Daily Read

Acts 3:1-10 (NIV)

Today’s passage is about a man, lame from birth. He was disabled to the point  that he could not move around on his own. Imagine that. If your legs are lame from birth, your muscles never develop. It doesn’t mean a lack of pain, just a lack of control, a lack of agency to get from here to there. And he had been in this state his entire life. In that time and place, there was no other occupation for him but to beg from others. He still had to eat but had no way to earn his food, so every day he was carried to the temple gate… to sit just outside the religious headquarters of Jerusalem begging for scraps, for money, for whatever… And yet the temple gate was called “Beautiful.” How ironic.

As you listen to the passage read aloud, remember what has come before. Just a few weeks prior Jesus himself was teaching in the temple courts, ruffling the feathers of the Jewish leaders to the point of getting crucified for telling the truth. Jesus died… but then he rose from the dead, replacing the insular, exclusive institution of the temple and opening the gate for those outside to come in. He sent the Holy Spirit to empower his followers to walk in his power and their numbers are growing. Remember these things as you imagine the scene.

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

1. What caught your attention in the passage?

2. The people who saw the man running around and jumping on strong legs recognized him as the one who was lame, and they were filled with wonder and amazement. If you saw something like that happen today, what would be your response?

3. The church in our context tends to err on the side of skepticism when it comes to the work of the Holy Spirit in things like healing. But Peter and John seemed to have no doubt that they were God’s agents, working in the name of Jesus through the Spirit’s power. Where is your heart, when it comes to believing that God works through his people today? Confess that to the LORD now.

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Bible Project: Acts 1-12 Overview >>

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Acts 2:29-47 (NIV)

Today’s passage continues Peter’s speech to the crowds of Jews at Pentecost. The Spirit came in power, in tongues of flame, enabling the followers of Jesus to declare the wonders of God in all of the languages of those present. And now it’s as if Peter says, “Let’s debrief what just happened!” He tells them about Jesus, about how the man they had crucified was indeed the Messiah, and he uses the words of their most beloved king, David. David… the one whose family line everyone believed would produce the Savior they had been waiting for. “Weren’t you listening?” Peter wonders... “Why could we not see it?” And yet now they were seeing it. The resurrection had happened. The disciples had been with the resurrected Jesus  for 40 days, and they’re putting the pieces together now. What they were blind to before Jesus died, they see now. All of the prophets were pointing to it, to Jesus.

Listen now to Peter’s speech as he continues to open the eyes of the Jews.

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

1. What words or phrases stood out to you in the passage?

2. When the people heard Peter’s words, they were “cut to the heart.” These—even the crowds who had chanted, “Crucify him!” were invited to repent, to be baptized in his name and receive the Holy Spirit. Even they… Is there anything in your life that you feel would disqualify you from this kind of invitation?

3. We long for church to be the kind of community embodied here in Acts 2, but it often seems so disconnected from our current experience of Christians and the church… How might the LORD be calling you to live into the generosity, friendship, belief and obedience that this community lived out… even if it looks different than what our culture sees as “church?”

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Bible Project: Acts 1-12 Overview >>

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Acts 2:14-28 (NIV)

Christians believe that at the end of the age the dead will be raised to life. And don’t we long for it? Have you ever wondered if ours would be the generation to see it? Today my wife was driving by a cemetery and all of a sudden thought, “What if I looked over and just saw people climbing up out of the earth… looking beautiful, healthy and totally alive…” She said her heart started to race just imagining the thought. Wouldn’t it be incredible for it all to happen in our lifetime?

In today’s passage we get a glimpse into first-century Jewish longings and anticipations in a similar way. They believed that theirs was the generation in which the words of the prophets would come true and the promises of God for Israel’s salvation would begin to be fulfilled. They were looking for it, waiting for it.

Yesterday we heard the story of Pentecost, where the Spirit of God was poured out onto over a hundred people, and the “wonders of God” were declared by them in languages they had never learned... to ears from distant lands, in their own native tongues. It was a miracle. A sign. Flames... like the burning bush, like the pillar of fire that guided the Israelites out of Egypt. God was with them... in them… This must be what the prophets had meant by “the last days…” —the age of Israel’s climax in the story of God, the last period of time before the completion of God’s work to reunite heaven and earth. It was beginning... Can you imagine the excitement?

Out of this understanding and this longing, Peter preaches to those who’ve gathered because of hearing the “wonders of God” in their native languages. He helps the people interpret what’s happening in God’s story in their story, in light of Jesus Death, and resurrection.

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

1. What words or phrases stood out to you?

2. Usually in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit was “with” or “on” one or two people for a specific task… so the nature of this outpouring was something new… something extraordinary. How have you understood the person of the Holy Spirit? His work, his filling, his presence?

3. Can you imagine the simultaneous thrill of experiencing this incredible sign of God’s Spirit and horror at realizing that you had a part in the murder of the Messiah? If we belong to Jesus, we have felt this in some way. The overwhelming love and power offered to us stands right beside our own sin and failure. But He does not ba  ck away. In what ways do you need to both acknowledge your sin and failure and allow God’s Spirit to work in and through you?

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Bible Project: Acts 1-12 Overview >>

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Acts 2:1-13 (NIV)

From the beginning of the world, the Creator has longed to share his power. He made humans to be his image bearers—to care for creation, to cultivate and create—to make something of the world with Him. But from the almost-beginning, humans wanted to be God rather than bear God’s image. They wanted to define for themselves what was good and what was bad.

And this led to disaster. Rather than human space (the world) and God’s space (heaven) overlapping and interlocking like it did in the Garden, humans were exiled from the Garden and therefore disconnected from God’s presence, but also from His wisdom and His power, to be the kinds of humans they were made to be.

But God would not abandon us. He bound himself to humanity by making a covenant with a family, a nation who will live under God's wisdom and power and bring the blessing of the Garden to the whole world. But this family is a mess and it ends up in captivity. God liberates them from Egypt, and brings them out into the wilderness. And there He makes a covenant with them, has them construct a dwelling for Him so that he can be with them, and the Spirit of God descents on that dwelling like a pillar and fills the Temple.   Finally God and humans are back together and they have a way to live under God’s wisdom and power. But that doesn’t really work out….

The same kinds of failure lead Israel through generations of turmoil, into another exile and once again separate from God and in need of His Spirit to come and dwell not just in a temple, but in their very hearts. This is the only thing that will get humans back on track—for God to dwell inside them.

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

1. The Holy Spirit transforms humans into the dwelling place of God... What’s your initial reaction to that reality?

2. In this passage God chooses to take up residence in a group of people who were outside the traditional structures of influence and power, and the Spirit causes them to proclaim the wonders of God in the native languages of the people who were gathered. The Spirit could have used people already in positions of religious authority and probably could have gotten away with making them all speak Greek... What does this passage reveal about God’s desires?

3. One of the harsh realities in this passage is that sometimes when the Holy Spirit moves in God’s people, many won’t recognize him. They might say instead, we’re crazy… or drunk. How willing do you think your heart is to bear criticism from others for doing the thing that the Spirit leads you to do? Ask the LORD for courage to be used by him today.

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Bible Project: Acts 1-12 Overview >>

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Acts 1:12-26 (NIV)

One thing that’s both difficult about the Bible and also strangely comforting, is that it doesn’t sugar coat anything. If you’re looking for a feel-good, heart-warming kind of read, you can see the bible as a religious book and just pull out the beautiful verses, but don’t get into the context or you’ll find a story that takes some emotional energy to navigate.

Today’s passage is a prime example of that. It is real. Even a bit gruesome. So some of us might wanna skip ahead, and know that that’s okay. It’s a glimpse of the other side of the story of Easter. It’s about Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Jesus to the Jewish officials, bribed with 30 pieces of silver to give him up. In Matthew’s telling, Judas felt deep remorse, tried to give the money back and call the whole thing off, but was unsuccessful. So he left the money in the temple and committed suicide.

But the harshness of it brings up another question that we often have to wrestle with in Christian community, and just in life itself… How do we move forward after a tragedy? After a betrayal? What can we leave in God’s hands, and what do we need in order to trust him and keep going? Today we’ll meet Jesus’ disciples in that place… in those questions.

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

1. What words, phrases, or images caught your attention in the passage?

2. When the disciples chose Matthias, they “cast lots” and prayed for God’s guidance. That seems strange to many of us! But they had no doubt that the LORD was leading them. As you encounter situations where important decisions need to be made, do you tend to rely on your own wisdom? Or do you tend to become frozen with fear of making the wrong choice? Instead, how might you invite the LORD’s guidance and choose to trust him as you follow Jesus?

3. We know this passage was hard to listen to, and for some of us, it might have been emotionally triggering. If you’ve experienced the betrayal or loss of a friend, family member or partner in ministry, where are you at in the process of grieving? What steps might the LORD be calling you to take to move forward into healing?

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Bible Project: Acts 1-12 Overview >>

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Today on Daily Read, we hear from James Choung, VP for Strategy & Innovation at InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. 

Here is the book we'll talk about:

Resources he mentions:

-- Give Us This Day App

-- New Morning Mercies: Daily Gospel Devotional

-- First Things First

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Acts 1:1-11 (NIV)

The first passage in Acts serves as a kind of link between Luke and Acts, these two books are designed as two volumes that complete a unified story. We learn that Jesus has been hanging out with His Disciples in his newly resurrected body for 40 days! He’s Teaching them, eating with them, and helping them understand how he is where the story of scripture was headed all along.

And we have to remember that at the beginning for 40 days, these disciples experienced the trauma of watching Jesus be brutally executed, and then encounter him risen from the dead three days later. And here he is commissioning them to make disciples of all nations. This small group of struggling followers are faced with a task that far exceeds their ability.

Have you ever felt that way, like the work before you is like 100 sizes too big? We all react differently to that kind of thing, some of us power up to try to beat the job before it beats us, some of us shut down and back away from the Job before we have a chance to be so disappointed or embarrassed. Jesus doesn’t want them to do either of these things.

He says directly, you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth. This expanding map would have seemed so far out of reach for these folks.   But he doesn’t ask them to do it in their own strength, he says they will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on them. The Lord prepares and the Lord empowers.

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

1. As you listened to the passage, what do you imagine the disciples must have been feeling?

2. Is there something that Jesus has called you to that seems way outside of what seems possible given your, your courage, your competence, your capacity or control? Where in your life do you feel out of your depth?

3.  When you are in over your head, you don’t need a better strategy, a self help book, or even another podcast… because often these are just ways that we try to optimize our own power… no we need power from the outside that will never fail… we need the Holy Spirit. As the LORD to help you make space for the Spirit as we begin this series of Acts.

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Bible Project: Acts 1-12 Overview >>

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The Book of Acts (NIV)

The book of Acts is written by Luke, who was a co-worker of the Apostle Paul. And yeah, it’s the same Luke from the Gospel of Luke. He actually wrote these two volumes as a unified work that describes all that was fulfilled in Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, and recounts that continuing   work by Jesus through the Holy Spirit in and through the life of Jesus’ followers.

When I first began to hear the stories from the book of acts, they were typically thought of as stand alone stories that didn’t really take into account the whole narrative of Acts or the narrative that Luke frames in the Gospel. But if we slow down and step back to get a larger view we can see that there are some pretty amazing things going on.

If you like a good movie or tv show, then might have some appreciation for the way that screenwriters will tell their story. And if you are familiar with a tv series or a movie that has sequels, then you can begin to track the structure that the writer is using. For instance, the new Star Wars movies follow an extremely similar structure as the original Star Wars but tell a new and unique part of the epic saga. You can’t quite say that it’s the same movie, but you also can’t say that it’s totally different either. And that’s the point. The writers want there to be a sense of continuity, they want you holding in mind all the things that you gathered from the previous volumes.

The same is true in Acts. Luke structures the story geographically just like he did in the gospel. In the Gospel of Luke, the story begins with Jesus’ ministry in Galilee and follows the missionary journeys of Jesus to his arrival in Jerusalem. This expanding geographic structure is mirrored in Acts with the disciples’ mission in Jerusalem mirroring Jesus’ time in Galilee, Paul’s missionary journeys mirroring Jesus’ missionary journeys, and Paul’s arrival in Rome mirroring Jesus arrival in Jerusalem.

Now that’s not really to try to blend our ideas of Jesus with Paul, but there is something significant about us being able to see Jesus' actions mirrored in his followers. That’s the point! At the very end of Luke’s gospel, Jesus is telling his disciples that the message of forgiveness and repentance will be preached to all the nations. And you immediately think, well how is that gonna work with these disciples who are scared and hiding behind locked doors?

At this episode’s airing, we’ll have just celebrated Easter. And one of the most intriguing questions I can think to ask about Easter is, “What do you do on Monday?” What does Easter mean after the fact? Well… the book of Acts is the answer to that question.

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Bible Project: Acts 1-12 Overview >>

Bible Project: Acts 13-28 Overview >>

InterVarsity Press Selections: Acts >>

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John 20:1-18

As we step into today’s passage we’ll move from prophecy and poetry back into narrative, returning to John’s gospel and his telling of what happened on Sunday morning.

If you’ve walked with us through Isaiah and into Holy Week, you’ll remember the Messianic King, the Suffering Servant, and the way the LORD wove the hope of new life throughout Isaiah’s words. Jesus saw himself as this Suffering Servant, as Israel’s Messiah… As the one who would take the story back to the Garden, in a sense, to announce God’s Kingdom, to “let there be light” to all the world… by giving up his own life as an atoning sacrifice, doing what Israel could not do… and trusting his Father for vindication.

Today he steps into that vindication, and out of the tomb.

As you listen to the passage read aloud, imagine yourself in the scene. Imagine what the disciples might have been thinking, feeling. Remember the anguish of Friday, and the dead quiet of saturday… Would this be the end?

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

1. What emotions did you experience as you listened?

2. What words or images stood out to you?

3. The irony of Mary Magdelene thinking Jesus was the gardner must not be lost on us. He was of course the ultimate Gardner, the new Adam, the human who believed God and obeyed him, even unto death, to bring us all back to that Eden blessing—to restored relationship with God himself. Where in your life is he calling you into the garden? Where do you need restoration? Ask the risen Jesus to meet you now.

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Bible Project Video: Loyal Love >>

Bible Project Podcast: The Crocus Flower and the Empty Tomb >>

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Psalm 13 (NIV)

Before you listen to today’s passage, try to find a place without too many distractions, close your eyes if you want, and take a moment to quiet your thoughts. Become aware of your breath. Inhale deeply… and exhale… allowing your muscles to relax, to feel gravity pulling you towards the earth.

Now remember the breath of Jesus. Agonizingly difficult, shortened and painful, as his body hung from nails on a tree. And with his last he declared, “It is finished...” Stillness. Quiet. He is taken down from the cross, his flesh torn and blood-stained… and carried, breathless and heavy to the tomb where he is laid.

Morning comes, and all is silent.  The sun begins to creep over the horizon, and a gentle breeze passes by the tomb… But inside there is only death... And outside only grief. A lost dream... unmet expectations. Saturday woke up tired. Drained of hope and strange after Friday’s turmoil.

Those who loved him were tired too. Scared and in shock, still reeling from what had happened. They might not have had the heart to pray… unsure if Yahweh was real, was good, or cared about them. They couldn’t see a way forward. Have you ever felt that way?

As you listen to today’s passage remember the waiting of Saturday. Remember a time when you felt abandoned, hopeless and unsure that anything good could come next. Step into this Psalm with your own experience and that of Jesus and his friends. And ask the LORD to meet you as you listen.

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

Bring your disappointments, your longings and hopes deferred to Jesus now, and let his Spirit comfort you this Saturday.

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Blog of Malcolm Guite, Poet >>

Poor Bishop Hooper | Every Psalm | Psalm 13 >>

Bible Project Video: Loyal Love >>

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