "why are you persecuting them?" What does that tell you about how Jesus sees his church?
+ What does it mean that Saul spends three days blind, fasting, and waiting? What might God be doing in that silence?
+ The text says Saul "immediately" began preaching after his sight returned. What has to be true about an encounter with Jesus for it to produce that kind of urgency?

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Is there an area of your life where you've been confident you're doing the right thing, but haven't actually stopped to ask if Jesus agrees?

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Lord, you interrupted Saul in the middle of his worst moment and called it a beginning. Do the same in us. Show us where we're breathing the wrong air and mistaking our certainty for your will. Give us the humility to be led when we can't see, and the courage to go when you call us toward someone we'd rather avoid. Amen.

There are many things I find amazing about this account. The angel of the Lord directs Philip, and Philip obeys. The Ethiopian has come to Jerusalem to worship and is reading a prophecy about Jesus in Isaiah. Philip is there and has an opportunity to share who Jesus is. The Ethiopian believes and is moved to be baptized, and there in the middle of the desert is some water for his baptism. After this divine appointment, the Spirit takes Philip somewhere else.
Following the prompting of God leads to amazing things. That Ethiopian would take his faith in Jesus back to Ethiopia. The gospel is spreading beyond Jerusalem and Judea. I can’t help wondering what divine appointments the Lord has for us. Like Philip, God wants to use us to bring the gospel of Jesus to those in our communities but also to total strangers like this Ethiopian.
- Monica Godfrey

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ If the Ethiopian had come to worship in Jerusalem, what does that imply?
+ How does the text of Isaiah 53 point to Jesus?
+ How does the Ethiopian respond to the message?
+ What happens after his baptism?

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Are you aware of the Holy Spirit’s prompting in your life? Are you willing to step out in faith and obedience when he prompts?
+ Is there someone the Holy Spirit is prompting you to speak with?

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
God, we thank you for the way you use us to share your good news with others. Thank you that You care for strangers and those in the ends of the earth. Holy Spirit, would you help us be open and receptive to your prompting; would you help us be faithful to share the hope we have with others; would you give us divine appointments. We pray for many people to believe in Jesus as a result. In your name we pray, Amen.

[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups) 
+ Do you have a story of a divine appointment?

The Scriptures have many things to say about our Father who loves to give good gifts (including the Holy Spirit!) to His children. (Luke 11:13, Acts 2:37-38, Acts 10:25) Simon was given a gift in the Scripture above. He was allowed a glimpse into his sinful heart. He was also given a clear path to redeem and restore the brokenness through the work and power and love of Christ in repentance and prayer.
However we also see that this is not what Simon asked for. He wanted God’s power, in the Holy Spirit, for his own purpose and his own glory. As we understand God’s Kingdom, perhaps we can see that giving Simon what he asked for was not the right move! Perhaps there have been things that you and I have asked the Lord for that are not His best gifts for you at this particular time. We can trust our Good Good Father for giving the right gift at the right time.
Do we see the gifts God gives when they are not the “asked for ones?” His best may look different, as it did with Simon. The Lord illuminates what He loves and calls us to love them too. Repentance and prayer were illuminated to Simon in this passage. Luke recorded this event, but he didn’t give us very much closure. Did Simon see the value of this gift or was he so fixated on what he wanted that he completely missed what the Holy Spirit revealed (ironically!) through Peter and John?
What good gift from the Father might you and I be missing as we are so fixated on the thing we thought would be best? Is there something God is calling you and I to repent of today before the best gift is given?
- Kim Williams

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ What word does this passage start with? As a reader this word is directing us to look at the passage that comes before for context. Luke is contrasting what happens with Philip in Samaria (Acts 8:4-8) and what has been happening with Simon in Samaria. (Acts 8:9-11)
+ What contrasts do you see? Who is Philip proclaiming? Who is Simon proclaiming? What happens after their proclamations? Who gets the glory from their words/actions? How do the people of Samaria respond to each of them?
+ Why is it significant that these events happen in Samaria? What do you remember about the relationship between the Jews in Jerusalem and the Samaritans?
+ The Message (paraphrase) translates verse 11, “He (Simon) had been around a long time and everyone was more or less in awe of him.” How might you have felt if you were Simon and Philip arrived in your town and proclaimed another “Great One” and performed miracles in His name?
+ Why do you think Simon “followed Philip everywhere?”
+ Who came into the narrative in verse 14? Why might they have been sent by the apostles in Jerusalem?
+ What does Simon ask of Peter and John in verse 19? How does the rest of the passage reveal his true heart motivation for this request?
+ How does Peter respond to Simon’s request? Verse 20-23? What two specific actions does Peter tell Simon HE should do in response to what was revealed in Simon’s heart? Verse 22.
+ How does Simon actually respond? Do we see HIM accomplishing either action Peter recommended?

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ What do you and I do when our sinful heart is exposed? Do we repent of our sin before the Lord Jesus (and others we have sinned against) and pray for His promised mercy or do we evade this difficult and humbling step of confession?
+ Has the Lord revealed a space in your life through His Word today where you want to be the Great One and receive the glory for the things the One True God has done in your life?

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Christ Jesus, Messiah, thank you for the great things You have done. You alone are worthy of our praise and honor. Thank you for showing us the greatest act of humility as You went to the cross becoming sin so we would have no sin in your eyes. Thank you for accomplishing the greatest miracle, conquering sin and death and rising from the dead and ascending into heaven and making a way for all who believe to do the same. Because of the work You have done, we don’t have to strive, to perform, to do, to make ourselves appear to be something we aren’t. Holy Spirit, pierce our hearts so that we see where we have missed the mark today. In our sin, give us the courage to repent, to confess what you have revealed through Your Spirit. Lord Jesus, thank you that You have made a way for us to have a direct relationship with the Father. We no longer need a priest (or Peter or John!) to intercede for us. You want to hear directly from us. Today, Lord Jesus, hear my prayer!

[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups) 
+ What one thing stood out in this Scripture to you today? Why do you think this particular part of the passage stood out? Ask Father God, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit, (each aspect of the Trinity separately!) what they want you to learn, meditate upon, or do with what He has shown you. The people of Samaria “paid attention” to the proclamation of the Gospel and then were baptized. Simon was called to repent and pray. The word of God never returns void. What action is God calling you to take in obedience to Him today?

One commentary I read on Psalm 46 was titled “Confident in God’s Protection and Power”.  That phrase reminded me of the Hebrews 11:1 which describes having faith as “confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see”. And boy, do we, as the Body of Christ, need these reassuring words today! I love these quotes on this psalm from two giants of the faith who lived hundreds of years apart.

“Martin Luther, when in greatest distress, was wont to call for this psalm, saying, Let us sing the forty-sixth psalm in concert; and then let the devil do his worst.” (John Trapp 1601-1669)
“Comment on this great song of confidence seems almost unnecessary so powerfully has it taken hold on the heart of humanity, and so perfectly does it set forth the experience of trusting souls in all ages and tumultuous times.” (G. Campbell Morgan 1863-1945)
- Chris Adomanis

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ Verses 1-3 are SO clear about God’s willingness and ability to “be there” for His people in times of trouble.  What keeps us from believing and resting in these verses?  What specific things do you fear that you can bring to God, who is a refuge and a very present help?
+ Verses 4-6 were written with the city of Jerusalem in mind; however, read Ezekiel 47:1-12 and Revelation 22:1-5.  Can you see any other application for these verses for believers today?
+ What do you make of the author using two titles for God in verse 7; “the Lord of hosts” and the “God of Jacob”?
+ One commentator described verse 10 as “a word from God Himself”.  What “point” is God trying to make?  How would you describe His “tone”?  Are these words of encouragement, meant for rebuke or are they both?  What does it mean to be “still” before God?

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ SOMETHING TO PONDER (PUN INTENDED):  The word “selah” appears 3 times in this psalm: 74 times in the Old Testament as a whole.  It is widely understood as a musical or liturgical pause, which makes sense as this psalm was written to be performed in worship as outlined in the opening lines of the text.  It also marked a time when the reader or hearer were to ponder; to reflect deeply on what was being stated.  I encourage all of us to do the same, maybe even committing some of these verses to memory!

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Almighty God, we praise and exalt You, for You are worthy of all of our worship.  Forgive us for the times we refused to submit to You as Master and Lord.  Thank you for Your Word, which reminds us of Your mighty power and deeds, but also of Your loving kindness towards us; Your people who You love in spite of our constant rebellion.  Let the words of this Psalm wash over us and settle in our soul so we can draw upon the incredible truths found here to live in effective and loving service to You.  Amen.

[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups) 
+ Who in your sphere of influence needs to hear about the God who is willing and MORE than able to be a very present help in time of need?

Something I really like in this Psalm is in verses 10-17, where the Psalmist says “forget your people and your father’s house, and the king will desire your beauty  Since he is your lord, bow to him…I will cause your name to be remembered in all generations; therefore nations will praise you forever and ever.” Like Song of Solomon, this is a love song that parallels and is also directly addressing our relationship with Jesus, with the Father, with the Spirit. The Godhead that is three in one functions in many levels of relationship with us, should we choose to open our eyes to see Him.
Reading these verses makes me think of Luke 14:26, when Jesus says, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple.” The Psalmist is telling this daughter to forget her own house where she comes from, because the king is waiting to desire and admire her in her beauty more than she can possibly imagine. He will wrap her in his riches to wed into his family, she will be remembered forever. While this is not the false-teaching prosperity gospel that says “follow God and you’ll get anything and everything you’ve ever wanted”, it is instead the Truth that leaving all we have to follow Jesus, including treasures here on Earth, stores up our Heavenly treasure. The image of golden robes and remembrance and joy, to me, are so meek in comparison to the reward of our relationship with Jesus. But things like this are just a fraction of what He wants to do through you and for you. There is no one on this Earth, not mother nor father, brother nor sister, spouse nor friend, who can desire your beauty as the Lord does. After all, He is the one who fearfully and wonderfully made you. As a parent that looks at their newborn who they’ve created and wants everything good this world could ever offer them, imagine how much more our perfect Father plans, desires, and sends to you.
He loves you. He is with you. He is for you.
- Danielle Parker

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ Where do you see a draw between this love song and Messianic prophecies of the Son of Man to come?
+ Identify the phrases and verses which are written to the Lord, and which are to the bride (or the Church).

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Where do you need to forget your father's house so you can fully embrace the life that God has for you? 
+ Do you trust that He is going to catch you when you stumble, fall, or jump?

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Lord, sometimes it is difficult to believe that what you ask me to leave behind is being worked for good. I can cling on to the gifts more than the Gift Giver sometimes. Forgive me when I forget the difference. What You have for me, what You have already given me, and what You have removed from me are all more than enough because I trust Your plan more than I trust my own. Help me to surrender, to fall in love with You again, and to have the boldness to share the love You've given me with others around me. I adore you, Father. Your presence is enough for me. In Jesus' name I ask You to remind me that You are here today. Amen.

[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups) 
+ Is there someone who reminds you of His love for you when you forget?
+ Tell someone today that they are loved by Jesus. It can affect people more than you know.

This psalm is a bit of an emotional rollercoaster, right? The psalmist acknowledges the God of his forefathers, then confesses Him as king (v4). He writes of God’s faithfulness, but follows up with the line “you have rejected us and disgraced us” (v9). Just when hope in restoration starts to surface again (vv17-18), the psalmist once again takes a dark turn concluding with a plea for the Lord to wake up, to rise up, and redeem (vv23-26). In modern terms, the sentiment is something akin to “God… why aren’t you listening? Where are you? Do something!”

And you know what… I’d bet that God welcomes and even loves to hear such impassioned prayer. Jesus says that abiding in Him includes asking what you desire (John 15:7). Paul says to be anxious for nothing, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, present your requests to the Lord (Phil 4:6). And if you read through the rest of the Psalms, you can see this is simply the way that God’s people pray – honestly, boldly and without holding back! Afterall, God already knows what’s in our minds and hearts (v21).

Psalms like this one serve as a reminder of God’s place in our lives. Though He is sovereign, He longs to hear our cries, He loves to show His steadfast love, and in whatever trial you’re going through, He is present, listening, and redeeming you.
- Hayden Van Dyke

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ What might the psalmist be referring to when he speaks of the “deeds performed in days of old” (v1)? What about when he says “you have made like sheep before slaughter” (v11)?
+ What are the implied beliefs about God that the psalmist holds?

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Where do you desperately need God’s help in your life?
+ Like the bow or sword referred to in v6, what might you need to drop in order to show your trust in the Lord?
+ What might be holding you back from praying honestly and boldly?

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Heavenly Father, sovereign Lord, I need you in my life. I sometimes feel that my prayers go unanswered, or that you have turned a blind eye to the troubles in my life. And yet, O Lord, I know you. I want to abide in your steadfast love and kindness. You are good and gracious, and even when I feel you are far away, I trust that you hear me when I cry. Give me strength today. Remind me of all the goodness in my life… I know you are the source of every good thing that I have, and your love will never fail.

[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups) 
+ Who can you pray for earnestly and honestly this morning?
+ Who in your life needs to hear of the Lord’s goodness in your life?
+ When are you going to tell them?

"Why are you cast down, O my soul?" These have to be among the most honest lines in all of Scripture. He is praying through something happening inside him, in real time, out loud before God. That kind of honesty is harder than it looks.

What makes this psalm so interesting is the turn. "Hope in God, for I shall again praise him." He moves from inner turmoil to something that sounds like confidence, and the text does not tell us how. Something happened between those two lines. We just don't know what. What we get is not the explanation but the result: a soul that was cast down finding something solid enough to stand on.

We don’t get a formula for how to get from anguish to hope. We just see that someone did. And that they found hoping in God, even without resolution, was enough to keep going. The praise the psalmist is anticipating isn't the praise of a problem solved. It's the praise of a person held.

What would it look like for you to hope in God today, before the turmoil settles?

- David Bempong

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ What does the psalmist ask God to send in verse 3, and what does that request reveal about what he feels he has lost?
+ The refrain in verse 5 appears almost word-for-word in Psalm 42. What does its repetition suggest about how the psalmist is moving through his discouragement?
+ The psalmist speaks directly to his own soul. What does that tell you about the relationship between emotion and will in this passage?

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ The psalmist preaches to himself before the feeling changes. What is one true thing about God you could speak to yourself today?
+ What does "hope in God" look like practically for you this week?

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
God, some days faith feels challenging. I believe you are there, but I cannot always find you. Lead me back to where worship feels natural again. I will praise you, not because everything is fine, but because you are still my God.

Psalm 42 is a beautiful example of having great faith in the darkest moments of life. Imagine being so filled with sorrow that you feel like your only sustenance are your own tears, the psalmist also says in these moments he was mocked by those around him questioning if God was even with him.
Yet in the midst of his sorrow, he looks inward, and confronts his own feelings of discouragement by asking, “Why are you in turmoil within me?” Then a very important part of this passage is that rather than shy away or further his distance from God, he brings this problem to Him. He tells God that his soul is downcast, but he also remembers all that God has provided for him, even in despair his hope remains in God, and that leads him to keep praising the Lord.
- Keegan Geis

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ What does this psalm teach us about bringing our struggles honestly before God?
+ What images does the psalmist use to describe his longing for God?

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ How can reflecting on God's past faithfulness help you in difficulties?
+ When have you felt spiritual sorrow or distance from God like the psalmist?

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Heavenly Father, I thank you for your faithfulness and your steadfast love. I pray that when my soul is in despair or when I feel distanced from you that I will always remember what you have done for me. Thank you for your word and how you guide us into being more like you each and every day. “For I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.” Amen.

[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups) 
+ What truth from this psalm would you want a friend to hear this week?

Lord, may I never be counted among the mob who would reject truth and meet a godly rebuke with murder.  Yet this pattern will be repeated a number of times as we proceed through the book of Acts. The very one who led the “great persecution” (Acts 8:3) will himself suffer numerous acts of mob violence and narrowly escape death.
In later years, Paul may have recalled these experiences when he warned Timothy that a “time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.” (2 Timothy 4:3)
In the case of the high priests and the elders, we see the inverse. They would not put up with Stephen’s sound doctrine, and they executed him for declaring it. The danger is not only that we might listen to false teachers. A subtler danger may be that, like Stephen's accusers, we become so committed to our own desires and traditions that we reject God's truth when it is plainly set before us.
So how do we guard ourselves from becoming the mob? Consume the Word of God (Jeremiah 15:16); stay humble (Micah 6:8) and avail ourselves of promises like this:
“This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God.” 1 John 4:2
- Jason Rimmer

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ What are the habituated practices in my life that prepare me to recognize the truth when it is presented to me?

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Lord, keep me in the center of the narrow path that leads to you.  Give me the ability to discern your truth and hear your voice. Protect those who are sent to us as our spiritual leaders.

[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups) 
+ Who is a spiritual mentor with whom I can discuss this passage?

Stephen's speech to the Pharisees is probably one of the most convicting streams of Truth in the New Testament. In this, the message, while lengthy, is simple… God sends us redemption and we are too blind, too legalistic, and too prideful to receive it. In the most palatable way for his audience, Stephen identifies the very man who was the mouthpiece for God’s law, a man who redeemed his people and the one who they revere so deeply. Moses.
After drawing the comparison, he then talks about the Holy Spirit. The very Spirit that dwelt in the tabernacle and eventually the first and second temples, dwells within us as believers. I seriously doubt man's ability to speak with the same level of conviction, facing the same level of consequences. That's boldness. That is the Spirit at work.
Too often we read stories about the Pharisees and they seem almost cartoonishly evil. We have this depiction of them as if they were not the MOST faithful men to YHWH. They weren’t persecuting Christians for fun, they were the MOST deceived. They had the understanding that they were defending God’s plan and his coming Messiah. They missed it right in front of their faces. I think we need to stop viewing the Pharisees as unintelligent, unfaithful men. They are us. We are deceived and fall into legalism all too often. The Truth of relationship with Jesus is uncomfortable and we as sinful creatures find comfort in the black and white of the letter of the law. We should read Acts 7:51 and feel the weight of that. I am a stiff necked person who resists and denies the Holy Spirit. God, I repent! Mold my heart and allow me to listen to your Spirit with integrity and conviction. May we hide our hearts in His love and allow Him to change our stone into flesh constantly. May we resurrender.
- Quentin Parker

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ Compare and contrast Moses’ life and calling to Jesus’ time here on earth.
+ How can we learn from Stephen’s boldness?

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ How can we prevent legalism in our own lives? What are some practical steps?

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
God, search my heart. Identify my shortcomings and help my unbelief. You are good, You are perfect. Guide me and give me eyes to see and ears to hear. Thank you for the cross and your sacrifice, in Jesus' Holy Name, amen.

[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups) 
+ Who can you share the gospel with, with the boldness of Stephen?    

In Acts 6, Stephen has just been forcefully brought before the council by those opposing him. He is intentionally set up by his opponents through the use of false witnesses and accusations of blasphemy. Chapter 7 begins with his answer to the high priest’s question of three short words: “Is this so?” Stephen responds to this loaded question in Acts 7:1–29 with a purposeful recounting of key moments from Israel’s history.
Much more than a simple retelling of undoubtedly well-known historical events, a repeated pattern seen throughout the Old Testament is brought up: God continually raised up leaders and deliverers for His people; yet the very leaders God chose were often misunderstood, resisted, or rejected by them. Stephen recounts how Abraham responded in faith to God’s call and covenant promises; that Joseph was spurned by his brothers before later becoming their rescuer; and even Moses was initially rebuffed by the very people he sought to defend and deliver.
Noted commentators, among them John Calvin and R.C. Sproul, have recognized Stephen’s speech as a theological and spiritual indictment. In recounting Israel’s history, the unfortunate tendency of God’s people to resist His appointed servants is exposed. Simultaneously, Stephen highlights God’s unwavering covenant faithfulness to His people, throughout the generations.
Perhaps most importantly, Stephen points beyond Abraham, Joseph, and Moses toward the greater fulfillment found in Christ. These figures from ancient times ultimately foreshadow the coming Messiah — the true Deliverer, whom many would reject before finally recognizing Him as Savior and Lord.  Amidst human rebellion and forgetfulness, God continued then, as he continues now, to implement His redemptive plan for His people.
- Jenna Connor

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ How does Stephen’s retelling of Israel’s history ultimately point toward Jesus as the great Deliverer?
+ What does this passage reveal about God’s covenant faithfulness despite human rebellion and forgetfulness?
+ What does Acts 7:1–29 teach us about humanity’s tendency to resist God’s appointed servants?

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ How does Stephen’s boldness and faithfulness challenge the way I live for Christ today?
+ Do I recognize patterns of God’s faithfulness in my life, even during seasons of doubt, rebellion, or forgetfulness?
+ Have I become so familiar with certain passages or truths in Scripture that I no longer stop to truly examine their meaning?
+ Am I willing to receive truth from God even when it confronts my assumptions, pride, or expectations?

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Lord, forgive me for how I often resist your truth, ignore your direction, or forget your faithfulness. Just as your people repeatedly misunderstood and rejected the servants you put in place to help and deliver them, I too can become hardened, prideful, and spiritually forgetful. Soften my heart. Please teach me to respond in faith and obedience as Abraham did.
Help me and my brothers and sisters in you to recognize your mighty hand at work throughout our lives, even during seasons of difficulty, confusion, or waiting.
Thank You for your covenant faithfulness that continues from generation to generation despite human weakness and rebellion.
Most importantly, help us to see Christ clearly as the true and greater Deliverer foreshadowed throughout Your Word. Amen.

In the early days of the church, enthusiasm and growth quickly collided with the realities of ordinary life. In Acts 6:1–7, Greek widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. No one had planned for this. The new believers were learning what it meant to live not simply as individuals but as a new family. Language differences, cultural familiarity, and old loyalties created fault lines beneath the surface. Tiny distinctions can loom large when people live closely together.
The apostles did not rush to do everything themselves. Like Moses before them, they delegated wisely, appointing men “well spoken of,” full of faith and the Holy Spirit. Stephen was among them. Hands were laid on these servants, and the result was not organizational efficiency alone, but growth. Luke reminds us, “the word of God continued to increase.” God’s work remained God’s work, even as people faithfully served within it.
Then the story narrows to Stephen. Chosen simply to help distribute food, he suddenly stands at the center of controversy. The church can never anticipate who God will choose to speak through. Stephen was “full of grace and power,” and his ministry overflowed beyond his assigned task. Soon accusations flew. He was charged with attacking the temple, the law, and the traditions that shaped Jewish identity. Whenever God does a new thing, people often fear that faithful things are being abandoned.
The tragedy is familiar. Rather than listening carefully, opponents threw mud. We still do this today. New ideas are branded dangerous; old convictions are mocked as backward. Yet Stephen stood calmly in the storm. Before the council, his face appeared “like the face of an angel.” There was serenity, confidence, and peace at the overlap of heaven and earth.
Faithfulness does not always prevent conflict. Sometimes it places us directly in it. But God still gives grace, wisdom, and quiet courage to those He chooses.
- Mary Gunther

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ Why do you think Luke connects faithful service, prayer, and the growth of God’s word?
+ Where do you see both practical need and spiritual wisdom in Acts 6:1–7?

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Where might I be overlooking someone because of familiarity, busyness, language, culture, or status?
+ Am I willing to serve faithfully in the small assignment, trusting God may use it in ways I cannot anticipate?

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Lord, give me the wisdom to notice those who are being overlooked and the humility to serve where I am needed. Fill me with grace, faith, and the Holy Spirit so that when conflict comes, I may speak with courage and carry Your peace. Help me trust that Your word is still increasing, even when the work is hard. Amen.

The apostles are arrested by the Jewish religious authority for preaching the Gospel.  They are miraculously released from prison to continue preaching the full message of this new life.  They are arrested again and called to account.  The Sanhedrin is convinced not to kill them, but cannot just let them go since they had disobeyed their order.  So the apostles are beaten.  These beatings were likely the 39 lashes, in which the guilty person was stripped and beaten publicly.
The intended result was to stop this Jesus movement and reassert the Sanhedrin’s authority.  Instead the apostles are not only not broken, but are REJOICING that they are counted worthy to suffer.  Where would they get the idea to REJOICE at being beaten?  The Sermon on the Mount is a teaching the apostles likely heard many times in different venues.  At the end of the Beatitudes (Matt 5:2-12) Jesus teaches that when persecuted, reviled and when evil is said against us we are to “REJOICE and be glad for great is your reward in heaven”  (Matt 5:12).  Undoubtedly the apostles were looking at a treasure and an authority the Sanhedrin could not see, but confirmed with a beating.
- Gary Gunther

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ What would stop you from sharing the Gospel with someone?
+ Does the prospect of suffering loss bring fear?

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Is there an authority competing with Jesus in my life?
+ Am I prepared to share the Gospel clearly and with conviction?

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Father, open my eyes to others around me who need to hear about you. Help me to be courageous and rejoice when I face opposition. May I live in a way that causes others to ask about the hope that dwells in me.

[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
+ Ask God to lay someone on your heart who needs to hear the good news.

This can be an uncomfortable passage for some of us. The Holy Spirit’s intervention here is swift, sudden, and final. Ananias and Sapphira pay a heavy price for their disobedience. But what exactly was their disobedience?
Let’s start with what it wasn’t. God did not punish Ananias and Sapphira because they refused to hand over their property. This is not a forced commune situation. Peter says as much in verse 4, explicitly affirming private ownership and voluntary giving. The land was Ananias’ before sale. The money was still under his authority after the sale.
The sin, then, comes not in the partial offering, but in the dishonesty attached to it. The phrase “kept back for himself” in verse 2, along with Sapphira’s blatant dishonesty in verse 8, shows a callous disregard for God’s holiness. They pretend to give everything, expecting to successfully hoodwink the creator of the universe and garner public approval in the process. For this, they pay with their lives.
But why the severity? Was their sin really so drastic that it warranted an immediate death sentence? Have we not seen worse sinners that have walked away relatively (heavy on the “relatively” here) unscathed?
To understand the severity of God’s decision in this situation, we have to consider the context. Acts takes us through the earliest days of a fledgling church – the very first buds of a flower destined to bloom tremendously. Beginnings are important to God. And at the beginning of a new redemptive-historical stage, God often sets the standard by judging with unusual immediacy and severity. We see this with Nadab and Abihu at the tabernacle (Leviticus 10), Achan at Israel’s entry into the land (Joshua 7), and here with Ananias and Sapphira at the birth of the church.
God’s words after Nadab and Abihu’s consumption by fire are appropriate to consider here:
“Among those who approach me I will be proved holy; in the sight of all the people I will be honored.” (Leviticus 10:3).
So how do the masses react? Does this show of awesome (and, frankly, quite scary) power push them away? Do they become distant, perhaps questioning whether God is truly merciful?
We actually see the opposite. “More than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women”. God’s holy power and sovereign judgment are not meant to alienate. They are meant to draw us closer, repelling casual commitment, encouraging seriousness, and helping us to understand the holiness of the One we worship. Holiness and mission belong together. A church that fears God can and will attract sinners to grace.
The fear of the Lord is, after all, the beginning of wisdom. The knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
- Kidus Kebede

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ How can we prove the deity of the Holy Spirit using just verses 3 and 4? (Hint: who is being lied to?)
+ Re-read verse 16. Notice that the same Spirit who judges hypocrisy heals the broken. The same holy presence that kills deceit gives life to the sick and oppressed. How do we hold this tension? Is there any tension at all?

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Classical Protestant exegete Matthew Henry says the following in his commentary on this passage: “Those that boast of good works they never did, or promise good works they never do, or make the good works they do more or better than really they are, come under the guilt of Ananias's lie, which it concerns us all to dread the thought of.” Does this ring a bell? I certainly squirmed a little – perhaps there were times where I made my good works seem like a little more than they were. Have you at any point found yourself guilty of Ananias and Sapphira’s sin?

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Lord, You are holy. You are set apart. You are righteous. Help me to understand what that means. Help me to understand who You are, that I may more fervently and accurately conform myself to Your image. Do not let me forget who You are – let Your holy character be my north star, by which I navigate the world around me.

[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
+ What is your central takeaway from this passage? Try to articulate it in a few sentences. Now take a few minutes to think about how you can communicate that message to the world around you, through both word and action.

There is something in us that wants to believe the right response to a threat is a plan. You map it out. You figure out your next move. Peter and John respond to the threat by going back to their people and praying. Together and loud enough to make the building shake.

They don't ask God to move Herod out of the way. They don't ask for easier circumstances. They quote Psalm 2 back to God like they've been living inside that Psalm, like they already know how the story ends and just need to find their footing in it again. That's not naivety. That's people who have learned to hold two things at once: the powers are real, the danger is real, and God is still over all of it.

Then look at what happens next. People start letting go of things. Land, houses, the kind of things that make you feel safe when everything else is uncertain. They sell them and lay the money at the apostles' feet. That's a community that has decided their security is somewhere else. What would it take for you to feel secure enough to let something go?
- David Bempong

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ Read the prayer in verses 24-30. What do the believers actually ask for? What does that tell you about how they saw their situation?
+ They ask for boldness, not safety. Why do you think that was their request?
+ What connection do you notice between the prayer in verses 24-30 and the community description in verses 32-35?
+ Luke ends the passage by naming Barnabas specifically. Why do you think he included that detail?

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Father, when pressure comes, our first instinct is to figure a way out. Teach us to pray before we plan. Give us the kind of boldness that only comes from knowing you're in charge of what we can't control. And make us the kind of people who hold things loosely because we trust you more than we need to feel secure. Amen.

There's something the powerful almost never do when they encounter something they can't control. They don't ask questions. They move to contain it. The Sanhedrin doesn't show up at Solomon's Porch, wondering what happened to the man who couldn't walk. They show up because the crowd is too big and the name of Jesus is too loud, and something has to be done about it.
What finally silences the council isn't the argument. It's the man. The one who used to sit at the gate begging, now standing in the room with them, healed and present, a fact no one in that chamber can undo. You can cross-examine a claim. You can question a motive. You can't cross-examine a life that has been changed. The council responds with threats. Peter and John decide not to stop talking about Jesus. They had seen too much to turn back. What have you seen of Jesus that you're still keeping to yourself?
- David Bempong

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ What is the council's first response to the healing, and what does that tell you about them?
+ Why do you think Luke keeps mentioning the healed man throughout the scene?
+ How would you describe Peter's tone when he speaks to the council?
+ The leaders know the miracle happened but still try to stop the message. What do you make of that?

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Lord, make me the kind of person whose life requires an explanation. Give me the quiet courage of people who have seen something real and can't unknow it. Where I've let the weight of the room shrink what I know to be true, restore my voice. Let what you've done in me be something I stop keeping to myself. Amen.

After the healing of the lame man, the people want to know more, so Peter begins to preach in the temple. Most of them did not understand that Christ was the Messiah when He was on earth, but they still can repent and believe in Christ and experience newness of life in Christ. The Lord works to build his kingdom through renewal, like this healing, through the Holy Spirit’s work, like in Peter’s preaching, and through suffering, like Stephen’s stoning in a few chapters.
Here Peter shows them how Christ fulfills the Messianic prophecies of the Old Testament; He is the Messiah they have been waiting for, and his kingdom is for all the families of the earth, not just the Jews. God has always had a rescue plan for the world, and it includes the church.
- Monica Godfrey

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ How has prophecy been fulfilled regarding Christ? Why does it matter that the Old Testament prophecies are fulfilled?
+ Why should they repent? What is gained in repentance?
+ How is Christ described in this passage?

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ “Repent and believe” is something we keep doing in our faith journeys. While we might already believe in Christ as Messiah and Savior, there are often specific aspects of our lives where we need to repent and believe in God. In what aspect of your life do you need to be realigned to God and His truth?
+ Has God given you opportunities like Peter to witness to His work in the world to others? Have you been faithful to take the opportunity and be open to the Spirit’s guiding?

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Christ, we thank you for being the long-awaited Messiah, the Savior, and hope of the world. Thank you that in repenting of sin and placing our faith in you we have a new life and we are part of a new family. Father, we thank you for the people and places you have put us in. Help us to be bold like Peter to witness to who You are to those around us as we have opportunity. Spirit, lead us and guide in the way we present your truth and represent you in our lives. In Christ’s name we pray, amen.

[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
+ When we see Christ at work in our hearts and lives, it is easy to talk about it. What is one thing where you see God at work that you might share with someone this week?

As Peter, through the power of the Holy Spirit, healed this man who had sat begging – paralyzed for his entire life – this man had an amazing and dare I say the one correct response to this healing. After getting up and using the gift given to him by walking and leaping, he praised God. What’s interesting is that we have no idea on his belief or lack thereof in Jesus before this moment, only that the encounter confirmed belief and praise.
But his healing was not just a gift for him, it was a gift to those around him. Verses 9-10 say that “all the people saw him walking and praising God and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple…And they were filled with wonder and amazement…”. This moment was used to show the Lord’s power to believers and nonbelievers alike. Not only His power to heal, but His power to change. His power which makes us go from one way to another.
I’ve often looked back on my own personal testimony and had moments of wishing God had not allowed certain things to happen to me, or even stopped me from doing things that I chose to do. But I can’t blame Him for the sin of myself or others, that’s sin. What I am grateful for is that He allowed each and every one of those moments I face with regret, shame, or hurt. Why? Because I was surrounded by people who didn’t know Him, and when I encountered Him and He changed my life and I responded with praise, everyone who has never known or cared to know Him not only sees the change but hears why. People who recognize me as who they used to know suddenly no longer see her, but (hopefully) see Christ through me.
When people recognize you as the one who sat at the gate called Beautiful, who is it that you show them?
- Danielle Parker

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ Do you think if the beggar man was offered healing before the miracle, he would have even believed it was possible?
+ If the man had not praised God and followed the disciples after this healing, how might the crowd's response to seeing the miracle have changed? Would it have changed?
+ How does the power of testimony and healing change the lives around us?

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Where there is healing, change, or redirection in your life, do you leap with praise? What is your response?
+ How might the Lord be offering you to get up and walk while your hand is outstretched for silver and gold?

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Father, thank You for carrying me through every moment in my life. Thank You for being at my side when I have been the beggar at the gate, and thank You for staying with me when You’ve given me more than I could have ever imagined possible. In every season, You have know what’s next. When I am scared and alone and I ask for what I think I need, help me to trust that You know what I need. Help me to be available, and use my life to show those around me who You are. Help me to go from recognized from the gate to recognized by Your grace. It’s in the powerful name of Jesus Christ I pray, amen.

[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
+ Is there someone who knows who you used to be that should know who God has made you to be?
+ Who can you remind today that they are not what they are recognized for, but they are made new?

Acts 2 is one of the most monumental chapters in the Bible.  We see the birth of the church of Jesus through the incredible events surrounding Pentecost, followed immediately by the Apostle Peter’s first sermon where 3,000 people surrender their lives to Christ.  Right on the heels of these two events, Luke describes how these initial followers of The Way conducted themselves.  Even to this day, it is a model for those who call themselves Christians to follow!
This is God’s prescription for church growth. If we take care to follow the example of Acts 2:42-47a, God will take care of growing the church Himself. (The Enduring Word Bible Commentary by David Gusik)
- Chris Adomanis

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ According to verse 42, what four things were these earliest converts “devoted to” (another translation uses the phrase “continued steadfastly in”)?  Do you see a significance in Luke using the phrase “the apostle’s teachings” versus, for instance “Jesus’ teachings”?  Why or why not?
+ Do you think verses 44-45 teach a form of Christian communism that should be in practice today or were they just describing the actions of these earliest followers due to their particular set of circumstances?  If this is a teaching for us today, how can we practically carry it out?
+ What do you make of the phrase “having favor with all of the people”?  Is that something we as the church should strive for today?  Why or why not?

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ How devoted are you to the four practices listed in verse 42?  How/where can you improve in your devotion without it becoming a legalistic exercise?

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Heavenly Father, forgive us for our selfish thoughts and actions when it comes to living out the Christian life.  Help us lay down our lives for Jesus and for others, especially to those in the family of faith.  May we be described as people who “receive their food with gladness and generous hearts”, and act as a conduit that You use to save souls and add to the Church of Jesus Christ.  Amen. 

[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
+ Who in your circle of influence needs to experience true Christian worship and fellowship as detailed in Acts 2:42-47?

As I write this devotional, it is the Thursday after Pentecost Sunday. As I read chapter 2 of Acts as a whole, I can only imagine what this was like. Was it a simple, yet jaw-dropping event? Did it sweep everyone off of their spiritual (and maybe even physical) feet that had them undone for hours? I suppose we won’t know until we are before the Lord in one day.
But as tongues of fire are falling down, and the Spirit is sweeping through His people, Peter speaks to this crowd of 120 to remind them of the everlasting promises and goodness of God. He reminds them of King David, who prophesied in Psalm 16:10 concerning Christ, that God would “...not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.” What they have witnessed and will suffer and die for, the resurrection and ascension of our Lord, was always to come. This was done for us that we may have eternal life, and proves yet again that God has never failed on a promise given to His children. If He promised that Jesus would never touch the pits of Hell despite facing horrific death, why would He not keep that promise He’s given to us, if only we just have faith (John 3:16), repent (John 8:11), and obey (John 3:36) Jesus’ commands?
God does not fail. He does not lie (Titus 1:2). Thank God for that. No, literally, just take a moment and thank Him for that. It can be easy to read His promises and think, “But not for me… I’m too far gone… I knew better than to… I shouldn’t have…”
His promises are for everyone who believes, confesses, repents, and obeys; and His blood atoned for all we have done and all we will still do to disobey. So when you disobey, when you sin, when you are impatient… When you’re angry, when you’re exhausted, when you’re hurt and just don’t want to do it anymore…

Repent, verb:
to turn from sin and dedicate oneself to the amendment of one's life
to feel sorrow, regret or contrition for
to change one's mind

Feel it, grieve it, tell God about it, and turn.
In Acts 2:38-40, when those who are struck in their hearts by what Peter reminds them of ask him “okay, so now what, Peter?”, he tells them
“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. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.…Save yourselves from this crooked generation.”

You are not too far gone. You are not excluded from this gift. Repent, be baptized if you haven’t. Reach out to someone, if you’re ready to commit to Jesus today, don’t wait, He is waiting for you to choose Him. This church has pastors, staff, elders, and hundreds more who would love to celebrate and walk with you in your faith if you’re ready to take that step. And if you already have, please remember that there is nothing you can do to undo His love and transformation of your soul. You. Are. Forgiven.

As Peter says in verse 39, the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to Himself.
If no one has said it to you today, yesterday, or in a very long time, I love you. But Jesus loves you more.
- Danielle Parker

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ Take a minute to go and read Psalm 16, the Psalm Peter is referencing in verses 22-28. It’s easy to read this Psalm from David’s perspective about himself. Can you identify how and where in this Psalm Jesus’ life and death is prophesied?
+ Verse 37 says that those who listened to Peter were “cut to the heart”, why do you think that is?

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Have you been baptized? If yes, take some time to remember what that means. Reflect and thank God for the gift and transformation of baptism. If no, ask God if it might be time, and pray about who to reach out to to take this amazing next step.
+ Do you believe that the promise of forgiveness and eternal life is for you? Remember that He is fighting for you, with you, and in you. The battle has been won, you have been purchased by His perfectly shed blood.

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Lord, thank You for Your forgiveness and mercy. Thank You for not giving up on me. Thank You that there is nothing I can do to earn Your love because You will never love me more than You do in this moment. You fill me with awe and wonder, and I cannot fathom what it truly means to love as You’ve loved me. I confess my sin and shame to You today, and ask you to forgive me and make me new. Baptize me afresh with Your Holy Spirit. I pray that You would help me to be bold and loving to others today. Thank You Father. It’s in Your mighty name I pray, amen.

[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
+ Is there someone the Spirit brings to mind for you today that might need a brother or sister in Christ to encourage them towards repentance and baptism?
+ Is there someone I can reach out to and ask for help in my walk, whether with a sin habit, next steps, baptism, prayer, forgiveness?

This is one of the most powerful symbols of the Spirit of God and the Holy Spirit in the entire Bible.
Imagine the Holy Spirit entering the disciples' tongues, filling them with languages they never knew before, so they could now speak perfectly. I think most people read these verses and think literally about the languages: Hebrew, Arabic, Greek, etc.
But we could apply this to other “languages” we experience in our everyday lives. For example, the language of sports, music, dancing, cooking, and culture. We use these languages to communicate with others, share our feelings, and express ourselves, just as in spoken language.
So here’s the charge. What language can God breathe into your life to help you connect with others and share the gospel? Where can you make an impact that you’ve never thought possible?
- Brandon Beylo

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ What “language” is the hardest to learn for the kingdom?
+ If you could learn one new language, what would it be and why?

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Jesus – give me a new language to reach new people and experience the joy that is sharing your Good News with those I would’ve never thought possible.

I always have to remind myself when I read a passage like this that there were way more than 12 people following Jesus. They don’t always get a shoutout by name, but the book of Acts gives us an insider’s view to the early church – the folks who saw Jesus, who watched Him die, and then witnessed Him overcome death. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians that there were over 500 men who saw Jesus after His resurrection! All these folks witnessed the greatest miracle of all time…and yet, Acts 1:10 tells us that they were looking up at the sky wondering what would happen next. They needed a nudge. Jesus told them that they were about to receive power from the Holy Spirit, but the rushing wind of Pentecost had not yet blown. So what do they do?
They get moving. They gather together. They pray. They read scripture. And they fill in the gap left by Judas. This is moving in step with the Spirit – preparing for the spirit to move because faith says He will.
One other interesting note… don’t you wonder about the other guy? Not Matthias – the lots landed on him, but Justus (Joseph / Barsabbas… a man of many names). The bible doesn’t say, but I actually think he handled the selection process quite nobly. I would like to think that he was filled with the same Spirit that the others were given and that he was amongst those who prayed for, supported, and hosted the apostles as they carried out the commission given to them.
In any case, I think we can draw from this scene in Acts that the Lord honors movement. He blesses obedience. And he equips his people to do the work He’s called them to do. Not everyone has the same role, but they still have a part to play. How do you figure out your part? I think we can follow the apostles’ example: show up, gather, pray, read the word, and move in the direction that you believe God is calling you.
- Hayden Van Dyke

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ What did the disciples and Jesus followers do after the received the Great Commission (Acts 1:8 – see also Matthew 28:18-20)?
+ Who made the decision that Matthias would take the place of Judas?

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ What is my part to play in carrying out the Lord’s work today? How can I find out? (Hint: I don’t think you need to order lots off of Amazon)

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Father, reveal to me where you are calling me. Push me to surround myself with fellow believers who will pray with me, seek God alongside me, and stir in me a passion for the calling in my life. Would you remind me today of your commission? Would you help me to use the gifts that you’ve given me to glorify you? I pray for my brothers and sisters, my church family, and those who don’t know you. Thank you for saving us and giving us the power of your Holy Spirit to be your witnesses to the ends of the earth. In the name of Jesus, amen.

Most people think waiting is a passive act, we associate it with uncertainty, delay, or silence. But in Scripture, waiting is often the place where God prepares us for transformation. That’s what makes Jesus’ command in this passage so meaningful. The city of Jerusalem prior to Acts 1 was the place where Judas betrayed Jesus, where Peter denied Him, and the brutal death of Jesus Christ. If I were one of the disciples, Jerusalem would still feel like a place of great trauma and pain, but Jerusalem’s story does not end in despair. It is also the place where resurrection happens and where that power would be poured out on the early Church. The command to wait in Jerusalem is not to delay the disciples but to shape their dependence on God. In verse 8, Jesus promises they will receive the power of the Holy Spirit to become His witnesses to all of the earth starting in their place of waiting. We do not have to imagine what that power looks like because that same power is alive in us today! Which means the places where we felt failure or delay can become the places where God’s power is made known through our lives.
- Keegan Geis

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ Why do you think Jesus redirects their focus away from “times or seasons” and toward the coming of the Holy Spirit?
+ Why does Jesus tell the disciples to wait in Jerusalem specifically, rather than sending them somewhere new after His resurrection?

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ What is a “Jerusalem” in your life? A place, memory, or season you would rather leave, but God may be using to transform you?
+ If the Holy Spirit lives in you, how does that reshape your “Jerusalem” from a place of waiting into a place of witness?

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Lord, thank You that the places in my life that feel silent or uncertain are not wasted because you are constantly working in and through me. Help me in the moments that feel heavy, when my questions feel unanswered, or when it is hard to see what You are doing. Help me to not shy away from You when You are transforming me. Thank you for the power of the Holy Spirit that You poured out onto me, make me recognize that without Your Spirit I can do nothing. Fill me with the Spirit, empower me to be a witness to others, and turn my dependence on You into boldness. Meet me in my times of waiting and teach me to trust You in where You have placed me.
In Jesus’ name, amen.

[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
+ Who do you know that’s in a season of waiting, and how can you encourage them to see that the Spirit is still working in their life?

After the Babylonian exile and the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem, one might expect Malachi’s time to have been a golden age for the nation. But sadly, from his very first words, God uses Malachi to confront Israel’s doubts about His love, their blemished sacrifices, divorce, and other covenant failures. In the shocking words of Malachi 2:3, we see a vivid picture of God’s patience wearing thin.

In today’s passage (Malachi 3:6–10), we learn of God’s displeasure regarding the tithe. I pray I would never hear God say that I have robbed Him. But have I? Have I confused my wants with my needs? Have I prioritized luxury and entertainment over faithful giving? Have I allowed my budget to convince me that generous giving is simply not possible?

Jesus affirmed tithing while also emphasizing adjacent acts of justice, mercy, and faithfulness (Matthew 23:23). Church fathers such as Irenaeus, Origen, Augustine of Hippo, and Thomas Aquinas taught that the tithe fit within Christian duty and represented the floor of giving, not the ceiling. Christian generosity flows not from guilt, but from gratitude for the abundant grace we have received in Christ.

As recipients of the salvation and grace found in Jesus Christ, let us prayerfully consider and live out the words of 2 Corinthians 9:6–9:

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.”
- Jason Rimmer

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ How does the act of giving reflect the condition of my faith and walk?
+ Do I consider my resources as “mine” or as God’s resources for whom I am the steward?

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Have I ignored the Spirit’s urge to give more?  Am I robbing God?
+ Is there sin to confess to clear the way for God to use me in his perfect purpose?

[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself. 
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
+ Who is a spiritual mentor with whom I can discuss this passage?

Even when God is righteously angry He still gives us an out. Be faithful. The fear of the Lord is something we tend to misunderstand. Fearing God is not calling us to be shaking in our boots at all times, although that is what it can look like. We are called to have deep respect and reverence for our creator. When we understand the awe and power of the one who the universe obeys, we want to follow His direction closely. Our God in His infinite grace and wisdom has chosen to love us even when we don’t deserve it. This passage is written directed at the Levites of Judah who bore the burden of priesthood. We all share that burden now. The fruit of our direction, instruction and witness are direct results of how we revere God. How can we be a light if we don’t have a respect for His power? He wants all of our respect, not just when it's convenient or we don’t get our way. We can weep at an altar call, or cry out to God when things just aren’t going our way, but that is not what He is after. If God’s answer is “no” or we lose the things He has provided as gifts, is He still good? The answer is YES! Our reverence needs to continue after the gifts. Our perseverance in the faith is walking out our fear.

“So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal”
2 Corinthians 4:18

So often we see the evil of the world and have one of two reactions; How could God allow this to happen, where is His wrath? Or we allow ourselves to believe a watered down version of what is Truth and believe that all is okay in the eyes of God. Our reaction should be neither. Our reverence for Him should point our hearts to say “How can I serve His kingdom” and we should humble ourselves before Him. We are no more or less righteous than the evil of the world and our faith is not transactional.

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”
Proverbs 9:10
 
Be encouraged and run to the Father in all that we do.
- Quentin Parker

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ What was God’s promise to Levi? (Numbers 18: 20-24)
+ Why was God displeased with their offerings?

[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess to clear the way for God to use me in his perfect purpose?
+ Reflect on your testimony: Where can you restore the fear of God in your walk?