Daily Read

Acts 13:13-31 (NIV)

Today on Daily Read, Paul finds himself with an opportunity to exhort the people in Pisidian Antioch. And he uses this opportunity to tell the story of God’s people and how it leads to Jesus. Now some of us listening are leaders in ministries or we are following Jesus and we desire to be able to share our faith. For others, your faith might be just beginning to blossom or may even be in recovery, and the question of what you believe is one that you’re actively pursuing.

So, when you think about that question, what do you believe? What comes to mind? Is it a sequence of statements that present a rational argument, is it an "if-then" statement about God’s act of salvation in Jesus… or is it more? Our hope for each of you is that when you think of the answer to that question a story comes to mind—that you don’t just see yourself with a simple "yes/no" choice to make that punches a ticket to the good place, but a grand narrative to step into and in which to live your life.

Today Paul presents a summary of that story that centers around King David and the resurrection of Jesus. David said in Psalm 16, that God will “not allow [his] Holy One to undergo decay.” Paul demonstrates how that was pointing to Jesus. As you listen today, consider how much of this is included in YOUR sense of the Story of God’s faithfulness to us.

----------REFLECT----------

1. What part of the story that Paul tells stands out to you?

2. As we hear of the failure and stubbornness of Israel in the wilderness and remember the moral failing of King David, we realize the graciousness in the gift of Jesus. God is faithful in the face of our failure. How do you need God’s faithfulness today as you consider ways that you have failed?

3. It was customary in synagogues to allow visitors to give a fresh word of exhortation because of the familiarity that Jews naturally had. Paul knew this opportunity to share was likely and he positioned himself there intentionally to have an opportunity. What spaces do you naturally have that might open up moments where you might be invited to share the good news?

----------GO DEEPER----------

Bible Project: Acts 13-28 Overview >>

InterVarsity Press Selections: Acts >>

----------CONNECT----------

Find an InterVarsity Chapter >>

Acts 13:1-12 (NIV)

Do you ever wish that the work of proclaiming the good news of Jesus would just be easier?

In today’s episode, we look at the first encounter that Paul and Barnabas have on their first missionary journey. They were set apart to proclaim the word of God, and as soon as they get on their way they encounter opposition. We’ll hear that the proconsul, which was basically the governor, was eager to hear Paul and Barnabas, but a sorcerer begins to try to turn the proconsul away from the faith.

I don’t know about you, but most often when I’ve thought about and learned about sharing my faith or teaching about Jesus, I’m presented with two scenarios. On one hand, we imagine that whoever we’re sharing with is totally hostile and we prepare with our best apologetics and come ready for a fight. On the other hand we imagine that people will be falling all over themselves waiting to hear what we have to say. These have rarely been my experience.

Rather, I’ve found that even when folks find Jesus appealing, they are often distracted by people or systems or cultural forces that want their allegiance for themselves. What do we do with that?

----------REFLECT----------

1. What moment in this story stood out to you?

2. If you were to find yourself facing someone who was trying to keep someone from hearing about Jesus and was known to have power that was not submitted to the LORD, whether spiritual or otherwise… what would you do? Is your response to that sort of thing fight, flight, or freeze?

3. Paul could have over-functioned in this scenario. Instead of being empowered by the Spirit to speak the truth to evil forces around him, he could have argued, tried to persuade or fight in his own strength, or he could have disengaged. How can you be like Paul and operate out of the power of the Spirit?

----------GO DEEPER----------

Bible Project: Acts 13-28 Overview >>

InterVarsity Press Selections: Acts >>

----------CONNECT----------

Find an InterVarsity Chapter >>

Acts 12:18-25 (NIV)

What does it take for you to trust God in ambiguity?

Today’s episode of Daily Read brings us to a transitional passage between the first half of Acts and the second half of Acts. Up to this point we’ve seen Jesus empower his disciples with the Holy Spirit to be his witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. But the question is how? Well, so far the Holy spirit has broken down barriers of difference, moved in the hearts and minds of his followers to move across cultural and ethinc boundaries and called Saul to follow Jesus.

----------REFLECT----------

1. What has stood out to you thus far in the book of Acts?

2. As you’ve listened to the book of Acts, what has struck you about the young church and its relationship with the Holy Spirit. How have you been encouraged by this relationship? How have you been challenged or stretched?

3. Jesus told the Disciples in Acts 1 that they would be his witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Is there a calling or a promise that you’ve received from the Lord that you are still waiting on? Bring that longing to the Lord now and contend for His will to be done.

----------GO DEEPER----------

Bible Project: Acts 1-12 Overview >>

InterVarsity Press Selections: Acts >>

----------CONNECT----------

Find an InterVarsity Chapter >>

Acts 12:1-17 (NIV)

Have you ever seen the LORD make a way out of no way in your life?

On today’s episode of Daily Read we hear about the miraculous rescue of Peter from prison. Today’s passage begins to wrap up the story of what’s going on with the twelve disciples. From this point on the story revolves around specific leaders and then begins to follow the missionary journeys of Paul.

But today’s passage begins with the report that James, the brother of John has been killed by King Herod. Herod was the puppet king that was sold out to the Roman empire. So yeah, a growing group of Jews splintering off going around saying that Jesus is King presents a bit of a problem for Herod. He meets this challenge with violence.

After James is killed, Herod had Peter arrested. Peter then gets set free by the angel of the LORD and returns to the disciples in Jerusalem. But this presents a problem for the observant listener. Why does the LORD save Peter and not James? For any of us who have seen God make a way out of no way, and for all of those who still need a way where there is no way, this passage comes as a challenge. As you listen to the passage, hold this tension before the LORD.

----------REFLECT----------

1. What moment in this passage stood out to you?

2. Luke tells us that the Church was praying earnestly for Peter. No one in the passage could imagine a way for things to change, and could hardly grasp what was happening when they did. But they prayed… earnestly. Who needs your earnest prayer? Who needs to be delivered by the LORD?

3. James and Peter have a different fate. Does this mean that God failed James? Does this mean that God favored Peter? How do these tensions tend to land in your heart? Sit with the Lord in that tension today and ask the Holy Spirit to speak.

----------GO DEEPER----------

Bible Project: Acts 1-12 Overview >>

InterVarsity Press Selections: Acts >>

----------CONNECT----------

Find an InterVarsity Chapter >>

Acts 11:19-30 (NIV)

What do you think of when you hear the word “Christian?”

Today on Daily Read we start to really see the early church emerge as a people... as a family—a family that includes different ethnicities, cultures, social and economic stations, in different parts of the Roman world. But strangely, Luke tells us that the gospel was spreading out from Jerusalem at least in part because the believers were scattered after Stephen’s death. Surely they were afraid, yet the persecution they were experiencing led them not to disown their faith but to spread it. In the history of the church this has happened many times. On the flip side, in the times and places where the church is comfortable and powerful it tends to die.

As you listen to the passage, consider this. And consider your own experience with the church. Many of us have been doing church mostly online for a year now, but regardless of Sunday services, how do you feel about the church? How do you feel about being called a Christian?

----------REFLECT----------

1. What caught your attention in the passage?

2. When Barnabas arrived at Antioch, it says he “saw what the grace of God had done.” Where in your story, in your family or community, have you seen the grace of God at work?

3. Luke tells us that the followers of Jesus   at Antioch were the first disciples who were called Christians. When you think of that word, what comes to mind? Is it a cultural identity? A religion? The Greek word Christianos simply means “follower of Christ.” How does your life or your faith community follow Christ? What might need to change to further live into this name?

----------GO DEEPER----------

Bible Project: Acts 1-12 Overview >>

InterVarsity Press Selections: Acts >>

----------CONNECT----------

Find an InterVarsity Chapter >>

Acts 11:1-18 (NIV)

Have you ever found yourself tempted to stand in God’s way by controlling how something goes or refusing to participate in something God's clearly doing?

There is a reflection on humility available to us in today’s passage. As Peter returns to Jerusalem, and as word spreads that the Gentiles have received the Holy Spirit, he finds himself with some explaining to do. Now, remember it’s no small thing to say that a group of Gentiles could belong in God’s new family without being circumcised, or committing to the food laws and Sabbath observance. So tensions are high.

It may seem hard to relate to this passage today. We don’t require people to be circumcised or not, eat certain foods or not, observe a strict Sabbath or not… do we? As I name those things, the things we do require begin to come to mind. Think about it, we may not explicitly require those exact things but sometimes how a person presents themselves, where they are from, how they vote or how they spend their money changes our willingness to engage what the Spirit might do in their lives.

As you listen to this passage, bring to mind groups that do not tend to align with your church, chapter or community.

----------REFLECT----------

1. What part of this passage stood out to you?

2. For Peter it was the circumcised believers who began to criticize him. But what about you, who might come to you with questions and criticism, depending on who you might care for across differences?

3. Peter says, “who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way.” He saw the Spirit fall on him and the other disciples at pentecost, and it’s this reasoning that leads him to say this. That is Humility. He acknowledges how utterly gracious it was to receive the gift of the spirit, they didn’t merit it, so they can’t control it. How might this help you take a posture of humility towards the Spirit’s work in others?

----------GO DEEPER----------

Bible Project: Acts 1-12 Overview >>

InterVarsity Press Selections: Acts >>

----------CONNECT----------

Find an InterVarsity Chapter >>

Acts 10:23b-48 (NIV)

When God calls you to engage people who are different from you culturally, socially, ideologically, do you engage for the sake of tolerance or for the sake of transformation?

In today’s episode of Daily Read, the last several passages come to their climax as Peter responds to the LORDs invitation through Cornelius to come to Caesarea and enter a Roman centurion’s house. Cornelius represents so much of what has oppressed this religious minority in Judea throughout the lifetime of Peter and for generations before him. Peter represents the pathway to knowing and being in communion with God, the law and the religious system was fashioned in such a way that even the most god-fearing gentiles would have trouble getting close to God.

So while Peter was in a position of weakness in relation to Cornelious, Cornelius was at the mercy of Peter in his desire to follow Yahweh. Peter knows that God shows no partiality, but as the Spirit leads him into this cross-cultural experience, he has a choice between a posture of tolerance, or an openness to transformation.

----------REFLECT----------

1. What moment in this passage sticks out to you as most significant?

2. As Peter approaches the house, Cornelius runs and falls at his feet to worship him. Can you imagine? When did Peter ever imagine a Roman Centurion bowing to him? Yet, he does not indulge in this power differential, he says to Cornelius “stand up.” This goes beyond tolerance in pursuit of a transformative dignity. How can you give dignity to people who are different from you?

3. Throughout the passage it’s the Holy Spirit who is initiating the transformative work in Cornelius and his household. Before Peter could even finish what he was saying the Holy Spirit took over and fell on those gathered with Cornelius. God invites Peter into what he’s wanting to do and uses him there. How might God be inviting you into what he’s doing in folks who are different from you?

----------GO DEEPER----------

Bible Project: Acts 1-12 Overview >>

InterVarsity Press Selections: Acts >>

----------CONNECT----------

Find an InterVarsity Chapter >>

Acts 10:9-23a (NIV)

If someone you consider an enemy sent an invitation for you to come to their house, what would it take for you to respond?

Today on Daily Read, Peter receives just that. Cornelius has been prompted by the LORD to send for Peter in Joppa, asking him to come to his house. We learned yesterday about Cornelius and the power and influence he had, and how the Jews in Judea would feel anything but trust for roman officers.

What's more is that, not only does this invitation fly in the face of any self respecting Jew during the Roman occupation, the fact that Cornelius is a gentile will put him on the outside of ritual purity laws for a jewish person to enter his house. Jews like Peter, even the ones who had come to follow Jesus as LORD, were used to seeing their identity and belonging to the family of God as marked out by their observance of strict food laws, circumcision, and sabbath observance.

So as you listen to today's passage, bring to mind a people or a community with whom you would struggle to associate.

----------REFLECT----------

1. What moment from this passage most caught your attention?

2. Some read this passage as the moment Jews became exempt from kosher food laws. But this passage isn’t about bacon. It’s about the innate goodness of all that God has made. It’s about welcoming people you would never associate with into your life, and into their place in God’s story as integral members of the family of God… If you were Peter, who would your Cornelius be?

.

3. The divisions that exist in the church today are no better than the Jew-Gentile divide. We mistrust one another, each of us tend to fail in recognizing and stewarding the dominance that our identities afford us. In what ways could your church, your small group, or your chapter step outside of the way things are and into the ways things could be in the family of God?

----------GO DEEPER----------

Bible Project: Acts 1-12 Overview >>

InterVarsity Press Selections: Acts >>

----------CONNECT----------

Find an InterVarsity Chapter >>

Acts 10:1-8 (NIV)

How does God respond to those with power?

Today on Daily Read like a new scene in a movie Luke’s narrative pans the camera over to a new character. Cornelius. Cornelius is a roman centurion station in Caesarea, and he’s about to get instructions from the Lord that will change everything for him, and probably for us.

But first we’ve got to have in our minds what a roman centurion really is. A centurion was a soldier in the roman army that held a high office, like a century has a 100 years, a centurion commands around 100 men. Centurions make much more money than an average soldier. So they are powerful, they are wealthy, the rules work in their favor, and there are a lot of them. Cornelius is stationed in Caesarea, which at the time had about 3000 men stationed there, to give you some perspective, Jerusalem only had 600 at the time.

Now the disciples watched Jesus be brutally executed on a roman cross, at the hands of roman soldiers. And in today’s passage the God is going to call a guy in a town that’s named after Caesar and has 6 times more soldiers?!

Given all that might keep this man far from God and what’s happening in Jesus, there is something the LORD sees in him and moves towards.

----------REFLECT----------

1. What surprised you in this passage?

2. The angel said that Cornelius’ prayers and gifts to the poor had “come up as a memorial offering to God.” It seems that even if they don’t have all the information or right answers about theology, the LORD hears the prayers and sees the good works of those who fear him. How does that challenge or encourage you?

3. The LORD doesn’t just use the angel to share the good news. He wants to involve Peter, a Jew, who would consider Cornelius an enemy. Why do you think God wants to do that? As you consider that, become aware of how this passage stretches you.

----------GO DEEPER----------

Bible Project: Acts 1-12 Overview >>

InterVarsity Press Selections: Acts >>

----------CONNECT----------

Find an InterVarsity Chapter >>

Acts 9:32-43 (NIV)

What are the places where you need healing from the Lord, where do you need things to go from death to life?

Today on Daily Read, we follow Peter as he imitated Jesus and sees the Holy spirit move to heal people and bring a dead girl back to life. As you listen you might realize that it sounds familiar. And that’s because what Peter does in this passage, is almost exactly what he saw Jesus doing.

In Mark chapter 2 Peter watches Jesus as he tells a paralyzed man to “get up take his mat and go home.” In Mark Chapter 5 Jesus brings Peter into a room where he heals Jiarus’ daughter, and says “Talitha koum” which means little girl get up. The Holy Spirit is moving in mighty ways and in some ways might be preparing Peter to trust the Holy Spirit as the Spirit invites him to go where he might otherwise not want to go.

----------REFLECT----------

1. What word or phrase stood out to you in this passage?

2. A Paralyzed man and a dead girl named Tabitha are made whole again in this passage. As they hear the words Get Up… the power of the resurrection washes over them and things are set right. In what areas of your life do you need to hear the words get up?

3. Peter, trusting the Holy Spirit, speaks to the paralyzed man and to Tabitha.  He tells them to Get Up… trusting the power of God to make broken things whole and to bring dead things back to life. Where in your life is the Spirit calling you to speak the words Get Up! Your family, your community, your work, your church?

----------GO DEEPER----------

Bible Project: Acts 1-12 Overview >>

InterVarsity Press Selections: Acts >>

----------CONNECT----------

Find an InterVarsity Chapter >>