Week of 4/28-5/4: New - The Grace Shaped Family of God

Day One: Acts 15:1-5 Some men came down from Judea and began to teach the brothers: “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom prescribed by Moses, you cannot be saved!” But after Paul and Barnabas had engaged them in serious argument and debate, the church arranged for Paul and Barnabas and some others of them to go up to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem concerning this controversy. When they had been sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, explaining in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and they created great joy among all the brothers. When they arrived at Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church, the apostles, and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them. But some of the believers from the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to command them to keep the Law of Moses!”

A TOTAL OF 36,000 SADHUS (Hindu holy men) were part of the estimated crowd of 40 million attending the two-month “Kumbh Mela” festival in India last spring. People came from all over to bathe in a specific river as a religious practice. These people believed that mangling and punishing them would gain them approval from a god they didn’t know. As ridiculous as this seems, Christians look as equally pitiful when we think we can add anything to the salvation offered in Jesus Christ.

It’s very dangerous for Christians to view their works as part of their redemption. Problems arise when we believe that how we live dictates how God should move. Here are a few indicators that you may rely on your works more than you realize:

1. You feel like God doesn’t love you when you sin.

2. You feel more approved by God when you do good things.

3. You expect God to fulfill your desires because you’re a “good person.”

When these are true in our life, we take our act of obedience and worship and make it a bargaining chip with God. “God, I’ve done this, so you should do respond the way I want you to…” You may not be bathing in an Indian river, but if you think you can win God’s approval by doing moral works, your mindset is very similar.

Rest today in the completed work of Jesus on the cross for your sin. Worship Him because you have been rescued. Serve others because He has served you.Realize that you can do nothing to change Jesus’ love for outlive in the freedom that the Gospel gives.

PAUSE AND REFLECT

▷▷Why is it dangerous to feel like God doesn’t love you as much when you sin?

▷▷Have you ever expected God to respond to your requests because of how you live for Him? Why?

▷▷Why is it freeing to know that our salvation has nothing to do with our works?

Week of 4/28-5/4: New - The Grace Shaped Family of God

Day Two: Galatians 2:15-21 We who are Jews by birth and not “Gentile sinners” know that no one is justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ. And we have believed in Christ Jesus so that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no human being will be justified. But if we ourselves are also found to be “sinners” while seeking to be justified by Christ, is Christ then a promoter of sin? Absolutely not! If I rebuild the system I tore down, I show myself to be a lawbreaker. For through the law I have died to the law, so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.

IMAGINE THIS: YOU’RE STARVING. Even though it is noon, the day has already been long and the lunch lady’s version of “speghana” (that left over spaghetti and lasagna mix) does not work for you this time. So on your way home, you stop at McDonald’s to grab a bit of Dollar Menu deliciousness. After placing your order for a McDouble and large fries, you realize you have no cash. The total is $4.72 but you are broke. No way is this happening!

Out of nowhere a man who had been standing in line puts down a $5 bill to cover your late lunch. He then steps out the door and into the parking lot. There is no way to repay him. There is no way to work for the $5.It is a gift and you have accepted it.

Salvation is God’s gift to you.Obviously, salvation is infinitely more meaningful and costly than a burger. Also, Christ didn’t simply pay a debt and walk away, He paid a debt so He could then build a relationship. But, much like the burger in this story, the gift cannot be repaid or earned. Your only reasonable response is to accept it and then live a life of worship and obedience. The life that we live as Christ followers is a response to what Jesus has already done for us.

Salvation has been given by grace.You cannot be good enough or do good enough.You are not nice enough or even good looking enough (despite what mom says).Salvation is all about Jesus.Take a moment and thank God for His grace today.Thank Him that even though you aren’t good enough, He is!

PAUSE AND REFLECT

▷▷How have you seen grace at work in your life?

▷▷Why is it comforting to know that you cannot earn your salvation?

▷▷How does understanding God’s grace impact how you will live today?

Week of 4/28-5/4: New - The Grace Shaped Family of God

Day Three: James 2:18-26 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without works, and I will show you faith from my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. The demons also believe—and they shudder. Foolish man! Are you willing to learn that faith without works is useless? Wasn’t Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was active together with his works, and by works, faith was perfected. So the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness, and he was called God’s friend. You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way, wasn’t Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by a different route? For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

HAVE YOU EVER KNOWN SOMEONE THAT claimed to know a famous person? A friend of mine in high school used to tell us his cousin played for the Dallas Cowboys. It was tough to believe him because he didn’t have any pictures, never went to any games, and never visited him. This became a joke to the rest of us. We still don’t know if he was telling the truth or not, but all the evidence pointed to it being a lie.

Unfortunately, this example symbolizes

the perspective of many people who claim to be Christians quite well. “Well, I am a Christian, I have faith in God. I’m just not walking with God right now.” “Yes, I asked Jesus in my heart. I’m not a Jesus freak, I’m not going to hell”. These are modern examples of James 2: I have faith, but no works.

Faith and works are inseparable. If you say you have faith, your life should reflect that truth. If you admit that the God of the universe is alive and inside of you right now, your life should at least begin to look different than it did before Christ.

Our works do not produce salvation for us. We understand our works do not grant us faith. Works can strengthen our faith, but they are not the source of our faith. Our “good works” are actually the fruit of our faith and are a response of worship because of what Jesus has done for us. We do not do good works in order to be accepted. Rather, we do good works because we have already been accepted by God. Today, your good works should flow from a heart of gratitude for what Jesus has done for you.As you love God and serve others, your faith will grow and others will be pointed to Jesus.

PAUSE AND REFLECT:

▷▷Why is it important that our works be a result of our faith?

▷▷As a follower of Jesus, how do we know that God already approves of us?

▷▷List a few ways your life has changed since giving your life to Jesus.

Week of 4/14-4/20: New - God Indwells His Covenant People

Day One: Acts 2:1-4 When the day of Pentecost had arrived, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like that of a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were staying. And tongues, like flames of fire that were divided, appeared to them and rested on each one of them. Then they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different languages, as the Spirit gave them ability for speech.

ELECTRICITY IS AN INCREDIBLE RESOURCE. From the moment your alarm goes off way too early on a school day until the time your head hits the pillow at night, electricity has played an important role in your day. Electricity’s effects are felt when you use your phone, hang out on Facebook, and even when you are in the kitchen finishing your homework. All the technological devices that are so vital to us, or seemingly vital to us, are completely useless without electricity. They simply can’t do anything they were created to do apart from the power of electricity.

Your life as a follower of Jesus is v

ery similar: just as your electronics rely on electricity, you must rely on the work of the Holy Spirit in you.

The Holy Spirit of God moves into your heart the moment you give your life to Jesus. There are many names for the Holy Spirit: Comforter, Counselor, Truth and Power (John 14:17, Luke 1:35).This is important; because the Spirit is God’s presence in your life to guide you and help you grow in your relationship with Him. God doesn’t save you and say, “Good luck! I hope everything works out for you!”

Instead, the Bible says we are “sealed” by the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30).He indwells us and never leaves us. This truth should bring us great comfort. God calls us to an incredible life and mission; He also gives us his presence to complete it.

You were not created to have all the answers or to be the most talented; you were created to trust the work of the Holy Spirit inside of you. Apart from the work of the Holy Spirit, we are incapable of fulfilling the mission to which God has called us.

PAUSE AND REFLECT

▷▷Why does Acts 2:1-4 bring us hope?

▷▷What do you trust in more on a daily basis to help you and guide you: your own ability or the Holy Spirit?

▷▷What is one area in your life you need to trust the work of the Holy Spirit today?

Week of 4/14-4/20: New God Indwells His Covenant People

Day Two: Acts 2:29-36 “Brothers, I can confidently speak to you about the patriarch David: He is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn an oath to him to seat one of his descendants on his throne. Seeing this in advance, he spoke concerning the resurrection of the Messiah: He was not left in Hades, and His flesh did not experience decay. “God has resurrected this Jesus. We are all witnesses of this. Therefore, since He has been exalted to the right hand of God and has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit, He has poured out what you both see and hear. For it was not David who ascended into the heavens, but he himself says: The Lord declared to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies Your footstool.’ “Therefore let all the house of Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah!”

Read the beginning of the story, Acts 2:22-28, in your Bible.

THE SATURN V ROCKET was created to do one thing: put a man on the moon. It is the most powerful rocket to have ever been built. It burned just over 15,000 gallons of fuel per second. When launched, it generated enough energy to light the entire country of India. The ground shook almost 3 miles out from its launch site.

President John Kennedy gave NASA a mandate: get to the moon before 1970.There were astronauts, there was a mission, and the Saturn V rocket gave men the ability to complete the mission.

As a Christ follower, you also

have been given a mission. Far more important than reaching the moon, the mission we have been given is to make disciples (Matthew 28:19).

And just like the astronauts, you are incapable of completing the mission on your own. In Acts 2:22-36, we see Peter share the truth about Jesus to thousands of people. This is the same Peter that sank while walking on water and that denied Jesus three times.

Peter did not complete this mission on his own, but with the power of the Holy Spirit. On his own, Peter was incapable; with the Holy Spirit at work in him, Peter was unstoppable. The Holy Spirit’s power enabled Peter to do incredible things for God that he would never have been able to do on his own.

The same is true for young our own, we are weak and frail. When we trust the work of the Holy Spirit, we will be able to accomplish what God has called us to do.

PAUSE AND REFLECT

▷▷What would you be willing to change today if you knew God would use you in an incredible way for His glory?

▷▷Can you think of a time when you had to rely on the Holy Spirit to help you? What happened?

▷▷Is there a person in your life with whom you need to share Jesus? What keeps you from sharing?

Week of 4/14-4/20: New God Indwells His Covenant People

Day Three: Acts 2:37-42 When they heard this, they came under deep conviction and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles: “Brothers, what must we do?” “Repent,” Peter said to them, “and be baptized, each 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, as many as the Lord our God will call.” And with many other words he testified and strongly urged them, saying, “Be saved from this corrupt generation!” So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about 3,000 people were added to them. And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to the prayers.

A GROUP OF COLLEGE STUDENTS was driving from Virginia to Florida. At 2 a.m.near Jacksonville, Fla., the driver of the car mistakenly took an exit that headed west toward Alabama. An hour later one of the passengers noticed the car was headed in the wrong direction and began to freak out.

“You’re taking us the wrong way. We want Florida, not Alabama!” The driver offered a few pitiful excuses, which were quickly met with sarcastic comments from the passengers. Thankfully, the decision was then made to turn the car around.

You would probably think someone was crazy if they were driving a road into Alabama, yet said, “Don’t worry; I know this road ends in Alabama, but I am pretty sure we’ll end up in Florida.” That doesn’t even make sense!

Ironically, many people believe they can live how they want to in this life and still end up in heaven. They feel that even though they have never given God a second thought that they should still be in eternity with Him.

The truth is that salvation requires a change of direction. It is not sufficient to say, “I know I need to turn around to get to Florida”. You actually have to turn the car around. In the same way, it isn’t sufficient to say, “I know I sin” and not turn your life around.

Repentance is just that: turning from your sin 180 degrees and turning to God. It’s more than just admitting you’ve sinned. “I am sorry I sinned, but I will keep doing my thing” is not repentance. That’s a cheap shot at an apology. Repentance means begging God for forgiveness then walking away from sin. It does not mean you’re perfect and that you will not sin; however, it does mean that you are now walking with God and His direction.

PAUSE AND REFLECT

▷▷Has there been a time in your life when you “changed direction” and gave your life to Jesus?

▷▷If you have given your life to Jesus, how does your life look now compared to before?

▷▷Take a moment and pray for your friends who need to give their lives to Jesus.

Week of 4/7-4/13: The Resurrection and Exaltation of King Jesus

Day One: Luke 24:1-8 “On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came to the tomb, bringing the spices they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb. They went in but did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men stood by them in dazzling clothes. So the women were terrified and bowed down to the ground. ‘Why are you looking for the living among the dead?’ asked the men. ‘He is not here, but He has been resurrected! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, “The Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men, be crucified, and rise on the third day”?’ And they remembered His words.”

I SOMETIMES GET ACCUSED of having selective hearing. This accusation most frequently comes from my wife. She will ask me a question and I will respond. But by the time she walks away, I often completely forget the question she asked me! I always hear my wife’s voice, but I don’t process and comprehend the words that are spoken.

Does this ever happen to you? A parent or a teacher tells you something important, you hear them speak to you, but the statement doesn’t really sink in? Maybe you even answer, but five minutes later you completely forget the conversation ever happened?

For whatever reason, we all have conversations sometimes. You may even say that we often only “hear what we want to hear.” It seems like the disciples and the women experienced this same “hear what they want to hear” phenomenon when Jesus would speak about the end of His time on earth. He repeatedly told them about His death and resurrection, but they were still shocked when these events actually came to pass.

What would make the people around Jesus hear His words but not actually comprehend his message? Perhaps it was just too difficult to fathom until the events actually occurred.

Once the resurrection took place, the disciples and the women were able to connect the dots in their hearts and minds. Many people today grow up hearing about Jesus. But, like the disciples and women before the resurrection, they let the teachings of Jesus go in one ear and out the other. We can’t be one of those people! The teachings of Jesus cannot be viewed as some nugget of information to be filed away. The teachings of Jesus must be understood as foundation for living on mission for God!

PAUSE AND REFLECT

▷▷What does the phrase, “you only hear what you want to hear” mean?

▷▷Does this phrase ever describe you? Why or why not?

▷▷How can we ensure that we both hear and comprehend the teachings of Jesus?

Week of 4/7-4/13: His Life - The Resurrection and Exaltation of King Jesus

Day Two: Luke 24:36-49 “And as they were saying these things, He Himself stood among them. He said to them, ‘Peace to you!’ But they were startled and terrified and thought they were seeing a ghost. ‘Why are you troubled?’ He asked them. ‘And why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself! Touch Me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have.’ Having said this, He showed them His hands and feet. But while they still were amazed and unbelieving because of their joy, He asked them, ‘Do you have anything here to eat?’ So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish, and He took it and ate in their presence. Then He told them, ‘These are My words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about Me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms must be fulfilled.’ Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. He also said to them, ‘This is what is written: The Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead the third day, and repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And look, I am sending you what My Father promised. As for you, stay in the city until you are empowered from on high.’”

I OFTEN GET AN ADRENALINE RUSH just by watching commercials for the armed forces.It doesn’t matter which branch of the services is being promoted: Marines, Army, Navy or Airforce. All of the commercials are inspiring and make me want to join!

There was a recent movie that followed the missions of one of the elite groups of the armed forces. It painted an amazing picture of the elite skills these men posses. As much as I would like to think that I could be a part of one of these groups, I know that I don’t have what it takes. These groups only take the best of the best.

This is the way that Jesus chose His special forces group, right? Didn’t Jesus only pick the best of the best to be His disciples? By no means!

After the resurrection Jesus appeared before his disciples and some still doubted. These are supposed to be the best of the best and they don’t even fully believe when Jesus is standing next to them!

There are no “best of the best” in Christ. We are all deficient in some way. Yet in spite of our shortcomings, Christ chooses to bless us and use us for His service. We don’t have to be in an elite group, we just have to receive His forgiveness!

PAUSE AND REFLECT

▷▷Why do we often think that Christ is looking for the “best of the best”?

▷▷In reality, what is Christ looking for?

▷▷How do we become faithful servants of Christ?

Week of 4/7-4/13: His Life - The Resurrection and Exaltation of King Jesus

Day Three: Luke 24:50-53 “Then He led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up His hands He blessed them. And while He was blessing them, He left them and was carried up into heaven. After worshiping Him, they returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they were continually in the temple complex praising God.”

GROWING UP, I never got used to seeing my dad leave for an out-of-town business trip. Nearly every time, he would leave early Monday morning and return late Friday evening. Despite the fact that this was a regular occurrence during my childhood, I never got used to saying goodbye can’t remember a single Monday morning where I saw my father off and immediately felt normal and happy. Every single departure was difficult.

Reflecting back on these emotions makes Jesus’ departure from his disciples very interesting to me. Jesus left them for good and they responded in a shocking manner: they were filled with great joy. How could they see their Master leave for good and still be filled with joy?

They were filled with great joy because they finally realized the magnitude of Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, and ascension. Upon witnessing Christ’s ascension, the disciples were not only filled with great joy, but were firmly resolved to live on mission for God.

There is something about being wrapped up in a story bigger than yourself that brings joy. The disciples knew there was going to be exciting days ahead after Jesus’ ascension. They stood side-by-side with Jesus for three years, and only now did they finally gain an understanding of Jesus’ full purpose here on earth. He didn’t come to merely befriend the disciples or even to merely teach them the right way to live. He came to offer Himself as a sacrifice so that the disciples may have the opportunity to experience everlasting life.

Further, Christ expected the disciples to take that message of salvation, full of worship and great joy, to the ends of the earth. Those expectations have not subsided. Christ still expects His disciples to take the message of the gospel to the ends of the earth, with a sense of worship and great joy.

PAUSE AND REFLECT

▷▷Why are we often sad when a loved one departs from us?

▷▷Why were the disciples “filled with great joy” when Jesus departed from them?

▷▷How should the disciples response guide our thinking and actions regarding Christ’s ascension?