“Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ” (Acts 5:42)

June 7, 2011

Where: Temple and house. How: Preaching and teaching. When: Daily. Commitment: Never stopped. Message: Jesus is the Christ. What’s your strategy?

“When they saw the courage of Peter and John… they took note that these men had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13)

June 6, 2011

Peter and John were not wealthy and educated like the Jewish leaders, but they had something better. They had been with Jesus. Are others able to notice that you have spent time with Jesus?

“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord” (Acts 3:19)

June 5, 2011

Repentance (“metanoia” literally, change of mind) involves seeing your sin from God’s perspective, hating as He does. True repentance leads to godly sorrow. When we repent and turn to God, He is faithful to forgive and cleanse us.

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” (Acts 2:42)

June 4, 2011

When our church decided to make these four devotions the DNA of our small groups, real growth started to happen. I want to be part of a 1st century church that reaches a 21st century community. Are you in a home group yet?

“Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18)

June 3, 2011

When we say “I will” instead of “His will,” we move into dangerous waters. Pride is the sin that gives birth to many other sins. Satan’s fall began with him saying “I will be like the Most High.” Pride makes us enemies with God. Humble yourselves and draw near to God.

“This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down.” (John 21:24)

June 2, 2011

John the Beloved refers to himself in this self-deflecting way. His gospel is an eye witness testimony, containing more detail and dialogue than the other gospels. The word “believe” is prominent, occurring 76 times. John wants us to believe.

“These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God” (John 20:30)

June 1, 2011

John said that he wrote his gospel so that those who hadn’t seen Jesus themselves might believe. And believing that they might have eternal life in His Name. We can read God’s Word and believe.

“He put his house in order and then hanged himself” (2 Samuel 17:23)

May 31, 2011

After betraying David, Ahithophel committed suicide. This foreshadows Judas with Jesus. There was much in the life and times of David that pointed to the Messiah. But only those with hearing ears and receptive hearts were able to believe.

“David continued up the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went” (2 Samuel 15:30)

May 30, 2011

Fleeing from Absalom, David wept on the Mount. Jesus, Son of David, wept here too, crying out, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem!” He also prayed here in the Garden the night of His betrayal. Do you have a “Mount of Olives” in which to pray?

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path” (Psalm 119:105)

May 29, 2011

God’s Word gives light to keep our feet from stumbling. And it shines forth to point us on the right path to follow. As a light is useless without being turned on, so the Word cannot do its work in us unless we read and meditate on it. Have your “turned on” the Word today?